toronto TUESDAY Dance JAM

Sign up for your membership

The Toronto Tuesday Dance Jam is a membership-based, weekly contact improvisation dance jam plus pre-jam class. Also included is a monthly special event that occurs after the jam on the last Tuesday of every month from September to June. 

Experience the magic of contact improvisation! Dive into a dance where touch, momentum, and connection fuel spontaneous movement. Contact Improvisation is more than just a technique—it’s a playful, interactive experience. Feel the thrill of balancing with a partner, sensing, and moving in sync. It’s about real connection, real people, and presence. Come play, and explore in a consent-based community that celebrates movement and expression through the art of contact improvisation!

A membership mode allows REAson d'etre dance to:

• pass on savings to regular attendees
• help build a sense of community
• reduce administrative workload for organizers to help ensure the jam is sustainable
• set up special events for members as part of the jam experience. 

Beginner Class

The next Beginner class is on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025, in the studio adjacent to Rafos Hall. Kathleen will teach her regular CI class in Rafos Hall. So it's a great day for newcomers to CI to join. The beginner class runs from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

Newcomer contact improvisation classes

If you are a newcomer to contact improvisation can join any time but a great day to join is the last Tuesday of the month because we will have an onboarding Fundamental skills workshop just for you. The class is free.

Please note all newcomers need to read our Jam Guidelines before attending.

RDD Dance Jam Guidelines

Also here is a 

CI Newcomer Tip sheet 

Beginner class Schedule: 

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm 

January 28 

February 25 

March 25 

April 29 

May 27 

June 24  

Weekly on Tuesday nights starting May 14, 2024

6:15 pm to 7:15 pm - Dance class

7:15 pm to 8:45 pm Contact Improvisation Jam Practice.

On the last Tuesday of every month (from Sept to June), we rent the space until 10:00 pm for a special event  (movie night, potluck, community performance, bowling.. yes there is a vintage bowling alley in the building!)

On the last two Tuesdays of each month (Sept to June) there will be live music to accompany the jam

On the last two Tuesdays of each month (Sept to June) there will be a beginning class offered in the adjacent studio that runs 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

Rafos Hall

Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation (NUUC)
310 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON M4K 1N6  

Please note that Rafos Hall is wheelchair accessible

Barrier-free entrance is at the Jackman Avenue entrance. It has a ramp and elevatoelevator.

Dancers of all levels are welcome,  including complete beginners.

One month free trial

All memberships begin with a one-month free trial.

Membership rates:

• $450 - yearly rate (in-person and digital content)
• $45 - monthly rate (in-person and digital content)
• $5 - monthly for just digital content  

All members: 

• attend dance jam all year long year whenever you want
• attend pre-jam classes all year long whenever you want
• attend after-jam special events
• have access to digital content (CI moment with Kathleen Rea, a video lift archive, anatomy notes for dancers, and other digital content)

Membership details (the fine print):

• Memberships start on the day you sign up. So, if you sign up for a year on June 17 you will renew the following year on June 17.
   
• Please note memberships are nonrefundable.
   
• With a yearly membership, you can schedule to cancel at the end of your year.
   
• Monthly memberships can be canceled at the end of a monthly period.
   
• Monthly memberships can also be paused for up to  90 days as many times as you need during the year.

• If you are unsure of your plans for the year we recommend choosing monthly membership. 

• During your one-month free trial period if you picked a yearly membership, but think a monthly membership suits you better then go to this link and switch to a monthly plan: https://reasondetre.chargebeeportal.com/portal/v2/login

Become a member

Make changes to your plan

Drop-ins

Yes, you can drop in as a non-member and pay $25 at the door. 

Also, NUUC members and staff can drop in for $15 at the door. 

All drop-ins need to read RDD Jam Guidelines before attending. 

RDD Dance Jam Guidelines

Volunteering

Also please note all members are encouraged to volunteer in support of the Toronto Tuesday Dance Jam about once per month. We do not keep track of this so just do it as you are able.  Check in with Kathleen once you join to figure out what suits you and your schedule.

Volunteer jobs include:

• coming at 5:45 pm to help with cleaning the space for 30 minutes
• helping out at the after-jam events 
• helping get the word out 
• being an assistant jam facilitator
• doing a 1/2 hour shift at the front desk once a month
• train with Kathleen to teach one of our beginner class

All attendees need to read RDD's Dance Jam Guidelines before attending

RDD Dance Jam Guidelines

We also have a Beginner-Tip-Sheet for newcomers to Contact Improvisation

RDD Beginner-Tip-Sheet

SCHOLARSHIPS

If you identify  as part of a visible or invisible under-represented group you can receive a membership at 50% off.

We also have scholarships for those that need lower membership fees.

To receive either of these scholarships please fill out this form:

Scholarship Form

PHYSICAL ACCESS 

Rafos Hall is wheelchair-accessible with two wheelchair-accessible washrooms right next to the dance studio. The entrance is barrier-free. 

For those who need a barrier free access please use Jackman Avenue entrance that has a ramp. 

Kathleen Rea, who teaches the prejam class, has autism and has worked and taught dancers with low-vision, who use a wheelchair and who are deaf (although her sign language is limited) 

Email kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com.com if you require access accommodations or if you have any questions about access. 

• Please do not attend if you are sick

• Masking is optional (Please know the community who attends this jam tends toward 90% not wearing masks and 10% wearing masks ratio) 

• Any open sores or contagious skin conditions need a medical grade bandage covering them

There are many CI events in Toronto. At REAson d'etre we work to foster surplus thinking in the way we interact with the community. Therefore we encourage you to check out other contact improvisation teachers and jams:

• Sunday Jam
• Jonathan Lilly
• Suzanne Liska
• Toronto CI Facebook page (to stay updated on Toronto CI happenings)
• https://contactimprov.ca/on/toronto/ (resource page)
• also RDD's Falling into Autumn an annual fall jam 
• There are also other great CI events so ask around or do a "Toronto contact improvisation" search to get the full picture.

CI teachers and event organizers are as well welcome to attend the Tuesday Jam and make announcements about their CI events in our closing circle or arrange RDD or others to make announcements for them. We  are happy to support the Toronto CI community.