On the dance card: 50th reunion for theatre arts alumni
From left: Vicky Mason, Gérard Théorêt, Laurie Personnet, Jan Garvey, Elyse Jaworski, Martha Nicholson, Gina Armstrong-Aro, Valerie Moore, Linda Sellers and Nancy McIntyre. All photos by Jae Yang.
Members from the Class of ’76 gathered at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) on July 10 to mark 50 years since graduating. The alumni office was thrilled to welcome the cohort back to campus to visit old haunts and tour spaces that have been established in the decades since they completed the Theatre Arts-Canadian College of Dance program. Peter Fleming, RTA ’83, a staff member at TMU’s School of Performance, led the tour, which began at the former home of the Ryerson Theatre School, now the university’s Centre for Urban Innovation.
Milestones and memories
Recalling his time at TMU is Gérard Théorêt, who went on to be a soloist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and later the artistic director of Cirque du Soleil’s show, Corteo, among other work as a director, dancer and actor. Visiting Toronto from his home base of Seattle, Théorêt fondly remembers how supportive the dance instructors were in the program, particularly John Marshall, a Royal Academy of Dance examiner who passed away in 2000. “He gave me a personal grant,” said Théorêt. “He made it a gift but I paid him back years later.”
After graduating, Valerie Moore’s dance career took her all over Canada and the U.S., including performing with Ballets Jazz Montréal, and later choreography and movement work at Canadian Stage, Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival. She was also a choreographic consultant for So You Think You Can Dance Canada, leveraging her wide-ranging repertoire. “I've done so many different types of dance,” Moore said, “between ballet and jazz and musicals.”
Valerie Moore (in black shirt) and alumni tour the dance rehearsal space.
The next step: TMU Library and Archives
Their visit concluded at TMU’s Library and Archives where TMU archivist Tanis Franco assembled photos, playbills and newspaper clippings. Said Fleming, the School of Performance’s unofficial historian: “It was the cherry on the cake. They were not expecting that to be part of the tour and it really generated a lot of chatter.”
Kieran Lynch, RTA ’19, development officer at The Creative School, presented the Class of ’76 with TMU 50th anniversary pins to commemorate their lifelong connection to their alma mater — and their lifelong connection to each other.
“Fifty years ago, we were just kids,” said Garvey. “The long, hard work and keeping constant company together led to a deeply shared experience that we can really only appreciate now in our seventh decade.”
“We’re different talents,” said Nancy McIntrye, another member of the reunion planning committee. “Everybody brought out the best in each other. And that’s why we come back together.”
Save the date for Alumni Reunion Day, taking place on Oct. 3. Registration is now open (external link) . And if this is a special milestone year for you, please get in touch and let us know! We can help you with reunion planning and bringing your classmates together. Email Adrianne Kenmir at rsvp@torontomu.ca.
