We Support Caregivers
in the Performing Arts
The aim of Balancing Act is to create increased equality, accessibility, and inclusion for caregivers※ working in the performing arts. We collaborate with artists, arts workers, and arts organizations to develop pathways for change at an individual, organizational and systemic level.
Balancing Act is an initiative of Theatre Direct.
※ Balancing Act’s definition of caregiver includes individuals who care for children, older adults, those in need of personal care, and anyone who self-identifies as a caregiver.
Latest News
- Level Up! Info SessionArts organizations from across Canada are invited to join Theatre Direct on Thursday, June 17, for an info session about Balancing Act, our artist caregiver…Continue Reading
- Hack Lab Launched!
We received such a positive response to Hack Lab’s inaugural call to artist caregivers that we are able to offer two cohorts that will run…Continue Reading - Balancing Act at Children, Youth and Performance Conference 2021Theatre Direct hosts a panel at the Children, Youth and Performance Conference (York University) on June 27 at 2pm EST. “Balancing Act: Negotiating Competing Identities…Continue Reading
Keep up with the latest from Balancing Act.
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Announcing our Affinity Group Guest Artists:
Sarah Cullen & Rebecca Singh
Join us next Wednesday June 16 @ 1 pm EST via Zoom for our next Affinity Group (All Caregivers/Parents) meet-up.
Sarah and Rebecca will open the discussion with a personal experience of caregiving inspired by the prompt: “Artistic Practice: How can we stay connected?" An active listener will be present to support the room.
For details and to register e-mail balancingact@theatredirect.ca or visit: www.balancingactcanada.com/programs/affinity-groups/.
#balancingact #artistcaregivers
🕔 SIGN UP SOON! 🕔
A reminder to arts organizations of all sizes and scopes to sign up for our Balancing Act and LEVEL UP! info session next Thursday June 17. ASL Interpretation is now available!
Launching next season, LEVEL UP! will support organizations piloting strategies that forefront more inclusive, care-led workplace policies and practices.
The information session runs from 1 pm to 2 pm EST and is followed by a Compassion Training Workshop from 2 pm to 3 pm EST, led by Rachel Spencer-Hewitt, founder of Parent Artist Advocacy League - PAAL for Performing Arts.
Learn more and register: www.balancingactcanada.com/programs/level-up/.
Ontario Presents Professional Association of Canadian Theatres Means Of Production Native Earth Performing Arts Buddies In Bad Times Theatre Obsidian Theatre Company Dance Umbrella of Ontario Nightswimming Tarragon Theatre Canadian Dance Assembly (CDA) Factory Theatre Driftwood Theatre Shakespeare in Action Carousel Players FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre MOonhORsE Dance Theatre Axis Theatre Company Presentation House Theatre DTRC / CRTD - Dancer Transition Resource Centre Youtheatre Green Light Arts Manitoba Theatre For Young People Black Theatre Workshop Rumble Theatre Prairie Theatre Exchange Belfry Theatre
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Meet Djennie!
Djennie Laguerre is a member of our Steering Committee and a Theatre Direct Associate Artist. Be sure to check out her amazing curation of Luminato Festival's Golden Hour - What is Canada?, featuring the work of 3 powerful storytellers across different languages, out June 24. Learn more about Djennie below.
Bio ⤵️
Djennie Laguerre is an actress, writer, and storyteller, a graduate of the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and the uOttawa's Theatre Department. Her theatre credits include Espoir/Espwa, The Imaginary Invalid, Les Zinspirés and Les Zinspirés 3D (Théâtre français de Toronto), Seventeen (Anonymous), Women (Infinitheatre Montréal).
She is proud of the ambitious tour of both English and French versions of Rendez-vous with Home/ Lakay with the iconic Black Theatre Workshop 2018-19 a play she wrote and performed. She is also the writer and performer of Manman la mer/Mother Sea (Théâtre Catapulte), which premiered in February 2020 in Ottawa before being presented at the MASA Festival in Ivory Coast (March 2020). The show won Production of the Year and Performance of the Year at the Prix Rideau Awards 2020.
Djennie received the Spotlight Award at the SummerWorks Festival in 2008 for Rendez-vous with Home/Lakay. Dora Award-nominated for The Zinspired 3D, in the categories of Outstanding Performance - Individual and Outstanding Performance - Ensemble and a Best Actress nomination at the 2018 METAs Awards for Rendez-vous with Home/Lakay.
For the past 15 years, Djennie has been an educational artist for the Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario. Your children know her as the storyteller and dancer Madame Bonheur at Mini TFO/CBC.
Q&A ⤵️
Q: What is your caregiving role?
A: Mom to Anisah
Q: Since becoming an artist caregiver, my artistic practice has...
A: ...been a challenge of respect and scheduling, but a richness to my artistic voice and creativity.
Q: It is 5 years from now. What has changed in the performing arts sector around support for artist caregivers?
A: Her flow of life will not be seen as limiting, but as an add to her tools and more of a team balancing act with a community need put first.
Rehearsal process and workshops tailored more to caregivers, while respecting our changing times, and better childcare to permit us to do our jobs properly especially since we are an important part of this industry.
Q: What strategies have put in place to support an artist caregiver--yourself included?
A: I pay for extra coaching to play and explore for myself when the work exploration time is limited to non-caregivers schedule for support. Also I get my daughter to help me learn my lines. She is ruthless. lol
THÉÂTRE DE LA VIEILLE 17
#balancingact #artistcaregivers