The Dance Current is the only Canadian magazine left covering the art form
Just a couple of decades ago, dance journalism was common in Canadian magazines such as The Dance Current, Dance International, and Dance in Canada, with dance reviews and dancer profiles present in major publications and radio shows. Dance journalism succeeded in the broader landscape of a well-funded and thriving arts journalism scene, but as budget cuts increased in arts journalism, dance was often the first subject to lose funding.
The Dance Current was founded by dance artist Megan Andrews in 1998 as a volunteer-run and independently circulated magazine and, at the time, existed amongst a broad spectrum of Canadian dance journalism. The magazine sustains itself with the help of government funding, grants, and membership with Magazines Canada, publishing both online content and print issues in addition to a podcast. The magazine produces news, reviews, columns, and features all related to dance, its slogan reads, “Where dance, art, and society meet.”
Since its founding, the dance media landscape in Canada has undergone significant changes. As Dance International stopped publishing in 2020, officially closing its website in 2024, the Dance Current is now the only remaining dance magazine in the country. Philip Szporer, an active member of Montreal’s dance community as a journalist, dance filmmaker, and Concordia University professor says the platform for dance journalism shrank significantly in the past five to 10 years, so much so that the public now has marginal access to information about dance.
Szporer, who previously worked as a broadcast arts journalist for CBC Radio, says, “The possibility of hearing a critique or review of dance on public radio in 2025 is nonexistent.” He believes one or two may pop up throughout the year, but it’s unlikely.
Grace Elliott, editor-in-chief of the Dance Current in 2022–23, aimed to broaden the scope and audience of dance journalism during her time at the magazine. “We really wanted to tell stories that related to all of society but through a dance lens,” says Elliott. During her time at the Dance Current, alongside publisher Kallee Lins, she also started the Regional Reporter Program, bringing in 10 dance journalists from across Canada to cover dance beyond Toronto.
According to Szporer, who has been writing for the Dance Current for over two decades, the magazine is responsible for filling the gap that currently exists in Canada’s disappearing dance journalism landscape. He says the magazine has been maintaining a balance between publishing critiques, reviews, interviews, and features.
While the Dance Current has maintained its social media presence, it has not released a print issue since spring 2024—missing half the promised issues for the year. Their online content has also been dwindling since July 2024. Although this creates an uncertain future for the magazine and a precarious position for dance journalism in Canada, the Dance Current still plans to release another print issue in 2025.
Though dance journalism in Canada is gradually disappearing, it’s not gone yet, and there is hope that Canadian dance journalism may experience a resurgence in popularity. Szporer says that if magazines and media platforms publish dance stories, the public interest will grow because of the writing’s engaging quality. It is “editorially fascinating to be able to uncover the artist’s perspectives, not just the choreographers but the dancers as well and how the dance process develops.”
Elliott says the coverage of dance that does exist has improved throughout her career. More dance styles are gaining attention, beyond ballet and contemporary, such as voguing or Fancy Shawl dance. They are also increasingly highlighting disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, and BIPOC dancers and voices, providing excitement and hope for the possible future of dance journalism. While the quantity of Canadian dance journalism may be decreasing, its quality and relatability are improving. If given an adequate platform, dance journalism could thrive in Canada again.
