About Us

PushPULL Dance is a company of non-professional dancers from a variety of backgrounds, who share a common passion for dance, performing and enhancing our individual dance repertoires. We strive to be inclusive by welcoming not only technically proficient dancers, but also individuals with minimal training who have a passion for dance performance and are willing to commit to learning to dance at a required level. PushPULL was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 2004 and has since expanded to include an additional company in Ottawa, Ontario in 2014.

 ​PushPULL welcomes adult dancers of any age, gender, culture or body type. Through the diversity of our members, we are able to create shows that embody a variety of dance styles.​ We have a commitment to EQUITY, DIVERSITY & BELONGING.

EQUITY ~
Striving for justice

We recognize that barriers and advantages exist.  We are not functioning on a level playing field, and historically, the world of dance has not been an equitable arena. Equity aims to redress imbalances to every extent possible.  

• Being an equitable dance company treats people as individuals and endeavors to give people what they need to be able to participate to their fullest capacity.
• Being an equitable dance company makes space for people to have conversations about accessibility and accommodation, and to search for creative solutions.
• Being an equitable dance company means being transparent about policies surrounding equity and diversity.

DIVERSITY ~
​Striving for representation 

We recognize that representation matters and value the diversity of our members and prospective members. Diversity values the unique perspectives brought by individuals from a wide range of lived experience based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, physical and cognitive ability, age, body size, socio-economic status, family structure, culture.  Diversity serves to enhance the whole.

• Being a diverse dance company means seeing the value of increasing diversity without tokenism.
• Being a diverse dance company means making a point of educating ourselves about other groups, perspectives and experiences.

BELONGING ~
​​Striving for connectedness 

We recognize the harm that is done when individuals do not feel like they belong. We strive to create an environment where everyone can feel accepted and embraced in the fullness of who they are.

• Being a dance company that values belonging means incorporating diverse opinions at all levels ~ board, executives, committees, choreographers and dancers.
• Being a dance company that values belonging means working to create an environment where everyone feels valued.
• Being a dance company that values belonging means creating a judgement-free safe space that will never accept hate in any form.​