Dance and Heart is an artist-led dance collective based in Centre Wellington Ontario, founded and produced by Norah Wardell. The collective creates theatrical, visually driven performance while providing opportunities for rural dancers across Southern Ontario to train, perform, and develop their artistic practice.
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“I came to see RAFT tonight. It was so beautiful! That backdrop was stunning, the song selection was so fun, all the movements came with so much meaning and intention.”
- Audience, Fergus ON -
“DH has been one of my maternity leave highlights. I have always wanted to dance more and have finally found an accommodating space to express myself.”
- Dancer, Mount Forest ON
train with us
Dance and Heart offers ongoing dance classes, seasonal intensives, workshops, and skill-building sessions for dancers in Fergus, Ontario. Our programs focus on strength, empowerment, and the creation of visually striking movement. We centre on community building and are the hub for adult dance in Centre Wellington, Ontario.
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Dance and Heart has a unique approach to training that centres the body as a site of expression, agency, and transformation.
Our classes explore the relationship between movement, emotion, and presence, inviting dancers to engage with themes of conflict, connection, and empowerment through embodied practice.
Training emphasizes performance quality, creative risk-taking, and collective care, fostering both individual confidence and a strong sense of community. -
Dance and Heart’s Recreational and Technical Classes provide adults of all experience levels with consistent, high-quality dance training in a supportive, community-driven environment.
Classes focus on building strength, coordination, musicality, and technical foundations while encouraging curiosity, confidence, and personal expression. This series offers accessible entry points for dancers seeking regular practice, skill development, and creative engagement outside major urban centres. -
Dance and Heart’s Embodiment and Personal Growth Classes use movement as a tool for self-awareness, communication, and confidence-building.
Through guided physical exploration, participants engage with themes of tension, release, conflict, and resilience, developing greater presence and agency in both movement and daily life. This series emphasizes embodied learning within a supportive group environment, strengthening individual confidence while fostering connection and mutual respect among participants. -
Dance and Heart’s Professional Training Workshops provide intensive, short-term training opportunities for advanced and emerging dance artists.
These workshops focus on performance readiness, creative process, and embodied technique, supporting dancers in deepening their artistic practice and professional skills. Led by invited artists, the workshops foster rigorous exploration, peer exchange, and artistic risk-taking within a supportive environment.
ARTISTIC WORK
Dance and Heart presents original, theatrical performances that combine visual storytelling, immersive choreography, and imaginative design. Each production is unique, bringing together dancers of varied backgrounds in high-quality, visually rich ensemble work. From intimate community showcases to fully staged theatrical productions, our performances highlight creativity, risk-taking, and expressive movement, while fostering audience engagement and building a vibrant regional dance culture.
our community
Our space is a hub for dance, creativity, and collaboration. We host artistic residencies, community programs, and co-created projects, inviting dancers and artists to explore, perform, and connect within a supportive, inspiring environment.
