Patrick Parson

Guest Teacher, Modern Technique

Patrick Parson founded Ballet Creole in 1990, he is the Artistic Director, principal choreographer, and Musical Director. The Ballet Creole School of Performing Arts offers classes for children, youth and adults from beginner to professional levels. True to its educational mandate, Ballet Creole tours intensively, presenting educational and entertaining performances.

Patrick has conducted dance/music workshops and lecture demonstrations for educators and student bodies in Boards of Education and Universities throughout Ontario. He has completed a Masters Degree in Dance Ethnology at York University, where he is a professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Patrick toured internationally as a principal dancer with the Astor Johnson Repertory Dance Theatre of Trinidad. His professional dance and choreographic experience spans Caribbean, African, East Indian, Jazz and Modern dance styles. Patrick acquired Ballet and Modern training at the Caribbean School of Dance, the Dance Academy of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ryerson  University dance department, and he is a graduate of the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre and furthered his training at Jacob’s Pillow. Through his studies at the Katherine Dunham Center for Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis, Illinois Patrick has become a certified Dunham technique specialist. 

Patrick is the recipient of the Entrepreneurial Award of Merit from the African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, and the New Pioneers Award from Skills for Change, for his pioneering work in the world of dance in Canada. He has served as cultural adviser to the Toronto Arts Council, Metro Cultural Affairs, Ontario Arts Council, Harbourfront Centre, Laidlaw Foundation, and the Arts Advantage Program at Downsview S.S. He also has served as a Board Director for Kalinka Contemporary Russian Dance Company and the Black Canadian Congress.

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