Dedra McDermott Joins DCD
Welcome Dedra
As the 2026/2027 Artist Researcher-In-Residence, emerging curator and researcher Dedra McDermott will be collaborating with Dance Collection Danse to research, catalogue, and digitize the DanceWorks archive. Our shared priority is the cataloguing and digitization of the entire archival collection, with a focus on the BIPOC archival materials for more urgent public access to culturally diverse dance presentation history in Canada. We are thrilled to continue sharing the storied choreographic excellence that comes from makers across Turtle Island.
By honouring this history, we honour every artist, organization, and platform that has been impacted or ignited by DanceWorks and its national legacy.
Photo: Dedra McDermott / by Christine Do
As a Jamaican, First-Generation Canadian, her love of movement began in her mother’s living room. Training in multiple dance forms as a youth, she has been fortunate to have a rewarding career as a professional contemporary dancer (Film/TV/Stage). Her educational background (BFA, MA, MFA) has informed her cross-disciplinary knowledge of live performance and visual culture. Through consistent commitment, Dedra has charted a robust and challenging path that has allowed for undeniable range in the creative sector. Following two significant concussions, Dedra became a dancer who is also an artist-researcher, emerging curator, producer, administrator, and movement dramaturg. In all facets of her academic and professional practice, she has supported racialized artists navigating complex and rigorous creative processes. As an emerging arts leader, she is proud to support artists working to re-educate the public on the realities of global indigeneity and Black histories across the diaspora, including Latin America and the Caribbean.
Notable recent work includes the public program Cartographies of Presence: Live at Mercer Union: a centre for contemporary art (2024) and her previous role of Co-Executive Artistic Producer of DanceWorks, a choreographic presentation platform in Toronto, Canada (Aug. 2023–Aug. 2025, curator of the 2025-2026 Signature Series).
She currently serves as Secretary on the Dancemakers Board of Directors.
