TDLI Annual Trends Report
Helping the dance industry make informed decisions through data, transparency, and collaboration.
Each year, TDLI gathers insights from dance professionals across Canada to better understand what’s happening in our industry. By collecting real-world data from adjudicators, competition directors, educators, and studio owners, we’re creating a clearer picture of today’s dance landscape—and helping shape tomorrow’s.
The aggregate data is shared with our community to spark informed conversations, support better decision-making, and advocate for the needs of dance professionals across the country. Your voice helps ensure the report reflects the realities of our industry.
Transparency leads to stronger decisions.
WHY THIS MATTERS 💭
The dance industry is built on passionate people—but many of the decisions we make happen without reliable data.
Questions like:
What is a fair adjudication rate?
What are dance teachers being paid?
What policies and practices are becoming standard?
How are competitions evolving?
What trends are shaping our industry?
Too often, the answers are based on assumptions.
The Annual Trends Report exists to change that.
By collecting data from professionals across the industry, we can identify trends, encourage transparency, and provide meaningful insights that help everyone make more informed decisions.
WHO PARTICIPATES?
-
![]()
COMPETITION DIRECTORS
Operations, staffing, scheduling, awards, expectations, and industry trends.
-
![]()
ADJUDICATORS
Compensation, scheduling, contracts, travel, policies, feedback practices, and more.
-
![]()
DANCE EDUCATORS
Teaching rates, employment, professional development, studio expectations, and career growth.
-
![]()
STUDIO OWNERS
Tuition, payroll, staffing, policies, retention, operations, and business trends.
When more professionals contribute, everyone benefits.
Your responses help create valuable benchmarks for the industry, including:
✔️ Compensations trends
✔️ Business practices
✔️ Industry standards
✔️ Employment trends
✔️ Professional expectations
✔️ Policy development
Whether you’re negotiating a contract, hiring staff, or planning your season, better information leads to better decisions.
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED 📈
FAQs
Is this survey confidential?
1
YES. Individual responses are kept confidential within the TDLI Team. Your information is never shared publicly, or with Members, and all personal details are kept private.
Do i need to be a tdli member to participate?
2
No! The Annual Trends Survey is open to everyone in the dance industry. The more professionals who contribute, the more accurate the data becomes! If you participate in the survey, TDLI Member or not, you will receive a snapshot of the results once all data is ready to be shared.
WHEN ARE THE REPORTS RELEASED?
3
The survey is conducted annually in the fall/winter, with findings shared once data collection and analysis is complete.
What changes if I am a member?
4
Members receive early access to results, deeper insights of survey results with a discussion, and input in survey creation. See more below 👇
Join our mailing list and follow us on social media to be the first to know when each year’s survey is open for responses!
5
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Anyone can complete the Annual Trends Survey.
But members help shape it.
As a member of TDLI’s Dance Educator Collective or Adjudicator Circle, you’ll be invited to an online meeting to discuss findings and brainstorm new questions for the next season.
MEMBERSHIP GIVES YOU A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
This isn’t just a survey.
It’s an opportunity to influence meaningful conversations across the dance industry.
-
Suggest new questions and emerging topics that matter to your work.
-
Attend an exclusive member discussion each fall as we unpack the data and explore what it means for our industry.
-
Your experiences help ensure the report reflects the realities of today’s dance professionals.
COMING SOON: FALL 2026
2026 Member Roundtable*
Join fellow members for an exclusive online discussion where we’ll:
Review this year’s findings'
Explore emerging industry trends
Discuss what surprised us
Brainstorm questions for next year’s survey
Help shape the future of the Annual Trends Report
*available to both Educator Collective and Adjudicator Circle members
better information creates a stronger industry.
Whether you’re an adjudicator, educator, studio owner, or competition director, your voice matters.
Help us create a more transparent, informed, and connected dance industry.