Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators

What Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators does

The Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1971 and registered as a Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number: 119228807RR0001). It serves Ontario-based K-12 drama and dance educators, teacher candidates at Ontario Faculties of Education, and Indigenous education communities. The organization is governed by a volunteer management board comprising regional coordinators (Metro Toronto, Eastern, North East, North West, Western regions) and elected positions including President, Past President, Secretary, and Dance Liaison, with only 5 employees on file.

CODE's core products are a curriculum-aligned resource library (lesson plans, unit plans, assessment tools, French-language materials) accessible through code.on.ca, the Provocations online peer-reviewed journal launched in April 2022, and a portfolio of professional development programs including workshops, CODE on the Road regional events held across Ontario cities, annual provincial conferences, and the CODE Conversations YouTube series. CODE does not build or sell technology products; its digital presence functions as a content management and distribution platform for the association.

Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues (pricing not publicly disclosed, billed annually) and professional development event fees, supplemented by fee-based and free workshops, webinars, and partner program referrals (The Travelling Stage, ProArteDanza, Young People's Theatre). The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on regional coordinators, peer referrals, workshops at school boards and universities, and partnerships with the Ontario Teachers' Federation, the Ontario Ministry of Education, and international bodies including IDEA and AITA/IATA.

Name

Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators

Legal name

Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators

Website

https://code.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE) is a 1971-founded Ontario non-profit professional association that delivers curriculum-aligned resources, professional development workshops, regional events, and the Provocations journal to K-12 drama and dance educators across Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Professional Association

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Teacher/Coach Training & Curriculum for Speech & Debate (EDAMAOAL), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Drama education
• Dance education
• Teacher professional development
• Curriculum resources
• Arts education association

Headquarters

HQ city

Ontario

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CODE operates primarily as a membership-driven professional association. Members pay dues to access CODE resources, professional development, events, and the provincial network of drama and dance educators.
2. Professional Development Events: CODE delivers workshops and events (both free and fee-based for members) such as CODE on the Road regional conferences, webinars, and annual conferences. Some events offer free attendance for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE) is a nonprofit professional association that supports Ontario drama and dance educators through curriculum-aligned teaching resources, in-person and virtual professional development workshops, conferences, and webinars. It also publishes the Provocations journal, maintains regional coordinator networks across Ontario, and partners with arts organizations to deliver supplementary programming such as summer intensives and international exchanges.

Product overview

CODE (Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators) is a professional association serving drama and dance educators across Ontario, not a technology product company. Its core offerings consist of an online resource library of curriculum-aligned lesson plans, unit plans, and teaching materials for drama and dance education (many exclusive to members), professional development through workshops, webinars, conferences, and the CODE on the Road regional event program, and the Provocations online journal. CODE also facilitates summer writing projects that produce new educational resources, and partners with external organizations including The Travelling Stage, ProArteDanza, and Young People's Theatre to offer student programs. All offerings are accessible through the CODE website, with member-only resources gated behind login. The organization does not sell or build technology products; its digital presence serves as a content management and delivery platform for the professional association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Provocations: Drama and Dance in Education: An online journal celebrating drama and dance in education, launched in April 2022.

Products and services

• CODE Membership Annual membership in the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators providing Ontario drama and dance educators with access to teaching resources, regional coordinator networks, professional development events, and publications aligned with the Ontario Dance & Drama Curriculum.
• CODE Resource Library Online repository of curriculum-aligned teaching resources, lesson plans, and pedagogical materials for Ontario drama and dance educators and their students.
• CODE on the Road In-person professional development workshop series delivered by CODE regional coordinators to schools and educator groups across Ontario.
• CODE Workshop Program Scheduled professional development workshops covering drama and dance pedagogy topics for member and non-member educators across Ontario.
• CODE x OTF Connects Webinars Virtual webinar series co-developed with the Ontario Teachers' Federation covering drama, dance, and broader arts-education topics for Ontario teachers.
• Provocations Journal Peer-reviewed journal publication featuring articles, lesson plans, and pedagogical reflections on drama and dance education for Ontario educators.
• CODE Conferences Annual multi-day provincial conferences for Ontario drama and dance educators featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, performances, and networking opportunities.
• Three Up International Program International collaboration program offered through a partner organization that connects Ontario drama and dance educators with peers abroad for cross-cultural exchange.
• ProArteDanza Summer Intensive Program Summer intensive dance training program offered in partnership with ProArteDanza for Ontario dance educators and their students.
• The Travelling Stage Programs Theatre-arts school programming delivered in partnership with The Travelling Stage, available to Ontario schools and educators.
• Visionary Voices Resource Project Curated resource project amplifying Ontario drama and dance educators' voices through published materials, interviews, and classroom-ready content.
• Summer Writing Projects Seasonal summer writing initiative that produces educator-authored articles and pedagogical pieces for the Provocations journal.

Quantifiable outcome

• CODE on the Road events have connected educators across multiple Ontario cities including Port Hope, Kingston, Windsor, Kenora, Napanee, and other regional locations.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Drama/Theatre Educators Association (IDEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026CODE participates in IDEA World Congresses and webinars. CODE board members Michelle Gram Giessen, Heather Newman, and Matthew Sheahan presented at the IDEA Webinar on Drama/Theatre Education in Action for Peace as part of UNESCO Culture and Arts Education Week 2026.
• AITA/IATA (International Amateur Theatre Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013AITA/IATA is an international organization that hosts World Congresses for educators and theatre practitioners. CODE has participated in these congresses and shared learnings with Ontario members.
• Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE has collaborated with the Ontario Teachers' Federation through the OTF Connects Professional Learning Series to deliver webinars on topics including AI and drama education, literacy, and student well-being. Recordings are available on YouTube.
• Prologue Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE partnered with Prologue Performing Arts to create a Best Practices resource document for teachers and artists working together in classrooms. The resource is aligned with STEAM principles and sustainable arts education.
• Ontario Elementary Arts Educators (OAEA) and Ontario Music Educators (OMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE partnered with OAEA and OMEA on the ArtFusion initiative, bringing together elementary generalist arts teachers for a day of inspiration and collaboration in Waterloo and at the TDSB Urban Indigenous Education Centre.
• Ministry of Education (Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE has developed resources in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Education, including Financial Literacy video resources and facilitator guides for Grade 4 Drama and Social Studies lessons.
• Drama for Learning and Creativity (D4LC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE is aware of the UK's Drama for Learning and Creativity (D4LC) initiative and shares information about it with Ontario educators. CODE may be exploring implementation of similar programs in Ontario.
• Sears Drama FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE supports and is connected to the Sears Drama Festival, for which former CODE President Wayne Fairhead received the Order of Canada for his leadership. CODE members participate in and benefit from this festival.
• Provocations Journal Contributors and Editorial BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE produces the Provocations: drama and dance in education journal with contributions from former CODE board members, educators, artist-educators, and students. The journal features international contributors including Dr. Asa Ragnarsdottir and Dr. Peeter Mehisto.
• Canada's Theatre Museum (CTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCODE is developing a teaching resource (Visionary Voices) in association with Canada's Theatre Museum in Toronto, connected to CTM's online Legend Library featuring video interviews by R.H. Thomson with pioneers and change-makers of Canadian theatre.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE): U.S. national association for theatre educators, providing PD, advocacy, and publications for drama teachers. Closest international functional equivalent to CODE's drama mandate.
• Ontario Arts Educators' Association (OAEA): Provincial subject association for visual arts educators in Ontario, operating the same membership-plus-PD model. Directly comparable to CODE in structure, scale, and audience (Ontario K-12 educators), and has co-developed programs (ArtFusion) with CODE.
• Canadian Music Educators' Association (CMEA): National Canadian subject association for music educators. Mirrors CODE's structure and K-12 focus but at the national level and for music rather than drama/dance.
• Ontario Music Educators' Association (OMEA): Provincial subject association for music educators in Ontario. Same charter, funding model, and K-12 educator membership base as CODE, and has partnered with CODE on the ArtFusion initiative.

Broad incumbents

• National Dance Education Organization (NDEO): U.S.-based national membership organization serving dance educators across all education levels. Comparable mission (advocacy, PD, resources) but at national scale and with broader dance focus beyond K-12 schools.
• International Drama/Theatre Educators Association (IDEA): Global drama/theatre education association of which CODE is an affiliate. Provides the international dimension CODE references through World Congresses and webinars, but at global rather than provincial scale.
• Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF): Provincial federation representing Ontario teachers' federations and a strategic CODE partner via OTF Connects webinars. Broader in scope than CODE but a key ecosystem counterpart for PD distribution.
• National Art Education Association (NAEA): U.S. national association for visual arts education — analogous U.S. counterpart in the broader arts-education subject-association landscape that CODE operates in.

Emerging players

• Young People's Theatre (YPT): Toronto-based theatre organization for young audiences that partners with CODE on the Three Up international youth writers program. Overlaps with CODE's audience (drama educators, students) but operates primarily as a producing theatre.
• Prologue Performing Arts: Ontario-based performing arts organization partnering with CODE on best-practices resources for classroom artists and teachers. Comparable STEAM-aligned arts-in-education mission at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_various
• Instagraminstagram.com/dramadancecode
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-of-ontario-drama-and-dance-educators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators