Sustainability review of MacDonald Island Dance Academy (MIDA) completed
(Fort McMurray, AB, April 19, 2022) – An internal multi-faceted sustainability review of the MacDonald Island Dance Academy (MIDA) has been completed and next steps determined.
MacDonald Island Park began offering recreational dance programs with the development of MIDA in 2012. At that time a service gap had been identified in the community for dance programming with demand exceeding the capacity within the region. MIDA is a program managed, staffed and funded by the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo (RRC), operator of MacDonald Island Park.
The RRC has been reviewing and assessing the MIDA program since the fall of 2019 as a result of decreased registration coupled with increased expenses raising concerns about sustainability of the program. In September of 2021 as other youth and adult programs returned to more normal or near normal rates of registered operations, RRC administration identified that MIDA was not following the same pattern. Through the Fall and Winter of 2021/2022, the work on the MIDA program review initiated in 2019 continued in order to assess the current and future sustainability of MIDA.
The past five dance seasons and 2021-2022 dance season forecast have shown a consistent downward trend. Over that period of time, registration numbers have plateaued or tapered off, while expenses have continuously increased and additional competitors have entered the market. Pre-pandemic in the 2019 calendar year there was a 37% reduction in profitability for the dance segment. This followed a reduction in 2018 as well.
After internal review, the RRC believes that the private dance studios in the community are better equipped to offer an operationally efficient and affordable service for the community. The RRC is confident that the private dance studios in the region have the capacity and programs necessary to meet the demand for service in the region based on feedback received from the studio operators.
As such, effective the end of the 2021/2022 dance season, MacDonald Island Park will cease offering dance programming through MIDA.
This decision was reached after significant consideration, taking into account the impact the closure of the MIDA program will have on dance program participants and ensuring there are other options available for those participants, including ensuring dance programming remains available at MacDonald Island Park.
The RRC is committed to supporting performing arts both at MacDonald Island and throughout the community. The RRC also has a commitment to fiscal responsibility and sustainability to ensure accountability to the RMWB and the residents of the region.
In an exploratory process, the space at MacDonald Island Park dedicated to dance programming was issued as a public RFP in March 2022 and posted on Alberta Purchasing Connection in accordance with RRC policy. A successful proposal has been accepted for the lease of this space. The RRC has entered an agreement in principle with YMM Dance Company to lease the space at MacDonald Island Park, meaning that access to quality recreational and competitive dance at MacDonald Island will continue.
MacDonald Island Park and the RRC are proud of all the dancers who came through the doors whether to dance for the first time or as accomplished competitive dancers, and are deeply grateful for the support the community has shown for the MIDA program over the years.