The York Dance Ensemble is a spirited young company featuring outstanding student performers, creative artists and production crew from the Department of Dance in the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University. The current artistic director of the YDE is dance professor and independent choreographer Holly Small .
Participation is by audition.
Annually, the Ensemble has up to two dozen members, including dancers, choreographers, musicians and apprentices. The York Dance Ensemble's repertory ranges from modern dance classics to new, experimental works created for the company. Pieces choreographed by faculty and students, works commissioned from guest artists, and original scores composed and performed by York music students are regularly included in YDE programs. The Ensemble has also worked with notable international artists such as British Dalcroze eurhythmics specialist Karin Greenhead and American choreographers Daniel Lewis, Phyllis Lamhut, Richard Haisma, Dana Reitz and Peter London. In its debut season, the Ensemble staged Jos Lim n's classic work A Choreographic Offering.