What is GFT?

Groundforce Technique (GFT) is a proactive dance training methodology that equips dancers and educators with the tools to build a safe, efficient, and sustainable technical foundation from the ground up.

By analyzing dance technique at a deeper structural and muscular level, GFT addresses faulty movement patterns and injury-causing imbalances through a proven repertoire of conditioning exercises specifically designed to meet the demands of dancers’ bodies.

GFT is founded on three core pillars:

  • Adapting the body to prevent injury

  • Developing peak strength and flexibility

  • Promoting the long-term health and longevity of dancers

GFT courses are structured as continuing education resources for dance educators, offering comprehensive training that focuses not only on what to teach, but how to teach for optimal and lasting results. This curriculum represents the culmination of over four decades of study in dance, pedagogy, Pilates, and the Paula Morgan Technique.

Read more about GFT here!

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A little bit about the founder

Outside of GFT, Donna Bender is the founder and director of two dance studios in Southern Ontario, Canada. With over 38 years of industry experience, she has worked with hundreds of young dancers and many of her students have gone on to pursue professional careers in the arts.

Donna holds many qualifications and continues to be a life-long learner. She is an advanced member, master teacher and examiner for the Society of Classical Ballet, a full stage member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, a certified Pilates instructor in matwork and equipment since 2003 as well as a Health and Wellness coach through the Eben Pagan training program. Donna has worked closely with master teacher Paula Morgan in technique and foundations for dancers since 2004, completing her full Level 4 teacher certification in 2017.

Out of her passion to empower dancers with a safe and solid technical foundation, Donna co-created Groundforce Technique in 2020. She continues to guest teach across North America, sharing this method to care for and inspire the next generation of dancers and teachers.

Read more about her story here!

  • You will learn to develop your eye and the ability to identify and fix alignment issues; learn how to evaluate your students body’s as they grow and develop for optimal health and function; tips for training different body types; learn a tried and true training method to condition the entire body with a solid technical foundation. This method is useful for any genre of dance and can be implemented into your current teaching syllabus; you will expand your own vocabulary and body awareness as a teacher to cue your dancers more strategically; see your dancers improve in strength, mobility and overall capability in a safe way; develop more cohesive classes in their abilities and work ethic.

    With our teacher course, you’ll receive ongoing mentorship with Donna Bender, community dialogue with other like-minded GFT teachers, and various teaching resources to work from (i.e. manuals, videos, recordings, evaluation sheets.)

  • GFT is for all dancers of any genre that want to minimize their risk of injury, achieve optimal physical development and learn how to take care of their unique instrument (aka their body).

    Click here for more info about our GFT Student Summer Intensive!

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