About Us

About Us

Currently in our 21st season, The Travelling Stage is an arts education organization that brings dance, drama, mindfulness and music programs to over 50 school boards across Canada.

We also work in partnership with Guides Canada, the YMCA, BGC Canada, and Boys and Girls Club of America.

This past year alone, we worked with over 5 million Canadian students. We are now proud to also be operating in the United States.

Our Head Office is based in Durham Region, Ontario, where we offer a studio production program with year round classes for youth and adults.

Our teachers are some of Canada’s top performing artists and have worked on stages across North America and Europe. Our programs were created to enrich school curriculum, to inspire students to strive for excellence, to increase self-esteem and to cultivate an appreciation for the performing arts.

All of our teaching artists have a current VSS. We offer our programs in French and English.

We offer programs in person and via live virtual for FDK through grade 12. 

Toni Grates

Director and Founder

Toni Grates is the Founding Director of The Travelling Stage. She spends much of her time creating and advocating for arts opportunities for young people. She’s worked as an actor and a writer for YTV and CityTV and has performed on, directed and written for stages across North America. Her first novel, STRETCH, is now available in paperback at Chapters/Indigo. In addition to her work with The Travelling Stage, she teaches Drama Education at Brock University. Most recently, she received the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Durham Catholic District School Board. Toni is the proud mom of Isaac and Jude.

Office Team

Artist Educators