In this video I walk through the top 3 reasons why we wear uniforms in dance class. It’s about so much more than the clothing itself.
It’s about:
✅ Enclothed Cognition – the effect clothing has on a persons mental process and the way they think, feel, and function in areas of attention, confidence, and abstract thinking.
✅ Inclusion & Belonging – imagine the moment your child steps into the studio on their first day of dance, wearing the same uniform as their peers. They instantly feel like they fit in, they’re part of our family, and connected to our community.
✅ Quality Training – uniform allows us as dance educators to provide high quality training, because we’re able to see and correct posture and body alignment to ensure your child is learning and dancing safely.
✅ Choreography – uniforms allow teachers to rehearse and clean choreography, because we can focus on what the dancers are doing without distracting clothing.
What’s the difference between AcroDance and gymnastics? The similarities are obvious, but there are several key differences between the two.
Dance is considered a performing art, while gymnastics is considered a sport. This is an important factor in understanding the key differences between AcroDance and gymnastics, because it shapes the technical foundation for how skills are executed.
Dancers perform on stage and must consider their engagement with the audience, and the transitional movements between skills so that choreography flows, while gymnasts are usually observed from stadium seating and need to project 360 degrees around them.
Dancers typically don’t perform with equipment like mats, bars, vaults and beams, although they may use props. While choreography and music may have similarities for AcroDance and gymnastics, dance is performed on a ‘floating floor’ and gymnasts execute skills on a strung floor.
A floating floor, as seen in our Collingwood dance studios, absorbs the shock of landing to protect our students from injuries that can result from the rebound action of a sprung floor (ankle sprains for example). Therefore dancers adapt their tumbling skills to protect their joints and absorb the impact of landing on a floating floor.
Ultimately the greatest difference in comparing AcroDance and gymnastics is the artistic process and room for dance technique to fuse with acrobatic skills creating a piece of art (choreography).
For more information on our AcroDance classes click here.
Is your child’s safety important to you?
I’m going to assume it’s at the top of your priority list. As a mom, it’s certainly at the top of mine. So when I say, ‘Our classes are taught by qualified, expert dance educators‘, what I really mean is that we know the safest way to teach your child how to dance, while building their confidence and self-esteem.
We don’t skip important progressions of technique (building blocks) and jump to something too advanced just to have your child awkwardly and unsafely bounce around the studio. We break it down into small sections, and as your child masters each section, they are building what we call “safe and accurate technique”. In other words, they’re learning to crawl before they walk, and learning to walk before they run… but of course on a much more detailed scale.
Sometimes parents want their child at the highest level, because they think that’s what it takes to become an awesome dancer. In my 17 years as a certified dance educator, I’ve found the opposite to be true. Students that are pushed ahead too quickly never fully excel because there is always something missing, technique that was skipped along the way.
Mastery is the key to success.
I truly believe that mastery is the key to success. By mastering skills while progressing, I’ve seen my students transform into gorgeous, talented dancers.
Success isn’t instant. It takes time, hard work, dedication and commitment. Regardless of your reason for enrolling your child into dance, aren’t those pretty incredible values that will benefit your child’s future?
There are dance teachers that don’t teach safe and correct technique, because they didn’t learn it that way themselves. How can they monitor and correct, when they don’t know what correct looks like? This is why a teachers training, background and experience are so important. And when hiring our faculty, this is what sets our studio apart from the rest.
Learning to dance accurately and safely not only prevents injury, but it also protects your child from developing bad habits and poor technique, that can take years to fix. Why waste three years learning to do it the wrong way, when you can learn it correctly (and safely), in the first place?
It’s incredible to see how amazing our little dancers become when they learn from an enthusiastic teacher, using a well designed curriculum like our Prima Star Dance Program.
You might think you’ll saving a few bucks on dance classes by going to another dance studio, but ultimately your child would be falling behind our students. Always remember, good technique is safe technique, and better quality training means a safer learning experience for your child.
Have you seen our students dance?! They’re good. Like, really good! By the time our students reach an advanced level, they’re award winning dancers! Check out this video of our recreational students at recital…
Teaching Dance Classes and AcroDance Classes (dance combined with gymnastics) to kids from 3-6 year olds is a special skill. Which is something that can be overlooked by parents and even some dance teachers. Parents want their kids to have fun and sometimes think that a structured dance program is going to be boring, or too hard for their child. But I believe that a structured, age-specific and developmentally appropriate dance program can be both! Which is why we focus on teaching certified dance classes at our Collingwood dance studio. Little ones are sponges, and capable of learning SO MUCH. As long as Dance and AcroDance skills are presented in a fun, encouraging and exciting environment, kids will learn important physical literacy skills and have a blast at the same time!
Physical Literacy In Dance
Physical literacy is described as the “motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life” (International Physical Literacy Association, 2017). With children’s screen time on the rise, physical literacy is less likely to naturally develop through free play, and will need to be taught in a classroom.
Dance Classes Should Nurture The Whole Child
Dance educators have a unique opportunity to instill in our young students both physical literacy as well as social and emotional development. Dance and AcroDance classes should nurture the whole child. Social skills and emotional awareness can be included in the lesson plan when a dance class incorporates play, structure and teamwork.
How To Guide Dance Classes For Kids
This is why it’s so important for dance educators to have a professionally developed, age-specific, intelligent program to guide their dance classes for kids. And this is what makes the Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance programs at Collingwood School of Dance so unique.
A Lasting Impression On Young Children
While mastering a summersault is an impressive goal for a youngster, a dance educator who takes full advantage of their teaching time to influence physical literacy, as well as social and emotional understanding, can make a lasting impression on a young child. Our Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance programs have been expertly designed to do just that.
To learn more about our Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance classes please download our Studio Guide here.
✓ Our studio is built on a solid foundation of core values, and a love of dance and learning.
✓ Dedicated, passionate, expert staff welcoming you and your child.
✓ Dance classes for kids, teens and adults that focus on teaching the foundations of correct technique using professional, exciting and creative programming.
✓ Family friendly – no classes on long weekends or school holidays.
✓ With coordinated class schedules your child won’t have to come to the studio 5 nights a week.
✓ The Recital is a special experience for your child. We don’t place unrealistic expectations on your family time, so we keep recitals short.
✓ All of our dance rooms are equipped with professional floating wood subfloors (a special dance floor), layered with Marley flooring on top. This is critical in providing a safe, shock-absorbent environment to help reduce the risk of injuries.
✓ Awesome Customer Success Team – organized, friendly and available to help you during the day, and during dance classes.
✓ Specially trained dance class assistants to give your child more personal attention in dance class.
✓ Recital Costumes are gorgeous and ready for the stage!
✓ FREE Wifi for families and kids.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
We believe in growing awesome kids. Dance is about so much more than movements. Our students develop collaboration, determination, confidence, etiquette, morals, teamwork, dedication, hard work, commitment, success, resilience, perseverance, creativity and self-expression.
We believe in nurturing great dancers and awesome kids! Taking dance classes is about so much more than learning the steps. When a student graduates from CSD, or transitions into a new activity I want their experience with us to remain valuable to their life. I want our students to have gained life lessons and skills from their time at CSD that will enhance their future and positively impact the rest of their life.
The list of skills and life lessons that come from dance classes for kids, teens and adults alike, and performing for an audience is endless, but here’s a start:
✓ Determination
✓ Setting Goals
✓ Self Confidence
✓ Passion
✓ Hard Work
✓ Etiquette
✓ Precision
✓ Talent
✓ Teamwork & Collaboration
✓ Perseverance
✓ Success & Defeat
✓ Community
✓ Self Expression & Creativity
✓ Humility & Grace
Check out this article by Shannan McQuade on the Odyssey Online, where she lists the 10 Life Lessons I Learned From Dance.
And this article for the Radio City Rockettes listing the 5 Life Lessons You Learn From Dancing.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
We are certified leaders in dance education. We provide outstanding, high caliber dance training and professionalism that, together, deliver premium value to our students.
Dance lessons, classes and training are not a regulated activity. There is no governing body out there ensuring that everyone that teaches dance classes, or opens a dance studio is trained, qualified, certified or even experienced.
As the founder of Collingwood School of Dance, this is extremely important to me, and is actually the reason why I started CSD in 2007. I saw a need in Collingwood and the surrounding area for something better. Something closer to the quality of dance training I received when I moved away from home to train as a professional ballet student at 13 years old. Now, don’t get me wrong, we’re not teaching dance classes for kids to become professional dancers, although some of our students have taken this path after graduating from our program. Our most popular classes and programming are purely for recreational fun. The thing is… you can dance recreationally for one, two or three classes per week and still learn the foundations of correct dance technique. It all comes down to having a dance educator that understands and knows how to teach progressions. You wouldn’t give a novel to a child that is first learning to read, and the same principles apply when learning to dance.
It makes me so proud to see how much our students, some as young as 3 years old, can learn and pick up when presented with a class that is age appropriate, engaging and taught by a professional that understands WHY the students are doing an activity and WHAT it progresses to as they move on to the next level. This really is the key to being an expert dance educator.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Core Value #2: FUN at our Collingwood Dance School!
We believe in teaching dance classes that are both fun and high quality. We create opportunities for our students to unite in exciting activities and celebrations throughout the year
Fun
Dancing is fun, there’s no doubt about it! Having fun is important to our Collingwood dance school. Spreading happiness and joy to our students lives is our mission. Whether it’s dressing up for spirit weeks, or celebrating a first cartwheel.
Exciting & Creative
When we register our children for extracurricular activities, we just want to see them happy, smiling, and excited. Sometimes it takes a few weeks for a child to adjust to a new environment, people, or activity, and this is perfectly normal. At CSD we are fortunate to have expert dance educators that teach exciting and creative dance classes, AND correct dance technique all at the same time. This means that as your child progresses each year, they truly are mastering the skills of a talented dancer while having fun. In other words, they’re not just mimicking what they see on youtube.
Magical
Some of the ways we bring excitement into the studio is through the special touches and magical experiences we create for our students. We celebrate achievements, acts of kindness and inclusiveness, and other examples of upholding our studio values. We present students with a “Wow Card” to acknowledge and congratulate them. Students then use their wow card to enter into a draw to be our Dancer Of The Month.
Our course, the themed studio spirit weeks I talked about in my last blog post also contribute to the fun factor around the dance studio.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info on our Collingwood dance school.
We serve and support a caring dance community, and believe in nurturing kindness, inclusiveness and positive friendships among our students.
More important than anything is the caring and joyful community culture at Collingwood School of Dance.
Dancing is an exciting and positive experience that brings people together. Walk into our dance studios and you’ll feel it. The caring, inclusive and nurturing vibe that makes our Collingwood dance studio so special.
To unite our students and feed our positive culture we host themed studio spirit weeks like Halloween Dress Up, Wacky Hair, and Summer Fun Week.
These fun and special events grow community spirit, nurture creativity in our students, and break away from the normal day-to-day activities.
With specially themed curriculum, we encourage our students to develop skills that go beyond learning the fundamentals of dance technique.
Our student experience the creative process of collaboration, choreographing, teamwork and self-expression.
Feel free to give us a call at (705) 293-7722 if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Dance classes for Tots are not about becoming a ballerina, or the next youtube superstar. Tots aren’t mastering technique, and performing on stage.
It’s about so much more than learning to dance.
We teach little ones about the different ways they can move their bodies and coordinate movement using different parts of their body. We teach them about traveling around a large open space, and all the different ways they can do so. We teach them to move together as a group, and to share with friends. We develop a love of music and natural ability to find the beat and pick up rhythms.
Balancing on one leg or standing in the middle of the group and jumping alone is not easy for most 1 and 2 year olds! But, we develop this over time, in a kind, nurturing and loving environment with the comfort of their guardian holding their hand.
What do toddlers learn?
Our Tots learn to follow instructions and get better at it week after week. Our Tots learn to concentrate for an extended period of time (within reason of course). Our Tots look forward to moving, dancing and playing with fun props like scarves, ribbons and bean bags. Our Tots use their imagination and become elephants, birds and cats. Our Tots happily tidy up all of their props and toys!
Is it all about the dance?
No.
But it is about gradually learning to follow along, and taking directions from their dance teacher. It is about learning basic rhythm skills by clicking sticks together, or banging the drums to the beat.
It’s pretty common for a parent to try their child in a Tots class and then say, “They weren’t really participating, I think I’ll wait until they are a bit older.”
I even questioned this myself when I brought my 2 year old son to a Tots dance class. It was frustrating, because I wanted him to follow along with the teacher and do everything she did.
But instead he just stood there, staring at her. And then he’d run around the room.
I encourage you to persist beyond this.
About 4 weeks in, my son started singing the songs and doing the actions at home. And not long after that he started participating in the class a little bit here and there.
By the end of the 8-week session he was singing along, doing the actions, following instructions and I was so happy that I stuck with it.
I see it all the time.
Now as a teacher of toddlers, I see it all the time. Some Tots just need more time to get comfortable, some take it all in, sights and sounds, and then one day it all clicks and they’re a little mover and shaker following along with me.
Celebrating your Tots small achievements at this age is so special and fulfilling. Especially when you can share these milestones with a class of other parents, grandparents and children who you have gotten to know along the way.
The real dancing will come later.
In the meantime, rest assured you are setting your little one up to learn skills that will go with them everywhere regardless of whether they continue dancing or not.
If you want to find out more about our Prima Star Tots classes for ages 1-2, click here: Prima Star Tots
Devon Stone
Director – Collingwood School of Dance
Devon Stone
Hello there! I’m Devon Stone, the proud owner and director of Collingwood School of Dance – the largest and most dynamic dance studio in Collingwood, serving hundreds of aspiring dancers every year.
I established Collingwood School of Dance in 2007 with the mission to offer a new and innovative type of dance education, one that focuses on inspiring students to discover their passion for dance, boosting their confidence and self-esteem, and empowering them to achieve success through specialized one-of-a-kind dance programs and curriculum available exclusively at Collingwood School of Dance.
As a graduate of the School of Alberta Ballet Teacher Training Program and a certified member of Cecchetti Canada, Cecchetti International – Classical Ballet, and Acrobatic Arts, I bring over 20 years of dance teaching experience to the area.
My passion for dance started at a young age, and at just 13 years old, I was accepted into a prestigious professional ballet school, the Quinte Ballet School, where I honed my skills further. I also had the opportunity to attend the National Ballet School in Toronto and graduate from The School of Dance in Ottawa, which further molded me into the dancer and teacher I am today.
With a deep-rooted love for ballet, I was honored to receive top marks on all my Cecchetti Ballet exams and receive the prestigious Celia Franca Scholarship Award in 1998.
At Collingwood School of Dance, I’ve created an environment and unique dance training education system that sets us apart from other studios in the area, combining my experience as a mother and my professional dance training to provide a nurturing and inspiring dance studio for children and adults to learn and grow.
Our team of dance educators are dedicated to fostering growth and development in every student, teaching exquisite technique and building your child’s confidence with every class. Our classes are specifically designed to be intentional and developmentally appropriate, ensuring that your child thrives both as a dancer and as an individual.
With a focus on providing the absolute best dance education in the area, we offer a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere that sets us apart from other studios.
Join us and experience the exceptional difference at Collingwood School of Dance.
Christine discovered her love of dance at the age of 6 when she enrolled in her first ballet class. She continued her dance studies in multiple styles, and danced on a competitive team for 8 years. During her dance training she assisted with various classes and camps, and following graduation from the Early Childhood Education and Behavioural Science Technology program at George Brown College in Toronto, Christine returned to teaching dance.
TAMMI VULLINGS
TAMMI VULLINGS Teacher
Tammi attained her full C.D.T.A. membership and taught in Ottawa for ten years at the Greta Leeming Studio of Dance. While there she became an accredited teacher with the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT), a CFL Cheerleader and spent time performing for various concerts and benefits.
Tammi is a diverse and talented teacher and choreographer, having been invited to be a guest teacher at many studios across Ontario and now calls Simcoe County home. She has had the privilege to adjudicate for Dancezone, Kiwanis and Dance Masters of America, teaching classes for their solo title scholarship competition.
Many of her students have won dancer of the year titles and her choreography has received numerous overall awards. Her students have had great success dancing with various companies, in music videos, on cruise lines, television and on Broadway in New York City. Others have gone on to further their career at the university level and continued their love of dance through teaching.
Tammi believes learning and teaching go hand in hand and continues to further her own training, always pursuing a higher education in dance.
She is looking forward to dancing with the students of Collingwood School of Dance!
OLIVIA SLAT
OLIVIA SLAT Teacher
Olivia Slat started dancing at the age of 4, and she quickly fell in love.
Ms. Olivia trained as a competitive dancerin jazz, ballet, hip hop, acro and lyrical, and eventually started teaching hip hop, jazz and acro classes.
Ms. Olivia regularly attends dance intensives including The Pulse and VIP dance events to keep her skills and teaching style fresh and up-to-date.
Ms. Olivia has performed as a background dancer on the hit Family television show, The Next Step.
Ms. Olivia’s passion for dance has continued to grow and she brings that joy and passion with her to the studio every day, and she is excited to share her love of dance with the students of Collingwood School of Dance.
ALANNAH MORROW
ALANNAH MORROW Teacher
Alannah has been dancing for the past 20 years and has been teaching dance for almost 9 years. She grew up dancing in Markham when her family moved to Oshawa. Alannah started her competitive dance career at twelve years of age, training at Theatre Dance Academy (Oshawa, ON) in many disciplines including: ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and musical theatre and was always recognized for her strong technique and showmanship qualities.
Alannah is certified with The British Association of Teachers of Dancing receiving her Associate Ballet Certificate. She has also studied under Dance Masters of America (Level One) and Acrobatic Arts (Level One).
Alannah loves teaching and watching her students grow and excel. Her students have been awarded with many Special and Top Mark Awards. In addition to her student’s success, Alannah has also received Choreography Awards for her routines. Alannah is a passionate teacher who is dedicated to seeing every student achieve their personal best.
Dance has always been a huge part of Alannah’s life and she is eager to share her love for dance with all her students. In addition, Alannah shares a passion for Yoga and integrates Yoga techniques into her stretch classes in dance.
TARA PICKFORD BIO
TARA PICKFORD Owner and Founder
Tara Pickford started dancing at the age of 4 and hasn’t sat still since. She is committed to teaching young people how to find a passion for theatre and dance at her studio.
Tara received a Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology, with a major in Mind Sciences, at the University of Calgary. She is a fully certified ADAPT Teacher, Al Gilbert Teacher, and Acrobatic Arts Teacher, and a member of the Wild Rose Dance Arts Association.
Tara has created award-winning choreography for competitions and exciting recitals for all ages and abilities. Still in the classroom, teaching all types of dance and all ages from age 1 to pre-professional, she has a strong understanding of the hard work and the process dancers, teachers, and parents take on to get to the stage and have a great experience.
When she is not with her studio family, she is at home with her two energetic children – both dancers! She loves living for the day and inspiring her children. Now that both have started their own journeys in the dance world, Tara has a deeper understanding of what families are looking for in a studio.
RAE-LEE BROWER
RAE-LEE BROWER Ballet Director
Rae-Lee is devoted to helping aspiring young dance artists. Her goal is to create healthy and enthusiastic dancers who love art and will positively influence the world of dance. She began her ballet and contemporary training in Alberta at Crossings Dance Studio. Later, she danced for six years in Corps Bara Dance Youth Company traveling around Alberta, Toronto and New York City.
In 2012, she began her training in contemporary dance at Simon Fraser University where she studied modern dance and choreographic composition. Rae-Lee moved to Toronto in 2014 to learn from renowned faculty at Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program. During her training at NBS she obtained her teaching qualifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and the Royal Academy of Dance.
In 2017, she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Contemporary dance from Simon Fraser and her Teacher Training Diploma. She is excited to be returning to Calgary to begin spreading her the knowledge she has gained while learning from the teachers and students at APA and around the province.
She encourages all dancers to love themselves for who they are and to never give up on their passions in life.