- The Instructors
Carole Cave is owner and Director of the Sooke Dance Studio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance (emphasis modern dance & choreography) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been teaching ages three to adult for over twenty years, fifteen years in Sooke.
Kathie Hunwick has studied Music and Dance, specializing in Ballet, Singing and Musical Theatre. Her professional qualifications include BA (Hons) Music with Dance, PGCE Drama, RAD Teaching Diploma, AISTD (Dip), LTCL (Teachers) Singing. She is currently contracted as a Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Royal Academy of Dance teaching certificate and degree programs, lectures trainee teachers, and is involved in teaching Preschool to Professional Dancers and Singers. As a teacher, she is proud to have taught several young dancers and singers (boys and girls) who have gone on to professional careers, or have auditioned successfully for top dance schools. She is the Director of Lighthouse Academy of Dance, and is pleased to enter into this affiliation with Sooke Dance Studio to promote the worldwide renowned Royal Academy of Dance Ballet examination syllabi.
Niki Martin is an award winning dancer and choreographer, and a certified fitness instructor. A competitive dancer from the age of 12, she was trained in Brian Foley ADAPT syllabus and specializes in tap. She has performed on television and internationally on stage. Passionate about sharing her love of dance, she has taught dance and movement to music for more than 15 years. Niki is also a wife and mother and thrilled to be joining the Sooke Dance Studio team where she hopes to bring her joy of dance, family and community.
Mathilde Bélanger trained in Montreal with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens for more than a dozen years where she studied under Christine Claire and Daniel Sellier. During which time, she participated in the annual production of the Nutcracker. In 1990, she was invited to perform at the Banff Center of Fine Arts where she studied under Annette Av Paul (GBC) and Victoria Simons (NYCB). She performed excerpts from Sleeping Beauty and Serenade. In 1992, in Montreal, she obtained her Dance Diploma of College Education in conjunction with academic studies. Her extensive dance training included Ballet (pointes), Pas de Deux, Modern Dance (Graham), Jazz, Flaminco, Music, History, Anatomy, and Pedagogy. During her degree, she performed La Fille Malgardée, Swan Lake (act II), La Bayadere, and Sleeping Beauty. In parallel, she attended master classes in New York City on a monthly basis. Upon graduation, she joined Le Jeune Ballet du Québec where she expanded her repertoire. She participated in choreography workshops with numerous upcoming choreographers and hosted live forums between dancers and audience around the Province. She returned to Banff in 1993 where she performed Scotch Symphony and Time out of Mind. She moved to Vancouver in 1993 and joined the Goh Ballet Academy where she performed Classical Ballet and Modern Dances around the city. She now teaches ballet technique at the Sooke Dance Studio.
Robyn Gerry's professional dance and choreography experience include film and stage in Vancouver, Victoria, Los Angeles and Australia. She has received numerous awards and scholarships for her dance and choreography. Her teaching experience includes classes at the Space Dance Center in Melbourne Australia and assisting Edge co-founder and L.A. choreographer Keith Clifton. She currently attends University of Victoria and is a dancer with the Canadian Pacific Ballet.
Kristal Weening started training at age 5 at Stage Performing Arts School and is currently on the teaching staff at Stages. She is formally trained in Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern, Flamenco and Acrobatics. She has performed in local productions of Babes in Toyland, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver and Miracle on 34th Street. She has also performed locally in the Commonwealth Games and abroad in China.
Melanie Dawson trained at the Joy Spriggs School of Dance (London, England), the Stella Mann School of Dance (London, England) and with Ballet Rambert (London, England). She studied classical and modern ballet, jazz and character dancing. She danced professionally in London, England and across Europe on stage, film and TV. She has attended workshops with Bertram Ross (Martha Graham Company) and Kazuko (Martha Graham Company) at the Toronto Dance Theatre. She gave up her professional dance career when she moved to B.C. to start her family. She looks forward to teaching at the Sooke Dance Studio in September.
Policies
Studio etiquette: Please arrive ON TIME to class. All dancers
should prepare for class (shoes and coats off, hair up, dance
shoes on, etc.) quietly outside the studio or in the foyer. Parents
and siblings are asked to avoid coming into the studio between
classes. This will allow back-to-back classes to run on time
and with less distraction. All young dancers will remain in the
dance studio until the parent picks them up at the studio door.
If you may be late picking up your child, please ask them to
remain in the room with the teacher. No running or screaming in hallways - quiet please. Please do not leave children ages 10 and under in the halls unsupervised. A parent must supervise these children. The dance teacher can only supervise children in class during their designated class time.
Please respect businesses in the dance studio building. No running or playing in the halls. Please sit and wait quietly.
- Dress code
-
ALL classes:
Long HAIR MUST BE UP out of the face
No costume jewelry.
No necklaces, bracelets, watches or dangling earrings
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Ballet classes :
For ALL classes, correct ballet uniform must be worn.
Leather ballet shoes - no split soles!
Pre-Primary & Primary:
Girls
- pink tank style or short sleeve leotard
- pink semi sheer skirt, mid-thigh length (end of fingertips)
- pink short socks or pink tights (socks recommended - last longer)
-
pink leather ballet shoes - must be full sole.
Boys
- white close-fitting T shirt or leotard
- Navy shorts (bike shorts/close fit)
- White short socks & white ballet shoes
Grade 1 & 2:
Girls
Boys
- as for primary plus character shoes (low heel)
Grade 3-5:
Girls
- Navy tank style leotard (ruched front preferred) with matching elastic belt
- pink tights
- pink leather ballet shoes (no split soles!)
-
Character shoes - cuban heel, and character skirt
Boys
- As previous grades except boys stirrup tights may be worn
- Character shoes - cuban heel
Recreational Ballet:
Creative Ballet: dancer's favorite dancewear, soft ballet slipper or barefoot
Ages 4-8: ballet slipper, pink body suit, white or light pink tights
Age 9 and up: ballet slippers, black body suit and soft pink tights and/or black dance pant (fitted with narrow bell) and fitted top (no oversized clothing)
Toddler, Creative Dance & Dance Medley*: dance leotards and tights OR form fitting comfortable clothes that will allow your child to jump, stretch and roll on the floor; ballet shoes, gymnastics slippers or bare feet
*Dance Medley: real' tap shoes are not required, but a hard sole dress shoe for the tap portion will allow your child to get the full enjoyment out of the class. PLEASE try to find a pair of hard soled shoes that are easy and quick to put on.
Tap:
dance leotards with tights are always welcome OR form fitting clothes that allow you and the teacher to see your body
movements; proper tap shoes will allow your child to experience the class more fully and get the most enjoyment out of it HOWEVER buy second hand shoes (they're just as great!)
Jazz: Jazz shoe or barefoot and dancewear or athletic wear
Hip Hop: Clean, indoor runners. Dance pants, athletic pants, cargos etc.
Modern: barefoot or dance sock, black dance pant (narrow bell), fitted top (no oversized clothing)
Musical Theatre: Clean, indoor runners and athletic wear.
Adult dance: comfortable exercise wear, barefoot or soft dance shoe
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