Powell River’s newest dance school, Shoreline Dance Academy, is opening its fall registration and welcoming students of all ages.
Academy owner Chantelle Norris is a former professional ballet dancer who has trained with some of North America’s most prominent classical instructors. She is certified to teach by the United Kingdom’s Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), two of the world’s most influential dance education organizations. Shoreline is a designated RAD and ISTD studio.
“Training is of great importance, but of even greater importance is providing an environment where youth can feel accepted and encouraged,” says Chantelle. “I know for me, the dance studio I grew up at was my second family, if not sometimes my first, so Shoreline deeply encourages a family atmosphere where both students and parents can feel welcome and cared for.”
She opened Shoreline in Powell River earlier this spring and has over 15 years’ teaching experience with dance schools across western Canada. Between her time teaching numerous summer intensives, choreographing solos, and working with her youth ballet company Nanaimo Contemporary Ballet, Chantelle has also been upgrading the location on Joyce Avenue. Shoreline boasts two large studios with custom sprung floors and a bright and friendly updated lobby.
Certified ISTD teachers Cat and Hayley Newcombe will be joining Shoreline’s faculty this season.
Shoreline will be offering a day of mini-classes free-of-charge for potential students from noonto 3:30 pm on Sunday, September 2. Students of any dance experience are welcome to attend, and no pre-registration is required. A more detailed schedule can be found on the school’s website shorelinedance.ca.
The dance academy offers classes in a range of dance disciplines for students of all ages, including jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, musical theatre, acro, modern, adult ballet, mommy and me, and stretch and strength.
“We are particularly excited about our Royal Academy of Dance early beginnings program, which offers students ages five to seven years old the opportunity to learn ballet in a fun, and supportive environment,” says Chantelle. “The RAD syllabus is such a joy to teach and it’s always inspiring to see how much the students enjoy it.”
Shorelineis also the first to offer ISTD's Modern Theatre syllabus, which allows students to explore a fusion of jazz and modern techniques while also utilizing their performance abilities. Chantelle travelledtwice to England to learn the syllabus.
"I have to admit that sometimes it steals some of my love for ballet," she says. "It's just so much fun.”
For the last six years, she has been the artistic director of Nanaimo’s Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts’ highly successful pre-professional program. Her students have gone on to dance full-time at prestigious ballet schools such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Quinte Ballet School, the National Ballet of Canada and have won numerous accolades such as top placements at the world’s renowned Youth America Grand Prix.
Chantelle recognizes that her students come to learn dance for a variety of reasons but stresses that learning to dance offers children important skill development.
“Whether training for fun or a future career in the arts, Shoreline instills the self-confidence and critical thinking skills needed to get ahead in today’s world,” she says. “We believe a dance school is so much more than training; it’s trust, a home away from home, and above all, it’s a family.”
For families needing to purchase dancewear for their children, Nanaimo’s Performing Fabrics Dancewear will be holding a pop-up shop at Shoreline from noon to 3 pm on September 2.
Shoreline Dance Academy is located at #101-4871 Joyce Avenue in the Crossroads Village Shopping Centre. For more information about the classes, contact the studio at 1.250.732.0150 or find it on Facebook and Instagram.To register for classes online visit the academy’s website at shorelinedance.caor stop into the studio from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on September 2 or 9 to register in person.
