Miss Jen

Director, Dance & Conditioning Instructor - She/Her

I grew up loving dance and studied several genres! 

At my home studio in Cambridge, Ontario, guided by Ms. Dianne Long, I was devoted to daily class, pursuing exams, assisting my teachers, and creating routines for local performances. I choreographed and directed several school shows and local events in high school. In my final year, I performed under Vitek Winzca with The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble in Kiev, Ukraine.  

I received numerous performance awards from York University during my studies and received a scholarship to train under David Earle, Suzette Sherman, and Kenny Pearl at DanceTheatre David Earle.

I spent 12 years on the West Coast, dancing professionally with Judith Marcuse, Jennifer Mascall, and my small collective, Give Me Brilliance. In addition, I had the extraordinary experience of co-owning and co-directing my school on the North Shore from 2013 - 2020.

I am passionate about passing on my love of movement to students at every stage.

Since 2011, GMB Dance has evolved from a contemporary dance and performance art collective in Vancouver, BC, to an in-studio and online resource for dance students and educators operating in Hantsport, Nova Scotia.

As a school, its goals are to:

1. Foster a love of dance by providing healthy and supportive instruction for technically proficient, expressive artists of all ages and levels of experience.

2. Guide dance educators new to the role or looking for ways to refresh their position into better career health.

As an educator, my goal is to develop critical thinkers equipped with a practical skill-set by providing engaging lessons and opportunities for building experiences. 

I want students to leave my care with a rich understanding of the material and the confidence to continue to grow, engaging in this world with kindness, compassion, and professionalism.

I am committed to keeping my education current and up to date. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from York University, a Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance, and am a Registered RAD Teacher. I am also certified to teach Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Acrobatique and Acrobatic Arts, am a Full Teaching Member with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), and an ongoing student with the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).

Sarah

Yoga Instructor - She/Her

I started my journey with yoga twenty years ago as a teenager before it became so widely popular in the West. My background in dance and athletics drew me to the practice, and I fell in love. With over 350 hours of teacher training, I started studying to become a teacher in 2010. 

Ever since I have taught students at all levels, and I particularly enjoy teaching through a restorative lens. After having two daughters, I augmented this approach when I used a pre-natal and post-natal yoga practice to help me thrive and heal (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually). I also have many years of experience teaching chair yoga in long-term care.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy, am a singer-songwriter, and end my classes with ‘a sung blessing’ that I learned many years ago from one of my beloved teachers.

I am enthusiastic about mindfulness, meditation, balance work and restoring peace, strength and harmony to the body.