Course creations

Original Courses

In-Studio

Half Day Program (2016 - 2020)

The Half Day Program (HDP) provided high-school-aged students with the opportunity to train five days a week during the afternoon hours before their regular evening classes commenced.  

As the program evolved, participants specialized in classical ballet, modern dance, creation and choreography. Dancers supplemented their technique and artistry with dance-specific conditioning such as Progressing Ballet Technique and intuitive flexibility programmes. *Health Sciences was an introductory course focused on the healthy dancer, providing information on basic anatomy, nutrition, and mental health. 

HDP participants were also members of the resident Performing Company, spending additional hours each week, rehearsing original solo, small group, and large group pieces for presentation at community events, regional festivals, and competitions.  

HDP was important because it allowed dancers increased hours in the studio for a dedicated daily focus on their craft, opportunities to develop leadership roles within the studio, and specific skills such as giving and receiving critical feedback.  It was time and space for students to focus on, and achieve, their highest level of dance potential, as recognized by elite organizations and within their community.

*The Health Sciences component is evolving into the Stress Relief & Mindfulness for Dancers online course, currently in development

The Creation Course (2009 - present)

The Creation Course approaches dance-making like a recipe with options for substitutions, allowing students to feel fully guided and supported while exploring their distinctive style.

Although leaning into choreography is not a natural tendency for all dancers, a basic understanding of composing movement phrases and developing expression is essential for those who wish to become teachers or participate in collaborative projects.

Influenced heavily by Patricia Beatty's writings (Form Without Formula), Lynne Anne Blom and L. Tarin Chaplin (The Intimate Act of Choreography), as well as my teachers and colleagues, the Creation Course explores movement generation prompts, improvisational tasks, compositional techniques, documentation, self-editing and peer review.

Open Ballet (2009 - present)

Open Ballet classes reflect both the students' current abilities and future goals using English, Italian, and Russian school influences.

Utilizing aspects of the Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti Method and Vagovona Ballet Academy styles, students work at the level suitable for them, from beginner ballet fundamentals to advanced variations and repertoire.

The lessons are built on progressions: the building up, adding to, and layering of concepts to increase challenge and skill.  Musical selections have an appropriate connection to each exercise or the accompanist's choice.

Modern Dance (2009 - present)

Based on my Graham Technique training at York University, and from the teachers from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and Dancetheatre David Earle, I have created an introductory curriculum for intermediate to advanced students and beginner adults. 

The physical portrayal of emotion signature to the Graham Technique can be overwhelming for participants. Although I am not a certified Graham Technique Instructor, I feel honoured and equipped to help guide dancers through this initiatory experience.

Broken down are the traditional seated, standing and across the floor exercises into concepts and drills, with careful explanation of the movement's origins and complete reverence of the technique.  As the skills build on themselves, the curriculum reveals variations on the original exercises to embody and enjoy the Graham Technique essence, if not with total accuracy.

Online

The Independent Dance Teacher (2020 - present)

The Independent Dance Teacher is a 5-Lesson Mini-Course providing information for self-employed independent dance educators, such as legal terms and financial responsibilities, the importance of branding, how to use industry standards and practical methods for increasing teaching wages, and implementing professional boundaries and working standards for chosen places of employment.

Improving Your Practice (2020 - present)

This 4-Lesson Mini-Course helps teachers review their current teaching practices, encouraging a healthy, sustainable and satisfying experience for both them and their students as they continue forward in their careers.

Educators reflect on their histories and experiences with dance and dance education, identifying personal challenges and repurposing them into tools for inspiration, which helps develop their professional manifesto and begins the goal-setting process for fulfilling professional and personal lives.

Online still in development

The Organized Dance Teacher (2021)

The Organized Dance Teacher is a 3-Lesson Mini-Course to help overwhelmed dance educators get their resource library and lesson plans back on track.

Participants will uncover their essential teaching tools, begin the steps towards creating their own syllabus, and design lessons now in preparation for any teaching opportunity that may arise.

Safeguarding Your Students (2021)

One part of a larger unit entitled The Power of Teaching Dance, Safeguarding Your Students introduces and outlines the responsibilities of protecting children and vulnerable people in the dance environment.

In Support of the Dance Teacher (2021)

In Support of the Dance Teacher is a 5-Module course bringing together previously mentioned mini-courses and new lessons that address several areas where dance teachers can reclaim their power to thoroughly enjoy their work.

Topics include:

▸ Ways to define and use teaching values to provide excellence in the job

▸ The benefits and responsibilities of being self-employed

▸ Observing differences in student learning styles, managing classroom behaviour expectations, working with specific challenges, safeguarding students and maintaining boundaries with compassion

▸ Reducing stress through resource organization and simplified lesson preparation

▸ Time management and creating a healthy balance between work and life at home

Complete Conditioning for Dancers (2021)

Complete Conditioning for Dancers is a weekly training and accountability program for dance students. 

Tending to the three areas of focus, stamina, flexibility and strength, and masterful execution, the program encourages students to address essential components outside of regular class time to perform at their highest level.

Stress Relief & Mindfulness for Dancers (2021)

Dancers explore tools to help reduce anxiety, manage reactionary emotions, and plan for short-term and long-term goals.

Students become familiar with breath observation and breathing techniques, tactics for responding in healthy ways to everyday ups and downs, regulating sensory overload, visualizing, meditation, logging progress and setting goals.