J'Adore Dance Artistic Director, Edmonton Owner
As long as I can remember, I have loved to dance. At age 3, I took my first creative movement class and fell in love with the freedom of expression, the creativity, and the joy I felt while I danced. Dance was something that seemed so natural, so instinctual; it was my body's way of singing.
As I grew older, so did my passion for learning to move my body in new ways. I studied with different teachers and choreographers in the areas of Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, African, Latin, Belly Dance, and Folk Dance. I was in awe of what amazing athletes dancers were, strong and flexible. My love affair with dance continued to grow as I realized it balanced my mind, body, and spirit, unlike anything else I had ever experienced.
As I continued to dance, I was amazed how many people did not dance because they felt they weren't good enough, did not have the right body type, or had simply been told they could not dance. This shocked and saddened me. Dance historically has been about celebration, cultural transference, and expression. Human beings were born to dance! I realized the opportunities I had been given to experience dance in a creative, non-competitive environment had fostered a freedom in my body, mind, and spirit. I understood that this supportive, non-judgmental approach was key to my enjoyment of dance.
My goal became to give people of all backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of dance. My journey took me everywhere from children's day camps, ongoing programs for at-risk youth, dance fitness programs for adults, and into elementary classrooms for special needs and early intervention students. However, it was the birth of my first daughter, Bria, that gave birth to my company, J'Adore Dance.
My mission, through J'Adore Dance (meaning I Love Dance), is to continue sharing my love of dance with my greatest love, my family, and focus on making dance and its benefits accessible to all people. To me, accessible dance and wellness programs are more than the classes themselves, but also create a sense of community and support. Our company strives to have a strong community presence by supporting and sponsoring events and services that provide people with ongoing educational and lifestyle oriented experiences.
As J'Adore Dance continues to grow and offer a wider variety of lifestyle based dance programs, my goal is to help all people realize that dancing comes first and foremost from the heart!
