Niverville’s Elite Dance Academy has undergone an exciting transformation over the summer months. New and returning dancers are pirouetting, flapping, and jazz-walking their way into a new 4,000-square-foot dance school. In addition to the change in venue, owners and artistic directors Danielle Auld and Melanie Ducharme, have renamed their school the Prairie Soul Dance Company. They are proud to be a family owned and operated business, grounded by their prairie roots.
The sisters became entrepreneurs 13 years ago, at the ages of 17 and 19, but they’ve come a long way. They started out with just 22 students, but their numbers have grown to an impressive 200.
“There was a need to be in one location where all the kids could dance together without having to go across the parking lot,” says Melanie Ducharme. The new dance school is a single, unattached building located towards the back of the same parking lot.
The new building allows for further program development. Within these walls, dancers are treated to three large studio spaces, all featuring professional sprung flooring, which absorbs shock and helps reduce injury. Parents can also observe dance classes through windows while relaxing in the spacious waiting room between studios.
The new design allows more students to participate, so much so that six new dance instructors have been hired. Ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and Broadway will continue to be offered. New classes include Creative Worship and Musical Theater.
The already popular Creative Worship class teaches the arts of using basic ballet techniques,
movement, vocabulary, and props (such as streamers, flags, and billows) to express one’s personal relationship with God. Musical Theater is an interactive class exploring musicals and performing arts through acting, characterization, vocal technique, and vocal performance while dancing with occasional live music accompaniment.
Those interested in performing in front of an audience beyond the year-end recital, hosted at the Pantages Playhouse Theater in Winnipeg, can become involved in the competitive program. All students are invited to participate, regardless of dance level and experience. A new Petite stream is being added for younger students, ages 6 and older.
Besides the opportunity to become better acquainted with the stage, students may also travel out of province to compete. Last year, students took part in a festival hosted in Sherwood Park, Alberta. You can also catch an upcoming performance at the Imagine Run on September 26.
While classes began on September 14, registrations are still being accepted.
