Contemporary dance class combines concepts of modern dance with ballet and popular dance styles. It employs contact-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisational tasks meant to engage the creative side of the dancer. Using structured and specific sequences dancers will sharpen their bodies and minds, while dancing low and with athletic flow. Level 2 requires dancers to be in additional classes weekly including ballet.

DF Performance Youth

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This class will be in the recital.

Placement by audition. Email for information about joining this unique training opportunity.

This group is for dancers ages 15+ with 5+ years of dance experience, including Ballet, contemporary, and Hip-Hop. It requires dedication to attendance, motivation to work hard at an athletic level and develop leadership skills and team-building cooperation.
As a prerequisite, students need to be enrolled in 4+ classes a week, including Ballet Tech and Contemp on Wednesdays and Hip Hop.

Full Term runs Jan 8th – April 26th 2026 

The fee is $305 + GST.

This term is longer than the fall one, and culminates in the 15th Annual DanceFusion Showcase (Dress Rehearsal on Thursday April 23rd, with shows on Friday April 24th 7pm, Saturday April 25th 2 pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2 pm). Double check you do have any date conflicts.

There will be a costume fee that will need to be paid and strong attendance through the term is required.

Only 2 absences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well.

Contemporary 9-11yrs

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This class will be in the recital.

Contemporary is a style of dance that combines elements of several genres, including modern, release, ballet technique, and more, depending on the instructor and choreography. Often, in terms of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance can combine floorwork and modern dance’s stress on the torso, but it is not confined to these techniques. Contemporary at DanceFusion also employs contact-release, floor work, fall and recovery, emotive qualities, and improvisation.

We look to be adventurous, curious, relevant, and inspiring, and we want to express emotion through music!
Dancers develop coordination, musicality and artistry.

Class is held at Studio Alive in uphill Nelson.

Winter term runs from Jan 6th – April 26th 2026.

Cost is $275 + GST

This term is longer than the fall one, and culminates in the 15th Annual DanceFusion Showcase (Dress Rehearsal on Thursday April 23rd, with shows on Friday April 24th 7pm, Saturday April 25th 2 pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2 pm). Double check you do have any date conflicts.

There will be a costume fee that will need to be paid and strong attendance through the term is required.

Only 2 absences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well.

We are so excited to have Ava Jinjoe back on the teaching team. Trained in classical ballet from a young age, Ava is a dedicated instructor, bringing a unique blend of technical precision and artistic flair to class. Fostering a love for dance while nurturing each student’s potential. She has attended and been accepted to numerous dance programs from Kootenay Dance Works in Rossland where she started, to prestigious schools such as Arts Umbrella, Houston Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Jorgen. With a career marked by passion, dedication, and a profound love for the art of dance, Ava is excited to join the Dance Fusion team.

Turns & Jumps

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Sharpen your skills with jazz and ballet technique.  The class includes a dance warm-up that conditions and stretches, then drill centre exercises and across-the-floor combos. Work on skills like pirouettes, Chaîné turns, Piques, Battements, Jetés, Switch Splits, Stag jumps, Attitude Turns and more. This is an excellent technique class that complements Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, and Acro well.

The class is open level, and there will be enough variety to inspire a variety of levels. Some dance experience required, not a total beginner class.

This Term: Jan 6th – March 10th 2026

Cost: $200 + GST

FusionFocus 13-16yrs

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This class will be in the recital.

This is a special class offered for intermediate students who are dedicated to pushing themselves in their dance training. This is not an open class and is by placement.

Email for information about placement

Dancers must be enrolled in at least 2 other classes a week.

Appropriate for dancers with 3+ years of continuous prior dance experience in 3+ classes a week. 

The class will cover Contemporary and Ballet techniques and allow dancers to push their artistry and skill.

This group meets twice weekly: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:30 and Fridays 3:30 – 4:30

Winter Term: Jan 6th – April 26th 2026.

Cost: $415 + GST  (Pricing is separate from multi-class discount as discount is already applied- the regular fee for two classes would $275 per class)

This term is longer than the fall one, and culminates in the 15th Annual DanceFusion Showcase (Dress Rehearsal on Thursday April 23rd, with shows on Friday April 24th 7pm, Saturday April 25th 2 pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2 pm). Double check you do have any date conflicts.

There will be a costume fee that will need to be paid and strong attendance through the term is required.

Only 2 absences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well.

Contemporary Adult/youth 15yrs+

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This class will be in the recital.

Class is held at Studio Alive in uphill Nelson.

Winter Term runs from Jan 5th – April 26th 2026.

Cost $285 + GST

This Contemporary class combines elements of several genres, including modern, release, and more. It is set to diverse and inspiring music to develop musicality and mood. This class will hone and challenge your movement patterns, including floor work, jumps, and turns, and is designed for dancers of all levels.

No prior experience is needed!

Students will also learn combos, techniques, and across-the-floor sequences. The class is geared towards movement quality and fluidity within new patterns.
It is open level, so movements will be layered for a range of experience levels.

Fabiola brings her passion, presence, and joy to the dance floor every class, making it an empowering and inspiring time. This class has a mix of levels, so don’t be shy to push your exploration of dance further.

This term is longer than the fall one, and culminates in the 15th Annual DanceFusion Showcase (Dress Rehearsal on Thursday April 23rd, with shows on Friday April 24th 7pm, Saturday April 25th 2 pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2 pm). Double check you do have any date conflicts.

There will be a costume fee that will need to be paid and strong attendance through the term is required.

Only 2 absences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well.

Jazz Intermediate Level 14yrs+

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This class will be in the recital.

NEW LEVEL!  Open Level moved to Thursdays!

Jazz dance paralleled the birth and spread of jazz itself from its roots in Black American culture and was popularized in ballrooms by the big bands of the swing era (1930s and 40s). It radically altered the style of American and European stage and social dance in the 20th century. The term is sometimes used to describe popular stage dance and jazz-derived or jazz-influenced modern dance forms.

Hilary will share her extensive training to hone the dancers’ alignment, extensions, and musicality. Classes will focus on strength, balancing, flexibility, and rhythm. Students will learn kicks, turns, and jumps with proper technique. Develop flexibility and strength alongside solid dance technique with across-the-floor skills and fun combos.

This class is geared for experienced dancers enrolled in various classes a week with good technical ability and musicality. Thursday 6:30 is Open level Jazz 13yrs+.

The term runs from Jan 6th – April 26th 2026.

The fee is $275 + GST.

This term is longer than the fall one, and culminates in the 15th Annual DanceFusion Showcase (Dress Rehearsal on Thursday April 23rd, with shows on Friday April 24th 7pm, Saturday April 25th 2 pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2 pm). Double check you do have any date conflicts.

There will be a costume fee that will need to be paid and strong attendance through the term is required.

Only 2 absences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well.

Hilary Shanklin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). She’s had the opportunity to work with incredible teachers & choreographers from The National Ballet of Canada, Kaeja d’Dance, and Toronto Dance Theatre and choreographer Hanna Kiel of “Human Body Expressions.” Hilary had the honour of performing at the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, numerous works at Dance Ontario’s Dance Weekend, and on Disney channel’s “The Next Step” pilot episode. Hilary’s passions have always been in dance, movement, and teaching.  She has just completed her Bachelor of Education, congrats!