House Intermediate 15yrs+

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House Dance is a style of dance that originated in the late 70’s and early 80’s from underground clubs in Chicago and New York. It reflects and comes from club music known as House, which evolved out of the disco era.  House dance emphasizes fast and complex footwork combined with fluid movements in the torso.  The style was influenced by several types of movement, including Tap, African dance, Latin dance, and martial arts. This style is about freedom, improvisation, and feeling the music and sharing with others. Prepare to move your feet and whole being, and work your brain-body connection.

We have two levels for House, see below for the difference.

House Open Level – Tuesday 7:30pm  –  If you love good beats, love to move your feet and whole being, and are ready to sweat and get down, this is for YOU! This class will cover foundation and will be open to a variety of levels, so there will be more basic coordinations and more complexity will be layered on as well.  Just know that House involves lots of footwork and weight transfer. Cardio! This choreo session is appropriate for dancers with some prior dance experience, not a total beginner class.

House Intermediate – Wednesday 7pm  – This class will build on the foundation, adding more complexity and speed to choreography. It is appropriate for dancers with dance experience, we will be doing faster-paced weight transitions and choreo, more complexity in each routine.

If you are not sure, send us an email and let’s chat!

Bring Clean NON Marking shoes, water and sweat towel 🙂

Term runs January 7 – April 26th.

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 2pm and 7pm and Sunday 26th at 2pm). 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 abscences allowed for this term, email for any exceptions. Attendance at stage rehearsals and showcase is required as well. Classes have costume fees in the range of $25-$50, please be prepared for those fees. Sometimes we use items dancers have or can borrow, more info will be available by late Feb.

HipHop Level UP! 15+

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This HipHop class will integrate party dances of the 80′s and 90′s to the present day. It includes a wide range of styles and will be a funky GOOD TIME. Prepare to move, get groovy, and work your brain-body connection. This class will make you bounce, sweat and feel freaky, funky fine.

Sammy adds complexity progressively to keep it fresh for those who have been there a minute. Not a beginner class. Appropriate for those with a couple of prior dance experience or those who are quick with trickier coordination, it’s time to step ya game up and get into more complexity and freestyle.

First half of the Term Jan 5th – Feb 9th, 2026 $132 + GST

Full Term runs from Jan 5th – April 26th 2026.  $268 + GST

Levels of HipHop at DF:

Foundation – Monday 5:45 pm (15yrs+)/ This class will break down the basics. You’ll still sweat and work hard, with emphasis on learning the foundation of this style. You can stay at this level for several years and keep building your foundation; this will stay fresh.

Open Level – Monday 6:45 pm (15yrs+)/ These classes are for various levels. We start to add more layers to each foundational coordination. We add progressively to keep it fresh for those who have been there a minute. This is not a beginner class. It is appropriate for those with a couple of prior dance experience or those who are quick with trickier coordination. It’s time to step ya game up and get into more complexity.

Intermediate/Adv – Wednesday at 6 pm/ Geared for dancers who already are confident in Hip Hop and are ready for a challenge with freestyle and work on more complex choreography at a faster speed. Appropriate for dancers with several years of training and are comfortable in the spotlight performing.

House Open Level – Tues 7:30/ If you love good beats, moving your feet and whole being, and are ready to sweat and get down, this is for YOU! This class will cover the foundation and will be open to a variety of levels, so there will be more basic coordination that will be layered on more complexity as well as the weeks progress. House involves lots of footwork and weight transfer, can be tricky for a total beginner to pick up. Cardio!

If you are unsure, email us and let’s chat!

If you are between levels…TAKE TWO classes and bump up your confidence with your muscle memory. Bring Clean, non-marking shoes, water and maybe a sweat towel 🙂

If you are taking the full term and will therefore be in the recital, please be read:

This Full 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 Open level Adult 16+

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This Contemporary class combines elements of several genres including modern, release, and more. It employs contact-release, floor work, all set to diverse and hype music with fun drills to develop musicality. This class will hone and challenge your dance patterns, and will include floor work and jumps and turns, and is designed for dancers of all levels.
Students will learn combos,  technique and across the floor sequences as well. The class will include floor work, and 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.

First half of term only: Jan 8th – Jan 29th Cost $92 + GST

Full Term: Jan 8th – April 26th / incl recital Cost $305 + GST

If you are taking the full term and will therefore be in the recital, please be read:

This Full 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.

HipHop Foundation 15yrs+

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Have you been wanting to get back into dance or try something fresh and new? This class is an intro to Hip-Hop culture through street dance. Improve your coordination and build confidence as we build community. In this welcoming environment, we will teach you the fundamentals of Hip-Hop in a supportive and fun way. Let’s go!

This HipHop class will integrate party dances of the 80′s and 90′s to the present day, as well as choreography, across-the-floor grooves, and the latest dance moves that make this dance unique. It includes many styles and will be a funky GOOD TIME. Prepare to move, get groovy, and work your brain-body connection.
This class will make you bounce, sweat and feel freaky, funky fine.

NO previous experience is needed; it is just the desire to learn and grow new neural pathways.
This class will focus on the foundational moves of Hip-Hop and build your confidence, even if you are new to taking a class. If you know the basis, you will get variations to play with and added layers. We will add layers of speed and complexity as the weeks go by. Sammy will dive into the groove and help you feel it in your bones.

First half of the Term Jan 5th – Feb 9th, 2026 $132 + GST

Full Term runs from Jan 5th – April 26th 2026.  $268 + GST

Levels of HipHop at DF:

Foundation – Monday 5:45 pm (15yrs+)/ This class will break down the basics. You’ll still sweat and work hard, with emphasis on learning the foundation of this style. You can stay at this level for several years and keep building your foundation; this will stay fresh.

Open Level – Monday 6:45 pm (15yrs+)/ These classes are for various levels. We start to add more layers to each foundational coordination. We add progressively to keep it fresh for those who have been there a minute. This is not a beginner class. It is appropriate for those with a couple of prior dance experience or those who are quick with trickier coordination. It’s time to step ya game up and get into more complexity.

Intermediate/Adv – Wednesday at 6 pm/ Geared for dancers who already are confident in Hip Hop and are ready for a challenge with freestyle and work on more complex choreography at a faster speed. Appropriate for dancers with several years of training and are comfortable in the spotlight performing.

House Open Level – Tues 7:30/ If you love good beats, moving your feet and whole being, and are ready to sweat and get down, this is for YOU! This class will cover the foundation and will be open to a variety of levels, so there will be more basic coordination that will be layered on more complexity as well as the weeks progress. House involves lots of footwork and weight transfer, can be tricky for a total beginner to pick up. Cardio!

If you are unsure, email us and let’s chat!

If you are between levels…TAKE TWO classes and bump up your confidence with your muscle memory. Bring Clean, non-marking shoes, water and maybe a sweat towel 🙂

If you are taking the full term and will therefore be in the recital, please be read:

This Full 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.

Hip Hop ages 5-7yrs

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This class will be in the recital.

This all levels HipHop class will integrate party dances of the 80′s and 90′s to the present day,  across the floor moves, and the latest dance moves that make this dance unique. It includes a wide range of styles and music.

Class will include conversations about HipHop Culture and its history. This class will be fun and uplifting, and dancers will have a chance to add their own flair to the material taught.

No experience needed, just a desire to have fun and learn.
Dancers need CLEAN indoor non marking shoes.

Class is held at Studio Alive in uphill Nelson.

Term runs Jan 7th – April 26th 2026

Fee is $262 + 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.

Originally from Toronto, Sammy Jade is a teacher, multi-disciplinary healing artist and performer. She was introduced to the love of Hip Hop, watching her older cousins groove to breaks & beats. Growing up, Hip Hop wasn’t taught in formal classes yet. Music videos were her instructors, basement floors were her studio space, and cyphers were just another way to hang out with friends. In school, organically, Sammy’s dance crew and step team made choreographies to perform for her peers at lunch, in the hallways and onstage. As a young adult she continued to street dance as a form of self-expressio,n sharing this love for Hip Hop culture, naturally learning party moves at underground events. Sammy Jade’s credits include Luminato Festival, Kultura, Hysteria Festival, LadyFest Toronto, as well as venues such as the Roy Thompson Hall and The Rogers Centre, in Toronto. She has toured across Quebec, performing at venues like L’impérial, Le Cercle, in Québec City, as well as Club Soda in Montreal for POP Montréal. In 2008, Sammy Jade participated in Pierre Maraval’s photo exhibition, Toronto’s Mille Femme, a tribute to 1,000 artistic, creative, and inspiring women from Toronto and their protégés, who embody the passion and heritage of the city. Sammy Jade is honoured to share her love of street dance styles with Slava’s DanceFusion Studio.

For info on how to register with our new platform, refer to the short video tutorial at the top of the Schedule Page

DanceFusion Open level 11-13yrs

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This class will be in the Showcase.

Slava is excited to offer this fun, upbeat class combining elements of several genres, including contemporary, lyrical jazz, ballet, street styles and more.  Dancers listen to a wide variety of music, including current popular music and develop musicality thru movement. This class will hone and challenge your dance patterns, and will include floor work and jumps and turns, and is designed for dancers of all levels. Students will learn combos, choreography and technique as well.

Term runs Jan 8th – April 26th 2026.

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 don’t 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.

Strength & Flexibility

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This is a total body conditioning class geared for dancers, aimed at increasing capacity in their other technique or choreo classes. It is a class to gain more strength and flexibility. No prior experience is needed, and it is suitable for non-dancers with similar training goals.
This class focuses on developing more range of motion and strength for joints, as well as toning, refining, and lengthening key muscle groups. An excellent class for students who want to see results and make constant progress in their training. This class is a great addition to your training schedule!
Flexibility exercises, core stability, cardio-vascular endurance, and muscular strength are all areas that are covered in this class, so movers can safely utilize their mobility without causing injury.
Stretch & Strengthen offers an opportunity for students to add a full hour of focus on developing increased flexibility, strength, dance technique and stamina every week. No prior experience is needed.  JUST BRING YOUR OWN MAT!

The Term runs from Jan 5th – March 9th 2026

Cost is $200+GST

Ballet Open level 12yrs+

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This class will be in the Showcase.

This class is designed to infuse the grace of ballet with a sense of freedom and fun. While we honour the essential techniques, we break away from the conventional by incorporating diverse music, ensuring that classical compositions share the stage with an eclectic mix. Join us in this innovative ballet experience where joy, fluidity, and the thrill of movement take centre stage, creating a class that celebrates the beauty of ballet without being bound by tradition. Students will develop technique through barre, centre work and across-the-floor exercises. Working on honing in on musicality, precision and focus while fostering the grace and strength this form has to offer. Ballet is a rich and varied form, and Hilary will offer a class that will integrate healthy alignment, challenge muscle memory, and develop musicality. Get strong, flexible and graceful. This class is open to a variety of levels. This will be a dance technique class to hone your skills and technique.

Winter Term: Jan 9th – 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’s 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 and movement, as well as teaching.  She has just completed her Bachelor of Education, congrats!

Contemporary-Adult (Open Level)

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This Contemporary class draws from Emily‘s diverse and deep movement experience in contemporary dance as well as street dance.

THE ROLLING POINT is the theme of this movement series. Explore the concept of the rolling point, a concept developed in Contact Improvisation, keeping contact with a surface and rolling the body (or body parts) over this surface, creating circular, uninterrupted flow. We will apply this concept to contemporary floor work, partnering and to our bodies in space. Pulling from contemporary dance and robotics, we will play and dance together.

Delve int movement that is based on our functional anatomy in a way that creates space within the joints, and allows the body to expand in all directions. We will explore how to use sequential wave-like or chain-like motion to create space in the articulations, while remaining playful and expressing rhythm. This class will bring you down to the floor and back up again with grace and patience for all levels.

6 weeks series April 1st-May 6th, 2026. $126 + GST

About Emily:

Honegger began her dance career studying and performing in Montreal. After graduating from L’École de danse contemporaine in 2005, Emily pursued training in dance styles such as Bgirling (breakdance), house, and popping. She trained at Studio Sweatshop under the mentorship of the “Solid State” Crew as well as many other accomplished street dancers in Montreal, New York and Los Angeles. Her extensive training in ballet, martial arts, contemporary dance, contact improvisation and freestyle hip hop forms influence and inform Emily’s movement style.
 
Emily danced for various Montreal-based dance companies such as Bouge de Là, Cirque Eloize, Rubberband Dance, Human Playground, and created works for stage and film with choreographic collaborator Geneviève Gagné with their collective Floor Rider & Tonik.  She has also collaborated with musical acts such as Urban Science Brass Band as a freestyle performer, and alongside her husband and life partner, musician FRASE, touring around Canada and Europe. Improvisation is an important through-line in Emily’s work, and this comes out in her approach to teaching movement. 

Since 2020, Emily’s career transitioned towards the study and practice of Osteopathy. This lens on the human body allows for a deeper and more subtle understanding of body mechanics and anatomy. She looks forward to blending an approach of wellness and health with her dance practice as she shares her movement experience. 

Contemporary Open level 11yrs+

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This class will be in the recital.

This Contemporary class combines elements of several genres including modern, release, lyrical, and more.  Dance exercises are set to current popular music using fun drills to develop musicality. This class will hone and challenge your dance patterns, and will include floor work and jumps and turns, and is designed for dancers of all levels. Students will learn combos and work on technique as well. The class will include floorwork and is geared towards movement quality and pushing the comfort zone with coordination challenges.

The term runs from Jan 5th – 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.

We are so excited to have Ava Jinjoe in the DF 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.