Leaps and bounds

Granby Dance Studio in Grand Forks, British Columbia, gives students a chance to broaden their horizons.

1 of 4Michele Dean and Cleo celebrate the studio's success. — Photo courtesy Granby Dance Studio

2 of 4Irish dance company, Spirit of the Dance Irish Dancers: (L to R) Kai Penner, Clarissa Palek, Adrian Palek, Ana McGill, Ella Rose Churchill, Alma Dean and Naomi Idler. — Photo courtesy Granby Dance Studio

3 of 4Kara Plotnikoff, a member of Jamila Zahra, Granby Dance Studio's teen belly dance performance group. — Photo courtesy Granby Dance Studio

4 of 4Jamila Zahra: (L to R) Samantha Melchior, Kara Plotnikoff, Bethany Balak and Kaylee Link. — Photo courtesy Granby Dance Studio

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Michele Dean knew from a young age that dance would be a permanent part of her life. When she purchased Granby Dance Studio in Grand Forks, with its professionally sprung floors and wall-to-wall mirrors, she began a legacy that would bring the joy of dance to students of all ages.

"I wanted to make sure all the kids that loved dance could continue their dance education," said Dean, "including opportunities to perform and to excel with the possibility of post-secondary study as an option in the future."

Dean had been teaching at rented spaces through the recreation society prior to her purchase of Granby Dance Studio, so her clientele was built up and ready for her when she opened the doors in 2006.

A pro from the get-go

Dean has always been talented. She was a competitive gymnast in her youth, recommended to train for the US Olympic team by U.S. gymnastic silver medallist, Cathy Rigby. When she was in high school her neighbour owned a ballet studio, so she offered her sewing and mending skills in exchange for lessons.

"I was on the modern dance team in high school," she said, "studied jazz and modern at university and as a young adult have danced with a folkloric dance troupe, an Irish dance group in the U.S. and am now in my second belly dance troupe. So dance has always been part of my life in some form or another."

All styles, all ages

Dean teaches a range of styles, such as preschool dance, pre-ballet, creative dance, Irish dance and belly dance. She also hires instructors who specialize in other forms, including jazz, lyrical and musical theatre. She is always open to new styles and welcomes any new instructors who come to town.

"I also host events and workshops," said Dean, "and I have had master instructors come to teach West African dance and drumming, Egyptian-style belly dance, lyrical and modern dance."

The studio is also used to host yoga, Qi Gong and yogic breathing classes. Dean is in the process of completing biodynamic craniosacral therapy training, so the studio will provide her with space to see her clients as well.

She considers herself lucky to be a part of the Grand Forks community, and is particularly impressed with the artistic talent that blossoms there.

"Grand Forks has a thriving arts community that we have really built with blood, sweat and tears from the ground up," she said. "Many of us regularly travel out of town for classes with master instructors, bringing what we learn home. We have everything from dance to music to karate, and all of a very high quality for a town as small as ours."

Bright futures

The students of Granby Dance Studio have the support they need to advance in the world, whether dance is a leisure pursuit for them, or a potential career.

"I have two former dancers who are now dancing in prestigious dance companies," said Dean. "One dancer, Isak Enquist, was invited in to the Byrne Creek Dance Company even though it wasn't the season when they took new dancers onto the team. Another former dancer, Allison Riddle from Greenwood, B.C., is now dancing with the Haran Dancers in the U.S. Not only is she in the dance company but is front and centre in many dance numbers."