Dancing with class - Moms open family friendly dance studio

As printed on Your Barrhaven.com

By: Jennifer Burden

Two working moms from Nepean are looking to their strong family values to form the foundation of their new dance studio, Innovative School of Dance, opening in September.

"Young dancers should not look like mini exotic dancers," said Tanya Geary, co-director and instructor of Innovation School of Dance. "Kids should look like little kids."

Geary feels strongly that some dance schools in the city are pushing the envelope just a little too much when it comes to the dance routines they are teaching children.

"We strive for age appropriateness in all elements of dance education," she said. "From the dance moves we teach them, to the music we dance to, and the costumes they wear."

For the past 10 years, Geary and her childhood friend Denise Turpin ran a community-based dance studio. Geary said running the community dance studio was an excellent experience, but opening a school they could call their own had always been their goal.

Geary and Turpin decided to take last year off to pursue other endeavors. Geary prepared for the birth of her baby who was born six weeks ago, while Turpin became the choreographer for the Mississippi Mudds group in Carleton Place. During this time, both ladies realized how much they missed teaching and decided that it was about time they opened their own dance school.

"Now we're being brave, taking the leap and owning it ourselves," said Geary.

Geary and Turpin began dancing together when they were 12 years old and would like to give their students the chance to form the type of memories they hold so dear.

"We had a great team experience growing up together and we want our students to experience that as well," said Geary.

With the popularity of shows such as So You Think You Can Dance?, there is a lot of pressure to teach routines of similar style. Although the show is great exposure to the world of dance, Geary said people need to realize that the contestants are adults, not kids.

The Innovative School of Dance teaches jazz, tap, ballet, baton twirling, hip hop and musical theater at both the recreational and competitive levels. They accept student's ages three and up and also teach some adult classes.

Geary said they try to keep the cost to a minimum because as moms, they know how expensive things can get.

"We don't do it to make money," she said. "We do it because we love working with children."

Registration for the Innovative School of Dance will take place on Aug. 6 and 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at their new location, the First Unitarian Church at 30 Cleary Ave., one block east of Richmond Road and Woodroffe Avenue in Ottawa. You can also get a registration package by calling Tanya Geary at 613-513-6709.

For more information, visit www.innovativeschoolofdance.com