WHY DANCE?
Children naturally want to be physically active and on the move. Their bodies tell them what they need, but unfortunately, they are not always able to get active. Being active on a daily basis allows children and teenagers to become fit and healthy so that they feel good and can also call upon their energy reserves for whatever they may need it for. Children need at the very least an hour a day of moderate exercise which leaves them breathless. This won’t come from walking at an everyday pace, but can be provided through a 60 minute dance class.
✔ Dance creates energy which keeps children alert and engaged!
✔ Dance can help moderate stress!
✔ Dance helps to improve short/long term memory!
WHAT WE
OFFER
Dance, as an expression of oneself, can be seen in children even before they can walk. As they move their body to the beat of music they can be seen grinning from ear to ear displaying the joy they are feeling at that moment. Dance tells a story through the art of movement, without any words needing to be communicated. Dance can make you laugh, it can make you cry, it allows one to express themselves through the flow of movement.
Dance District is a vibrant dance studio for girls and boys for ages three and up offering dance instruction from qualified, experienced, recognized dance professionals. Our goal is to ensure all students achieve their maximum potential while creating life long memories and strong bonds of friendship along the way. We want our students to feel inspired through dance and to gain a strong sense of self-confidence, self-respect and discipline through professional instruction and team work.
Through dance, children learn the importance of being on a team and working closely with others. When dancing in a group, children learn the fundamentals of “sharing the stage” and more importantly the significance of how important it is to build trust and reliability with fellow team members. When on a team children learn not only through instruction but as well through the observation of peers and fellow dancers.
We realize that behind every dancer is a supportive, committed family, and we strongly believe in open communication and frequent updates to ensure families are informed of their dancer’s progress and upcoming events.
MOVE
LIKE A
CHAMP
WHY DANCE?
Children naturally want to be physically active and on the move. Their bodies tell them what they need, but unfortunately, they are not always able to get active. Being active on a daily basis allows children and teenagers to become fit and healthy so that they feel good and can also call upon their energy reserves for whatever they may need it for. Children need at the very least an hour a day of moderate exercise which leaves them breathless. This won’t come from walking at an everyday pace, but can be provided through a 60 minute dance class.
✔ Dance creates energy which keeps children alert and engaged!
✔ Dance can help moderate stress!
✔ Dance helps to improve short/long term memory!
WE’RE PROUD OF OUR FACILITIES
Our newly renovated space is located on the North-East corner of Fourth Line and North Service Road. Our facility offers three naturally lit, spacious, climate-controlled dance studios. Our studios contain, full-length mirrors, professionally sprung hardwood flooring with new Marley overlay, and custom anchored ballet barres. We offer our dancers a private change room upstairs to store bags, shoes and snacks. Free Wi-Fi is available to our dancers and observers.
Dance District’s waiting area offers a friendly, open environment to promote conversation and teamwork. Our lobby offers parents a comfortable area that allows them to view their children’s progress and observe instruction. Our studio is conveniently located minutes away from shopping and amenities should you need to run an errand during your child’s dance class.
Dance District’s goal is to create a warm, collaborative environment that allows both our dancers and parents to feel welcome and comfortable. We want our dance home to be your children’s second home and a place where they feel safe, secure and able to express themselves freely.
WHAT DANCE OFFERS CHILDREN
Children naturally have a strong desire to be physically active, and their bodies instinctively crave movement. However, they don’t always have the opportunity to engage in regular physical activity. Daily exercise is essential for children and teenagers, helping them stay fit, healthy, and energized for whatever challenges lie ahead. At a minimum, children need at least an hour of moderate exercise each day that leaves them breathless—something more intense than just walking at a regular pace. A 60-minute dance class can easily provide this level of activity.
Dance not only keeps children physically active, but it also boosts their energy levels, keeping them alert and engaged. It can be an effective way to help manage stress, offering a fun and productive outlet for emotions. Moreover, dance has cognitive benefits, as it helps improve both short-term and long-term memory, enhancing their ability to learn and retain information.
Dance as well promotes social skills by encouraging teamwork, cooperation, and respect for others in a group setting. Overall, dance helps build confidence, discipline, and a positive self-image, making it an enriching activity that supports a child's growth in multiple areas.
OUR FACILITY OFFERS
✔ 4 Full-size studios with professionally sprung flooring, and 30′ high ceilings with natural day light ✔ Window viewing for parents, Family-friendly waiting area with FREE Wi-Fi ✔ Large, private change room for all dancers
OUR TEACHERS ARE
✔ Passionate about teaching ✔ Experienced industry professionals ✔ Passionate about what we do ✔ Devoted to helping you expand
A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
✔ Team-building skills ✔ Self-confidence & self-respect ✔ Communication skills ✔ Discipline
A CREATIVE OUTLET
✔ A form of expression through movement ✔ A way to relieve stress ✔ Exercise and energy release ✔ Feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment
HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
At Dance District, we are a team of highly trained professionals committed to bringing passion and expertise to the dance world. With a diverse range of skills among our instructors, we offer students in-depth knowledge and training in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, acro, lyrical, contemporary and more. Our teachers not only bring technical expertise but also the practical experience needed to help students excel both in dance and in life.
We are dedicated to fostering goal-oriented, skilled dancers through challenging choreography and intensive programs that push them to reach their full potential. Our focus is on providing each student with the attention they need to grow individually, strengthening both their technical ability and competitive routines.
Beyond technique, our teachers are here to inspire, motivate, and guide students in their journey of self-expression and personal growth. We prioritize the development of our dancers' emotional and physical awareness, helping them thrive as artists, but also as children and young adults.
At Dance District, we’re committed to offering not only high-quality dance education but also a supportive and inclusive environment where each dancer feels empowered to express themselves freely through movement.
MEET OUR FULL TEAM
Kate Palermo
Director / Owner
Born in Mississauga Ontario, Kate began dancing at the early age of three. Kate trained for many hours a week in all styles including; jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, acrobatics, hip hop, and modern dance. Kate danced competitively throughout her elementary and high school years and even attended a performing arts high school from 2008 - 2012. In Kates graduating year of high school, she had to undergo surgery to correct a very severe case of scoliosis. Sadly, this ended Kate’s potential chance at having a professional performing career in dance as she had to allow for 2 years of healing before commencing any physical activity. This prompted Kate to fill her time off from dance with work and academics. She enrolled in Sheridan College’s Business & Marketing program. During her time at Sheridan, she remained very well connected within the dance industry touring with CanDance Dance Competition as their tabulator and as well teaching dance several nights a week. Kate successfully graduated from Sheridan College in 2015. Upon graduating Sheridan College, she began to work full time as a Customer Service Representative for an insurance broker. However, Kate never felt ready to fully walk away from her passion for dance and continued to teach recreational and competitive dance in the evenings and weekends at a small studio in Oakville. This is when Kate’s path crossed with Becky. Over the next few years, Kate and Becky’s relationship grew as Kate taught both Becky’s children and propelled their dance training from the recreational to competitive programs. In the summer of 2016, opportunities arose which led to many discussions and after much thought and evaluating the potential of owning a studio together, they opened Dance District in August 2016. Throughout the years of owning Dance District, Kate has always wanted to extend her dance knowledge and training in order to further benefit her students. In 2019, Kate completed her Acrobatic Arts Teachers Training course. On top of all the training hours, Kate would never pass up an opportunity to watch more dancing! In the past few years, Kate has been judging all over Canada, passing on her passion, love, knowledge and experience of dance to the younger generation. Kate owes a lot of her success to Sheridan College. Being able to run all the social media and personally create new and fresh marketing content has been a tremendous help in promoting the business and getting known within the Oakville community. With Becky’s business knowledge and experience, mixed with Kate’s passion for dance and marketing skills, it really is a match made in heaven leading Dance District to be Oakville’s Top Choice Dance Studio in 2019 & 2020 in only a few short years.
Becky Collins
Director / Owner
Becky grew up in Oakville and started dancing at the age of three. Dance has always been a passion of hers. Becky danced competitively throughout elementary and high school and went on to dance professionally at a variety of resorts in the Caribbean. When she returned to Oakville, Becky decided to pursue a career in business and successfully completed college majoring in Accounting. Becky is the mother of two daughters Molly and Tessa, and a stepmom to a son and a daughter, Jacob and Devon. After watching her daughters’ passion for dance grow, she realized she wanted to be a part of cultivating children’s love for dance. Becky’s combination of business skills along with her passion and lifelong involvement in dance has led her to open Dance District.
Melanie Allison
Teacher & Choreographer
Melanie has been teaching dance to students of all ages and levels for 25 years! She began her dance training at the age of 3 and a half and has been trained in all forms of dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern/Contemporary, Pointe and Hip Hop. She trained at the Randolph School of the Arts as an original student in their 3 year “Triple Threat” program. She trained under the very best choreographers/teachers in the Toronto Community of dance, as well as taking classes and workshops in Los Angeles. As a professional dancer/ choreographer she has choreographed and appeared in numerous music videos, industrials, television specials, movies and commercials (“Blues Brothers 2000 and Campbell’s Chunky Soup to name a few). She was an original member of the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak for 5 years and ran the Jr. Dance Pak as one of the Directors/ Choreographers. Dancing for the Raptors sent her to the NBA All Star Game in Cleveland and on television specials that aired across the U.S. She also danced for the Argos as a Toronto Argonauts SUNdancer. Melanie was the Choreographer for the Arena Football team called the Toronto Phantoms. She choreographed the “Phantasy Girls” for the two years the team was in Toronto. Melanie also choreographed the opening segment for ABC Monday Night Football with Hank Williams Jr. that aired every Monday night across North America.! Melanie is the VERY Proud Founder/Director of the Dance 4Life program with the 4Life Foundation. This program gives children in need weekly Hip Hop lessons with NO charge to the families. This program runs in Halton with the kids from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Peel as well as the ROCK Foundation.! Melanie is extremely excited to be part of the faculty at the Dance District and is looking forward to share her love of dance with all of her students.
Ash Pividor
Full Time Teacher / Choreographer
Ashley has been teaching dance for seventeen years after graduating from Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts and competing in dance competitions in North America as a student at Performing Dance Arts. He has worked as a guest choreography around North America. He enjoys preparing his students to enter local and national competitions where they have won many awards for overall performance and Ashley for choreography. Ashley was also the owner of two successful dance competitions that he took great pride in. Both competitions focused on building the dance community that celebrate dance and its dancers. He continues to work with dance competitions to celebrate Canadian dancers. Ashley is looking forward to another great year with the students and staff at Dance District
Emily Cussons
Teacher & Choreographer
Emily started dancing at the early age of three studying primarily ballet. After years of doing so, she became aware that there was a whole other world of dance to discover and began a recreational tap class. After her first class, her teacher suggested a move into competitive, where it became her passion and she excelled until the age of 19. Emily danced at a studio in Oakville, where she also began teaching recreational classes. She has continued her work with youth throughout the years and is very excited to get back into this recreational program with Dance District. Emily is thrilled to come full circle with her dance roots in Oakville and considers it an honor to be a part of such an exciting studio.
Bianca Trulli
Full/Part Time Teacher
Born and raised in Ancaster Ontario, Bianca began dancing at the young age of four years old. After many years of training she has developed an understanding and appreciation for the arts, which has diversified both her technique and movement. She has trained in ballet, contemporary, tap, and urban dance styles. On top of her training Bianca had the opportunity of working with Point of View Dance Project (POV) and Nostos Collective on multiple projects within the last couple of years. In March 2016, Bianca made her choreographic and artistic directing debut in Echo Dance Company’s first production “Breaking Formality”. Most recently she has had the privilege to continue her professional training with dance educators John Ottmann, Julia Sasso and Carol Anderson. Bianca continues to pursue her edification at York University with a Bachelor Of Fine Arts (Honours) specializing in Choreography and Performance in the AMPD program.
Bailey Woodwark
Teacher & Choreographer
Born in Brampton Ontario, Bailey Woodwark started dancing at the age of two years old. She danced and trained at Joanne Chapman School of Dance in all disciplines including jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre and contemporary. She has been competing both regionally and nationally in Canada and the United States since the age of five years old. Throughout her years in the studio, Bailey had the opportunity to attend many workshops such as Jump, Nuvo, 24/7, The Dance Awards, The Collective, Dance on Film, and Conteur. Here she got to work with many brilliant teachers and choreographers such as Travis Wall, Mandy Moore, Stacey Tookey, Eryn Waltman, Chad McCall, Kirsten Russell, Katy Spreadbury, Al Blackstone, Marty Kudelka, Kenny Wormald, and Misha Gabriel. Bailey holds her teaching certificate in acrobatics with the B.A.T.D, and is also a member of the RAD. She graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts Kinesiology Degree, and a Minor in Dance. While attending Western, Bailey was the captain of The Heat Dance Team, where she was both a dancer and a choreographer. Over the past few years, Bailey has had the opportunity to work with commercial choreographer Amy Wright three times on “The Next Step”. In 2018 and 2019 she worked with Amy once again on the new Netflix original series “Dare Me”, where she was the cheerleading stunt double for the lead character Beth. To this day, Bailey continues to train in dance, acting, singing, and piano, to help further her commercial career. Her dream is to both dance in the commercial industry and continue to teach and choreograph at studios.
Lisa Robinson
Teacher
Lisa Robinson was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, and studied the Vaganova method at The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. In addition, trained in Italy with the late Ballet Master and coach Philip Balmain Beamish. Ms. Robinson joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1998 and became a Soloist in 2003. Ms. Robinson danced featured roles in The Four Temperaments, the second detail, La Sylphide, and The Nutcracker. Her repertoire also includes Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, Serenade, and Swan Lake. After retiring from the stage in 2010, Ms. Robinson continues to work in the Education and Community Engagement Department for The National Ballet of Canada and is the Senior Manager of Education and Community Engagement. Ms. Robinson is now entering her 24th season with the company. Ms. Robinson regularly teaches classes for many of the company’s education programs, as well as teaches competitive dance students in Toronto and surrounding areas as well as teaches master classes, summer intensives, judges and coaches students privately. Ms. Robinson is very excited to share her knowledge, dedication, and love of the art form with the students at Dance District.
David Cox
Teacher & Choreographer
David Cox has been dancing since the age of 2, as he was brought into this world by a musical family. His father was a Motown artist and his mother was a dance teacher. At 13 he made his first trip to NYC on scholarship and that would change his life forever. Studying with some of the best dancers in the world he began to realize that tap dance was his passion not forgetting his extensive training in jazz, ballet, and modern. Since becoming a professional he has gone on to perform for and at the following: YTV Achievement Award Winner 1999 Dance Category, 'Bojangles' the Showtime movie starring Gregory Hines, the international sensation 'STOMP', Juno Awards, Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, The Duke Ellington Society, Save The Last Dance pt2, talked Tap and Tapped with Shelagh Rogers (Sounds Like Canada CBC Radio 1), Bravo Fact 'The Hoofers Club', Dance Arts Vancouver & Judith Marcuse Projects (ICE: Beyond Cool, FIRE… Where There's Smoke and EARTH=HOME), ADIDAS, Pro Arte Danza's The Jazz Cracker, Ballet Creole's Soulful Messiah, Ruckus Co Prod's Ricochet, LKTYP's "I think I can" (Dora Award Winner), Hoofers House Harlem NYC. Numerous corporate functions include former T.O. Mayor David Miller's Inaugural Ball, Coca-Cola, Hit N Run Productions, and have performed for the speaker of the house, and His Majesty King Charles to name a few. He has been on MTV Canada as a choreographer and dancer for "MTV Live: Dancing with the Hosts" and Much Music's Black History Month. David has shared his passion with the world as a featured performer in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies and is a sought-after adjudicator and teacher across North America. A Dora Award Nominee for Best Ensemble in the “Tap Dance Legacy Concert” (summer 2022) as well as a featured performer at the Toronto International Tap Festival. He is regular faculty at the Tap Dance Centre in Mississauga among other surrounding area studios. His happy-go-lucky and energetic attitude is contagious to those around him and urges others to pick up a tap and discover the music they can make. Here's to the 2nd Balcony...Keep it Copasetic!