Dance Studios of Thunder Bay
The Dance Studios of Thunder Bay have been run by pioneering dance teachers from both Port Arthur and Fort William, teaching in several styles, including Ukrainian and Finnish folk dance.
List of Studios
Walleye Magazine ranked the best studios in 2020: [1]
1. Army of Sass 2. Art in Motion 3. Legacy Dance Co.
| Name | Start | End | Founder(s) | Address | Link(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dance Centre of Northwestern Ontario | ~1935 | ~2001 | Amelia Jackson | Run by Leslie and/or Gina Almgren in the 1990s after Amelia died in 1989 | ||
| Sylvia Horn School of Dancing | Before 1958 | Before 2005 | [2] | (taught Laura Pascolo-McRury and Lisa Fedoruk) | ||
| Betty Goodings Ballet | ? | 1975 | Betty Goodings | ? | Betty moved to BC in about 1975 according to Laura Pascolo-McRury | |
| ? | Before 1957 | After 1958 | Sandra Purdy | 4 articles in Port-Arthur News-Chronicle from 1957-58 | ||
| ? | Before 1958 | After 1958 | Lillian McGuire (1919 - 2008) | Article in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 24 June 1958 page 3. [3] | ||
| ? | 1954 | 1954 | Walter Marks | Article in Port Arthur News-Chronicle, 15 February 1954, page 3 | Walter Marks "manager of dance studio" | |
| Dolores Niskanen School of Dance | 1950s | mid-2000s | Dolores Niskanen | |||
| Markall's School of Dance | ? | 2000 | Edith Markall | Later owned by her son and granddaughter Wendy Homquist, until 2000 when Wendy started Dance Dynamics | ||
| ? | 1950s | 1959 | Rhodella Achtenberg (1936 - 2018) | [4] | Rhodella was a student at Sylvia Horn's dance school, entertaining locally in the 1950s as a dancer and acrobat, and later opening her own dance school. Many women still share fond memories of dancing with Rhodella or being a pupil. When she married and moved to Toronto, she left the school in the hands of her talented sister-in-law Fay Gleeson (Steadwell). Epoynm of a memorial scholarship at Lakehead Festival of Music and the Arts. | |
| Fay Gleeson Dance Centre | 1959 | present | Fay Gleeson (1944 -) | [5] [6] | Cindy Kennedy is a teacher there, and Cindy's teacher was Rhodella Achtenberg? This studio was handed to a 15-year-old Fay Gleeson after Rhodella Achtenberg left town. | |
| Morgan's School of Highland Dance | 1979 | Open as of 2016 | Wendy Morgan | 135 Glendale Crescent, and from 2019: 117 Cumberland Street | [7] [8] | Wendy (B.A.T.D. Member Highland & National) received her training in Winnipeg and Toronto through teacher Mary Pitche… moved to former Dream Dance facilities in the former Cumberland Cinema [9] 117 Cumberland Street North. “As soon as I walked in I just fell in love with it,” said Morgan. “It’s beyond my dreams. I’ve always dreamed of having . . . a real studio. For the first 37 years we were in church basements and eventually my mom’s basement had quite a nice studio, but it was small and had low ceilings.” |
| Chaban Ukranian Dance | circa 1980 | present | Cathy Paroschy Harris | 211 Robertson Street | [10] | over a hundred dancers as of 2020 |
| International Dance Academy | 1982 | present | Laura Pascolo-McRury | [11] [12] | Laura was taught by Betty Goodings and Sylvia Horn. | |
| Le Stelle Alpine Dancers | 1982 | present | Laura Pascolo-McRury | Likely colocated with International Dance Academy | [13] | Established in 1982 by founder Laura Pascolo McRury (also founder of International Dance Academy) to represent and share Italian culture within Thunder Bay. Le Steele has a board of directors as of 2000. |
| Zorya Ukranian Dance | 1997 | present | 14 founders | [14] | The Zorya Ukrainian dance Ensemble was established in 1997, by the initiative of 14 passionate individuals who built the foundation for our organization. The name “Zorya” was chosen because, when translated, it means “Stars” | |
| Spirit of Dance | 1999 | present | Lori Ann Nelson | 179 South Algoma Street, 2nd Floor | [15] [16] | The studio hosts 4 spacious studios, a private party room for birthdays, a waiting room for parents and students, a kitchen and tuck shop. |
| Dance Dynamics | 2000 | present | Wendy Holmquist | [17] [18] | In its 12th season as of July 2011, Dance Dynamics Studio is full of local talent that spans back through generations. Owner/Director Wendy Holmquist trained under the direction of her grandmother Ethel Markall before co-owning Markall’s School of Dance with her uncle. Upon the closure of Markall’s, Wendy opened Dance Dynamics hoping to become as respected and successful as her grandmother was. | |
| Studio One Dance | 2001 | present | Lisa Fedoruk | 38 Court Street South | [19] | |
| Legacy Dance Co | ? | present | 263 Park Avenue | [20] | ||
| Dream Dance Company | Sep-06 | Jun-19 | Heather Appell | 117 Cumberland Street North, The former Cumberland Cineplex [21] | Heather died of cancer in 2016; the studio was carried on by Heather's daughter Harmony (born ~1997) from 2016 to 2019 | |
| Art in Motion | ? | present | Rachel Elgie | 115 Johnson Avenue | [22] [23] [24] | |
| Applauze Productions | ? | Open as of 2016 | Denise Krawczuk | |||
| World Dance Centre | Open in 2016 | closed as of 2020 | 178 Algoma Street South (or 96 High St N?) | |||
| Slightly Off Broadway Performance Arts Studio | ? | 2018 | Jacqueline McMahon and Connie | [25] | ||
| Body Barre | Open as of 2016 | Before 2020 | ? | No online presence as of 2000 | ||
| Stephanie's Performance Company | Aug-14 | present | Stephanie DePiero | [26] | ||
| Army of Sass | Jun-15 | present | Stephanie DePiero | 320 Bay Street | [27] | Aimed at adults; A franchise studio (dozens in Canada) |
| The Dance Room | Jul-15 | present | Stephanie DePiero | 320 Bay Street | [28] | A dance studio for rent and instruction space |
| Experience Dance | ? | Open as of 2016 | ? | 179 Algoma Street South | No website [29]. Actually in the same address as Spirit of Dance | |
| Vibe Dance Centre | ? | ? | ? | ? | [1] | no evidence this exists except the article [1] |
Organizations
- Thunder Bay Society of Ballet and Dance (members: Sylvia Horn, President in 2016, Shannon Young; award scholarships at the Lakehead Festival of Music and Arts) [30]
- CDTA (Canadian Dance Teachers' Association)
- Imperial Society
- British Association of Teachers of Dancing (members: Sylvia Horn)
- Lakehead Ballet Guild (active in 1967 with Betty Goodings)
- Thunder Bay Highland Dance Association (president: Wendy Morgan as of 2020)
Festivals
- Lakehead Festival of Music and Arts (LFMA) [31]
- Folklore Festival (run partly by Herman Hanschke) (each May)
Memorial Scholarships
- Sylvia Horn at LFMA as of 2019
- Eva Sacchetti (1945 - 2018) at LFMA as of 2019 [32]
- Rhodella Louise Zweep (nee Achtenberg) (1936 - 2018) at LFMA as of 2019 [33]
Dance Clothing Stores
- Flair dance (in the old Northwestern Ontario School of Dance building as of 2019)
Betty Goodings
Betty Goodings (died 5 February 1993) [34] was the sister of Joan Gravelle and from the UK. In 1967 with Lakehead Amateur Music Productions, she brought Brigadoon to the stage with a cast of 125 people, thanks to four women: Jean Crittal of Lakehead Music Fesival, Dusty Miller of Cambrian Players, Betty Goodings of Lakehead Ballet Guild, and Barbara Kirkup of the Lakehead Choral Group. They later produced My Fair Lady and Guys and Dolls. [https://issuu.com/thewalleyemagazine/docs/walleye_october_2013/7
GOODINGS, BETTY M. 05/02/1993 Chronicle-Journal 11/01/93 P. 21
Index of social notices, news and photos as published in The Port Arthur News-Chronicle 1962 - 1972 NAME EVENT DATE SOURCE NOTES Goodings, Betty PIC n/a 7 Mar 1966 p.5 N.W.O. Music Festival Goodings, Betty (Mrs.) BIO n/a 23 May 1963 p.8 pic Ballet recital Goodings, Betty (Mrs.) BIO n/a 25 May 1963 p.8 Review of recital
Betty ran "Betty Goodings Ballet School." [35]
Betty taught Deborah Delvecchio and Laura Pascolo-McRury.
Sylvia Horn
Sylvia Young (nee Horn) (20 March 1914 - 25 January 2005) [36]
Deborah Delvecchio [37] and Laura Pascolo-McRury and Lisa Fedoruk were all taught by her.
Young- Mrs. Sylvia (Horn) Young, passed away peacefully at Bethammi, St. Joseph's Heritage, on January 25, 2005 with family and friends at her side. Born in Port Arthur, she was the daughter of the late James (Harry) and Gertrude Horn. She attended local schools, including Fort William Collegiate Institute and Fort William Business College. At the age of 16, she attended her first summer school in Minneapolis on her way to becoming a Dance Teacher. Following that, she advanced her studies in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and also the Legat School Of London, England. She opened studios in both Port Arthur and Fort William. Her whole life was devoted to children and dancing and many will remember the beautiful recitals that were put on at the end of every season. She touched the lives of thousands of young people at the Lakehead and many of her students have gone on to achieve their ambition in the "Dance World". She was a member of the Thunder Bay Society of Ballet and Dance, the Canadian Dance Teachers' Association and the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. As her school grew, she included Baton Twirling and was active in starting the Lakehead Lionette Twirling Corps. She created and put on the Chapples Santa Claus Show which was held annually at the Fort William Gardens, which show brought delight to thousands of youngsters. Many of Sylvia's students won high awards and scholarships at the Lakehead Dance Festival and it was never too much trouble to take a group of children to perform for various service club functions or to the various Homes For The Aged. In 1941she married Waino W. Laakso and during the war years was active in producing Army Shows for the War Charities Board. In 1964, after returning from training in England, she added the Model And Charm Division to her school. Predeceased by her husband Waino in 1978, she married Fred J. Young in 1984. Sylvia is survived by her husband, Fred J. Young, step-son John Young (Barbara) and their children Shannon and Jennifer Young, sister-in-law Helen Scott, nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 28th when family and friends will gather at St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church for services at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Peter Smyth presiding. Following a reception in the church hall, interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be one hour prior to service time in the church. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ontario Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of one's choice would be appreciated. Arrangement entrusted to Sargent & Son Funeral Directors, 21 North Court Street. On-line condolences may be made at; www.sargentandson.com. To send flowers to the family of Sylvia Young, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
— Obituary, Sargent and Son Chapel [38]
Miss Sylvia was not only a well respected local dance teacher but also the founder and Director of the prestigious Sylvia Horn School of Dance. During her lifetime, she was an enthusiastic supporter of the Lakehead Music Festival. She encouraged hundreds of dancers to participate in the Festival’s yearly “Dance Competition”. For several decades, she also sponsored a highly acclaimed dance scholarship. Even though Miss Sylvia is no longer with us, her love for Dance continues to be felt through her generous legacy to the Festival. As per her wishes, a trust fund was set up to provide a very sizeable scholarship to be awarded yearly to a senior or open dancer/upcoming teacher who continues to strive for excellence in his/her dance endeavours while pursuing a post-secondary education. The recipient of this scholarship should also enjoy sharing her/his accumulated dance knowledge with the next generation of dancers. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a dedicated dancer cover a fractional portion of the high costs associated with post-secondary education.
— "Sylvia Horn Young Scholarship" Information, Thunder Bay Music Festival [39]
Source
[1] Shannon Young of TBSBD in an interview with Karen Christie of Bayview Magazine Sep 2016 [http://www.bayviewmagazine.com/article/2016/09/dancing-bay