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46 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 29, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com The internationally renowned Oakville School of Ballet Following in her mother's footsteps, and continuing to contribute to the arts in Oakville, Amanda Anderson strives to take the Oakville School of Dance to heightened artistic levels. The Oakville School of Dance was founded in 1960 as a local ballet school in downtown Oakville by Elizabeth Paterson, (a children's and vocational examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance Examiner for 30 years). Since, the Oakville School of Dance has become an internationally renowned classical ballet school with students attending from such far away countries as Brazil, Japan and Mexico. After training and graduating from the National Ballet School of Canada, and dancing professionally for many years, Amanda returned to her mother's school to embark upon a teaching career. Upon Elizabeth's retirement 15 years ago Amanda took over the School bringing the classical ballet training to new levels. Realizing the need for excellent ballet training for both the recreational student and the vocational student, Amanda added a Professional Training Program to the School's curriculum in 1994. This program accepts students at the age of 9 based on physical suitability, drive and desire for a career in classical ballet and trains them until the age of 18 when they are ready to commence their own career within a ballet company. Graduates of the school's professional program have become dancers and teachers at many professional schools and companies worldwide. The 2007 graduating class boasts all of its students continuing with ballet dancing with school and companies in London England, Toronto and Montreal. Anderson's students have had the exceptional opportunity of participating in the International Genee Ballet Competition attended by the top young classical male and female dancers from all over the world. This Classical Ballet Competition is only open to students between the ages of 15 and 19 who have `Au coeur de la francophonie' passed the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 2 Examination with `At the heart of franco-ontarian life' Distinction. Between the years of 2003 Give your child a head start at learning French and 2005 Oakville School of Dance stuFrench Immersion Program (2½ to 5 years old) dents have numbered 4 of the 9 French program (2½ to 5 years old) Canadians who have participated. No French Daycare (2½ to 5 years old) school in Ontario has had more Genee Before and after school program (4 to 12 years old) canadates than OSD, which demonApprendre et s'amuser en français Programme préscolaire francophone (2½ à 5 ans) Programme d'immersion française (2½ à 5 ans) Learn Japanese in a fun Way! Service de garde (2½ à 5 ans) Service de garde avant et après l'école (4 à 12 ans) Japanese Government Certified Teacher Reasonable Rates www.lescoccinelles.ca Japanese Lessons 336 Maurice Drive, Oakville 905.825.2029 905-330-5698 kaori.strong@yahoo.ca strates the level of training at the OSD. The OSD also averages about three to five students per year who move on to the National Ballet School ­ every ballet student's dream! "A competition of this caliber is the only one I will enter my students into as it is a true indication of artistic talent and can help the graduating student land a contract into a ballet company." Says Anderson. "Otherwise, the Oakville School of Dance does not believe in its students attending local competitions as they have become more sports oriented, very political and extremely expensive for the parents." The OSD however prides itself in offering full-length productions such as The Nutcracker for its students to participate in and as the School has its own wardrobe, even costume purchasing or rental does not become an issue. Rehearsal times are completely separate from class times therefore not interrupting, but enhancing a young dancer's training. The School offers senior students a chance to learn and perform the classics such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, La Bayadere so that they can understand all it takes to perform in a classical ballet as they would in a company. "What pleasure it gives me to give the child with little or no ballet background and mould them into a future generation of great choreographers, dancers and teachers!" OAKVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL r The Difference · An academic school where Christian morals and values are taught and modelled. · A student body that ranks in the top 10% on Canada's national CAT 3 tests. · A science program that produces regional science fair winners every year. · Athletic teams that compete in 9 different sports, starting as early as Grade 2 (Championship basketball teams the past 4 years). · Clubs that compete regionally and provincially in spelling bees and speech meets. · A music program that trains vocal & instrumental groups that represent the school at different community functions. · A family atmosphere with 265 students. · Before and after school care provided. Oakville Christian School has several spaces available except Grades 2, 4 & 8 for this Fall. If quality education, spiritual growth, excellence and balanced development are important for your children, then give us a call. We would be pleased to meet with you, tell you more about OCS and give you a tour of our facilities. At Oakville Christian School our mission is: The only studio voted #1 NINE Years in a row! HIGHLAND, TAP, JAZZ, HIP HOP, BALLET, LYRICAL, DRAMA, VOCAL, FILM Fun and Excitement! Positive Atmosphere! Build Self Esteem! Family Musical Theatre Class! Certified Faculty! Open House Thursday Sept 6, 6-8pm We welcome Amanda De Freites, credits include: Hairspray-US Tour, Lion King-Mirvish Productions, West Side Story-Stratford Festival "Nurturing Excellence in a Christ-Centred Academic Environment" Registration Ongoing Oakville Christian School 112 Third Line, Oakville 905-825-1247 www.ocsonline.org 905-332-7070 www.afpaburlington.com Present this ad and save 10%!