About us
We started as a very small school in September of 2000 and have grown to become the largest dance school in the region! We pride ourself on having the most qualified, friendly teachers who have outstanding experience teaching children. We have established an unparalleled reputation for training dancers at both a beginner and professional level while instilling skills like discipline, goal setting and teamwork. Our dancers build strong self-confidence that will extend beyond the dance studio and help them succeed in their everyday lives. We offer classes as young as 18 months up to adult classes. PPDA is proud to have been voted 'Best Dance Studio' in Port Perry via Reader's Choice Awards 2021! Thank you to our PPDA family and our amazing community for your continued support!
Programs - Recreational
This program is designed for the dancer who is looking to explore dance in a safe, welcoming and fun environment. It is perfect for the dancer who wants to learn new skills, have fun with other dancers their age, build confidence and have social interaction. Classes are taught by qualified instructors in the following genres: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Musical Theatre. In this program dancers are offered flexible schedules, and can dance for as many weekly hours as they wish!
Programs - Competitive
Our full time competitive program is for dancers that are serious about dance and wish to study all disciplines of dance at an elite level. Dancers will compete in at least 4 regional competitions per season (with the exception of our Minis). We are proud that our competitive dance team is successful year-to-year at both our regional competitions as well as our national competitions, taking home countless Top Studio, Top Choreography and Top Overall awards. Our focus is not on winning but rather on the healthy mental and physical development of our dancers. Students in our competitive program concurrently participate in our examination programs where we develop and nurture both self-confidence and a healthy work ethic. Students set and achieve goals for themselves and their team and learn how to participate effectively in a team environment.
Classes
Ages 18 months+
Ballet/Pointe
Recreational Baby & Me (18 months+), Tiny Dancer (3+), combo classes (5+) - full time competitive
Ballet is considered to be the root of all dance forms. Our classical ballet classes are based on technique from the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus (RAD). Dancers learn the fundamentals of ballet, while focusing on posture and alignment, as well as the development of musicality, grace, and ease of movement. Graded and Vocational ballet exams are offered in the RAD syllabus in our competitive program. Pointe classes are offered to higher level students, at the discretion of the ballet director.
Jazz
Recreational combo classes (5+) - full time competitive
A high energy dance form. Jazz classes incorporate various jumps and turns, flexibility and style. Often performed to popular music, this upbeat class also works on co-ordination, strength, and performance quality!
Acro
Pre School Acro (3+), combo classes (5+) - full time competitive
A blend of dance and acrobatics; the athleticism of tumbling and flexibility routines combined with the artistry of jazz dance. Acrobatics uses strength and flexibility to perform gymnastic-based tricks. In this class, students perform conditioning exercises to prepare them for increased difficulty. It teaches flexibility, balance, strength, and coordination.
Contemporary
Offered at the competitive level
Contemporary dance is a performance genre that has grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world. Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. This style is more versatile in comparison to other genres and incorporates use of improvisation and floorwork.
Musical Theatre
Offered at the recreational (6+) and competitive level
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs (music), dialogue, acting and dance.
Tap
Offered at the recreational (5+) and competitive level
Tap Dance allows students to further develop their coordination and toe-tapping rhythm while working on skills such as syncopation and shading of sounds.
Lyrical
Offered at the recreational and competitive level
Lyrical is often described as a hybrid of Classical Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance. Lyrical is less constrained than Ballet, more emotive than Jazz and incorporates free movement from Modern. It is a highly interpretive, expressive, and free-flowing form of dance, wherein the dancer expresses the theme or lyrics of a piece of music through his/her movements.
Hip Hop
Offered at the recreational level (6+)
Hip Hop is a fast-paced, high-energy form of dance. Previous dance training is not required (though it can be beneficial) as emphasis is less on formal technique and more on personal style. Classes start with a warm-up designed to get the blood pumping and the muscles working intensely, and then students will move on to learning and perfecting choreography.