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Dance
Class Schedules

Our dance class schedule is updated seasonally. Please see below for our current class times and schedule!

Read Our Dress Code | Read Our Class Etiquette

Class Schedule

* Indicates Assessment Needed

Monday

Grade 7 Ballet
4:45-6:15pm

Rhythm & Technique Tap 2
4:45-5:30pm

Acro 1
4:45-5:45pm

Jumps & Turns 3
5:00-6:00pm

Rhythm & Technique Tap 4
5:30-6:15pm

Acro 2
5:45-6:45pm

ADAPT Pre Junior Jazz
6:00-6:45pm

Grade 6 Ballet
6:15-7:45pm

Rhythm & Technique Tap 3
6:15pm-7:00pm

ADAPT Inter 2 Jazz
6:45-7:45pm

Acro 3
7:00-8:00pm

ADAPT Pre Inter 2 Jazz
7:45-8:45pm

Advanced 2 Ballet
8:00-9:30pm

Tuesday

Tumbling
4:45-5:45pm

Primary Ballet
4:45-5:45pm

Grade 1 Ballet
4:45-5:45pm

Jumps & Turns 2 Jazz
4:45-5:45pm

Acro 4
5:45-6:45pm

Grade 2 Ballet
5:45-6:45pm

Acro 5
6:45-7:45pm

Grade 3 Ballet
6:45-7:45pm

ADAPT Junior 3 Jazz
6:45-7:45pm

Grade 4 Ballet
7:45-8:45pm

Jumps & Turns 5/6
7:45-9:00pm

Wednesday

Grade 7 Ballet
4:30-6:00pm

Junior Tap
5:30-6:15pm

Junior Jazz
6:15-7:15pm

Rhythm & Technique 5
6:30-7:15pm

Grade 6 Ballet
7:15-8:45pm

ADAPT Pre Inter 1 Jazz
7:15-8:00pm

Advanced 2 Ballet
8:00-9:30pm

Thursday

ADAPT Junior 3 Tap
4:45-5:30pm

Grade 4 Ballet
4:45-5:45pm

Grade 1 Ballet
4:45-5:45pm

ADAPT Junior 1 Jazz
5:00-5:45pm

ADAPT Pre Inter 2 Tap
5:30-6:15pm

Grade 2 Ballet
5:45-6:45pm

ADAPT Junior 2 Jazz
5:45-6:45pm

Jumps & Turns 4 Jazz
5:45-6:45pm

ADAPT Pre Inter 3 Tap
6:15-7:00pm

Grade 3 Ballet
6:45-7:45pm

Advanced Contemporary
7:45-9:00pm

Friday

Pre Primary Ballet
5:00-6:00pm

Bounding Boys
5:00-6:00pm

Hip Hop 2
5:00-6:00pm

Inter Acro
5:00-6:00pm

Senior Jazz
6:00-7:00pm

Inter Jazz
6:00-7:00pm

Hip Hop 1
6:00-7:00pm

Junior Contemporary
6:00-7:00pm

Junior Acro
7:00-8:00pm

Hip Hop 3
7:00-8:00pm

Inter Contemporary
8:00-9:00pm

Saturday

First Steps
9:00-9:45am

Little Steps
9:00-9:45am

Creative Movement
9:15-10:00am

Pre-Primary Ballet
10:00-11:00am

Creative Movement 2
10:00-10:45am

Primary Ballet 
10:15-11:15am

Little Steps
10:15-11:00am

Mini/Junior Contemporary
10:45-11:30am

Jazz/Acro Combo
11:15am-12:15pm

Jumps & Turns 1
11:45am-12:30pm

Rhythm & Technique 1 Tap
12:30-1:15pm

Advanced Hip Hop
11:15am-12:15pm

Mini/Junior Hip Hop
1:00-2:00pm

Conditioning
1:15-2:00pm

Sunday

Mini Zumba
10:00-10:45am

Kids Zumba
9:45-10:45am

Teen Zumba
12:15-1:15pm

Considering dance classes?

Common Ground Dance Academy is a place for dancers of all ages and stages to grow and learn in a judgement-free environment. Whether you’re interested in dance classes for your child, or trying something new for yourself, we’d love to have you in our studio.

Enrollment
Common Ground - Elisabet White

Elisabet White, RAD RTS

Owner & Artistic Director

Elisabet has been teaching dance for over 10 years and dancing for more than 25 years. Born and raised in Ottawa, Elisabet danced locally where she successfully completed her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet and ADAPT Advanced Jazz examinations while attending Canterbury High School - Performing Arts – Dance program. In 2012 Elisabet went on to attend the prestigious Ailey School Professional Division, NYC where she received a Certificate of Dance with Honours. After graduating she pursued a certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She has also trained at Alonzo King LINES, San Francisco, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Summer Professional Programs. During her dance training she had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as: Alonzo King, Sidra Bell, Matthew Rushing, Darrell Moultrie, Amy Hall, Ray Mercer, and Carlos Dos Santos.

While studying dance at The Ailey School, Elisabet had the privilege of teaching children in The Ailey School First Steps Program, and travel to Florida as a guest teacher. These opportunities ignited her passion for teaching dance. After graduating from The Ailey School, she went on to expand her teaching skills in Halifax, NS and the surrounding area, teaching various methods of ballet, and jazz styles of dance, to children and adults, and choreograph for national competitions and local performances. While in Halifax she also volunteered at local schools to engage students in dance activities.

Over the years, Elisabet has had the opportunity to perform in the Tri-State area of New York, Canada and Mexico.

Elisabet has now returned home to Ottawa and in pursuing her passion for dance and vision to explore dance with children, she opened the doors to Common Ground Dance Academy in 2020.

Her passion for teaching children the art of dance is evident in her guidance and support for her students.

As Elisabet continues to pursue her passion for dance and to teach the art of dance, she now sees her vision to offer her love for dance to children of all ages and opened the doors to Common Ground Dance Academy to pass on her passion to the community.

“No matter where you come from or who you are, when we’re in the studio, we’re all on common ground” is the founding vision of Common Ground Dance Academy.

Hello Families of Common Ground Academy!

The Competitive Team is excited to bring to you our Fall Basket fundraiser starting Saturday, September 23rd. We will have our baskets on display in the studio beside Theory Dancewear.

Our Competitive Fundraising Committee and all of our Competitive parents have come together to make incredible baskets. You don't want to miss out!
The team has put together 6 baskets with value averaging $300 each.

All proceeds raised will go towards our Competitive Team this season.

How it will work:
Tickets will be available at the studio (beside Theory Dancewear)

Step One:
Purchase your ticket(s):
$10.00 for 1 ticket
$20.00 for 3 tickets
$40.00 for 7 tickets

Step Two:
Tell your friends and family, they would love to purchase a ticket!

Step Three:
Wait in anticipation to see if your name or someone you know has been drawn on Thursday, October 5th at 7:00pm.

A huge thank you to our Common Ground Family for your continuous support!

Please see below the list of items included in the baskets.
Ballots are available in studio CASH Only.

Sincerely,
Common Ground Competitve Fundraising Committee

Basket #1 - Kids Only Basket 

-- 2 $25 Marshalls gift cards
-- 2 $25 ultimate dinning card
-- $50 Theory Dancewear gift card
-- Size 4T Pink Common Ground Shirt
-- 2 Gatorades
-- Assortment of candies and chocolates
-- Tim Hortons Hot Chocolate Mix
-- Variety of kids arts and crafts

Basket #2 - Rise and Shine

-- Happy Goat Guatemala coffee beans
-- Happy Goat Brazil coffee beans
-- Happy Goat coffee travel mug
-- Happy Goat mug
-- Starbucks siren cup
-- Starbucks color changing cups with straw
-- Small assortment of chocolate
-- Starbucks pour over set
-- 2 adult movie ticket passes
-- 2 $50 gift cards to Local Public Eatery
-- $25 gift card to David's tea
-- $50 gift card to Starbucks

Basket #3 - Kens Time

-- Dark Amber & Oud scented candle
-- Cuban Rum
-- Cognac
-- Snacks
-- 2 cool towels (super cooling towel)
-- Toilet Time Game (mini golf game)
-- Brazilian Rum
-- 2 magazines
-- $25 gift card to LCBO
-- 2 $50 gift card to Crust and Crate
-- $25 gift card to Stinson gas station

Basket #4 - Wine & Dine 

-- 3 set northern woods candles
-- Chef on the Fly (personal chef service for two)
-- Lindt chocolate bar
-- 2 Cook books
-- Champagne
-- Fortified wine
-- white wine - Pinot Grigio
-- Red wine - Baco Noir

Basket #5 - Pamper Me

-- Bath salts
-- 3 set northern woods candle
-- Bath bombs
-- Sleep eye shade
-- Small wine travel cup
-- Eye, face, and foot masks
-- Lindt bar
-- Hair head band
-- Hair accessories
-- Stud earrings
-- Lush products
-- Small candle
-- Chef on the Fly(personal chef service for two )
-- 2 $25 Happy Her gift card
-- 2 $50 Joeys gift card
-- Assortment of flavored teas
-- Hair and body products
-- Teacups and saucers, teapot, creamer, sugar pot (set)
-- Champagne
-- White wine
-- Red wine

Basket #6 - Bambooozle

--2 $100 gift card to Mama Teresa restaurant
-- $50 gift card to Bambu
-- Vodka - Belvedere
-- White wine
-- Sparkling whine
-- Red wine - Blanco Noir
-- Prosecco
-- Sweet white wine
-- $50 gift card to Kimono (poke and ramen)

Term 1

Classes Start: September 11

Thanksgiving: October 7 - 9

Halloween: October 31

Winter Break: December 23 -January 7

Term 1 Ends: January 28

Term 2

Term 2 Starts: January 29

Family Day: Feburary 19

March Break: March 11 - 15

Easter: March 30 - Aril 1

May Long weekend: May 18 - 20

Recital Dress Rehearsal: June 5

Classes End: June 9

Recital: June 10 & 12

Common Ground - Anissia Nasr

Lisa Alli

Instructor

Lisa began dancing at the age of 5 in the Niagara region at the Dunnville Dance Centre. She has always had a passion for dance, teaching dance, and creating choreography. Lisa has received all of her tap exam certificates with the C.D.T.A., receiving Honours at the Advanced level. Lisa has trained in tap dance in Niagara, Toronto and Montreal and is thrilled to share her passion of tap and rhythm with the team at CGDA.

In Lisa’s classes, students will be given a safe, inclusive, and positive environment where they are free to express themselves. It will be a space to learn and grow for new or returning dancers (of all ages!). The classes will emphasize technique, musicality and expression while also including an introduction to improvisation and highlighting tap history.

Common Ground - Nicole Binnington

Alison Van Kessel

Instructor

Alison began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained and competed in various dance styles including; Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Acro, and Musical Theatre. Alison has trained up to Advanced 1 in RAD Ballet and Intermediate 3 in ADAPT Jazz. She has had the pleasure of dancing in Walt Disney World and performing at the NAC with the Royal Winning Ballet.

Alison has graduated from the ADAPT Teacher’s Training School with a gold seal. She is now certified in teaching all levels of the ADAPT Jazz and Tap syllabus. Alison is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College. She is passionate about combining her knowledge of dance and education to lead exciting and inclusive dance classes.

Common Ground - Anissia Nasr

Kateri Jacobs

Instructor

Kateri grew up in the National Capital region where she has completed most of her dance training in ballet, jazz and contemporary. After many years in the competitive dance world, she trained at The School of Dance in their post-secondary Contemporary Dance Program. After completing her bachelor's degree at STFX university, she returned to The School of Dance to complete their ballet teacher training programme and obtained her certification as an Associate of the Cecchetti Society of Canada. Kateri has a passion for teaching all ages, from 2yr olds to adult beginner classes, and believes everyone deserves a spot on the dance floor. 

Kateri is also a mother of two and a Chartered Professional Accountant. In her spare time she volunteers as the Treasurer for the Ottawa Dance Directive, a local professional contemporary dance company and centre for professional dance. 

Common Ground - Anissia Nasr

Christine Macmillan

Instructor

Christine received her dance training at the Halton Hills School of Dance, where she discovered a lifelong passion for the art of movement. She trained extensively in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern, and successfully completed graded and vocational examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance. She received additional professional training at the Quinte Ballet School's summer intensive program and is a graduate of Mayfield Secondary School's Regional Arts Dance Program. 

Christine has enjoyed the opportunity to teach and choreograph at studios across Orangeville, Halton and London, Ontario. Her gifts lie in her natural musicality and musical interpretation, which are integral to who she is as both a teacher and choreographer. Outside of dance, Christine is a licensed Physiotherapist with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and her specialized knowledge of the human body is central in her teaching methods. She helps her students develop an understanding of the mechanics of movement from an early age, so that they can explore the art of movement on a more profound level. Christine believes that above all else, dance is about artistry and self-expression, and she strives to help her students find their own voices through the art of dance.