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ON POINTE – August 2023

by | Aug 23, 2023 | On Pointe Newsletters

We are so excited to get back in the studio, classes start back September 11th, 2023!

Below you will find details on what a dance season looks like at Common Ground. Please take the time to read through this newsletter as it contains important information for you and your dancer. 

Scheduling

Our dance year, much like the school year, runs from September 11, 2023 – June 12, 2024.

The schedule stays the same throughout the year (unless it requires change), and the classes progress in difficulty throughout the year. We close for holidays throughout the year, and they are all listed below. Should there be inclement weather that forces us to close, we will let you know via email, and post on social media by 2:00pm. We do our best to stay open throughout all the seasons however there are times that are out of our control and we prioritize the safety of our dance families and staff.

Dress Code 

Our dress code ensures your child can dance safely and comfortably. It is important for the teacher’s to be able to see the dancer’s technique to make sure they are executing the movements correctly and safely. We believe it fosters inclusiveness and a comfortable, cooperative environment. While you will find some details about clothes for girls vs. boys, children are welcome to choose the option that works best for them. If you need to purchase dancewear, Theory Dancewear is conveniently located right next door. 

Code of Conduct 

The dance floor is a place of vulnerability, growth and acceptance. It’s a place where we can celebrate our differences with something that we all have in common, our love for dance. Whether you want to forget about your day and escape into dance, or celebrate and let it be your outlet, the dance floor will always be there. No matter where you come from or who you are, when we’re in the studio, we are all on common ground.

Common Ground provides a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment that fosters a love of dance for children and adults. We install the qualities of self-discipline, motivation and hard work into our students to promote excellence in dance. Our driving goal is to promote creativity and self-expression.

Payment Details

We hope that all our dancers participate in the year end recital (June 13th and 14th, 2024). This is an amazing opportunity for dancers to perform on stage with all the lights, camera and action you can expect from a live performance!!

If your dancer is not going to participate in the recital (June 13th and 14th, 2024), CGDA must be informed in writing by email to info@commongrounddance.ca no later than November 30th of the dance year. You will be responsible for any costume fees after that date.

Final payment for recital costumes will be due by January 15th. All costume balances are due regardless of a child’s continued participation in a class. 

PAYMENT OPTIONS

1. Full payment for the dance year (September – June) prior to the first day of classes

2. Payment by installment

       • First payment (50% of the total incl of HST) must be paid prior to the first day of classes or within 7 days of registration

       • Remaining balance is due by November 30th, and a $50.00 + HST costume deposit per dancer per class will also be charged

       • A credit card must be held on file for payment by installment

For full details, please refer to the waiver/policy details in your parent portal.

We offer a two-class trial period for new dancers. If you withdraw your dancer from the classes after the 2-week trial period, you will be refunded, less the registration fee and the cost of the 2 classes and applicable HST. 

PAST DUE ACCOUNTS

If your account is past due, we reserve the right to not allow your dancer to participate in class. We do not release costumes or recital tickets to students with past due accounts or allow them to register for new classes. Please speak with the CGDA Director immediately to make alternative arrangements to ensure your dancer continues to participate and enjoy class.

Absence Policy  

PLEASE NOTE – missed classes, days (i.e., illness, vacation or other) by the dancer are non-refundable.  During the regular season, dancers can take a make-up class should their schedule allow for it, in a class at the same level or lower level as offered by CGDA. Please speak to a teacher for class options.

Refund Policy

Tuition, day camps and workshop fees are non-refundable (exceptions may be made for unprecedented situations, at CGDA’s discretion). If there is a health directive requiring studio closure, classes may resume virtually where possible. CGDA reserves the right to assess the situation and determine if a refund or credit will be given. Classes canceled due to weather are not refunded. If a class is canceled due to weather, a make-up class can be taken with approval from the CGDA Director, in a class within that week, at the same level or lower level as offered by CGDA. Please speak to the CGDA for class options.

Teachers are subject to change without notice.  

Classes start back Monday September 11th, 2023. Our first holiday closure will be the Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday October 7th – Monday October 9th with classes resuming Tuesday October 10th.  

STUDIO 1, 2 & 3

Studio 1 is located in between Shawarma Creek and Barada Mart. Studio 2 and 3 are located next door to Theory Dancewear. Reception is located in the lobby of studio 2 & 3. Please note, there is no reception at studio 1. 

Parents Watching Dance Classes

We ask that our older dancers are dropped off and that parents only come in for drop off and pick up as needed. Our lobby area is small and as sound carries through the studio it is distracting for the dancers. 

Parents of Little Dancers (ages 2-4), we understand that your child going into their class on their own may take time. We are happy to work with you to help this transition but we do encourage you to work towards having your dancer enter the dance room with their class. Parents of Mini dancers (ages 5-7), you are welcome to stay during class time however we do encourage you to stay in the lobby as having you watching the classes can be very distracting to the teachers and dancers. We will invite you in the last class of every month for a 5 minute demonstration of what the dancers have been working on. 

We will host an open house in December for parents of all students to come in and watch the classes your dancers have been participating in. 

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @dance_commonground

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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.