PSB & Interplay Dance

Karen Davies Thomas, Artistic Director

Dear Parents,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the PSB & Interplay Dance Academy. This is a dance school where we are deeply committed to ensuring that every day, each and every student has the attention and care of our professional dance instructors.

At PSB & Interplay Dance Academy, we provide an exemplary educational experience that nurtures your child’s talent and strive for dance. We deliver results as our students’ progress towards their goals with great achievements at the competitions, performances and exams. Many PSB & Interplay alumni have continued their dance training at prestigious dance schools like The National Ballet School, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, York University, Ryerson University, Alberta Ballet School, Goh Ballet School, Quinte Ballet School and Les Grands Ballet Canadienne.

Our mission is to help your children to reach their goals in dancing. Therefore, we dedicated to excellence in teaching dance. This is accomplished through different dance programs—Full School Division classes, Intensive Division classes, Performance Company and Competitive Division training.  

I am inspired by the possibilities that exist for our school this year and in the years to come. Whether you are new to PSB & Interplay Dance Academy or have been a part of our dance family for some time, please accept my invitation to participate with us.

Sincerely,

Karen Davies Thomas

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I Am Grateful To My Teachers at PSB&Interplay

I had been taking dance classes at PSB & Interplay for many years.In September 2015, I had the opportunity to move to Calgary, Alberta to join the School of Alberta Ballet's full-time professional ballet program where I study and focuse primarily in classical ballet and modern dance. I am very excited to learn and be challenged in my dance and artistry on a daily basis. Above all, I am most grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement from my teachers and friends at PSB & Interplay Dance Academy who have been like family to me.

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PSB&Interplay Has Set the Path of My Life

I began my training at PSB &Interplay in 1993. After years of immersing myself in Karen’s programs, my love for the art form only grew. Upon leaving PSB&Interplay, I went off to spend two years at York University’s Dance Program and immersing myself in Toronto’s dance scene performing and creating for festivals like Honey Jam and Dance Ontario, Canada AM, Musique Plus and various venues city wide.

In 2002 I moved to New York City where I worked extensively as a performer and choreographer. I have performed for MTV’s Video Music Awards for Ludacris and Shakira, Nike’s Body by Dance Print Campaign, for Nikewomen.com and numerous commercials and industrials. My choreographic work has been seen in music videos for bands like TV on the Radio, Yip Deceiver and Mates of State, shorts films and dance festivals like New York City’s Summer Stage, Triskelion Arts CollabFest and The Current Sessions. Some of my video work has garnered recognition in film and animation festivals internationally, most notably SXSW Music and Film Festival.

Nowadays, I continue creating work that spans fashion, film, photography, technology and the stage.

 

 

 

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Thanks to PSB&Interplay I Am a Choreographer, Teacher, Performer and Model Now

On my return to Toronto from England, I chose to attend PSB&Interplay to which I was accepted with open arms. I received an invitation to be part of the Youth Ensemble a have very fond memories performing with the group in various shows as well as Faye Rauw’s jazz classes, until Grade 12 when I sadly had to leave due to being in Peterborough.

After PSB&Interplay I was accepted and attended both George Brown College and Cambri Performing Arts College in the UK both for dance performance, earning a certificate a National Diploma. Since graduation I have had the privilege of being both dancer a choreographer of various shows. I have been a dancer with Ismailova Theatre of Dance performing the role Redival in their production of "Till We Have Faces.” I have been performing with Diamond Dancers and choreographed as well as performed in "Ode Peace" this past summer at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre to an audience of over 1500. My work as both a dancer and a model has been seen in ads and runway shows such as PSB headphones, Toronto Fashion Week, Vogue Italia and Elle Canada just to name a few. I am currently a dance teacher at various studios teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, Brazilian Samba and tap while working with various ages from tots to adults. I have begun my Masters study in Education (Dance Teaching) through the Royal Academy of Dance. I am very excited to see what else the future ha store for me and my dancing.

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How PSB&Interplay Dance Training Helped Me To Become a Professional in Demand

I grew up dancing at PSB&Interplay and was a member of the Dance Company until 2009. After PSB&Interplay I obtained my BFA in Performance Dance at Ryerson University, and worked with many contemporary dance choreographers in Toronto. I have performed internationally with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a dancer and an aerialist. I am currently living and working at Tokyo DisneySea as an aerialist/dancer. PSB&Interplay provided me with a strong technical background in ballet, while also helping me develop versatility, artistry and professionalism. I met many life long  friends, and  was provided  with  countless performance experiences that have shaped me into the person and artist I am today.

 

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