Dance Studio of Academie Ste. Cecile

The Dance Studio of Académie Ste. Cécile was founded in September 1983 and joined with the Académie in July, 1991.

The Dance Studio offers a wide array of dance classes as an after school and week-end program for children of all ages and levels. All our faculty members are highly qualified and have extensive teaching experience.

The Dance Studio offers instruction in the following:

• Classical ballet:
  • Cecchetti method (for beginning to advanced dancers, adults and children)
  • Pointe (for children age 12 and up with sufficient ballet training)
• Jazz (with its many variations)
• Hip Hop
• Modern dance
• Tap
• Creative Movement (for children 3 1/2 to 5 years old)
• Chinese dance

The Philosophy of the Dance Studio is to provide students of all ages a caring atmosphere in which they can learn and grow as individuals as well as artists. Classes will assist children in gaining confidence, poise, and a love and understanding of the art of dance. Serious students will be encouraged to prepare for their Cecchetti ballet exams. These are externally examined by the Cecchetti Society of Canada and enjoy international recognition.

For the students dancing for pleasure and fitness, an elegant carriage of the body and self confidence emerge through the art of dance. The dance experience becomes an outlet for creativity and a way to express one self. These are the goals of the Dance Studio while creating an atmosphere that is loving, respectful, challenging and enjoyable for each students. Every child is given personal attention and is made to feel at home.

We offer three locations for your convenience:

925 Cousineau Road,
Windsor, ON
N9G 1V8
Tel:  519-969-1291

Directions

2676 Grand Marais Road West
Windsor, ON
N9E 1G2
519-966-7755

Directions

12021 Tecumseh Road East       
Tecumseh, ON 
N8N 1M1          
519-735-7575

Directions

The studios are of first rate quality with beautiful wood floors (the floors are sprung for shock absorption) and the facilities are bright and clean.

All classes are limited in enrollment and each student receives careful and special attention.

Each year, every student participates in our end of year recital which is the highlight of the school year.

Older students have many other opportunities to perform periodically throughout the year.

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Our Faculty

Anne-Marie Pilon-Gerdun  L.C.S.C., Supervisor

Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Mrs.Pilon-Gerdun has studied in Montreal, Toronto and Paris. She graduated from Canada’s National Ballet School‘s Teacher Training Program in 1985 and has been teaching Ballet, Pointe, Drama and Creative Movement ever since.  She holds her Licentiate Teaching Certificate with the Cecchetti Society of Canada  and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London, England) and has been successfully presenting her students for their ballet exams since 1985. She relocated to Windsor in 1991 in order to teach both at the Académie and at the University of Windsor and was appointed Supervisor of the Dance Studio in 1992 while also being the senior ballet teacher and director of the Teacher Training Program. Mrs. Pilon-Gerdun now also teaches part-time for the Musical Theatre Program at St. Clair College.

Barbara Robinson B.ED.

Ms. Robinson is an accomplished performer, choreographer and teacher who has been on our faculty since 1992. She has a Bachelor of Education, and two Honours Specialists, one in Drama and one in Dance from the University of Toronto.  She has worked extensively in Toronto at Randolph Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre and Centre in the Square in Kitchener.  Most recently, she performed with Dance Theatre David Earle. In addition to teaching at the Académie, Ms. Robinson is also currently teaching at Walkerville School for the Arts where she teaches Modern, Jazz, Drama and choreographs musicals. She is also a teacher, and curriculum advisor for the Musical Theatre Department of St. Clair College.  She has had the distinct honor of appearing in the dance text “Teaching Dance Skills” and is featured on the cover. Ms. Robinson has also performed with Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises and HNM Dance Company.

Louise Paquette B.F.A.

Ms. Paquette graduated from York University in Toronto with a B.F.A. in Dance performance. Her wide range of experience includes Modern Dance, Ballet and Jazz. Originally from Windsor, Ms. Paquette returned in 1996 to join our staff. She has performed with Windsor City Ballet, travelling to Italy and Japan. She has also trained and performed with Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises as well as HNM dance Company. In addition to her teaching position at the Académie, Ms. Paquette teaches both for the University of Windsor and the Greater Essex County School Board “Learning Through the Arts” Program.

Tiffany Kearns C.D.T.A.

Mrs. Kearns received her original training at the Dance Studio of Académie Ste. Cécile where she trained in Ballet, Jazz and Modern. She then went on to graduate from Cambrian College in Sudbury with a degree in Dance. There she studied such subjects as pedagogy, anatomy, history of dance music, psychology of children as well as continuing her professional dance training in ballet, jazz, tap and modern. She has taught in various studios in Sudbury and Windsor and has performed with HNM Dance Company. She joined our staff in 2000 and teaches both in the after school and week-end program as well as for the Académie Ste. Cécile International School where she teaches dance and drama to the high school students.

Melissa Bennett-Pensinger A.C.S.C.

Mrs. Pensinger received her original training at the Dance Studio of Académie Ste. Cécile and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and has been teaching since 2005. She is a graduate of the Académie Ste. Cécile Teacher’s Training Program, a post-secondary three year intensive course designed to prepare students for a career as a dance teacher and culminating in the prestigious Cecchetti Society of Canada Associate Examination. The Associate qualifications entitle a ballet teacher to prepare and present their own students into the Cecchetti Ballet Exams and require a sound knowledge of Anatomy, Pedagogy and a deep understanding of dance technique as it progresses through all the grades and age levels. Mrs. Pensinger was awarded her Associate Qualifications in May of 2006.

Ivy Xu

An award winning performer and Chinese dance teacher from Beijing, China, Mrs Xu  has been teaching at the Dance Studio of Académie Ste. Cécile since 2009. She graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy where she trained and received her certifications for teaching Chinese dance and for preparing students for their graded examinations. These certifications are valid both in China and Canada. In China, she is also trained and certified to teach at the Kindergarten level and her love and understanding of children is obvious to anyone who has had the privilege of seeing her teach. She also teaches for the Chinese Culture Institute of Greater Windsor and is extremely involved in promoting the Chinese culture in Windsor.