For more than 30 years, the Laurie Tinkler School of Dance has been offering a wide array of dance opportunities in the Comox Valley.
The experience gained over this extended commitment to dance instruction is a great benefit to students of the school. Comox Valley citizens are familiar with the high quality performances that the Laurie Tinkler dancers bring to the community.
Many seasonal events feature a performance by the Laurie Tinkler Highland Dancers. This past summer, flash mobs by the dancers at the Courtenay Centennial Celebrations were a great source of fun and allowed the school to showcase a broader selection of our dance styles. In addition, performances of the Nutcracker over the last decade have become a Christmas season favourite for many in the Valley.
The school is well known for Highland dance instruction. Dancers competed in events up and down the Island this summer and as far afield as Kamloops. Many medals were brought home by dancers of all ages and levels of experience.
Kayla Champis, one of the senior dancers, has been invited for the third time to compete and perform in the annual J.L. McKenzie and Elspeth Strathern Scholarship program for aspiring dancers from across Canada. She will travel to Calgary for this event in late September.
The opportunities at the school are much greater than Highland dancing. This full service dance school offers excellent instruction in many dance forms including ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, tap, contemporary, stretch and strength, tumbling and musical theatre.
Irish dancing is new to the school this fall. Natasha Kozak, a well known and respected teacher with years of experienced, has joined the school for this season. In addition to offering instruction in Irish dancing, Natasha brings a breath of experience as an instructor, performer, choreographer and producer.
Also new this fall is Alma Romo Fontaine, who will bring new energy to hip hop and other dance forms.
Natasha and Alma will round out the capable faculty at the school who work together under the creative direction of Laurie Tinkler.
All levels of dance are offered, from preschool through adult, purely recreational to advanced. The school prepares students for SDTA Highland Exams and AIDT Modern and Tap Exams.
The school offers a family atmosphere with a focus on friendship and fun while encouraging dancers to achieve their own highest level of success Registration for the 2015/16 season is underway. Call 250-897-8885 for more information, or to register.