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The National Ballet of Canada - The Country's Premier Ballet Company

Located in Ottawa, Canada, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance aims to provide the highest-quality instruction to dancers at all levels, from beginner to pre-professional. In addition to offering regular classes led by experienced instructors, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance maintains a guest-artist program that draws professional dancers from such companies as the National Ballet of Canada. Founded in 1951, the National Ballet is the only Canadian ballet company focused on full-length classical ballet. It has performed for more than 10 million people throughout its history. Each year, the National Ballet is active during its summer, fall, and winter seasons, and presents the classic Nutcracker during the holidays. It goes on tour throughout Canada and all over the world. In addition, the company participates in several programs to create opportunities for youth and families to experience ballet. The National Ballet of Canada has a broad repertoire that includes works by noted 20th- and 21st-century masters such as George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, Wayne McGregor, and many others. To support the continued evolution of this art form, the National Ballet embraces creation of new ballets and promotes development of Canadian dancers.

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An Overview of Swan Lake

Linda Jamieson School of Dance has a history of providing technically sound dance instruction. Over the span of three decades, Linda Jamieson School of Dance has entertained audiences with professional performances of Swan Lake. Created by composer Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake dates back to 1875. The ballet initially premiered in 1877 with choreography by Julius (Wentzel) Reisinger, before it was revived by seasoned choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in 1895. The updated choreography is often cited as the reason why Swan Lake is considered a ballet masterpiece. Swan Lake is comprised of four acts. It opens with Prince Siegfried enjoying his birthday celebration, where he receives a reminder from the queen to pick a bride to wed in order to fulfill his obligations to become king. Realizing his responsibilities, he leaves to hunt with a friend. While hunting into the evening, Prince Siegfried enters a clearing to find a swan he intends to kill, but he is immediately stunned when the bird transforms into a woman, Princess Odette. She informs him of the spell von Rothbart has placed her under that requires a person’s commitment of eternal fidelity to break the curse. Act II ends with Princess Odette changing back into a swan before the prince’s eyes. The prince returns home to join a ball hosted in his honor. Eligible princesses present national dances in an attempt to be chosen as his bride. The prince becomes infatuated with Odile, von Rothbart’s daughter, and declares his intention to marry her before realizing Princess Odette has arrived. Discovering it was a plot to keep the spell unbroken, Siegfried rushes to the lake to find the princess and apologize. He declares his love for her by joining her in death to break the spell and vanquish the sorcerer.                            

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Benefits of Dance Classes for Children

Students between the ages of three and 19 can pursue a wide range of dance interests at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, including ballet, tap, contemporary, and jazz. When children attend dance classes at a school like the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, they are not only learning an art form, but also valuable life skills that can be used outside of the classroom. 1. Positive Emotional Expression: Exercise can have positive mental effects on the young mind, increasing blood flow to the brain and assisting in its healthy development. Children also find that dance allows them to express their feelings through creative movement, rather than releasing emotion through less productive methods. 2. Social Abilities: Attending a dance class is a positive way for children to form relationships with peers. By participating in group learning in an environment that demands respect, obedience, and effort, young dancers learn to work in a group and communicate more effectively. 3. Enhanced Cognitive Function: Learning to dance allows students to gain greater awareness and control over their bodies, and gives them an expanded ability to connect ideas. The movement in dancing can help with problem-solving, as students learn to spontaneously connect one motion to another.

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Roots of Highland Dancing

The Linda Jamieson School of Dance in Ontario welcomes students aged 3 to 19 years old in creative movement, pre-primary, graded, and pre-professional programs. School of Dance founder Linda Jamieson comes to her work as an accomplished Highland dancer and two-time gold medal winner at the World Highland Dancing Championships in Scotland. Believed to be one of the oldest forms of folk dance still performed today, Highland dancing traces its roots to military skill demonstrations in the 11th and 12th centuries. Established as a way of testing and training men for agility, strength, and stamina, the dances themselves are triumphant celebrations of might. Many are danced over sword or shield, and most are extremely athletically demanding. Dancers in the famed Highland fling, for example, must jump 192 times throughout the course of the dance, while performing complex and quick footwork both in the air and on the ground. Revived in the Victorian era, Highland dancing has become a competitive performance form. It remained solely a men's pursuit up to the early 20th century, when women took up the task of preserving dance culture as men went off to fight. There are now approximately 100 female Highland dancers for every single male dancer in competition, though the dance has retained its original athleticism and show of strength.

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Contemporary Dance - A Primer

At the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, students have the opportunity to experience a variety of styles, from ballet and tap to contemporary and musical theater. The Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers contemporary dance training to students enrolled in the senior and pre-professional programs. Originally conceived in the 1950s and developed through the present, contemporary dance arose as a response to the rigidity and ethereal qualities of ballet. It arises out of modern dance and emphasizes the body's natural energy lines, rather than a fixed repertoire of movement. It draws from classical and modern techniques as training tools, yet opens itself up to exploration, innovation, and use of more pedestrian movements. Viewing dance as an end in itself and composition without a particular goal, early contemporary choreographers focused on abstract expression and an avoidance of representational expression. The postmodern era, which began in the 1960s, led many creators of contemporary dance to value accessibility and a connection between dance and daily life, rather than a fixation on a dance vocabulary that separates the art form from its audiences. Today, contemporary dance continues to explore the ideas of its pioneers and maintains a focus on investigation. Contemporary choreographers explore release, contraction, weight, and energy lines to create new works that are relevant to current audiences.

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Christopher Maraval - Distinguished Ballet Career

Ottawa’s Linda Jamieson School of Dance upholds a strong commitment to the development of young dancers. Linda Jamieson School of Dance provides expert training by certified teachers and supplements its program by hosting workshops with dance-world luminaries, such as Christopher Maraval. A native of France, Maraval studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School and earned principal dancer status at the Cincinnati Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). After several years of training in France, Maraval discovered the work of choreographer George Balanchine and decided to move to the United States. In addition to performing as a principal dancer with U.S. companies, he was a guest artist throughout Canada. He retired from Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2007 to begin work at Ecole Superieure de Ballet Contemporain de Montreal. Today, Maraval serves as artistic director at Naples Ballet in Florida. At Naples Ballet, he teaches the Vaganova Style, which fuses Russian artistry and Italian athleticism with French romantic ballet. The Vaganova Style emphasizes harmonious movement and proper body alignment.                            

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JUMP - Dance World's Most Innovative Convention

Ottawa’s Linda Jamieson School of Dance is a premier source of high-quality training for dancers of all levels. As a supplement to its classes, Linda Jamieson School of Dance hosts workshops with leading dance professionals, such as experts from JUMP, the world’s largest dance convention. A trendsetter in the dance industry, JUMP tours 26 cities in the United States, along with five international destinations. At each JUMP event, dancers can participate in a top-quality workshop, along with a competition featuring fair judging and a supportive environment. In addition, JUMP brings a video crew to each event and gives dancers opportunities to create their own music video. JUMP also provides webcasts of all its competitions to reach a wide audience of potential viewers. Recognized as an innovator, JUMP was the first dance convention to offer web-based registration and the first event to host its national competition in a professional theater. JUMP has hosted shows at renowned venues, including The Hudson Theater, Radio City Music Hall, and Beacon Theater in New York City.                            

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Early Dance Experiences Benefit Children

Featuring a distinguished faculty, Linda Jamieson School of Dance is one of the premier sources of dance education for recreational and preprofessional students in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. At Linda Jamieson School of Dance, young students between the ages of 3 and 7 can participate in a specialized young dancer program. According to dance experts, early exposure to dance can offer many benefits to children. Dance is a unique type of exercise that engages the entire body. Early dance training capitalizes on young children’s innate love of movement and helps them develop new skills such as coordination and kinesthetic memory. In addition to serving as a great form of physical exercise, dance offers children social, emotional, and cognitive benefits. Since dance classes are held in group settings, they help children build vital social awareness and develop their ability to work within a group dynamic. In addition, dance helps children use movement to express their emotions. They learn to improvise and answer questions or solve problems that require a movement response.                             

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Evelyn Hart Recognized as Prima Ballerina in Canada

Ottawa’s Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers top-quality education to recreational and pre-professional dancers. Each summer and winter, Linda Jamieson School of Dance hosts workshops led by renowned dance professionals, including Canada’s prima ballerina, Evelyn Hart. Noted for her exceptional artistry, Evelyn Hart was the first Western dancer to earn a gold medal at the International Ballet Competition in the female solo category. Initially trained in Ontario, Evelyn Hart earned acceptance into the professional division of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 1973 and became a company member in 1976. After her promotion to principal dancer in 1980, Evelyn Hart played a key role in shaping the repertoire of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet throughout the decade. During that period, she performed in classic ballets and contemporary works. During the 1990s, Evelyn Hart continued to dance with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, while also performing with the Bayerisches Staatsballet in Munich, Germany, and participating in guest performances with the National Ballet of Canada. She has earned appointment to the Order of Canada and achieved induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame.                            

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American Dance Awards Promotes Dance Education

Ottawa’s Linda Jamieson School of Dance has prepared dancers for professional dance careers for more than 30 years. Many of the most promising dancers who have studied at Linda Jamieson School of Dance have earned honors in the esteemed American Dance Awards (ADA) competition. Established in 1979, ADA provides valuable learning experiences, critiques from dance professionals to high-potential young dancers. Although ADA is a competition, the program has a collegial atmosphere that promotes camaraderie and friendship. One of the most prestigious ADA honors is the America’s Dancer of the Year competition. As part of this program, ADA hosts competitions in various cities, with local winners coming together to compete in a national competition. Known for its fair scoring system and strong organization, ADA has a dedicated focus on advancing the discipline of dance and promoting dance education. Although winning at ADA is an important accomplishment in any dancer’s career, the relationships gained through the ADA program can last a lifetime.                            

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Selecting a Pair of Ballet Shoes

Linda Jamieson, a dance teacher for more than three decades, established the Linda Jamieson School of Dance in Ottawa, Ontario, as an institution catering to all levels of instruction from young children of all levels of ability including recreational and pre-professional. Jazz and ballet are just two of the many styles of dance offered for students of all levels of ability. Ballet students and performers alike, should carefully consider the options available to them in the selection of their Ballet shoes.  The bones, ligaments and tendons in the feet are of particular importance. shoes that maximize support can have a major impact on the dancer's abilities. To begin, leather, satin, and canvas represent the three most common materials used to make ballet shoes. While many young performers might be attracted to the aesthetic appeal of satin shoes, leather and canvas offer more durability. Furthermore, leather shoes stretch and fit closely to the shape of a performer’s feet. People who are seriously invested in their future as a dancer will likely need to purchase a durable, comfortable pair for practice and a visually striking satin pair for performances. Selecting either a full or split sole is another decision a person must make. Split soles allow performers to move more freely because they leave the toes and heels bare, while full soles fit better and can help beginners feel more balanced. Performers can transition to split soles as they grow more comfortable and stable. However, the Royal Academy of Dance   require specific shoes for young dancers and and examination candidates.  It is advisable to discuss these decisions with your ballet teacher.                            

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Linda Jamieson School of Dance Offers Classes to Youth Ages 3 to 7

Located in Ontario, Canada, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers students a wide range of courses in various forms of dance and the opportunity to participate in two stage performances a year. In addition, students of the school can become contestants in the Youth America Grand Prix and the American Dance Awards Championships. In addition to programs for older students, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers programs and courses for children from ages 3 to 7. Intended for children between 3 and 6 years old, the Young Dancer Program teaches students creative movements. Creative movement classes allow children to explore natural responses to music and learn a variety of dance fundamentals. Instructors and pianists utilize a warm approach to lessons in order to encourage confidence in mime and movement in all students. The program also includes instruction on pre-primary and primary ballet, jazz, and tap dancing upon completion of the creative movement classes.     

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The Nutcracker - A Festive Holiday Tradition

A highly respected Ottawa, Canada-based dance academy, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers training in a variety of genres to dancers from 3 to 19 years of age. Each December, students at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance have the opportunity to showcase their talents in an acclaimed production of The Nutcracker Ballet.  A ballet in two acts, The Nutcracker was first performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. Perhaps most well-known for its score written by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and followed a narrative based on an adaptation of an E.T.A Hoffman story entitled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, a piece that Tchaikovsky did not like much. Despite Tchaikovsky’s dislike for the story line, The Nutcracker was soon being performed throughout Western Europe and eventually made its way to the United States in 1944. Today, The Nutcracker remains a festive holiday tradition that is performed on stages around the world each December. 

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American Dance Awards Honors Talented Dancers

Committed to the training of skilled, confident young dancers, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers several areas of dance training. In 2013 alone, nearly 75 students from the Linda Jamieson School of Dance competed and won top prizes and Titles in the American Dance Awards.  Founded in 1979, American Dance Awards (ADA) inspires dancers to achieve their potential. In addition to scholarships and cash prizes, the ADA competition offers valuable critiques from some of the most qualified judges in the world and brings together dancers from studios across Canada and the United States. The organization also sponsors competition for “America’s Dancer of the Year,” one of North America’s most prestigious dance titles. Free of charge for any solo dancer, the competition lets dancers compete at both the regional and national levels, where more than $8,000 in scholarship money is awarded.  ADA Executive Director Gloria Jean Cuming is a prominent dance educator and studio owner who has traveled extensively throughout the United States to share her teaching philosophy and business strategies related to dance education.

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ADAPT Dance Syllabus - A Factsheet

The Ontario-based Linda Jamieson School of Dance has been providing inspiring dance education programs to Canadian students for close to 30 years. Under the direction of Linda Jamieson, the School of Dance offers multiple programs to students of all ages, including jazz and tap programs instructed through the ADAPT training system. ADAPT, the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers, is a dance training syllabus developed for Canadian dance teachers, complete with student examinations in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing. The syllabus has been adopted by more than 160 studios country-wide since its establishment in 1979, and has also expanded into parts of the United States and Hong Kong. The syllabus was developed by Brian and Faye Foley, two Canadian dance experts who recognized a need for inspiring and challenging dance training material. The examination syllabus followed soon afterwards in 1980. Today, the ADAPT dance syllabus is fully certified and acknowledged by the Ontario ministry of education. Some schools allow their students to participate in tap and jazz classes through ADAPT for extra credit. In addition to the student syllabi, ADAPT also offers a Teacher’s Training School, which teachers complete in order to be recognized and certified as ADAPT dance teachers.

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Completing RAD Vocational Examinations

A highly respected Canadian dance training organization, the Linda Jamieson School of Dance is based in Kanata, Ontario. Led by Linda Jamieson, the School of Dance employs qualified and motivated dance teachers to provide training programs to adults and children. The organization also offers comprehensive preparation for Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) vocational examination candidates. The RAD was established in 1920 in the United Kingdom. Since then, it has established programs and examinations in close to 80 countries with a membership base exceeding 12,000. The RAD Canada holds dance examinations three times per year in various locations around the country. These examinations have been developed for students engaged in serious ballet study. A variety of skill levels are assessed, including basic and/or advanced movement, technique, pointe work, creativity, expression, and musicality. The RAD Canada offers several skill level examinations, ranging from Intermediate Foundation through to the Solo Seal Award, the highest award possible. Candidates enrolled for an Intermediate Foundation exam must be at least 11 years of age. Although the intermediate-level dance examinations do not require dancers to hold any prerequisite skills, the more advanced examinations require successful completion of lower RAD level exams or recognized equivalents.

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The Royal Academy of Dance - A Challenging Ballet Curriculum

At the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, children have the opportunity to pursue classical ballet study that follows the curriculum of the Royal Academy of Dance. As director of the Linda Jamieson School of Dance, Ms. Jamieson maintains active membership in the Academy and holds a teaching certificate with distinction. The largest teacher training and dancer examination board in the world, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) presents a graded curriculum that assesses achievement at various levels of study. The examination programs begin at the Grades Syllabus level and, once a student has passed Grade 5, offer the opportunity to study toward the more rigorous Vocational Grades Syllabus. This examination program reflects a commitment to classical ballet and potentially an ambition to pursue ballet as a career. More recreational students may continue in the Grades Syllabus program, or may choose to attend a non-examined Presentation Class. The RAD program focuses on the English style of ballet. This methodology, which combines the Italian, French, Russian, and Danish traditions, emphasizes technical proficiency and the meeting of rigorous standards. As a result, RAD examinations require a dancer to demonstrate total familiarity with basic movements and their subtleties before advancing to more challenging work.