About
About The Dance Shoppe
by Owner & Director, Ruth-Ann Gray
Ruth-Ann Gray
Owner & Director
The Dance Shoppe
Growing up in Milton, Ontario and living here for over 45 years, I have learned that Milton has a very strong sense of family and community. I started dancing at a local dance studio in Milton at the age of 10. My love for dance grew stronger as I got older and I knew I had to spread the love of dance to as many people as I possibly could. 27 years ago, I started The Dance Shoppe. Our first location was a small 700 square foot, 1 room dance studio, on Main Street below Troy’s Diner. My dream was to create a place where children could come and share my passion for dance. Along with my mother, father, family and friends the The Dance Shoppe was built. Over the years, The Dance Shoppe has grown to have over 12,000 square feet of studio space, and has become a well known and well loved dance studio to Milton locals. We now have an incredible dance space where boys and girls, young and old, come to learn dance and express themselves through a variety of recreational and competitive dance programs as well as summer dance classes and camps.
Here at The Dance Shoppe, we pride ourselves in being able to provide a safe and family friendly environment to learn and have fun. We believe everyone can dance, they just need to be given the tools and confidence to shine and be themselves. TDS is thriving now more then ever, and we are excited to see what the future holds. The one thing that has never changed and will never change is our commitment to our students and their families.
The Dance Shoppe is “Milton’s Family Dance Studio”, as families return to the studio, year after year, generation after generation. We want our dancers and their families to feel at home when at TDS. Our open-door policy allows families to communicate with us at any time for any reason. It warms my heart to watch so many young dancers grow up, move on, then come back to the studio with their own children.
Our creative and professional staff help us to bring quality dance lessons to many young dancers. My hope is that The Dance Shoppe will always be a safe and fun place for children in Milton, and continue to inspire dancers for many many years to come.
Milton has given me so much. I feel so very lucky and blessed to be able to work and live in this incredible community.
Come join our dance family and become a member of The Dance Shoppe, “Milton’s Family Dance Studio!”
Meet the Team
Click a team member to learn about them
Miss Ruth-Ann Gray
Miss Rachelle Seguin
Miss Lindsey Feltoe
Miss Meaghan Boland
Miss Amanda Sciberras
Miss Emily Lamouche
Miss Chelsey Banyai
Miss Nicole Serino
Miss Nicole Dymianiw
Mr George Absi
Mrs O’Heany
Miss Michelle Galati
Miss Julia Carnevale
Miss Olivia Afonso
Our Facility
The Dance Shoppe is a bright and family friendly dance studio. We have five large state of the art dance rooms, all with viewing windows and a closed circuit video system so you may watch all your dancers on one screen. Our 12,000 square foot dance complex has a front and back entrance to make it convenient to park and enter during busy times and inclement weather. Our spacious hallways and kitchenette make for a comfortable family atmosphere and allow you to enjoy your time at The Dance Shoppe. Each dance studio is individually controlled for heat and air conditioning to allow for an optimum temperature for your dancer to train in. The generous girls and boys change rooms/washrooms are both equipped with baby change stations along with lockers and hot and cold running water. The professional décor is both relaxing and tranquil. We are located in an area close to shopping and restaurants, with easy excess to the highway. We encourage you to come in and watch each class so you can see the enjoyment and the development of your dancer.
Dates to Remember
Dates to Remember
2020/ 2021
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Classes Begin |
Week of Monday September 14th |
| Thanksgiving Monday |
Studio Closed Monday October 12th |
| Halloween |
Studio Open Saturday October 31st |
| Christmas Break |
Studio Closed Monday December 21st to Sunday January 3rd Classes Resume Monday January 4th, 2021 |
| Family Day |
Studio Closed Monday February 15th |
| March Break |
Studio Closed March 15th to 21st |
| Good Friday |
Studio Closed Friday April 2nd |
| Easter Saturday |
Studio Open Saturday April 3rd |
| Easter Sunday |
Studio Closed Sunday April 4th |
| Easter Monday |
Studio Open Monday April 5th |
| Victoria Day |
Studio Closed Monday May 24th |
|
Picture Day & Dress Rehearsal at the Studio |
Sunday May 30th |
|
End of the year Recital The Milton Theatre for the Arts |
Friday, Saturday & Sunday June 4th, 5th, 6th |
Dance Attire
Dance Attire
Students not properly attired may observe, but will not be allowed to participate in class.
All shoes must be purchased by October 1st.
Creative Dance
Any style dancewear and or shorts & t-shirts will be permitted. Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail. Bare legs and bare feet are appropriate for this class.
Ballet Age 3 & 4
A solid color body suit, (black, blue or pink). Pink ballet tights or bare legs with ankle socks can be worn. Hair is to be in a bun (if possible) or pulled back off the face in a ponytail. Pink Ballet shoes are to be worn. A Ballet wrap skirt is optional.
Ballet Age 5 & 6
Lilac Mondor Bodysuit #1635 bodysuit, with pink ballet tights (Mondor style #345, #310, #314, #316, #319) or pink ankle socks Mondor #167. Hair must be in a proper bun, with hair net and bobby pins. Pink Ballet shoes are to be worn. Wrap over skirt – colour to match leotard; Mondor style #16100.
Ballet Age 7 to 12
Purple Mondor #3546 bodysuit with pink tight pink. Hair must be in a proper bun, with hair net and bobby pins. Pink soft ballet shoes in satin, canvas or leather, with pink elastic.
Ballet Boys & Graded RAD Ballet Boys
A solid white T- shirt, black bike pants or leggings, black or white ballet shoes with black or white socks.
Graded RAD Ballet Girls: Pre-Primary & Primary
Lilac Mondor Bodysuit #1635 bodysuit, with pink ballet tights (Mondor style #345, #310, #314, #316, #319) or pink ankle socks Mondor #167. Hair must be in a proper bun, with hair net and bobby pins. Pink Ballet shoes are to be worn. Wrap over skirt – colour to match leotard; Mondor style #16100.
Graded RAD Ballet Girls: Grades 1-5
Purple Mondor #3546 bodysuit with pink tight pink (Mondor style #345, #310, #314, #316, #319). . Hair must be in a proper bun, with hair net and bobby pins. Pink soft ballet shoes in satin, canvas or leather, with pink elastic. Character skirts and Character shoes will be required for graded Ballet classes only.
Vocational Ballet Girls
Any style Sleeveless leotard – black, Waistband (optional) – 2 cm elastic, the same colour as leotard, Tights: pink (Mondor style #345, #310, #314, #316, #319), Soft pointe shoes or soft ballet shoes – pink with ribbons. Pointe shoes (pointe work section) – pink with ribbons
Acro
Any style dancewear will be permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be ponytail or bun. Bare feet are required.
Tap
Any style dancewear will be permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be ponytail or bun. Tap Shoes are required. Black Tap Shoes for all recreational tap recital dances.
Hip Hop
Any style athletic wear is permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be in a ponytail. Dancers are to wear, clean running shoes. Black running shoes for all recreational Hip Hop recital dances.
Jazz
Any style dancewear will be permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be in a ponytail or bun.
Shoes:
Age 3 to 6: bare feet.
Age 7+: a jazz shoe. Black jazz shoes for all recreational jazz recital dances 7 +
Musical Theatre
Any style dancewear will be permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be in a ponytail or bun. Jazz shoes are required. Black jazz shoes for all recreational MT recital dances.
Contemporary
Any style dancewear will be permitted but must be suitable for dancing. Hair is to be in a ponytail or bun. – bare feet
Terms of Service
Terms of Service
In participating in our programs you agree to the following Terms of Service, Release, Payment Options, Cancellation Policy, and Notes.
Classes subject to change. Must have a minimum of 5 dancers per class.
Registering Online
To register on-line for our programs, you will need to first create an account with us. If you have done so with us in previous years, you will have the same email as the username but, will have to reset your password.
Please Note
Age Requirements:
The cut off date for age requirements is December 31st – same as school. Enroll your dancers in their appropriate age group – dancers not enrolled in the appropriate age group will be withdrawn and will need to register again.
Wait Lists:
If you find that a class is presently full, please put your child’s name on the wait list by clicking the ‘Wait List’ link to the right of a class you want. We use the wait lists to determine which classes we will need to open more of. We will attempt to accommodate everyone’s needs as to dance style, ages and times.
Release
In part consideration of permitting my child (self) to participate in the activities of The Dance Shoppe Ltd., I agree to insure my child (self) against any injury or loss resulting from the activities and of travelling to and from theses activities. I agree to indemnify and save harmless The Dance Shoppe Ltd. and its employees, agents and volunteers from all losses, damages, claims and demands occasioned thereby. I authorize The Dance Shoppe Ltd. and its employees, agents and volunteers to provide all medical care, which they deem necessary for my child (self) in the event of injury. In Accordance with Ontario’s Freedom of Privacy and Information Act, I hereby grant The Dance Shoppe Ltd. permission to videotape my child at the year-end recital and participate in the studio photographs which may be used for promotional purposes. The Dance Shoppe Ltd. will not be responsible for any theft, damage, or injuries during classes or on the location premises.
Tuition and Programs
Registration for The Dance Shoppe programs begins May 1st. Classes run from the second week of September to the first weekend in June. Your space in a class is reserved for you, (the dancer) for the year.
Registration Fee:
A non-refundable one-time registration fee to be paid at registration.
- $25.00 +HST per student
- $40.00 +HST per family
Please note we are a 10 month program: approximately 38 weeks.
| Per week | Pay in full | 10 installments |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minute class is ~ $422.30 per year plus tax = | $477.20 | $47.72 |
| 45 minute class is ~ $478.95 per year plus tax = | $541.21 | $54.12 |
| 60 minute class is ~ $535.60 per year plus tax = | $605.23 | $60.52 |
All recreational classes for boys are 1/2 price. Please register for the class and TDS will adjust the amount before it is processed.
Payment Plan: 10 Payments/ Installments – Visa / MasterCard
Pre-Authorized payment. Tuition Fee to be paid in ten (10) equal payments/installments. You must provide either Visa or MC. The 1st payment is due at registration. Monthly payments will be automatically deducted from your account, on the 1st of each subsequent month starting October 1st, 2020. Any outstanding balances will be automatically deducted from your account on July 1, 2021.
Family Discounts
The more programs you order the more you save! Your current order plus all your orders for the current year are used to calculate how much you save. Competitive, and Summer Programs are not included in these calculations and are not discounted. Your savings accumulate so your next order will show the additional savings and ordering all at once will save the most as all qualifying programs on the order receive the full discount:
- 10% off 3rd class per student
- 15% off 4th class per student
- 20% off 5th class or more per student
Summer Programs
On-line registration begins March 1st each year. Your cancellation request must be received in writing 30 days prior to your camp date in order to be eligible for any refund, as determined by The Dance Shoppe Management.
Payments:
Summer Program Fees to be paid in full as of registration date.
Cancellation Policy
Cancelling within 30 days of registration or within your first 30 days of classes:
Within 30 days after your registration date and or first 30 days of classes, a refund of the tuition balance only will be made, or future payments will be suspended. Your cancellation request must be received in writing (email) within 30 days of your first class.
Cancelling after your first 30 days of classes:
A cancellation fee of $40 will be charged and the remaining balance will be refunded, or payments suspended.
Cancelling by TDS:
Should the need arise for the studio to ask a parent to withdraw a dancer; a refund of the tuition balance only will be made and or the monthly installments discontinued.
If The Dance Shoppe is unable to begin classes on Monday September 14th ,2020 due to the Covid-19 crisis, customers will be entitled to a full refund of their tuition if they so choose. An email will be sent from the studio should this occur.
Should The Dance Shoppe be forced to close due to municipal/provincial/federal guidelines at a later date, the following will be applied:
- TDS will firstly attempt to make up any missed classes. All tuition fees will still be applied in this case.
- Should TDS not be able to makeup missed classes a credit may be applied to the dancers account to reflect the amount of tuition for the classes missed. Monthly payments for tuition will be suspended.
- All other fees are non-refundable and will be evaluated case by case for the possibility of a credit. This includes but is not limited to costume deposits, birthday party deposits, competitive entry fees etc. These credits are largely dependent on our suppliers.
Birthday Parties:
No refunds.
Year End Recital and Costumes
The recital is optional for recreational dancers:
Before making your deposits and committing to the recitals in June you must read all the information provided in the Recital News section of the Registered Families pages – beginning December 1st each year this page is updated with important dates and details including the Recital Handbook, Shoes and Tights, Picture Day and Dress Rehearsal Schedules, Who’s In Which Show, Box Office and Ticket Sales.
Costume deposit due on or before January 18th to perform in recitals:
Costume deposits are non-refundable
Before the deadline posted you must either pay your costume deposit or OPT OUT of recitals for each program using the links provided on your Account Details page. In paying your costume deposit you are committing to pay the full price of the costume and agreeing to the information as provided in the Recital Handbook.
