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20 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 17, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com SPOTLIGHT The Internationally renowned Oakville School of Dance lizabeth Paterson, a major examiner with the Royal Academy of Dance for over 30 years, founded the Oakville School of Dance (OSD) in 1961. After offering her expertise for many years, Elizabeth retired and handed the reins to her daughter Amanda Paterson-Anderson. Amanda, a graduate of the National Ballet School has raised the standard even higher for her students. In fact, this year all dancers from the graduating class have been offered professional contracts in the dance world. Past graduates are now dancing in companies in the U.K., the United States and across Canada. "Over the past 46 years the OSD has grown from a local dance school to an internationally renowned classical ballet school," says Amanda Anderson. "The OSD provides exceptional ballet training for beginners to professional students throughout Southern Ontario. Ballet classes offer a young child from the age of three the opportunity to grow in self-confidence, coordination, flexibility, strength, musicality, artistry and creativity." Emphasis on the younger classes concentrates on the pleasure of movement and musicality with the development of technique evolving throughout the levels. "Children are also exposed to Character Dance, Oakville's E the study of folk steps and dances from selected countries," says Amanda Anderson "This provides insight into the colourful history of music, dance, and national costumes of countries such as Poland, Russia and Hungary." The professional training program provides training to students who aspire to professional careers in classical ballet. "Excellent artistic training at the highest caliber offers a positive learning experience in both ballet and other complimentary subjects," says Amanda Anderson "We are a Performance-oriented school performing with the Oakville Ballet Company on productions like Nutcracker in early December and Spring Evening of Dance in late May." OSD believes when selecting a ballet school much consideration should be taken. "You are placing your Childs' emotional and physical development in the hands of an instructor. You need to be assured that the instructor is a qualified ballet teacher with the credentials and experience necessary to provide a fun positive supportive experience leading to proven, successful training.You should expect and demand nothing less," says Amanda Anderson. After 46 years in downtown Oakville OSD is taking their un-paralleled experience to North Oakville. "We are offering the highest qualified teachers and superbly creative ballet pianists. Students are invited to come out and dance in our productions at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts," says Amanda Anderson. "We are offered the same opportunities and professional training that have been provided at our downtown location for many years." OSD offers classes in ballet, modern, jazz and Spanish for both recreational and professional division students. "The majority of our students are recreational or general division students who are interested in receiving the same highly qualified training as the professional division students without the intensity, yet all the fun. Why settle for anything less?" says Amanda Anderson. If you are interested in registering for summer dance or fall classes at either location ­ call now! INFO AT A GLANCE... 260 ROBINSON ST. DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE AND NORTH OAKVILLE TELEPHONE: 905.844.7035 WEBSITE: www.oakvilleballet.com LOCATIONS: Young Dancers at Oakville School of Dance Oakville School of Dance, Corps in Swan Lake. OSD student Kate Ewing and Etienne Lavigne in Swan Lake. Eva Googan and Thom Dobronyi in La Sylphide Swan Lake with OSD Kate Ewing and Etienne Lavigne Nutcracker with OSD student Ashley Moras and Etienne Lavigne