18 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 10, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Discover the new expansion at The Oakville Academy for the Arts The Oakville Academy for the Arts is consistently voted Oakville's Best Dance School, Music School, and this year Preschool due to the quality, professionalism, passion and education of its Instructors. Owner Heidi McMeekan states that "while facilities are important, the right people instructing in their chosen fields, with small class sizes and preferred age groups makes all the difference". The Oakville Academy for the Arts has recently expanded its facilities to over 11,000 square feet and now offers six large state of the art dance, musical theatre and drama studios, as well as 8 music studios, and a fine arts studio. Flooded with natural light, the Preschool, JK and SK classrooms allow students to fall in love with and grow in an artistic environment. The Oakville Academy has developed an outstanding reputation for its 6 and under programs. With the widest array of options for transit levels such as Princess PreDance, Baby Ballet, Kinder Jazz, Kiddy Hop. There are several choices for ages as young as 2 _. The Academy's approach to this age group is very particular. Small dance classes and instructors with the patience and creativity to allow children to have fun while developing skill and coordination has allowed the school's community to become the largest in the GTA. Year end recitals for the 6 and under groups are separate, shorter in length and give the smallest dancers a chance to perform for the first time in an exciting, safe and warm environment. The recital or Tea Party is tailored to their ability and attention span to ensure that they have fun. The Oakville Academy website has a comprehensive list of programs offered for the 6 and under age group. Dancers 6 years and older have a huge selection of classes to choose from such as recreational Ballet, RAD Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Acro and Contemporary. Classes are offered for all skill levels from beginner to advanced, competitive and pre-professional. All classes are taught by experts in a student focused and healthy environment. The Academy offers classes after school, in the evenings and on the weekends to accommodate everyone's schedule. Music lessons are held in private, acoustically sound rooms with upright Grand Pianos and Professional Keyboards to provide the most optimum learning environment. Music Instructors at the Oakville Academy are highly skilled and trained and are known for having a great passion for music and teaching. Teachers provide each student with a customized curriculum and personal goal setting to ensure that students are able to reach their highest potential according to their learning style. The school is strictly a learning facility so there is no pressure to buy new instruments. Studios are equipped with the very best equipment OAKVILLE SQUADRON from Robert Lowrey's Pianos CANADIAN POWER & SAIL SQUADRON in Toronto through to course registration Yamaha pro drum kits. Instrument rentals can be Tues. Sept 16 Mon. Sept 15 arranged through Long and · Piloting · Boating McQuade. · Celestial · Advanced Navigation The Musical Theatre and Piloting · Fundamentals Drama departments at the of Weather school are offered in age specific programs to develop Confidence, Self Esteem, and Oakville Trafalgar High School, Coordination that will help Devon Rd., Oakville. 6:30PM For more details call: them to realize their star Nelle Gaweda, Training Officer potential. Instructors not Tel: 905-567-1338 Email: ziggy100@sympatico.ca only have the educational Web: http://oakville.cps-ecp.org/courses.htm expertise but also have performance credentials which include major productions such as Mamma Mia. The instructors share their expertise and passion with their students weekly. Fine arts classes are taught by graduates of the Ontario College of Art and Sheridan College. A wide variety of programs are offered in different media to give artists of all levels and ages a chance to express their abilities. Last season an art show was held exhibiting the student's talents at Season's Restaurant downtown Oakville. While the JK and SK programs are full for the 2009 season there are limited spaces still available in the preschool for 2, 3 or 5 mornings weekly. The Afternoon Arts Adventure Program on Tuesdays and or Thursdays is also still available. In this class young children participate in Music, Dance, Fine Arts and an Emilio Reggio based curriculum. For more information on the programs offered at the Oakville Academy for the Arts please drop by the school at 1011 Upper Middle Road and 8th Line or review the website at www.oakvilleacademy.com. You may also call the school 8am-9pm Monday through Thursday, 8am-7pm Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. Classes commence on September 15 2008.