New Dance School Opening In Saint John And Kennebecasis Valley
SAINT JOHN — Marcia Dysart’s passion for teaching and a lifelong love for dance is being married together in her new pair of dance schools opening in Saint John and the Kennebecasis Valley.
First City School of Dance, which is slated to start classes in September, aims to balance a technical foundation and the artistry of dance. Dysart, the owner and artistic director of First City, said classes would provide opportunities like being mentored by professional artists.
“I want to have a school where it’s a dance education that’s based in foundation and artistry,” said Dysart. “That’s the thing that sets dancers apart from athletes. The artistry of dance is a really important aspect and I think it’s important students understand the creative process.”
Originally from Fredericton, Dysart spent 10 years in Ontario teaching elementary school before returning to New Brunswick with her husband in 2007. For the past 12 years, she has taught at the Touchstone Academy, a private school in Rothesay.
“A lot of my client base lives in the valley, but I live in [Saint John], and I just had a really great opportunity to have a location in both,” said Dysart. “I wanted to be able to offer my dance school to both communities without having people to travel in either direction.”
Dysart has been taught dance for 30 years, including 14 years at the Rothesay Ballet School. With her background in ballet and contemporary modern dance, she’s in the process of hiring other teachers and choreographers, but she still plans to teach too.
Since she announced her plan to open two weeks ago, Dysart said the demand for class registration and other support has been overwhelming. She admits it was something she didn’t expect initially, but she’s excited to meet her first students.
“It really reiterated to me that this is the right thing to do,” said Dysart. “I’m 46 years old, and I thought, ‘maybe I’m pulling this trigger a little too late in my life,’ but my father reminded me just recently this is the perfect time in your life to be taking on this venture.”
With the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic weighing heavy, Dysart feels outlets like the arts are needed even more than ever. There’s a lot to be gained through expressing oneself through the art form, and it’s an opportunity to “restore joy,” she said.
“People are craving this opportunity to involve themselves in the artistic community and to experience the joy of movement and to create opportunities for their children to be able to socialize and support them emotionally,” said Dysart.
Students, from toddlers to adults, can sign up for a variety of classes. These include a choreography lab and beginner to advanced classes in contemporary dance, ballet, jazz, tap and a curriculum exclusively for boys. Dysart workshopped that program with a group of 12 boys from Touchstone.
Dysart expects to release more information, including how to sign up for classes, on First City’s Facebook and Instagram pages. She looks forward to having her classes filled with excited and passionate students and being able to share her knowledge with them.
“I want to cultivate a community with these dancers and their families where they seek out opportunities to see live performance,” said Dysart.
“I want to support the artistic community also, being a part of our wider community and being able to do that through performance or just through supporting performance.”
Aaron Sousa is a summer intern for Huddle. Send him story suggestions: [email protected].