A Cultural Revolution

Innovation is key when opening the doors to commerce and Melodie Sharma, a well known local dance instructor, is daring to walk the entrepreneurial road to success while fulfilling the community’s need of a serious, competitive and educational performance studio.  Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts, set to open the week of September 13, 2010, is designed to include an expanded schedule offering dance, drama, voice and actor-influenced movement.  By evolving from a dance-only structure, Melodie is establishing a cultural revolution of sorts.

Dedicated to enriching the community through performance, Melodie has mindfully created a balance of programs including varying skill levels and abilities.  In making the performing arts available in some context or another to everyone, she bridges the once perceived out-of-reach to those previously left out.  Unity is a wonderful thing.  And, Melodie does more than just practice great business – she is visionary in her ideas.  Beyond this, she has the goods to back up her business plan.

With a fierce background in dance, graduation from the Canadian School of Ballet, attendance at a Julliard-sponsored summer program (hosted in Saskatchewan) and professional credentials a mile long, Melodie is out to raise the bar on Kelowna’s performance level.  In studying under the talents of Al Gilbert, Brian Foley, Susan Mensiger, Van the Man Porter, Mia Michaels, Art Stone, Bill deRicco, Debbie Dee, Charles McGowen and Brenda Buffalino (to name a few), Melodie was pushed both creatively and productively in her competitive achievement throughout Canada and the US.  Beyond the scope of training, Melodie taught in a freelance format for numerous BC studios spanning the Okanagan and Interior and maintained ownership of an Armstrong studio, Tap and All that Jazz for eight years while seeing students go on to dance professionally with the likes of Hillary Duff and in institutions such as Randolph Academy, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Banff Centre and a handful of notable cruise lines.

By combining a revived mentality of focused behaviour and discipline with a new flavour of style and technique, Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts is certain to generate a result that is nothing short of creative magic.  The myriad of disciplines (Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Break-dancing) meld perfectly with the carefully designed programs (Mom & Tot, Fairy Tale Ballet, Yoga, Zumba, Recreational, Competitive and Limelight), and ensure that everyone from ages three to adult have a performance outlet.  The Recreational Program was specifically designed to allow students the flexibility of dancing their hearts out without having to step into the world of competition.  It also provides new dancers with the option of getting their feet wet without committing to an entire year of one specific discipline.

For the dedicated dancer, the studio proudly offers Limelight Performance Group, a structured and specialized program that requires an audition for placement and as such illustrates the passion that Melodie and Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts faculty brings to the table.  Through the intense and mandatory seven classes that encompass this program, Limelight students will gain the necessary expertise to then be featured on a 2011 Stars at Sea cruise ship sailing.  Free auditions are slated to run on July 31, 10am-2pm and again on August 28, 10am-2pm.

Melodie doesn’t stop there.  Giving back to our city is of great importance to her and her faculty, and in reaching out to the special needs community with a free class every three months, Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts is a remarkable example of the heart and soul of the Okanagan.

The excitement continues as Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts stretches the inclusion once more to feature a full Theatre Program for actors and singers.  As the only dance/performing arts studio in Kelowna, Melodie has acquired the ideal space for both drama and voice instruction and has set her sights on an annual spring musical for the program’s year-end feature.

In the professional realm, Melodie envisions growth for both herself and her staff as they continue to train in their dedicated genres so as to bring fresh ideas and technique back to their students.  By setting a unique standard of due diligence, Kelowna Dance & Performing Arts will further help to shape the community in its cultural diversity.

To better understand the philosophies and programs that Kelowna Dance and Performing Arts supports, Melodie has scheduled an Open House for July 31 at the studio location of 1695 Burtch Road.  Not only is this an early opportunity to register for the fall program, but Melodie and staff are pleased to offer free classes to encourage future students to realize their potential in whatever discipline they desire.  Registration can also be completed on August 25-27, 4pm-8pm and August 28, 12pm-4pm.