Once upon a time, there was a young mother of three who had just moved back to her hometown with her husband and children after living away for 13 years. Her oldest, a boy, was 7. Her middle child, a girl, was 5. The youngest, another little girl, was just 2.

​

Once they had unpacked their boxes and settled into a new routine, school began. One day, the mother noticed a poster for City-Wide Registration—an event where families could explore extracurricular activities for their children. Curious, she took her two oldest kids to see what opportunities were available. She listed a few options to her daughter, and without hesitation, the five-year-old chose dance.

​

From the very first class—a half-hour ballet session once a week—the little girl fell in love. She practiced her steps at home, danced through the kitchen, and couldn’t wait for her next class. Her mom, who knew nothing about dance at the time, embraced the journey and learned alongside her daughter.

​

As the years passed, that little girl added more classes and began taking dance exams. Her younger sister joined as soon as she was old enough. The mother became a full-blown dance mom, spending evenings at the studio, traveling across the province for competitions, and cheering her daughters on at summer conventions.

​

By the age of sixteen, the eldest daughter began teaching in small towns throughout the area, helping local clubs grow and inspiring a new generation of dancers. Her students thrived—earning recognition and awards at competitions year after year.

​

While attending university full-time, she somehow balanced it all: teaching 30 hours a week, performing with a competitive cheerleading team, attending workshops and competitions, and studying for her teacher certifications in tap, jazz, and acro. At 21, she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a perfect 4.0 GPA. She was about to sign a contract to become a Town Administrator—until fate stepped in.

​

The day after writing her last final exam, she received a call: her former dance teacher’s studio in her hometown was available for new ownership. It was a sign. She never signed the other contract.

​

With the support of her family, she opened her very own studio two months later, naming it A-List Dance & Acrobatics.

​

Today, A-List Dance is home to around 130 students—and growing. The little girl who once danced in the living room now holds a Master’s in Dance Education and an impressive list of certifications including:

• ADAPT Jazz, Tap, & Ballet

• CDTA Tap & Jazz (Associate)

• Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT)

• Acrobatic Arts M1, M2, & Preschool

• Acro Dance Teachers Association Junior, Intermediate & Advanced

• International Dance Teaching Standards Levels 1 & 2

• Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD)

• Certified Hand Balancing and Aerial Arts Instructor​

​

What started as one simple decision—a mom bringing her daughter to explore an activity—turned into something magical. That tiny spark lit a path that has impacted not just one family, but dozens of others throughout Humboldt and beyond.

​

That five-year-old girl, proudly wearing her very first dance medal, had no idea that one half-hour ballet class would lead to a lifelong love—and a legacy that continues to grow.