Jane Laurin - Director 

Ryerson Theatre School Dip, Royal Academy of Dance T.C, Society of Russian Ballet Assoc., Acrobatic Arts T.C., Progressing Ballet Technique T.C

Educator, award winning choreographer and dancer, Jane Laurin brings with her an extensive choreographic and performing career with credits such as the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, Toronto Dance Fringe Festival and many community events in the south-western Ontario area.

Jane began her dance training at the age of 4. She began dancing at Listowel School of dance at the age of 8. She trained extensively in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and holds her Advanced 1 certificate.

Jane is an Honours graduate of the Dance program at Ryerson University. At Ryerson she studied ballet, jazz, modern, improvisation, voice and acting. She had the privilege of learning from many prestigious teachers such as Nadia Potts, former principle dancer of the National Ballet of Canada. At Ryerson she received the award for highest GPA several years in a row. Jane graduated with honors in 2001. During her time at Ryerson she had many performance opportunities including working with choreographers such as Robert Desrosiers, and working as a guest dancer with companies such as OMO Dance Co. and CO2 Dance.

After graduation, Jane co-founded the very successful Integrated Dance Artists Collective (IDAC) in Toronto, and performed and choreographed many times in that group between 2001 and 2006.

Jane is a registered RAD teacher as well as an associate teacher of the Russian Society of Ballet.  She is certified with the Acrobatic Arts and Progressing Ballet Technique.   Jane has been an Artistic Director of the Listowel School of Dance since 2001. She has been director of the ballet program, contemporary program as well as the 2 performing companies – Spectrum and Kaleidoscope and the modern dance program. She has also been the Artistic Director of the Minto Dance Academy and instructed at the Classical Dance Conservatory in Waterloo and the Swansea School of Dance in Toronto. She has been involved in ballet, modern and creative workshops all over the country.  Jane took over as the owner/director of the Listowel School of Dance in 2010.

Jane’s passion for classical ballet and modern dance has lead her in many creative directions. She enjoys sharing her love and enthusiasm for dance with her students- whether that be in the form of ballet exam preparation, or pushing the envelope for creative choreography. She always encourages her students to dance with both their heads and their hearts. Jane believes that although ballet is a very old art form, it can still be a vibrant tool of expression for young people.