your name: Natasha

name of studio: Kathy's Dance Academy (Montreal Canada)

your age: 19

how long you have been teacing: I started to assist my teacher with the younger kid's classes when I was 13. At 16 I was given my own classes. So I have been teaching by my self for about 3 or 4 dance seasons.

what styles you teach: Basic Ballet (3-4-5-6) year olds, Tap, Jazz, Funky Hip Hop.

how you learned: I was told that when i was younger, i learned by watching and observation. Still today, i always watch my own teacher (since i still take classes) whenever she demostrates a step before i try to imitate it. I like to master the steps in my mind before putting them into action, and i encourage my students to do the same by having them recite the counts or steps out loud as we practice. I also love to watch dance movies, old videos from the 70's and 80's, and the other teachers from my studio. We all get inspriation from each other!

if you danced before: I began dancing when I was 3 years old, and I joined this studio when i was 6. I have been there for 13 years!

if so what you took: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop (i still take these classes)

who inspired you: My dance teacher and studio owner Miss Kathy. She always believed in me, and never let me say "I can't". She always encouraged me, even if i was having a bad dance day. I always knew that she was behind me 100%.

And do you remember your first dance teacher?: yes but she was not important to me like Miss Kathy was and still is


I absolutely LOVE teaching so much, that as well as teaching at the studio, i am studying to become an elementary school teacher at McGill University. Teaching is my passion, and I love the kids. Going to the studio every day makes me so happy; and the kids (especially 8 and under) really make me smile. Also, knowing that the older students look up to me as a role model really makes me proud. When they perfect a certain difficult move, I feel so happy that i was the one to teach it to them. I love watching them from the curtains at our end of year recitals. The smiles on their faces and the happiness and feeling of success that they have is more than i can handle. I just love it!