About DanceBridge
Our teachers are qualified professionals with degrees in education, dance, kinesiology; teaching certifications with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, the British Association Teachers of Dancing, the Performing Arts Educators of Canada, Can-Fit-Pro, and are dedicated to continuing their professional development with workshops, classes and courses.
We offer many programs at DanceBridge. We have recreational and competitive programs, both programs offering students the opportunity to participate in our examinations with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and our annual Gala Recital. Our competitive program offers lessons in a more intense training environment, and students attend between two and three competitions each year, take exams, participate in workshops, as well as perform locally.
We strive to go above and beyond to give our students and those in the local community as many opportunities we can. We host workshops with TV stars and industry professional dancers, we attend every community function we are invited to, offer summer camps and workshops, host birthday parties and offer sessional dance for those wanting a short term commitment.
We invite you come in and tour the studio and meet the staff. And we hope you choose DanceBridge for your experience and journey into dance.
About the Artistic Director
The Artistic Director of DanceBridge, Eileen McCartney, is an educated and accomplished dancer, teacher, performer and choreographer. As a young dancer, Eileen trained in ballet, jazz, tap and gymnastics and competed in Canada and the USA, and performed in numerous local shows, television shows, and industry showcases, as well as completing all her dance examinations.
She attended York University where she studied dance, psychology and education. Her experiences in the dance department exposed her to a wider range of styles including the modern styles of Graham and Limon, contemporary, and the ballet styles of Vaganova and Cecchetti. The training at York was firmly grounded in anatomical principles, creating a dancer who not only knows the steps and the history, but the correct way to execute, perform and teach.
Eileen graduated from university with an Honours Double Major Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology, and a Bachelor’s of Education, certified to teach Kindergarten to grade 10. Placement positions included teaching ballet, modern, jazz, and choreography at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in Toronto.
Additionally Eileen is certified and has received full membership with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and the Performing Arts Educators of Canada. She also has certification for group fitness with Can-Fit-Pro, is a licensed Zumba, Zumba Gold and Zumba Kids Instructor and is a certified Ontario teacher (OCT). Her love of anatomy and helping others led her back to school, where she became a Physiotherapy Assistant and a certified reflexologist with the Ontario College of Reflexology.
Eileen began DanceBridge Dance Studio in the loft of St. Andrew’s Chalmers Church, running classes two days per week. Since then, DanceBridge has grown to now offer classes all week long, for all ages in our studio location at 141 Reach Street. Eileen has also received many accolades for her teaching and choreography including many choreographic achievement awards at competitions, many special awards and high score awards, and the honourable award, The Peter Stanton Memorial Award.
Eileen teaches class in a fun, effective, organized manner. She teaches all dance forms but also teaches her students anatomy, healthy living, problem solving and a love of dance that will last a lifetime.
About the Studio Space
DanceBridge is located at 141 Reach Street unit 2A, Uxbridge, Ontario. DanceBridge serves the local community of Uxbridge, but many students come from Port Perry, Sunderland, Cannington and Beaverton.
Our studio has two large studios, with sprung wood flooring, wall-to-wall mirrors, ballet barres, acrobatic mats, and viewing areas for parents. We also have a comfortable waiting room for parents, which doubles as our dancers lounge and birthday party room. Additionally we have an on-site store which carries dance basics such as bodysuits, skirts, wrap sweaters, and DanceBridge wear.