Dance instructor Kailena Van de Nes, clad casually in a black top and track pants, chews gum as she sits cross-legged in the pink studio. She’s smiling as she watches one of her competitive students execute a flawless flapper routine, complete with an impossible number of pirouettes. She claps her hands. “Very good job!” she says.
KV Dance Studio is a welcoming place painted with bright orange and fuchsia hues, and featuring photos of its dancers on the walls. Comfortable couches line the hallways to provide a place for both students and parents to relax. Catering to recreational dancers as well as to competitive ones, KV Dance Studio offers something for everyone – from Tutus and Teddy Bears (which helps 2 to 4 year olds experiment with creative movement) to Burlesque (aimed at moms wanting to tap into their sassy selves). Kailena’s love affair with dance dates back to the age of three, when her parents enrolled her in ballet. She’s always enjoyed losing herself in music and movement. “The emotion and adrenaline rush you get from dancing is unlike anything else,” she says.
Kailena soon realized that she enjoyed teaching dance as well. While working on obtaining a pilot’s license, she supported herself by instructing dance at various Ottawa community centres. “There’s something so rewarding about seeing kids accomplish goals,” she says. She decided to start her own dance school, and KV Dance Studio opened its doors in September 2014.
