Meet Riverdale’s newest dance studio: where passion is their top priority

Written by Fleur Boomsma

Photo by Fleur Boomsma

Stage Door Academy of Dance (also known as SDA) – Our latest neighbourhood dance studio might be your child’s new favourite weekend activity. The beautiful and bright, mirrorless studio spreads the positive vibes and also aligns you with your body. You feel the music, you feel your balance, and you feel the engagement between your body parts.

Photo provided by Erica Binder

Dance is considered a form of self-expression, physical release, and most importantly, it is fun. However, something that needs to be pointed out is the fact that dance is believed to help develop motor skills, coordination and discipline. Erica Binder, the artistic director and owner of SDA – shares these beliefs of the philosophy of dance.

She believes that SDA will be a less of a competitive environment. “I want to teach passion for dance over being perfect,” Binder says. Since she has first-hand knowledge on what it feels like to be in positive and negative atmospheres, she would rather teach the excitement and passion over competition. SDA’s goal is to eventually grow into a studio that offers competitive dance.

Photo by Fleur Boomsma

Binder truly has an incredible and extensive resume. She’s been dancing for over 20 years (and teaching over 12 years), specializing in musical theatre, ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, aerialist and Brazilian dance. Binder has even performed 15 months abroad as an Aerialist performer at Tokyo Disneysea in Japan before returning home and opening up SDA. I know your kid will bond with Binder over Disney’s characters!

You’ll also notice that the studio doesn’t have mirrors. This is definitely with intention as Binder thinks that mirrors can be a distraction for the children. They can be obsessed with the reflection and they may not listen to the teacher.

“I find that it makes you so critical because as dancers we have proprioception,” Binder says.

Proprioception is defined as the self-movement and body position. For example, you feel how your body positions itself while performing a pirouette.

“Being in front of a mirror takes away from that feeling and you become more visual on how you think something is supposed to look.” When you’re performing in front of an audience you won’t have that mirror. Binder thinks the mirrorless concept is best for learning, attentiveness, picking up choreography, and not being self-critical.

Photo provided by Erica Binder

SDA offers Saturday classes such as:

• Tiny feet - a creative movement class involving dance basics mixed with ballet and jazz for ages 5-7

• Acro and technique for ages seven and up

• Jazz and ballet for ages 8-10

• Routine clean

• Private and semi-private classes.

Stage Door Academy is a great way for kids to have fun, learning the dance basics and building discipline.

The studio is located at the Toronto Yoga Co studio
1768 Danforth Ave, Toronto (Coxwell & Danforth)

Visit the studio’s website to see its latest welcome offers.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

Binder takes the prevention of COVID-19 very seriously. Social distancing measures are in place, floors and equipment (if used) are cleaned and sanitized after every class, and masks will be worn. Of course, your child’s temperature will be taken upon entry of class and/or if there are any symptoms, your child will have to skip the class.

Instead of holding hands, the children will be holding hula hoops. Those hoops will also be used on the floor. This way they can be moved around, however, the kids will have to stay inside these hoops while they’re learning on the spot.

 

Furry friends: Don’t work around your vet’s schedule!

Work around your own with Riverdale’s travelling RVT

Written by Fleur Boomsma

Does your furry friend need to get a mani/pedicure? Contact Meaghan Michaud for her services // Image by LISA ROLLAND

Your precious, furry, little friend deserves the best care in the world and taking a trip to the clinic or pet store isn’t always as comfortable for the both of you. What if you knew about a registered veterinary technician (RVT) that could come to your home to offer the services you need?

Pet Pedis is Riverdale’s travelling RVT and has been in business since 2012. The owner and RVT, Meaghan Michaud, offers treatments like nail care, ear cleaning, B12/insulin injections, and now also offers pet-sitting for a great price. This way, you don’t have to work around your vet’s schedule and start working around your own.

Michaud comforts her furry friend, Hank as she is trimming his nails // Image by MEAGHAN MICHAUD

Michaud realized that nail care for pets wasn’t necessarily something that owners payed attention to. Some owners who may have physical disabilities weren’t able to put their pets in a carrier and bring it to the vet once or every couple of months to have its nails trimmed.

‘When I was working at a vet clinic, I thought it would be an interesting side project for myself,” Michaud said. “Little did I know that a lot of people would be interested in this kind of service.”

To distinguish the difference between a vet and a RVT is that the vet is essentially an animal doctor and the technician is a person who has successfully graduated from an accredited school and has met all the requirements identified by their provincial state or state association. Michaud also likes to refer herself as an animal nurse.

According to Michaud, to be a RVT you have to write the national exam, pass a criminal background check, and have to attend professional ethics seminars. These technicians are required to keep up with continuing education whether that means attending a conference, a lunch-and-learn, or take an online course. This way the RVT is constantly learning about the changes and updates in medicine.

As a Riverdale resident, Michaud has developed many relationships over the years. She believes it’s a privilege to be trusted with people’s pets, let alone to be trusted enough to be invited into their home.

Hetfield is getting his medication // Image by MEAGHAN MICHAUD

“They’re taking a complete risk asking a stranger to come into their home and handle the most important four-legged creature in their life and yet they do it,” Michaud said.

Michaud has also found that some pet owners don’t quite understand the vet’s instructions and don’t want to ask any further questions because they may feel distraught.

Image by SUZANNE LEWIS

The difference with Pet Pedis is that Michaud goes over the instructions at a pace that works for her clients and in a home that they are comfortable with.

She will take the extra time to make sure that they understand and may even send a follow-up email going over and adding additional information that will help with any further concerns they have.

Hundreds show up to Dusk Dances' 24th festival season

The preview night at Withrow Park was a success thanks to all its volunteers 

Dusk Dances opening performance: Waving is funny. Choreographed by Tina Fushell. Performance by Tina Fushell, Luke Garwood and Molly Johnson

Article and photography by Fleur Boomsma

The Dusk Dances preview evening started out relaxed. Neighbors got together with their children and pets; sitting on picnic blankets and lawn chairs enjoying a drink. They were watching the opening band and Joy of Dance teacher perform a dance lesson. Several people got up to learn how to dance, especially the children. The teacher requested a volunteer to help him assist with the dance lessons and a young child was delighted to come forward. You would think that only a handful of people would show up at 7 p.m., which was the introduction before the festival started.

By the time of 7:30 p.m., the park was filled with hundreds of neighbors prepared to watch the five dance performances. It was incredible see how the volunteers and the (really funny) host, Susie Burpee's alter ego, Allegra Charleston, were able to navigate these watchers to the next performance. Let me tell you, the host was a real comedian!

The host of the 24th Dusk Dances festival season, Susie Burpee's alter ego Allegra Charleston

It is Dusk Dances’ 24th year that they celebrate this festival season and travel to Terrebonne (Quebec), Hamilton, Toronto (Withrow Park), and Barrie. The park is filled with volunteers selling popcorn for $2 a bag, take donations (it is a pay-what-you-can basis), and help the host navigate the residents through the park to go to the next dance piece. These festival’s choreographers come from various backgrounds that are represented in the contemporary and traditional dance pieces.

While the audiences are navigated by its volunteers to the next performance, you see the children run (for their lives almost) to get a good seat! You don’t want to sit behind those who have lawn chairs, you won’t see a thing! The adults are lucky, their children get to the piece early and reserve spots while the adults can walk at an easy pace while chatting with their surrounded neighbors. 

Dusk Dances performs five 10-minute pieces at Withrow Park and are “inspired by the park’s natural environment”. I won’t spoil these performances, you’d have to see for yourself and judge! With the rain this week, don’t let this weather ruin this artistic, social and cultural event. Bring some dry lawn chairs so you won’t have to sit on the wet grass.

Dusk Dances celebrate between August 5-12th. You are just in time to finish your weekend off with this relaxing and amazing experience. We love Dusk Dances, what do you think?

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Dusk Dances 2018
Withrow Park
Located south of the Danforth, between Logan and Carlaw in Toronto, ON.
Closest TTC subway station: Chester.
More info: 416 504 6429 ext 24

Going eco-friendly: Ride the bike!

City of Toronto installs three new bike station docks in Riverdale's Withrow Park

Bike station docks at Carlaw Ave and McConnell Ave. 
Photo taken by Fleur Boomsma

Article and photography by Fleur Boomsma

Since the City of Toronto started investing in “Bike Sharing” back in 2011 the number of bike rides and annual members have grown significantly. According to Bike Share Toronto, they had over 4,000 members in 2016 and it continues to grow. The Riverdale community is one of the perfect places ride the bike safely wherever you go, no matter what time it is. See biking as an entertaining and economical way to get around town while avoiding traffic, TTC delays and Taxi or Uber fares! Let’s not forget you get the exercise!

Finally, on July 10, the city installed three new bike sharing docks near Withrow Park which are located at Carlaw/McConnell Ave, Logan/McConnell Ave, and Logan/Bain Ave. Each station block has between 9-17 bikes available. Now you may see that bikes are not always parked at the station docks, it seems that the Riverdale community is fully committed to bike sharing! The city recognizes that our growing Riverdale neighborhood is ready for this bike system around its well-known Withrow Park.

How does it work?

The system is simple. You locate a bike at one of stations by going to the Bike Share Toronto website or the mobile app. Once located the bike (or if you are at a station already), purchase your pass with your credit card and you will receive a 5-digit code that gives you access to unlock a bike. The benefit of bike sharing is that there’s no need to return the bike to the exact same station.

What is the cost?

Though a single trip of 30 minutes would cost you $3.25, it’s wiser for you to purchase a 24-hour pass of $7. That way you will avoid getting overcharged on your credit card if you don't return your bike within 30 minutes.

If you want to explore the city you can purchase a 3-day pass for $15, which is much more cost-effective than using the public transportation in Toronto.

If you are a committed bike rider like the Dutch in the Netherlands, who will bike anywhere no matter what weather condition they are in (summer, fall, spring AND winter), there is the option of purchasing the $99 annual membership that allows you to have unlimited bike rides for an entire year.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the new bike sharing installations! Is it worth your while?

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