Our Story
The founder and driving force behind the company, Sonia Clarke, understood at a very young age that to make a living from art, you have to be versatile. With a varied dance background, she has had a prolific career as a performer and choreographer since 1990. Over the years, she has observed that the dancers she hired are often highly specialized, hindering her creative impulses rooted in the mixing of styles.
Forced to reinvent herself during the pandemic, she returned to school to study arts and cultural management, where the idea emerged to create a program that would meet the needs of the industry as she had identified them throughout her career. It was in this context that Sonia approached Christine and Véronique, two impressive businesswomen who had not only kept their dance school afloat, but had made it grow despite uncertain times.
The project was simple, but ambitious: to create from scratch a professional training program that would allow dancers to live fully from their passion. To do this, Sonia needed a right-hand person with whom she could share her ideas and concretely implement her vision. That's when she contacted Lisa-Marie, a colleague and former student who had impressed her at the time with her analytical skills and the quality of her teaching. This is how the four women began this large-scale adventure that they are proud to call National Dance School of Canada.
→ Our vision
We enable our graduates to pursue their desired careers in the arts and entertainment industry in Quebec, in Canada and internationally.
→ Our mission
We offer a diversified and high level program to develop the artistic talent of our students-dancers and the skill set necessary to navigate the job market.
→ Our values
Versatility, excellence, sense of community, mentoring, commitment and autonomy.
→ Our philosophy
We believe that nurturing a dance community rooted in diversity and inclusion creates the landscape for creativity and innovation. We rely on excellence to shape talents in a supportive and challenging environment that cultivates rigor and curiosity and instill a strong work ethic.
Our Founder
Sonia Clarke
Producer, choreographer, dancer and teacher, Sonia has been working in the show business sector for over 25 years. With a background in classical ballet, jazz, modern, Afro-Caribbean and street dance, her career has given her the opportunity to work for dance companies in Quebec and Europe, as well as in the commercial sector such as television and corporate events. Working backstage as a stage manager, both locally and on tour, she quickly developed her management skills. As a choreographer, Sonia has created for dance companies in Europe, commercial events, films and festivals, as well as for Cirque du Soleil. In 2021, she completed a Master's degree in Arts and Cultural Management, which she immediately put to use in the development of the National Dance School of Canada project.
Our partners from Studio Imperium
Véronique Sévigny Leclerc
Véronique Sévigny-Leclerc started taking dance classes at the age of 11, focusing primarily on hip hop and street styles. The entrepreneur in her, coupled with her interest for business administration, led her to study at Université de Montréal (Hautes Études Commerciales). With a Bachelor’s degree specialized in business administration, entrepreneurship and marketing in hand, Véronique created Studio de danse Imperium in 2013 with her business partner Christine Langston. In January of 2020, Véronique and Christine received the prestigious Dance Studio Owner’s Association CEOs of the Year award in Las Vegas. Véronique loves to be involved in the community and is, among other things, a member of the Réseau d'Enseignement de la Danse du Québec as well as the Board of Directors of Commerce Dorval.
Christine Langston
Christine was pulled into the dance world when her daughters started dancing in 2006. In 2013, cumulating 23 year of management experience as a business supervisor and senior account manager for UPS, Christine joined forces with Véronique Sévigny-Leclerc to create Studio de danse Imperium. Over the years, Christine has specialized in managing the finances and accounting of dance studios. In January of 2020, Christine and Véronique received the prestigious Dance Studio Owner’s Association CEOs of the Year award.