About Dance School & Expert Instructors in Toronto
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About PSB & Interplay Dance Academy: A Leading Dance School In Toronto

Dance Teachers Toronto

About us

PSB & Interplay Dance Academy was founded with a clear vision to make structured, high-quality dance education accessible to families. Rooted in ballet, our programs now span diverse styles within a comprehensive youth development framework. Built for parents seeking a reliable and supportive academy, our curriculum emphasizes steady progression, safety, and measurable milestones. Small class sizes and attentive teaching ensure every child’s growth is visible at each stage.

Our experienced dance instructors in Toronto are not only accomplished dancers but dedicated mentors, guiding students toward artistic growth and technical mastery. Families are welcomed as integral partners, with transparent communication and regular progress updates. Accessible schedules and flexible class options ensure no child misses the opportunity to dance. At PSB & Interplay Dance Academy, our mission goes beyond movement—we nurture lifelong skills, confidence, discipline, and self-expression in a safe, supportive environment. As we grow and adapt, our focus remains the same: helping every child discover their potential through dance.

PSB & Interplay Dance Academy, our dance school in Toronto, is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality dance education across a broad spectrum of styles for students of all ages, from age 2 through adulthood. Our diverse curriculum includes Intro to Dance, Ballet & PBT (Progressive Ballet Technique), Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Musical Theatre, Barre and Flexibility, Tap, and multi-dance class options.

We believe in nurturing every dancer’s passion and potential, whether they are exploring dance for the first time, participating in extracurricular enrichment, or pursuing advanced, professional-level training. Our experienced dance teachers in Toronto deliver structured, progression-based programs in a supportive and inclusive environment, ensuring each student receives personalized guidance and opportunities to excel in their chosen dance forms. With a commitment to safety, skill development, and artistic expression, PSB & Interplay Dance Academy empowers dancers to grow, perform, and thrive at every stage of their journey.

Dance Teachers Toronto

Mission

As expert dance instructors in Toronto, our mission is to provide a foundation for continued growth in dance, where every child builds on structured progression, safety, and the confidence to shine on any stage.

Karen

Artistic Director of PSB & INTERPLAY – Cecchetti Ballet, Enhanced and Intensive Ballet, PSB & INTERPLAY Dance Company

Karen is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s teacher’s training program and is accredited by the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Dance. After travelling and training and touring with the Toronto Dance Theatre and dance companies in Europe & Japan, Karen returned to Canada to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree at York University, during which time she performed throughout Ontario with the York Dance Ensemble. Her teaching experience includes The National Ballet School of Canada, Ballet Jörgen and George Brown College, York University, Ryerson University, L’école superieure Méditerranéenne, Quinte Ballet School, Claude Watson Program for the Arts at Earl Haig Secondary School, Mooredale House, Branksome Hall, and Bishop Strachan School. Karen has adjudicated in local competitions in Toronto and throughout Ontario.

Karen has trained and worked with renowned choreographers like Betty Oliphant, Carole Chadwick, Glenn Gilmour, Mavis Staines, Jean Geddis, Deborah Bowes, Kenny Pearl, Darrel Tracey, Pat Miner, Pat Fraser, Karen Duplisea, David Earle, Holly Small, and Donna Krasnow.

Dance Instructors Toronto

What should parents know before starting dance classes?

Read our essential parent guide for practical advice on supporting your child's progress, safety guidelines, and how to prepare for classes. This resource outlines steps for onboarding support and tips to make your child’s transition smooth. Discover the structure of our classes, expectations around dress code, and key information for performance events. Find out how our dance school in Toronto provides consistent updates while maintaining high standards for dance education.

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Empowering children to grow in a safe, structured community.

Our programmes offer ballet core with multi-style flexibility, making it easy for families to choose options that suit their schedules and goals. We consistently uphold safety policies, transparent communication, and a progression plan that is simple to follow. Parent resources and regular updates keep families in the loop, while our team of dance teachers in Toronto prioritizes creative growth and technical foundation. Additionally, small class sizes ensure each child receives focused attention and feels part of a family-oriented environment.

Michelle Popelas Michelle Popelas

Wholeheartedly recommend this dance studio
Hi my name is Michelle Popelas and I am a mother of two INTERPLAY [now PSB & INTERPLAY] dancers. My eldest daughter graduated this past June and her little sister, Lou who is 11 still dances in the Intensive program 3 days a week. From our long history at INTERPLAY we have found the training to be exceptional and the teachers extremely professional as well as accredited. Under the stellar direction of Karen Davies Thomas, INTERPLAY will always be regarded as our daughters’ second home. It goes without saying that from having our two girls commit to a life of dance the rewards are endless. They have gained a great deal from their rich experiences, a major plus being their long-lasting friendships. We cannot thank INTERPLAY’s teachers and office staff enough for providing such a loving, healthy, and caring environment. Tanya and Ashley in the office always go above and beyond when approached. They consistently provide professional and courteous assistance. We wholeheartedly recommend this dance studio to any family looking to instill a love of dance and wanting a high quality program. Drop in and see for yourself!

Ava Berry Ava Berry

I was taught by only the best
My name is Ava Berry and I am a recent graduate from Interplay School of Dance (June 2016) [now PSB & INTERPLAY]. I have spent 15 incredible years training at Interplay and was taught by only the best. NOTHING in my life besides my family has had the most significant impact on who I am today. I only look back with fondness, love and extreme gratitude when I think of all my days, weeks, months and years spent training, rehearsing, learning, laughing, all the while dancing to feed my passion for this art. How many dancers can actually say with a full heart that their very first dance instructor when they were 2 1/2 years young was their very last dance teacher that proudly handed them their graduation certificate. I regard myself as the most fortunate of graduates because of the amazing array of character traits that I acquired from all my formative years at Interplay. My awesome and amazing friendships with fellow dancers and teachers are ones that I treasure and adore. These are forever sacred to me. Even as recent as last night I received yet another comment while taking a dance class at a gym and the instructor commented on my strong training. This is a comment that follows me wherever I go and I have all my instructors, especially Lucie Ward, to thank for instilling an early love of dance in me.

Nadine Bloomfield Nadine Bloomfield

A mother looking for the best training for her very passionate dancer
As a mother looking for the best training for her very passionate dancer, PSB & INTERPLAY kept coming up as the studio I should choose. Rebekah came from a comp studio which focussed on tricks at the expense of technique. Her goal was to get into Canada’s National Ballet School for grade 7. Karen assessed her and suggested the best schedule for her to accomplish this goal. Karen and her staff are simply the best. Focussing on the fundamentals, openness and performance, they transformed Rebekah. In this era of Instagram stars, it’s hard to compete with extreme poses and flashy feet. But that’s not what gets you a career in dance, if that’s what your child wants. Rebekah got into NBS and in our interview we were told we had done rightly by attending PSB & INTERPLAY. Rebekah will be graduating NBS this year, grade 12 and is planning on post secondary training in Europe and hopefully a career in ballet. Slow and steady wins the race. From playing Marie in the Nutcracker when she first got in, to being one of the dancers chosen to perform in the NBoC gala last year, she wouldn’t have achieved her dream without the foundational excellence of Karen’s school. Here’s to continued success for Rebekah! And PSB/Interplay! We ❤️ you all!!

Michelle Popelas Alexis Reid

An incredible experience through dance
I have been at Interplay for 7 years now and I absolutely love it! It has taught me many things, not just as a dancer but as a person as well, and it has shaped how I am today. I cannot thank the teachers enough for how much support they give you as well as pushing you to your limits and beyond. It is incredible how much they care for their students. I am at the studio 5-6 days a week and I can say there is no other place I would want to be; it is my home. The friends I have made at Interplay and PSB (the sister school) are my closest friends and will stay with me throughout my life, as well as the experiences that I have made here. The dance at Interplay and PSB is amazing because it has every kind of dance at every kind of level. The teachers are always helping you improve and striving for greatness and that is what I love about this studio!

Ava Berry Alexandra Rossanos

Best dance school ever!!
The teachers are soo supportive and helpful. They always help me to become better at dance and to become more flexible. The corrections are given in a positive way. I go to class 3 days a week and it’s my favourite part of my day!! I have been a dancer for almost 10 years and with Interplay for 4 years. I’m part of the Intensive program and an apprentice in the company. I love dancing with my friends at Interplay!!!

Nadine Bloomfield Lyndon Than

I definitely recommend this school to anyone seeking top-notch training
Our daughter has been with a few dance studios in Toronto, including the National Ballet School’s professional program, where upon leaving, INTERPLAY [PSB & INTERPLAY] was recommended to us. She’s now been with INTERPLAY about 4 years and we couldn’t be happier. The staff are deeply devoted to the students, and their ambitions are to be the best. The attention and care they’ve given us has been outstanding, caring for the students emotionally as young artists, as well as technically. The school’s artistic vision is sophisticated and high-minded, while remaining inclusive. The environment is relaxed socially, and we’ve always felt welcomed. But, when it comes to work, INTERPLAY is definitely a serious dance school where young dancers can prepare for a career in dance, receiving solid fundamentals in technique as well as artistic expression. They can work hard and be fully supported by the staff. The shows put on by INTERPLAY are as enjoyable as they are professionally substantial. I definitely recommend this school to anyone seeking top-notch training in a very inclusive and balanced social setting.

Lynda Swafford
Lynda Swafford

Karen is an inspiration to my daughter and a loyal friend to me
I met Karen when starting her own dance school was a dream. My daughter Tanya was 8 years old, had been dancing since she was 3. Karen took her under her wing and introduced us to INTERPLAY where Karen was a dance instructor. In 1989 Karen started her own school and I helped her with the administrative start-up process. Tanya was the first student to register at PSB. Through the years, although Tanya trained in the junior program at the National Ballet School and full-time at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School for 2 years, she continued to train with Karen. Today, Tanya is the full-time ballet teacher for the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig S.S. Karen has always been her mentor and Tanya’s teaching and choreography style is inspired by Karen. As for me, I continue to work for Karen as a graphic artist and web designer and we remain good friends. What has made Karen successful is her passion for dance, her devotion to her students, and her highly qualified teaching faculty. She works countless hours. And more than anything, she is a loyal friend.

Our Staff

Karen Davies Thomas

Karen Davies Thomas

Alex Berry

Alex Berry

Bretonie Burchell

Bretonie Burchell

Minuet Charron

Minuet Charron

Kimberley Ganter

Kimberley Ganter

Monique Jovanov

Monique Jovanov

Antonella Martinelli

Antonella Martinelli

Dominique Tersigni

Dominique Tersigni

Lucie Ward

Lucie Ward

Amy Blake - Hoffman

Amy Blake - Hoffman

Sara House

Sara House

Alexandra Martin - Junior Teacher

Alexandra Martin - Junior Teacher

Mackenzie Mitchell - Junior Teacher

Mackenzie Mitchell - Junior Teacher

Aleksandar Antonijevic

Aleksandar Antonijevic

Mercedes Bernardez Carret

Mercedes Bernardez Carret

Rui Huang

Rui Huang

Martine Lusignan

Martine Lusignan

Kealan McLaughlin

Kealan McLaughlin

Ruby Moreno

Ruby Moreno

John Ottman

John Ottman

Erin Poole

Erin Poole

Faye Rauw

Faye Rauw

Adam Sergison

Adam Sergison

Julie Thomas

Julie Thomas

Kylie Thompson

Kylie Thompson

Flora Chen

Flora Chen

Erik Geddis

Erik Geddis

How can your child grow with long-term dance training?

Enrolling at our dance school gives families access to a ballet-informed curriculum focused on milestone planning and a clear academy approach. With each class, young dancers gain skills from qualified instructors, benefit from compact groups, and experience the comfort of consistent assessment milestones. Explore how our professional team of dance instructors in Toronto supports your child’s dance journey from their first steps to confident performance.

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How can your child grow with long-term dance training?

PSB & Interplay Dance Academy is a trusted dance school that addresses parent concerns with structured, high-quality training for long-term growth. Families benefit from a supportive environment, consistent standards, and convenient access across Scarborough, Toronto, Pickering, Oshawa, Markham, Whitby, Mississauga, Vaughan, Ajax, Stouffville, Mount Pleasant, Davisville, and the surrounding areas.