Entering Canterbury High School as a grade 9 student was a very big and scary step for me, because it was basically a whole new beginning - I didn't know a soul. But after a couple of weeks there, the dance department really made the whole grade 9 class feel welcome and they showed us that by the time we're finished all four years together, we'll grow to become a big family.

   I wanted to improve my style and technique in dance, and I knew the best place to go was Canterbury. In my first year here, the four dance teachers not only helped me enlarge my vocabulary in dance, but they also helped me to improve my technique.

   In September, coming into the dance program, I had bad knees, from several injuries. As the year progressed, my knees became even worse. But instead of saying "deal with it", my dance teachers took the time to explain how I could work around my problem, and how to "listen to my body".

   I know that at the time, I must have been difficult to teach because I was upset at myself that I could not dance to my full potential. But they still went out of their way and helped me work around my problem. That's when I knew they were looking out for my best interest.

   I have only been with the dance program for a year, but I am so grateful for all that they have done for me. They're helping me reach my potentials and goals by pushing me just that little bit further. The dance program here at Canterbury has a wonderful and fully qualified staff, and a great program, in both ballet and modern. I truly believe that the dance program has helped many dancers in the past and they still continue in the present and will in the future. I am so lucky to have been accepted, and I recommend it to anyone who would like to have excellent training in both ballet and modern, and still be part of such a talented and amazing high school.

   Every morning, I get up and go to dance class. I am there all day, learning, sucking up the knowledge, exhausted by the end of the day. Some mornings are hard, the last thing I feel like doing is a springy, tiring dance. But there is no question about skipping. I'm not doing this because I have to, I'm doing it because I have to.

   Makes sense? No, I know it doesn't. I'll go back, maybe it will clear up.

   I went to a private school until grade 8. Following that year, I had to move on to a public high school. No problem. I chose to audition for the Arts Canterbury program and specialize in dance. With my every day academic activities, dance was included and became an outlet for me. I believe that I was better educated because of that outlet than had I neglected that part of me that needed art.

   I had an outlet for any number of emotions and I learned so much. My passion for dance had led me to pursue it as a career.

   I am just one case. I dance because I love it, I can't imagine not dancing. But there are so many other reasons that art should be included more strongly in education. For one, it's an outlet for expression, as I mentioned above, art is what provokes thoughts, feelings. It is part of what pushes society, while questioning it every step of the way. Humans can't live off of mathematical problems alone.

   The way I see it,is like this. You need a well-balanced, sound diet to stay healthy. You need exactly the same to keep your mind healthy. It's not like broccoli is more important than rice. To follow suit, science is no more important than art.

   Unfortunatly, art is always regarded as an extra, it seems it is always the first to be cut, or disregarded; a frivalous spending. Thank God there are schools out there like Canterbury, pushing for art in education, showing the results of those who follow up on it. We need more schools that provide that diverse grand education in order for us as individuals to fully explore all the possibilities that are out there. With an education that is filled with multiple topics, be it art, gym, algebra or chemistry. All of the knowledge gained in one subject, can be put towards another. There is no dividing line between courses, topics or whatever you want to call them. They all get mixed up together and what comes out is the tools and the learning process of the topics. Everything can be applied to everything else. Math to art, to Science, to cooking to English. It's all one, it's all learning.

We certainly have come a long way in the Dance Department! From four small classes totaling 60 students, to a department that has almost 170 students. Courses are now available at both the by-audition-only level, as well as for any students who are interested in learning more about dance. This department has grown and evolved far beyond our initial expectations. The focus of the program has shifted from straight classical dance technique to a much more comprehensive view of the student as dancer. Student choreography is an integral component and our students now go on to become professional choreographers as well as dancers.

What has remained constant over the past 13 years is the commitment and dedication to dance and the love of dance that all our students share.