It is not every day that young ballerinas in a small town get the chance to work with two internationally-renowned Canadian ballet dancers.
But on Jan. 4, that day arrived, as the Fergus Elora Academy of Dance hosted Carolyn Zettle-Augustyn and Frank Augustyn.
“To have the opportunity to work with two very important dancers is incredible. It’s also a great opportunity to work with different teachers, which is important for young dancers,” said Erica Finlayson, owner and artistic director of the Fergus-Elora Academy of Dance, located on the upper level of the Elora Centre for the Arts.
The timing of the workshop coincides with the 40th anniversary of Augustyn’s first place win for best pas de deux, with dance partner Karen Kain, at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 1973.
His career includes the role of principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada and the Berlin Opera Ballet. Augustyn was artistic director of the Ottawa Ballet and has continued his work teaching in the United States. He is an officer of the Order of Canada.
His wife, Zettle-Augustyn, is an award winning choreographer. She founded the Academy of Dance in Waterloo before moving to the United States, where her numerous accomplishments include being appointed dance director for the Huntington Center for Performing Arts and assistant artistic director of the Long Island Ballet Theatre. She is a ballet faculty member at Usdan Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
“This has been an amazing experience for my students and other students from other dance schools,” said Finlayson.
She coordinated three different master classes for dancers aged six and up, inviting students from dance academies throughout the region to participate. More than 40 male and female students registered to fill the spots.
“It is lovely to teach and give back what I’ve learned,” Augustyn said, noting his career will be very different from the future of these students, given the changes in the training (including a focus on body and mind health), the accomplishments of Sports medicine and the overall athleticism of the art.
“I want these students to be better than my generation,” Augustyn said.
“This is an opportunity to expand their exposure to the art form,” added Zettle-Augustyn. “It’s about doing something physical and artistic.”
For the male students in the classes, Augustyn, who began ballet at the age of 10, acknowledges it is not an easy path.
“For little boys who want to dance, there is still a stigma attached to it,” he said, adding he hoped his work that day would encourage them to look beyond it.
“I know my mentors for dance were at the National Ballet of Canada. I had exposure to others that went through this and made me feel like I wasn’t alone,” Augustyn said. “It had great significance. Today, when I see male dancers in the studio and I know my role is to mentor them.”
Zettle-Augustyn enjoyed working with the young dancers and hopes it will inspire some to pursue their artistic dreams.
“To open that window of opportunity could change everything,” she said.
The couple admits they stumbled on Elora’s art centre by accident during their honeymoon in the village several years ago. It was the chance encounter with the heritage building that had the dancers offer the workshops to Finlayson.
“People are drawn to the arts communities and we are drawn here,” said Zettle-Augustyn. “We would like to come back and collaborate with Erica again.”
Finlayson hopes to make that happen in the near future.
The Fergus-Elora Academy of Dance is located at 75 Melville Street. For more information visit www.ferguseloradance.com.
