Marissa Heaven fell in love with dance at just three years old, making her first twirl at North Vancouver’s Seymour Dance.
Heaven grew up in Seymour Dance over the last 30 years, spending countless hours in the studio learning ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap and even contemporary.
But her dance journey at the studio didn’t end when she got older, as she alongside co-owners Lauren Overholt and Katie Gillett bought the dance company in August of 2020 in memory of their beloved teacher, Sonia Ellis, who died at the age of 44 from brain cancer in December 2018.
Four years later after buying the company, the trio of North Shore dance owners are keeping the legacy alive, as they celebrate the studio’s 60th anniversary by launching a second location to celebrate the huge landmark.
“It’s been a big piece of our lives, and we’re super excited to celebrate with the community,” Heaven said. “My entire existence, Seymour Dance has been part of my life.”
The second location will be a five minute drive from the original studio on Lytton Street, where they will offer more youth classes, expand their adult programs and collaborate with yoga and wellness studio owner Farhad Khan.
But the trio isn’t just stopping there with a new location, they’re also putting together a Nutcracker gala ball commemorating Ellis.
Performing The Nutcracker is a regular show that students and staff have done annually for the past 20 years, but one evening will pledge special tribute to Ellis, displaying past footage of her dancing and having friends and students share memories of the past owner.
“She is such a prominent force in our studio, she’s got a little part in every single thing that we do. She basically raised all of us as dancers,” Heaven said. “Nutcracker was one of her true loves, and we’re excited to be able to offer this tribute evening in her honour.”
West Coast Symphony will perform the music for The Nutcracker performance, where Heaven will be playing double bass with the orchestra.
All money raised from the gala will be going to a scholarship fund named after Ellis.
Sonia’s Dream Scholarship Fund was created by her mother after she died, and the money goes to Seymour Dance students annually to help continue dancing both with the team as well as after they graduate to start their careers, Heaven said.
Ellis’ dance journey began at age three, moving on to dance at the Alberta Ballet School and later the Edmonton School of Ballet.
When Ellis moved to B.C., she began teaching with Seymour Dance at 16. But her dream was to own a dance studio one day, and in 2007 that is exactly what she did.
“I really do believe that Sonia would be so proud. We’ve worked hard to uphold all of her standards, dreams and her morals for the studio and the way that it operates as such a big family,” Heaven said.
“We don’t take lightly the role of upholding this beautiful community space that’s been a second home to so many people.”
The second Seymour location will be located on 103-173 Forester St. and opens Oct. 15. The Nutcracker ceremony will be at Centennial Theatre on Dec. 7. Tickets will be on the theatre’s website in November.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
