Arise School of Dance, Stittsville, ON

What has become known as Arise School of Dance began 18 years ago just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia in the basement of Alan and Robin Gilman’s home. Their two oldest daughters, Sarah and Naomi, had been training in ballet and assisting their dance teacher with classes, so when asked by friends of the family to teach their daughters, they started with two classes per week at their house. Over the next few years the classes grew through word of mouth, and the studio became well known in the Vancouver area as a place where the students would learn ballet, and later jazz, in a biblical context. Invitations began coming to have the students perform around the city. Out of this “For Every Heart Dance Group” was formed and performed at churches, schools, conferences, outreaches, and other events. As Sarah and Naomi continued to pursue the Lord as well as their own dance training, The studio grew in size and quality. Alan and Robin continued to oversee what went on in the studio as well as handling the administration. Some of Sarah’s and Naomi’s students from those early years have gone on to dance professionally, dance with other Christian dance groups, and become certified dance teachers themselves.
In 2002 the Gilman family moved to Ottawa, Ontario. Naomi taught a few classes at their home church and elsewhere. Eventually Naomi’s pursuit of a professional dancing career took her to train in the United States with Ballet Magnificat for several years. During that time the demand for good quality Christian dance training continued. So Devorah and Hannah, the middle Gilman girls, took on the job of teaching. Devorah and Hannah taught several days a week out of a dance studio in the Gilmans’ basement. Again, through word of mouth and minimal advertising the studio grew.