Tailoring teaching techniques to learning styles may be just the ticket for a local dance teacher.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we sat down with Galen Ireland, owner of GISOD, who opened a second dance studio location in Collingwood in June.
Q: Can you give me a little bit of background on you?
A: I grew up in Muskoka, in Huntsville. I started out, ironically enough, as a Celtic dancer but I don’t teach it at all anymore. It’s why we changed our logo from “Galen Ireland School of Dance” to GISOD, because people thought I only taught Irish dance. (laughs)
I actually teach everything. My first exposure to dance was ballet and highland dancing.
I moved away from home to Toronto at 15 to go to a dance school. That was pretty tough, but great. My parents are awesome people.
So I lived in Toronto and went on to the Randolph College for the Performing Arts. I did film, television and musical theatre there.
I performed in Toronto for a while. Then, along came my lovely boy, Bailey.
When Bailey was born, I decided to get certified to teach. I’m certified in every genre of dance to teach.
I tried to take him to auditions for the first few years of his life, but it didn’t go over so well. (laughs) Teaching was the next best choice.
I was pretty young when I had Bailey. I was in the midst of a career in the performing arts, but he was more important.
I’m so happy. I love teaching, I really do. It’s been a joy.
Q: What brought you up to Simcoe County specifically?
A: (Life circumstances)... I was still travelling to do workshops in Toronto for a while. I’m super happy that I landed up here because I’m a Muskoka girl. I really don’t like the city.
I ski and I hike... it’s pretty awesome here.
Q: You had a school in Thornbury first, right?
A: Yes. When I moved here, there were already a few dance studios in Collingwood. It just made sense for me (at that time) to open in Thornbury. It’s booming, but I live (in Collingwood). I really like picking up my coffee and coming to the office when it’s down the street.
Collingwood is growing so fast that there’s enough kids to go around. We’re all different dance teachers. We can offer our different expertise.
We also saw this building as an opportunity. There’s schools all around here. Kids can walk here, and they do. We’ve only been open for four months.
Q: Is dance your passion?
A: It is. I see how it can change a person’s life. Whether they’re skiers, soccer players, golf players... dance can help with everything. Co-ordination, math... we count, we learn music. All of this stuff is part of development for children.
Q: Has it helped you in your life?
A: Absolutely. I’m kind of an odd duck. (laughs) I don’t express myself very well. But, I can when I dance. I’m gonna seem super awkward right now, but if I’m in a classroom with a bunch of kids, I’m at home. And then, I’m normal. (laughs)
Q: The person who nominated you mentioned that when Bailey was born, he was told by doctors he wouldn’t be able to walk, but that through dance he was able to. Can you speak to that?
A: I have a real heart for children with disabilities, because my son has disabilities. He’s really open and will talk about it. He couldn’t walk properly (when he was young). But with the dancing, working with his feet, he was able to get it done.
Every obstacle that anybody put in Bailey’s way, he’s been able to overcome. Dance was a big part of it, but he’s just a really determined guy, too.
Q: What does the future hold for you?
A: Right now I’m the Ontario representative for the Cecchetti Society of Canada. I’d like to get into examining... become an examiner. I don’t think I’ll open another studio. Who knows?
I’d love to see a theatre in this town that’s appropriate. There should be a theatre. I should be able to have a venue with 200 seats.
Q: When you do recitals, do you have to do them (at the studio)?
A: We have to go to Meaford. It’s disappointing. As much as I love the Gayety Theatre, it seats maybe 100 people and there’s no dressing rooms.
We need a theatre in this town. We have a thriving artistic community in Collingwood.
I welcome other minds. I love bringing in guest teachers who can give kids different things. This town is full of them.
Q: Did you have anything else you want people in Collingwood to know about you?
A: There’s a little misconception about me. I am an odd duck and I teach a little bit unconventionally.
But I am very serious about what I do. I think, sometimes people think I’m not serious.
I figure out how a kid learns and then I go that route... and it’s worked for me.
Every year we go to competitions and we do really well. It’s not that I don’t take it seriously. I really do. I just feel like different kids need to be reached in different ways. That’s been my goal my whole life.
GISOD is taking new students for January registrations. For more information on GISOD, click here.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
