Building Dancers, Building Confidence: Fame Dance Studios Leads With Mindset

When you walk into the Bonnyville Blue Ballet Barn, the first thing that greets you isn’t a barre or a mirrored wall. It’s a colourful station filled with affirmations: I am valued. I am brave. I am confident. I am kind.

At Fame Dance Studios, the steps and pirouettes are only part of the training. What sets them apart is their commitment to teaching dancers life skills that go far beyond the stage.

“Mindset is everything,” says Sarah, who leads the company. “I want our students to understand that what they put into the world — their self-talk, their beliefs — shapes not just their dancing, but their whole lives.”

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The Affirmation Station

Every classroom across Fame’s eight locations now has an “Affirmation Station.” Dancers begin and end classes by choosing a positive phrase, speaking it out loud, and carrying that mindset into their training.

“If a student says, ‘I can do it,’ their brain and body respond,” Sarah explains. “If they say, ‘I can’t,’ they’re already holding themselves back. This simple tool helps them reset and build confidence, no matter their age or level.”

For Sarah, it’s about creating more than strong dancers — it’s about developing resilient, joyful young people.

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Where Dance Meets Every Level of Commitment

Parents often ask if they need to drive out to the Ballet Barn for recreational classes. The answer is no. Fame ensures every dancer has a place that fits their needs:

• Recreational dancers take once-a-week classes at the C2 (Centennial Centre) in Bonnyville, a convenient location families love.

• Performance level dancers train a bit more seriously, also at the C2, with longer classes and more stage opportunities.

• Company level dancers move into the Bonnyville Blue Ballet Barn, a purpose-built space just minutes south of town on Hwy 657. This is where auditions, advanced training, and major productions come to life.

“It’s about meeting dancers where they are,” Sarah says. “Whether they want one fun class a week or to push toward professional opportunities, we have a program for them.”

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From Bonnyville to the World Stage

The Ballet Barn isn’t just a training space. It’s a launchpad. Graduates from Fame have gone on to model internationally, perform in Toronto Kids Fashion Week, and star in United Ballet Company productions — Fame’s resident ballet company at the Vic Juba Community Theatre.

And many of those success stories come full circle. Instructors like Leanne and Bryce began as Fame students before stepping into leadership roles on stage and in the studio.

“I’m so proud of them,” Sarah says. “Watching our dancers grow into mentors and professionals is the most rewarding part of this work.”

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How to Join the Fame Family

With fall registration underway, parents and dancers have options to join virtually, at community registration nights, or in person.

📍 Recreational classes at the C2, Bonnyville
📍 Company auditions and training at the Bonnyville Blue Ballet Barn (Hwy 657 south of town)
📲 Text Sarah at 780-871-1494 or visit famedancestudios.com for details

Whether your child wants to take their first dance class or step into the competitive spotlight, Fame has a program waiting.

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More Than Dance

For Sarah, the affirmation wall sums it up best: “Dance is a sport and an art, but it’s also a way to teach life lessons. I want every dancer to leave here believing they are strong, valued, and capable.”

At Fame, the twirls, leaps, and stage lights matter — but so does the voice inside every dancer’s head. And that may be the greatest performance of all.

Bonnyville Ballet Barn HWY 657 South of Bonnyville 59526 – watch for the Canada Flags on the fence post to the entrance.