About Us
We are so excited to be able to offer quality dance training here in our great community of Russell and Embrun.
Russell Children's Ballet School offers each dancer the opportunity to learn in a welcoming and nurturing environment. Whether you want to dance recreationally or pursue a higher goal of taking RAD Ballet Examinations, we can work to accomadate your goals.
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Since opening in 2015, RCBS has raised over $9,000 towards local charities by donating recital performance proceeds. At Christmas, we collect food for the food bank during our Open House classes.
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RCBS loves to take part in the Russell Santa Claus Parade, Russell Fair, as well as dance and perform for the senior residents at the Russell Meadows Seniors Home.
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RCBS strives to use our talents to give back to our amazing community!
Each class is structured around promoting the enjoyment of dance while instilling a good foundation of technique. We offer a safe, positive and encouraging environment for your young dancer to learn.
Dancers will acquire an understanding of basic classical technique, which in turn will increase co-ordination, muscular strength, good posture, musicality, flexibility, balance and gracefulness. Russell Children's Ballet School follows the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus, an internationally accredited ballet training program. For more information, please go to www.radcanada.org.
Cass Marks CBTS, RAD-RTS, PBT
RCBS Owner/Director
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Miss Cass is very proud to have the opportunity to take over the role of owner of RCBS. As a teacher with over 30 years teaching experience in ballet, jazz and musical theatre, this is the next step in her journey!
Miss Cass has taught at many studios around Ontario, and has just returned from a joyous 10 months teaching in the British Virgin Islands.
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Having grown up dancing the RAD syllabus, she is pleased to have achieved her Registered Teacher status with them in 2023.
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Miss Cass is looking forward to helping Miss Tricia's vision grow!
Philippa Twigg B.A.(Hon.) The Art and Teaching of Ballet, Registered Teacher R.A.D., L.R.A.D.
RCBS Artistic Director
Originally from the UK, Ms Philippa started dance at the age of three and immediately fell in love. After achieving all of her RAD ballet exams, Ms Philippa earned a degree in the Art and Teaching of Ballet from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in London, UK and received the designation of Licentiate of the R.A.D. Leaving her native country, she travelled to Thompson, MB and became the assistant director of the Northern Ballet Academy. After two years, she moved to Ottawa and joined the Greta Leeming Studio of Dance, this will be her eighteenth season with GLS.
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Ms Philippa is trained in RAD ballet, Laban and Benesh Notation, ISTD Modern & ISTD Tap. In addition to Ballet, Ms Philippa has taught/choreographed Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Musical Theatre & Pilates for competitions, recitals and theatre performances in the UK and Canada for the past twenty one years. Ms Philippa was also the choreographer for the Savoy Society of Ottawa. Some of her works include Iolanthe, Don Giovanni, The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Ruddygore and A Christmas Dream.
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As part of her professional development, Ms Philippa attended the first Royal Academy of Dance, Dance Teacher Conference, En Avant, in Toronto 2016. This included classes and discussions with instructors from 11 different countries including talks by Karen Kain (Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada), Li Cunxin (Mao’s Last Dancer and Artistic director of the Australian Ballet) and Lynn Wallis (Former Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance). Ms Philippa also attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Teacher Training Course in July 2018.
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In the summer of 2020, she utilized her time away from the studio during COVID, to further expand her knowledge and qualifications in dance and teaching related courses. Ms Philippa has participated in the 2020 on-line series of The Royal Ballet School’s (RBS) Teachers’ Training Webinars; attended the RBS Online Summer Intensive lectures and interviews, and took part in numerous Zoom presentations and discussions, in collaboration with many sort after dance professionals from across the world!
Most recently Ms Philippa has become a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor. She is excited to incorporate all this learning into her teaching.
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Ms Philippa is proud, excited and inspired to join and share her passion with the dancers and teachers of Russell Children's Ballet School.
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In 2023, Ms Philippa created Russell Children's Ballet Company (RCBC). RCBC is a company of RCBS dancers that takes ballet out into the communities of Russell, Embrun and surrounding areas. This allows our dancers to experience the joys of performing before live audiences and giving back to our community.
Tricia Bouvier Harps RAD RTS, ADAPT, CDTA
RCBS Founder
Miss Tricia has a passion for teaching children the art of ballet! She loves the purity, grace and precision that comes with studying this beautiful art form. Seeing her students blossom into confident, poised and beautiful dancers is one of the most gratifying aspects of her vocation.
Miss Tricia started her dance training at the age of 4 in Regina, Saskatchewan. She has been teaching dance in the Ottawa area for the past 28 years & is a Full Member and Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She has taught children of all ages and levels from Pre-School to Advanced 2 RAD. She has prepared and entered students for their RAD Graded and Vocational Exams with great success!
She is also an Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA), Tap Division & is an Accredited Teacher of the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT), holding the Advanced Certificate in Jazz.
Miss Tricia regularly participates in various teachers courses every year as a part of her continuing professional development.
Miss Tricia's ballet choreography has received many high scores and awards in competition including Diamond Choreography at ADA in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.