On a sweltering July day, Lisa Dew stood in the centre of her brother鈥檚 make-shift BMX half-pipe under the beating sun in her parent鈥檚 back yard.
At the request of her mom, the young 18-year-old dancer was teaching a family friend鈥檚 daughter to tap.
It was no Broadway theatre, but the half-pipe returned a decent sounding 鈥渢ing鈥� as the girls created melodic beats with their feet.
That was 1985.
Fast forward 30 years, hundreds of awards and thousands of students later, Dew still looks back on that moment with fondness.
鈥淭hat was it, I got the bug,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 wanted to teach.鈥�
From one student in her parent鈥檚 backyard, she moved into their basement that September with 10 students.
By her second session in January, she had grown to 50 students and had to rent out the basement of a church.
The following September she doubled to 110 students.
It鈥檚 only gone up since there.
Dew rented out space at Douglas Recreation Centre, then opened a one-room studio on 208 Street just off Fraser Highway.
She was there for two years before moving to a studio off Landmark Way behind Fabricland, where she taught for 16 years.
But most people today will recognize the iconic pink Lisa鈥檚 School of Dance sign at her current location on Industrial Avenue and 201 A Street, where she has been for the past 11 years.
鈥淚鈥檓 very fortunate to have a career where I鈥檓 very passionate about what I do,鈥� Dew said.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what鈥檚 going on in my life personally or if I鈥檓 tired or in a bad mood, when I come here and when I鈥檓 teaching it just goes away. Even after all this time.鈥�
Dew has taught all genres of dance from ballet and jazz to Latin and ballroom, but her forte is tap and musical theatre.
Known for her traditional style, Dew鈥檚 routines have the essence of movie star dancers Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly from the golden age of Hollywood.
鈥淚t is an art form,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always true to my style, I have taken years to perfect it.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of what I鈥檝e done and of how well my students do.鈥�
Performing in championship rounds year after year at local dance competitions, the number of awards the studio has earned in 30 years is astounding.
But the trophies are not everything.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about if they win,鈥� Dew said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about if they have done their best and done themselves proud, and therefore they have done us proud.鈥�
The studio has a family atmosphere, and many of Dew鈥檚 earliest students are now bringing their own kids in for lessons.
Dew herself has taught her own two daughters Tiana, 22, and Loni, 25, to dance and both now work at her studio as instructors.
Beyond the benefits of physical exercise, dancing also teaches many other invaluable skills, Dew said.
鈥淭he sense of dedication and dedication to teamwork is huge in a dance studio,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t really gives the students the opportunity to manage their time. They have to be good that they鈥檙e keeping up with schoolwork.
鈥淵ou might want to take six, eight, 10 classes a week, but if you鈥檙e not keeping up with your schoolwork, then obviously things are going to change. And most times they can make it all work.鈥�
Dew鈥檚 talent has been recognized by local dance aficionados for years, but now her choreography skills are getting international attention.
She was chosen to teach the Team Canada tap group for the International Dance Organization鈥檚 World Tap Dance Championships in Germany this December.
On top of running her own studio and planning for her very first granddaughter (who is due the same day she leaves for Germany), Dew is spending every weekend with the junior and senior teams preparing them for the world stage.
鈥淚t is absolutely unbelievable, it鈥檚 a dream come true,鈥� Dew said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like having your top five students in your large group, multiplied by five. So everyone in the group is giving it 110 per cent.
鈥淚鈥檝e just been so thrilled.鈥�
For more on Lisa鈥檚 School of Dance or the World Tap Dance Championships in Germany, visit or .
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
Learn more about Lisa鈥檚 School of Dance at their 30th anniversary season opening celebration on Sept. 12.
There will be dance demonstration, free classes, face painting, hotdogs and more.
The event is on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the studio, 20167 Industrial Ave.
