| born to move dance company |
| JOLANTA OKO |
| Accomplishments |
| - Grad Student in Education, Medaille College, NY - Honours BFA in Dance, York University - National Ballet School TTP Diploma - Cecchetti Associate Diploma - Director Toronto Lynx Dance Team - Director of the Born to Move Junior Dance Company (Toronto Lynx/Brampton Excelsiors) - Head Coach Thunder Cheerleading (Futures) - Director of Dance - Danceworks (Laird) (Futures) - Born to Move Dance Company Director - Dance Teacher Dufferin/Peel Catholic District School Board - Dance Teahcer Hamilton Conservatory of the Arts and Dance Arts Center - Director of YMCA Summer Camps (8 years) - Elementary School Teacher - CFL Cheerleader Toronto Argonauts/Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) - London Silverbacks (NAFL) Assistant Coach/Dancer - AHL Dancer Hamilton Bulldogs - Lifesaving Society Examiner (AED Responder) - Group Fitness Leader (YMCA) - Trampoline Coach (OGF) - Member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing - Trained in YSAN and High Five - Volunteer Burlington Disabled Sports Association |
| Jolanta started dancing at the age of four at the Burlington Dance Academy. While she was there, Jolanta studied Cecchetti ballet, jazz, acro, musical theatre (in addition to having been an active member of their competitive team). She graduated from the Burlington Dance Academy in her last year of highschool at the age of 18. Jolanta then auditionned for both the York and Ryerson Universities Dance Programs, as well as the National Ballet School's (NBS) Teacher Training Program in her last year of highschool. Jolanta accepted York's invitation and was one out of the sixty applicants that were accepted to into the York's Dance Program. In her second year at York, she re-auditioned for the National Ballet School and was accepted. Jolanta was one of the first to have entered, into, and graduated from the joint York/NBS program. Jolanta graduated after two years, receiving her Teacher Training and Cecchetti Associate Diploma's from the world renown National Ballet School. Jolanta later returned to York to complete her degree in dance, and graduated two years later with an honours BFA in dance. Having been a summer camp director for the YMCA for 8 consecutive summers, she still managed to find time, while at York, to cheer for York University on both the York Cheerleading Team and the York University Out of the Blue Dance Crew. However, it wasn't until her 2nd year at York that her professional dancing career started in the CFL. Jolanta cheered in the CFL for 4 years for both the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Toronto Argonauts and wrapped up this past season as a dancer for the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Team. This season she is both a dancer and Assistant coach of the London Silverbacks NAFL Team. Jolanta taught dance/directed dance for the YMCA, Dance Arts Centre as well as Seneca College - while going to school. After several years of teaching in recreational dance programs, she decided to challenge herself and her students by opening a dance studio that offered ballet exams, focused on dance technique and that offered a competitive dance program. The Born to Move Dance Company was born in Markham, Ontario in August 2001. Jolanta ran her studio out of Markham for two years, and in her third year had plans to open a second studio in Georgetown. By its third season the Born to Move Dance Company had progressed into a free-lance buisness, as Jolanta took on a Full-time position as Aquatics Team Leader, Service Manager and Lifesaving Society Examiner at the Oakville YMCA. In addition to her role as Head Coach of the Thunder All-Star competitive cheerleading teams, and Director of Danceworks (both at Futures Gymnastic Centre) from 2005-2007, Jolanta completed her graduate studies in education and is excited about her new career as she enters the world of teaching. Jolanta is a certified group fitness leader, a member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and has recently been certified as a trampoline coach. While teaching elementary and instructing first aid around the GTA, Jolanta continues along her path taking on the role of manager and director of Canada's hottest new ALL GIRL dance company, Maple Sugar and our brand new 2007 Born to Move Junior Dance Company. |
| A successful person is a dreamer whom someone believed in. ~ Anonymous |
| Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion. ~ Martha Graham |
| The Born to Move Dance Company was a gift from my grandmother. Not so much the name or the idea, but a means to a dream. There is no other moment where I have ever felt such happiness then when I am moving. Dance is my passion, it is what I do, it is what I've always wanted to do and it is what I have to continue doing. My passion for teaching, instructing and performing come from two passions of mine; learning and dance. You have to be passionate about what you're teaching to be able to expect the students to be passionate about what they're learning. ''Find a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.'' Jim Fox Jolanta Oko |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Born to Move Dance Company is a dance company that appreciates dance as a sport. Our style of dance is athletic and modern as we use a hip combination of all disciplines of dance focusing primarily on Jazz/hip hop. There is no reason that performance dance cannot still be athlectic and challenging for both younger dancers and old. We challenege our dancers to try new tricks, moves, styles and choreography. Dance should be entertaining for all. We dance to popular music with the goal of having our dancers be just as entertained by our style as the audience is. Our dancers and choreographers are all passionate about dancing. The Born to Move Dance Company strives to give opportunities and experiences to dancers of any age and ability...as long as you want dance to be a part of your life as much as we do! |