Who  I  Am

Annabelle Holland, a native of Sarnia, Ontario, began dancing recreationally at the age of four training with accomplished dance teachers such as Shirley Schram , Anita Hobbs, and Laurie Thacker; it wasn’t long before she knew her passion was ballet.

 

At the age of 11 she was accepted into the full time pre-professional program at The Quinte Ballet School in Belleville, ON.

 

Annabelle was approached by the Directors of The Carret Dance Conservatory after she attended their summer intensive in Toronto and was accepted into their Pre-Professional program much younger than any other participant.

 

During her time training at TCDC she was accepted and attended numerous spring/summer intensives including The Royal Ballet School in London, England and Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

 

Annabelle also competed at YAGP placing Top 12 in the Senior Classical Division and the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida.
 

In 2018, at the age of 15, Annabelle had the honour of being invited back home to Sarnia by Shirley Schram to perform in the Sarnia Ballet School’s production of The Nutcracker dancing the lead role of The Sugar Plum Fairy.

 

By 2019, Annabelle was performing The Nutcracker with the Toronto International Ballet Theatre at the prestigious Meridian Hall (The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts) in Toronto dancing many of the main corps de ballet roles. During this time, Annabelle danced for two years as a freelance ballet artist with KulKat Productions in Toronto and performed in the music video by Bon Villain “When I Came Up”.

 

In 2020 Annabelle auditioned and was accepted in summer intensives with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and The Washington Ballet School; the pandemic changed everyone’s plans yet Annabelle was still able to train with The Washington Ballet School virtually.

 

Annabelle moved back to Sarnia in 2021 with her family and started her teaching journey with Great Lakes Dance Academy, teaching both recreational and competitive dancers.  

 

Annabelle competed and placed again at YAGP with The Fifth Dance, under the direction of Sarahi Cardenas and coached by both Sarahi Cardenas and Thiago Dos Santos.
 

Choreography has always been a passion for Annabelle; during this year she also entered the Danza Corpus Canada - X Teade Virtual International Dance/Choreographic Competition and won the top award of Outstanding Choreography and Performance - Student Category with a composition she created and performed herself called - Living.
 

Annabelle auditioned and was again accepted into The Royal Ballet School Summer Intensive, as well as Ajkun Ballet Theatres - Performing In New York (PINY)summer tour where she performed Don Quixote, and Arles Youth Ballet Company (AYBC) Summer Intensive in France. Whilst in France, Annabelle received a contract with AYBC.

 

After receiving an injury in France which required surgery, Annabelle returned to Canada and reignited her desire to teach ballet, contemporary and choreography. She co-founded Ahead Studio with her mom, Karen Holland with the desire to explore the artistry of dance for those who have a love for the artform and a willingness to work hard.
 

Annabelle has begun re- training professionally in ballet following her surgery and continues to enhance her dance knowledge by working to become a Pilates instructor and on achieving her Progressing Ballet Technique ( PBT ) certification.

 

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