Dancing into the Industry

Wishes waltz as a woman dances her way into the industry as Windsor’s first and only commercial drop-in dance studio opens its doors to the public.  

Modernizing an old concept, Industry Dance Co. offers drop-in dance classes that require no commitment to a broader demographic. The classes can be used as an amateur fitness class or to better your dance technique.  

Brooke Gursoy, 21, has been a dancer for 14 years and owns the studio. She started practicing dance in the basement of her house and at a community centre, until she took her first professional dance class at the age of seven.  

“I took dance classes up until this year,” Gursoy said. “My whole life I wanted to open up a dance studio. I wanted to be my own boss, and my parents always encouraged me to find a job that I loved so that it doesn’t feel like work.” 

Gursoy had a vision of growing up and studying dance, until her high school teachers gave her the idea of studying marketing and advertising, helping her with the steps to starting her own company.  

“I didn’t see myself sitting in an office all day, but I liked it enough and it helped me out a lot starting up my own business, because now I can do my own marketing and advertising and also teach dance,” said Gursoy. 

A drop-in dance studio is different from a regular dance studio through business model and structure. 

“I wanted to make a dance studio that was different. There is nothing for people who are done competing and want to take classes for fun… especially young people like myself,” said Gursoy. “Most offer classes for young kids or parents, but nothing in between. Although dance studios all differ from each other, they offer the same things: a recreational team, a competitive team and a performance team.”  

After leaving an old dancing position, and taking time away from the art, Gursoy had a new beginning.  

“I had to start from square one, I didn’t know if I was going to dance again,” Gursoy said. “I ended up reconnecting with my old studio and building my relationship back up.”  

According to Gursoy, it was hard to end that relationship again. She thought she wouldn’t get a lot of support to open up her own studio. 

According to Gursoy, the dance industry is very judgemental and competitive. 

“I didn’t know if people would want to take classes here because I don’t have the same resume of other studio owners in this area, since I’m just starting out,” said Gursoy. “People are restricted to their studio, because it’s disloyal to go somewhere else. When I opened this studio, I didn’t want that to be an issue ever. I didn’t want to have a dance team, I wanted it to be a safe place where anyone can come in, take a class and go.” 

Nathalie Couvillion, 22, is not only a dance teacher for Industry, but other studios as well. 

“This is a studio you want to go to to further your career,” Couvillion said. “Normally you’ll have your basics like theory in ballet, but if you want to dance in the actual industry, its usually hip-hop or heels based, so we offer those classes all week long.” 

For those interested in participating in a dance class, Industry Dance Co. is located at 1250 Tecumseh Rd. E.  

For more information you can contact them at (519) 551-2355 or email [email protected]