Q. You’re originally from New York. What brought you to PEI?
opening a dance studio was also because of the many times when dancing helped me in my own life. I want to share that with the women who come into my studio. The studio has recently moved to 61 Broadway, the King George Building, in Kensington on the second floor.
the equation—just even for a short moment, enough to make needed tweaks—and staying focused on the bigger picture.
As cliché as it sounds, honestly, it started with my mom buying the Anne of Green Gables book for me when I was nine years old. Prince Edward Island and its lifestyle were just so magical, and like nothing a girl from the Bronx could ever imagine. I visited PEI for my thirtieth birthday. A really special part of my whole coming-to-PEI story is that the BnB that I stayed at when I first visited the Island on my birthday is actually now our current home. I think it’s pretty fabulous to see things come full circle like that.
Q. What or who inspires you?
I’m inspired by… Quotes: one of my favourites is, “She believed she could, so she did.” [ed.: attributed to R. S. Grey] Music: that’s probably very obvious, being a dancer. But based on the beats, the lyrics, the flow, and the intensity, I can envision a whole choreography. My own challenges, situations, and realities: whatever is currently going on in my life can inspire my movements, the choreography, or even what song I chose to use.
Q. What types of classes do you offer?
Overall, there are group classes and private lessons for Latin dance, movement- based confidence coaching, weddings, and dance-fit exercising. I teach many of the Latin styles, and occasionally some of the ballroom. For those looking to add a bit more of a feminine flair, I teach FEMME. It’s a beginners’ class where you learn to pose, walk, turn, and dance in heels, as well as getting to learn a mini-routine. For dance-fit exercising, there’s the Flexy class, which I describe as the hotter little sister to the common yoga class. I’m also, right now, developing a stretching and movement class that’s like a “Mommy and me” class. I also do choreography-based classes, whether for a wedding couple’s first dance or the Soul Dance class. Q. Where does/should dance fit into our lives? I think dance fits everywhere. That’s why Soul Play is not just a “dance studio.” I really believe that the way you walk and move has a lot to do with the way you think about yourself. Also, dance is great for couples, and obviously, dancing gives all sorts of health benefits. Besides the calories you are burning, you are building and toning muscles and getting more fit. And honestly, it’s more fun and exciting than just pumping weights at the gym, right? Q. What’s your best advice to women wanting to pursue self- employment? Soul Play is all about encouraging women and helping them to build their confidence. To a woman who is thinking of starting her own business, I say, “Go for it!” And to not wait until you think you have all the pieces perfectly lined up, or feel “ready.” Be open to taking your heart and emotions out of
Q. What is your creative background?
Q. What plans or dreams do you have for the future?
At about four years old, I started tap and jazz classes through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre of Harlem. My claim to fame is having performed at Carnegie Hall. Then, when Dancing with the Stars became a thing, I found a studio, a dance partner and started doing the competitions in the Latin divisions. I then began teaching at that studio, and also started a competitive team for the students at a college I was working at in Massachusetts. Q. Tell us a bit about your diverse talents. I’ve always been a do-it-yourself type of gal. Part of the reason for moving to the Island was to actually homestead, and I started a hobby farm. My other talents include slime-making, slime-removing, understanding Minecraft and other boy- speak from my two sons, and making Barbie clothes for my daughter. And I bake a mean cheesecake. Q. What led you to open a dance studio? Where is your new studio? A few years after moving to the Island with my then-husband and our three kids, my marriage ended. My university degree is actually in psychology and counselling, but dance was my first love. I went big with opening my own studio, not just running a class here and there at the local community centre. Besides it feeding my entrepreneurial appetite, my reason for
I will be participating in Hospice PEI’s Dancing with the Stars again this year. Soul Play is also going more fully online, providing pre-designed classes for those who want to participate in a class with me, but for whatever reasons are more home- bound, or their schedule doesn’t line up with the studio schedule. Think of it as Soul Play, Netflix-style. One real exciting plan is The Barn to Ballroom Challenge. This should be really exciting to see develop! And, on the personal side, there are plans for getting my book published—an autobiography meets self-help book meets life- and business-coaching—and a Scotland trip. I’m totally an Outlander fan.
Q. Why Soul Play?
Soul Play is for the woman who wants more than a new mantra, a new hobby, or another random trendy gym class. It’s about someone who wants a lifestyle change by a method that has less sweat and more sass. Soul Play is for the girl who wants to rock her inner mamacita and be more-than- satisfied with her life. Find out how Ellen and Soul Play can be one of your biggest life-improvement assets at www.soulplaypei.com. Intro class special: take a full 60-minute class for two people for $20!
WINTER 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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