WELCOME TO
DROP IN DANCE WINNIPEG
Whether you’re here to try your very first dance class or are coming back to build on your skills, we’re excited to have you. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with us!
Step 1: Choose Your Class
What’s your style?
From hip hop to samba, Bollywood to heels, we offer a wide variety of classes for all skill levels. You can join drop-in classes casually or commit to a program. Browse our schedule to see what fits! You'll find a break down of the level and style under each class on the schedule.
Programs vs. Drop-Ins: What's the Difference?
Our Programs and Workshops are structured series of classes that run for a set period, allowing dancers to build skills progressively in a supportive, small-group setting. Programs are ideal for those looking to commit to ongoing development and growth.
Our Drop-Ins are perfect for those who prefer a flexible schedule or want to explore different styles casually. Drop-ins are offered at scheduled times and don’t require a long-term commitment.
Whether you’re looking for steady progress or just a fun, one-time experience, we have options to suit every dancer!
Step 2: Reserve Your Spot
Ready to book your class?
You can easily reserve your spot using our booking system. Simply sign up for a class and secure your space online. Not sure if you can commit? Booking ahead of time is not required for drop-in classes! Need commitment to get your butt off the couch? Sign up ahead of time, or join us in a progressive program or workshop!
New here?
Start with one of these introductory offers:
Step 3: What to Expect When You Arrive
Arriving for your first class?
Arrive 10-15 minutes early to get checked, pick a locker, and get familiar with the space. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes appropriate for your chosen style of dance— Footwear guidelines can be found in your class description. Outdoor shoes are not permitted inside of the dance studios. Don’t forget a water bottle to stay hydrated!
Step 4: Parking and Location
Where to park:
We offer free street parking on Portage Avenue, Strathcona Street, and Ashburn Street. Be sure to check signs for time restrictions. You can also use the Westland Insurance parking lot on evenings and weekends. If you park in the Westland lot during their business hours, or on a super-snowy night (can't plow if you're parked!), you will be towed at your own expense.
Step 5: Studio Etiquette
A few things to remember:
Be mindful of others in the space. We recommend warming up before class and staying for a cool down to prevent injury. Respect the floors and avoid wearing outdoor shoes or broken heels without caps, as this could damage the studio floor. Leave your phone in your bag while class is on. Checking your phone during class, is rude. Exceptions made for those of you on-call!
Our Story:
Drop In Dance Winnipeg started as a passion project in the summer of 2017. Fueled by a desire for more dance opportunities in Winnipeg, MB, our founder, Maria Rawluk, embarked on this journey during a challenging time, finding solace and strength in the art of dance following the loss of her dad. What began as a personal outlet soon transformed into a community movement.
Humble Beginnings:
In the early days, Maria started out by cleaning studios in exchange for a space to dance. As the word spread, more folks looking to move and groove joined in. This organic growth led to the rental of NAFRO Dance Productions studio from Fall 2017 to January 2019, where the seeds of Drop In Dance Winnipeg continued to flourish.
A Space of Our Own:
In 2019, Maria took a bold step forward, moving us into our very own brick-and-mortar space. This marked a significant milestone in our journey, allowing us to create a welcoming haven for dance enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Our Vision:
At Drop In Dance Winnipeg, our vision is clear: to provide a dance studio where people of any age and background feel not only welcome but encouraged to embrace the joy and art of dance. We believe in the transformative power of movement, and our goal is to make dance accessible to everyone.
More than a Studio, a Community:
We understand the challenges of leading a busy life, and we believe that dance is not just a physical activity but a powerful outlet for self-expression and a fantastic way to socialize. Our dream is to get the whole city dancing, to create a community where individuals come together to share the joy of movement and build lasting connections.
Join the Dance Revolution:
Whether you're a seasoned dancer or taking your first steps onto the dance floor, Drop In Dance Winnipeg is here to inspire and support you. Come be a part of our vibrant community, where the love for dance knows no bounds.
Let's dance our way to a happier, healthier, and more connected Winnipeg!
xx,
Maria Rawluk (Founder & Director of Drop In Dance Winnipeg)
@dropindancewpg
THE FACULTY
We believe in the transformative power of movement.
Maria Rawluk
Meet Maria Rawluk (she/her), a passionate dancer and the founder of Drop In Dance Winnipeg (est. 2017). With over 30 years of dance experience and 20 years of teaching under her belt, she is a true lover of all things dance!
Maria's mission is to provide a fun and welcoming dance experience for all, regardless of their dance background. At Drop In Dance Winnipeg, Maria and her team are dedicated to helping dancers of all ages and levels discover the joy and magic of dance. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or taking your first steps on the dance floor, you'll feel comfortable and supported at Drop In Dance Winnipeg.
aléxe laroche
Alèxe is a dancer, dance instructor and choreographer with more than 11 years of experience. She has been training in many styles of dance for the past 16 years. Her passion for dance has brought her all around the world! She has trained everywhere from Vancouver to Toronto, Portland, Oregon to Brisbane, Australia and Chicago, Illinois. Alèxe currently teaches at Drop In Dance Winnipeg, Quantum Dance Academy and Heel Appeal.
Ellie Natoza
Ellie has been dancing with Drop In Dance since 2019 and later joined the faculty in 2021. She trained in Hip Hop and is associated with HopsKotch dance crew as a member, as well as a choreographer. She is also one of the creators of the segment you often see on our Instagram - Sunday Funday Kpop Reel.
sontje Bohn
Sontje Bohn has been dancing for 16 years, including training in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Canada in various styles. After starting with Breakdance and Hip Hop she quickly also discovered her passion for Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary and Ballet. Sontje is currently training in the Senior Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers and got to dance with the My Move Dance Crew, Dance Expressions Jr., Senior Company Art and Dance, Nafro Dance Productions, WindFlowerDanceCo. and more in the past. She started collecting teaching experiences 7 years ago and is thankful to be able to teach Youth and Adult classes at Drop in Dance. She is happy to be the studio manager.
kelsey thomas
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Kelsey Thomas has been dancing and choreographing for much of
her life. She studied ballet extensively growing up and completed her Royal Academy of Dance
graded exams. She began teaching ballet as an adult and found that she had a knack for
explaining difficult technical concepts in a simple and hands-on manner.
Kelsey is experienced in creating tap, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and jazz pieces for the stage.
Having studied instruments and singing in choirs growing up, her teaching and choreographic
style reflects her keen understanding of musicality.
She has honed her craft by attending classes and workshops throughout Canada and the US, and has taken classes from esteemed dancers such as Sarah Reich, Bril Barrett, Evan Ruggiero, and Jim Hibbard.
Kaitlyn Cochrane
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Kaitlyn Cochrane has been dancing for most of her childhood. In 2019, Kaitlyn started dancing at Drop In Dance where she fell in love with dance all over again! With over 3 years of experience teaching youth dance classes, she is so excited to be part of the DIDW faculty and share her love for dance with you all!
Franz De Lima
With 8 years of experience behind his back, Franz is a dancer/choreographer who focuses on Urban/Fusion and Hip Hop styles. Exploring storytelling through movement and music has always been a passion for him and can’t wait to share what he’s been working on with you!
Anna smith
Anna is a ballet teacher, and Pilates instructor, with a strong interest in helping individuals develop their goals. She has a background in fascial movement and release, and specializes in adult learners. Anna originally moved to Winnipeg to further her ballet teaching studies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program, where she also participated in the optional First Steps choreography program for two years. Following her formal training, she took on teaching full-time at locations throughout the city. Recently, she has been working to develop the Ballet Heels program at Drop In Dance, drawing from her background as a ballet/pointe teacher, and barre fitness instructor.
Samantha wiebe
Samantha Wiebe (she/her) was born and raised in Winnipeg, and discovered her love of dance around the age of 15. Her interest in dance stemmed from a love she had for K-pop (Korean pop) music, which places strong emphasis on the choreography that goes along with the music. Starting around 2006 she started teaching herself these catchy dance moves via YouTube, wishing that one day in the future she could share her love of K-pop with many other people. In 2013 she became a member of K-pop dance team Wassup Heroes, later becoming a founder and leader of one of Winnipeg’s most active K-pop dance groups GALAX-E (formerly TXM-G). She began officially teaching K-pop dance covers in 2016 at the U of M and joined Drop in Dance Winnipeg’s faculty in 2018.
Thomas Oberlin
Thomas Oberlin is a dancer, choreographer and teacher from Winnipeg Manitoba. Thomas is currently in his final year of professional training in The School of Contemporary Dancer's Senior Professional Program and he will graduate with a BA Honours in dance from the U of W in 2024. Throughout his 16 years of training, Thomas has danced a variety of styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, HipHop and African - Contemporary. Recently Thomas has had the opportunity to work with Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers in their Emerging Artists Initiative and was selected to participate in Summer Arts Blast Off (SABO), a week long choreographic workshop and intensive in Toronto. Thomas mainly focuses on Contemporary, Jazz and Tap and is excited to be returning for another year at Drop in Dance!
Emma Petit
Emma Petit is a Canadian dance artist originally from Montreal and is now based out of
Winnipeg, Mb and Regina, Sk. Emma is in her third year studying in the Professional Program at
The School of Contemporary Dancers and has trained in various styles of dance for 14 years.
She has had the pleasure to train and work with The Fada Dance Company, Youth Ballet
Company, Wind Flower Dance Co, Toronto Dance Theatre, Nafro Dance Productions, and many
other establishments along the years. Emma is also an emerging choreographer and teacher in
the dance scene and is currently working on honing her skills in, mostly but not exclusively,
contemporary dance.
Greg McGlenning
Shyanne Carriere
amy thomas
sophie kil
raina degroot
breanna markiewicz
victoria exconde
kishan chouhan
Jaimi deleau
hannah arras
Arina vilcova
monica munro
chelsea humble
alex ireland
alia ross
samantha navarro
aaron stringer
sharlyne chua
Teagan McMahon
genie baffoe
nenette mayor
brooklynN wood
Brooklynn Wood danced for 12 years, mainly hip hop and jazz, before aging out at her studio. She found Drop In Dance a few years later and after only a month of dancing here, got a position at the front desk! From both working and dancing here, Brooklynn always talks about how friendly and supportive everyone is and how she’s become friends with many of the dancers here. It has even encouraged her to try new dance styles, like heels.
Working here for over 2 years now, Brooklynn works on creating social media posts for Instagram like editing the Dancer Spotlight and POV reels, as well as the weekly schedule posts.