Canadians just love to dance. It's obvious based on the amount of dance studios in every city of the country. Dance has many purposes and is done for many reasons; for ritual, as a hobby, as a form of expression, as fitness option or even as a seduction tool. However the dancers' motives and goals differ, what they share in common is the way dancing makes them forget all their troubles and get lost in the moment. Canadians have many varieties of dance to enjoy; from ballet to modern to hip-hop - there is a dance studio or style to suit every need.

Dancing holds many health benefits. It helps to tone and trim the body, increase flexibility and prevent cardiovascular disease. Dancing can also reduce stress, boost endorphins and boost mental activity. Perhaps most significantly however, dancing gives us a way to connect with our community, uphold our heritage or simply express ourselves through physical movement.

The history of dance in Canada is as rich and diverse as its people. It is safe to assume that there was dance in Canada for as long as there were people here. Canadian Aboriginal peoples have used dance as a vital part of their culture long before the arrival of European settlers. Even during the hardships of colonization and immigration, Canadian Natives managed to uphold and enrich their colourful dance culture. Toward the end of the 20th century, dance performances have once again become an integral part of Canadian Aboriginal communities.

Aside from the Aboriginal dance which was the first dance form in Canada, the professional dance scene in Canada emerged from its European settlers. In La Nouvelle France (now Quebec), classical ballet was performed already in the 17th century. By the early twentieth, Canada became a part of a North American touring district and was spotlighting famous international dance stars. Ballet in Canada produced such pioneers as Vaslav Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, and Leonide Massine, while Ruth st. Denis, Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham headed the modern camp. Eventually, the two conflicting styles learned to co-exist peacefully and even collaborate into what is now commonly referred to as Western dance.

Canada's first dance studios were started by immigrants from various countries, who brought their talent and expertise from abroad. In Toronto, Boris Volkoff opened his first dance studio in 1931. Three years later, June Roper opened her dance company in Vancouver. Gerald Crevier swiftly followed with his own dance studio in Montreal.

In 1939, Boris Volkoff founded the first Canadian ballet company, the Volkoff Canadian Ballet. His major competition came from a Winnipeg troupe, started at almost the same time by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally, recent English immigrants.

Canadian ballet suffered humble beginnings, as there was no government funding for the arts and the companies had to find the money themselves to fulfill their needs and obligations. However, in 1948, Volkoff and Lloyd and Farally formed a catalytic national ballet festival. More festivals followed, and Canada's dance spirit was officially born.

The Toronto festival led to the launching of the first truly national ballet company, the Canadian National Ballet in 1951, headed by British dancer and choreographer Celia Franca. The year after, famed Russian ballerina Ludmilla Chiriaeff settled in Montreal and founded what was to become Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Thus Canada had acquired its own three professional ballet companies.

The largest company in the country is The National Ballet of Canada. The Royal Winnipeg is the oldest and holds the distinction of being the first and only Ballet Company in North America to hold the "Royal" title. RWA is also the oldest still-running ballet company in the continent. Ballet Jorgen Canada, while itself only the fifth-largest company in the country, has the largest audience of any ballet company in Canada and has established itself as a touring company.

By the end of the next decade, modern dance troupes have joined the ballet companies on the Canadian dance landscape. The sixties, as the era of rebellion and self-exploration proved to be fertile ground for developing Canadian dance presence. Toward the end of the sixties, several modern companies were established; Le Groupe de la Place Royale (Montreal), Toronto Dance Theatre (Toronto) and Contemporary Dancers (Winnipeg).

In 1973 the trail-blazing Dance in Canada Association was founded, which paved the way for Dance UK and Dance USA, both founded almost a decade later. Eventually, as the organization found it hard to meet its financial demands, the more focused Canadian Association of Professional Dance Organizations (CAPDO) was formed. Toward the end of the 20th century, other dance-related organizations, such as the CanDance (the Canadian Network of Dance Presenters) and the Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC), formed to meet the expanding needs of the growing Canadian dance studio scene.

In the 1980s, the face of Canadian dance has changed tremendously. While previously dominated by white, English-French styles of classical dance, the diverse ethnic culture of Canada gradually influenced dance as well. Immigrants seeking a better fortune in this country have brought along their dance styles, opening up dance studios and changing the Canadian dance culture and heritage. Ethnic dance styles such as Korean, Ukrainian, South Asian or Afro-Caribbean have crossed over into popular culture and influenced modern trends.

The nineties saw more growth in the dance studio market. With the popularity of music videos and night clubs, more and more Canadians opted for dance lessons to spruce up their dance ability. This led to the inclusion of formerly alternative styles of dance to the dance studio repertoire, such as jazz, hip-hop and most recently krump.

Today, dance studios are a part of life for many young Canadians, as children are often signed up for ballet or tap lessons from an early age. Starting lessons early has many benefits and the local dance studios will no doubt produce a crop of fresh stars to yet again reinvent the Canadian dance culture. From humble beginnings, to the seemingly boundless opportunities for growth and creativity, dance is in Canada to stay!