Airdrie Dance Academy was founded in 1992 by Mrs. Susan Laing (Miss Susan). She started dancing at the age of 3. She had weak feet and the doctors told her parents she either needed “casts and built up shoes” or “dance” to strengthen her feet. Thankfully they chose dance. She started in Ballet.
When she was 10 years old, her family moved from Armstrong, BC to Erskine, Alberta. Her mom drove her to dance in Red Deer several times a week for her dance training.
As she grew up, so did her love of dance. She took classes whenever and wherever she could. She had an insatiable thirst for knowledge in dance and performing arts.
At the age of 18, Miss Susan opened her first dance studio in Erskine, Alberta. Her post-secondary education took her from Red Deer College to the University of Calgary and eventually to live in Airdrie with her husband Joe.
She had taught in Calgary but with the purchase of their first house, in Airdrie, she decided to put down roots and start Airdrie Dance Academy.
The studio opened with weekly classes on stage at the Bert Church Theatre. The first year, classes were scheduled on Mondays with approximately 65 students. After 7 years onstage, 5 days a week and several hundred students, Airdrie Dance Academy moved to its current location – a beautiful acreage east on Yankee Valley Blvd. The student base and families have grown and changed but we still share the same values.
The philosophy at Airdrie Dance Academy is fun, with clear expectations and great communication. Miss Susan knows the value of family and prides herself and studio with being able to balance great dancing with family time and hard work in the studio.
Airdrie Dance Academy is "Where quality is fun!".
We love our students and their families. We make lifelong friendships. We fall in love with the art of Dance. We work hard and set goals. We love to perform. We work as a team.
Mayor Peter Brown at our 25th Anniversary Open House
What others are saying...
jen mci
2023-08-02
My kids love going to their dance classes. They work hard and have fun! Everyone is kind and supportive. Choreography, costumes, and music selections are age appropriate. Instruction is scaffolded so that by the end of the year, students come so far even when they are considered beginners. Amazing!
Nathalie Gunther
2023-07-31
Miss Susan’s love for dance and all her students are what keep families coming back year after year. She renewed my daughters love of dance with her encouraging words, warmth, and love of dance. She continuously encourages dancers of all genres to have fun and makes them believe they are amazing no matter what their skill levels are. ADA is your studio of choice if you want your child to develop skills, friendships, and the courage to do anything they want.
renee miller
2023-07-25
Airdrie Dance Academy is a very great dance school- Miss Susan and her staff always have always put 100% into each and every dancer. They are all approachable and very kind. I enjoy the fact that my daughter gets to be a kid! With the structure and choreography of each dance - family and fun can be had. Miss Susan’s love for her students and her love for dance shines as brightly as her smile!
Alicia Fisher
2023-07-24
My daughter loved the dance classes ! Such a warm and inviting space. Despite her anxiety and shyness, she really enjoyed everything. She made new friends, sheovercame her shyness and the activities increased her mobility. As well, the recital was a beautiful first for us both, and truly was a confidence building experience ! As a momma of four, three of them boys, it was absolutely a wonderful experience ????
Farran Harkonen
2023-07-20
A very inclusive and caring studio with excellent quality programming. Our girls have thoroughly enjoyed Airdrie Dance Academy and Ms. Susan is great!
Terry Reichel
2022-11-01
We could not ask for better teachers for our kids for Dance of all ages.
Katie Steele
2022-10-21
Best Dance Studio in Airdrie!
Mrs.Susan and her staff are amazing and make it fun for the kids.
