Sara has been involved in the dance community since childhood. She has trained at a variety of dance studios across Saskatchewan completing full examination syllabi in Ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), as well as in Tap and Jazz through the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA) and Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT). During her training, Sara had the privilege of performing across Canada, the United States and Brazil. She had a brief opportunity to professionally dance with City Centre Dance Company in contemporary dance.
Following her dance training, Sara had decided to continue with dance teacher training. She is currently a Registered Ballet Teacher with the RAD, Associate of the RAD, Tutor for the CBTS Teacher Training program with the RAD, Licentiate Member of the CDTA Stage Division (Jazz), Associate Member of the CDTA Modern and Ballet Divisions, Certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor, Certified Yoga Instructor through Namaskar Yoga (Yoga Alliance) and Certified in Total Barre (Merrithew). She has now taught and adjudicated ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, musical theatre, contemporary jazz, and lyrical jazz over the past 20 years at a variety of studios across Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Sara’s passion for dance has also been a part of her career pursuits. Sara has completed a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Physical Therapy along with numerous post-graduate courses and certifications to advance her training. Sara can provide Biomedical Dry Needling, Acupuncture, K-Taping, Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Graston Technique, Lymphatic Therapy, Kinstretch, and Functional Anatomy specific treatment sessions. Sara has worked in a variety of areas of Physical Therapy including: inpatient orthopedics, chronic pain, sports physiotherapy, post-surgical orthopedics, and general private practice. Most recently, Sara had worked with pre-professional and professional dancers. Sara has worked as the Lead Physiotherapist for the Alberta Ballet Company and Alberta Ballet School. During her Physiotherapist work, Sara has also had the opportunity to work with dancers and performers from many companies such as Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound, MOMIX, Tango Fire, the Royal Ballet, Ivanochko et cie, Le Ballets Jazz de Montreal, and Pilobolus Dance Companies. More recently, Sara has had the opportunity to work with the Saskatchewan Roughrider Cheer Team as their Physiotherapist during the football season.
Sara was also involved in research studies for the University of Calgary on Injury Prevention for Dancers, as well as providing lectures on safe dance practice and injury prevention throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Sara has been able to continue to promote safe dance practice through involvement with Healthy Dancer Canada as well as acting as the Director and Founder of Empower Movement Studio workshops and educational programming. Empower Movement Studio focuses on the essential education needed for artistic athletics, athletes and the public to stay healthy and injury free.
Sara is the Clinic Director of Empower Physiotherapy and strives to “empower” others toward improving their health and well being through education and movement.