Danielle Platford

artistic Faculty

Bio

Born in Thompson, Manitoba, Danielle Platford began dancing at the tender age of three under the inspirational tutelage of Kelly Waterman. She fell in love with dance and throughout the next eight years, built on a variety of disciplines ranging from Ballet (R.A.D.), Jazz/ Tap (A.D.A.P.T.), Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. At 11 years old, Ms. Platford auditioned and was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division with scholarship. During her six years at the RWB School, she danced in numerous school performances, as well as with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company in Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty.

Ms. Platford pursued advanced education at one of the top university dance programs with a scholarship for the University of Arizona. There she studied under world renowned teachers, had many performing opportunities including Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, and worked with Gary Chryst and Ann Ranking in Chicago Suite. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Business, Danielle launched a seven year career as a professional dancer with worldwide Royal Caribbean Cruises, performing in various Jazz, Musical Theatre, Fosse and Ballroom styled production shows, as well as acting in Mystery Theatre Dinner Shows.

After moving back to Canada in 2020, Ms. Platford expanded her professional career, sharing her expertise and love of teaching youth the concepts and essence of dance. She has her Associate Qualification with Cecchetti Canada and is currently completing the RWB School’s Teacher’s Training Program and her A.D.A.P.T. Jazz & Tap Teaching Certification with Brian & Faye Foley. Additionally, she expanded her expertise and teaching skills as a STOTT Pilates Instructor under the training of Monique Lavoie. Ms. Platford has taught throughout Manitoba as well as taught master classes and workshops in the United States and England. Most notably, she assisted in staging the RWB School Professional Division students with their part in the RWB company’s performance of The Sleeping Beauty, and staging/choreographing with the Professional Division’s Spotlight performance of Laurencia. She currently teaches Ballet, Jazz and Lyrical in the RWB School Recreational Division, as well as Ballet, Pointe and Repertoire in the Professional Division.

Ms. Platford loves developing young dancers technically and finds nothing more gratifying than sharing her passion and knowledge of dance to the next generation of dancers, inspiring and seeing them thrive to their fullest potential.