Erica Finlayson

Mrs. Finlayson-Marak began her pre-professional dance training career at the age of 5 under the influential guidance of Teresa Randall in Fergus, Ontario studying the Royal Academy of Dance and CDTA Syllabi. With over 30 years of Dance training and experience in her repertoire, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak has had the opportunity to study and be exposed to many different genres and styles of dance many of which include Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Ballroom, Hip Hop and most recently gymnastics and acrobatic dance.

With over 22 years of her dance career invested and dedicated to teaching, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak brings significant knowledge and understanding to her teaching practice. She is passionate about her work and believes in the importance and significance of professional qualifications as she feels that dealing with human bodies and young student's, are both crucial and paramount responsibilities, which she takes very seriously.

After completing her Royal Academy of Dance training and examinations, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak was accepted into the prestigious Fine Arts Dance Program at York University in Toronto Ontario. There she successfully obtained and graduated with a BFA Honours Degree in Fine Arts in Dance, along with her BEd Degree in Fine Arts Dance as well as Special Education and Sign Language qualifications. Currently, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak continues to teach and works with students with specialized abilities, outside of studio time.

After graduating, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak decided to pursue her life-long dreams of teaching dance, and went on to obtain her Registered Teachers' Status through the Royal Academy of Dance, Acrobatic Arts and Rhythm works Teaching certification programs. In recent years, her studio has also hosted some very prestigious and world renowned Artists such as Frank and Carolyn Augustyn . A dream come true and such an honour!

In addition to running an full time business, Mrs. Finlayson-Marak is also an Occasional Teacher for the Upper Grand District School Board and works with many of their staff and students to teach, educate and expose them to the amazing benefits that dance has to offer.

"It has been an amazing and humbling journey thus far. To begin my career in a small town only to return many years later to share and pass on my love of dance and the arts with my own students, is a dream come true". In 2006 Mrs. Finlayson-Marak became the Owner and Artistic Director of The Fergus-Elora Academy of Dance and continues to devote her time and energy to sharing her love of dance, with all of her students