Tradition. Creativity. Grace.
About Rothesay Ballet School
Rothesay Ballet School takes pride in providing a strong and safe foundation in the classical dance training of it's young students. Our staff is focused on creating an atmosphere of inclusion and acceptance and meeting each student at their own place in their dance journey. Classes are structured to provide solid technical training in the Royal Academy of Dance method, which encourages musicality and expression and fosters a sense of community for all students. We find that our dancers find not only a love of dance, but create long and lasting friendships with their fellow classmates.
Offering a full slate of dance styles and levels, Rothesay Ballet School has a program for every individual, regardless of age.
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul" ~ Martha Graham
Frank
Augustyn
Frank Augustyn trained at the prestigious National Ballet School of Canada and was invited to join the National Ballet Company of Canada in 1970. He became Canada’s most renowned male ballet dancer of the 20th century. In 1973, he and Karen Kain won a special award for the best pas de deux at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Augustyn has performed as a principal dancer globally, including Boston Ballet, Berlin Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Beijing Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Talin Ballet and Dutch National Ballet among others. He has toured globally with the National Ballet Company of Canada dancing on nearly every major stage around the world including The Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Covent Garden, England and Caracalla Teatro, Italy to name a few. He has been decorated with three honorary degrees and in 1979 was bestowed the most distinguished title of Canada, Officer, Order of Canada (O.C.). He co-produced and hosted the television series, "Footnotes, The Classics of Ballet", first aired on Bravo Television and authored the accompanying book, "Footnotes, The World's Best Loved Ballets". From 2000 to 2024 Frank Augustyn was a tenured Associate Professor at Adelphi University, NY where he led the Department of Dance from 2000 to 2019.
Carolyn
Zettel-Augustyn
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Carolyn Zettel-Augustyn has been a ballet educator, director, examiner, adjudicator, and consultant for nearly 4 decades. She began her illustrious teaching career in 1982 when she founded and directed the Academy of Dance in Waterloo, Ontario. For the next 25 years her Academy became renowned for its incomparable dance training. She is an ABT® Affiliate Teacher Pre-Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and is an ABT® National Training Curriculum Examiner. She has received numerous awards for her choreography and holds an ABT Fellowship, and she has been frequently invited to guest teach for numerous schools in the USA and Canada. Carolyn Zettel-Augustyn is a certified teacher with Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA) and has been awarded Life-Time Membership status. During her tenure with CDTA she was appointed Chair of the Ballet Division and was a member of the Examiner Syllabus Committee. In addition to her ballet certifications, she is a Certified Yoga® Teacher and Music Together Teacher. In 2011, she founded Classical School of Ballet LI, NY, retiring from her position in 2024.
Excellence in Teaching
Corissa Arseneau
Corissa began dancing at the young age of three at Rothesay Ballet School. Focusing on ballet, contemporary and jazz, she has done many styles such as hip hop, flamenco and Broadway. Corissa has participated in company shows such as Alberta Ballet, Ballet Jorgen and Motus O.
Wanting to continue her dance career in Saint John at Rothesay Ballet School, Corissa attained the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance and maintains a registered teaching status with the RAD. Corissa has been a member of the Rothesay Ballet School staff for the past 14 years. Using her previous personal training and dance experience, she now teaches body conditioning classes as well as the RAD ballet exam program.
Lorna Pond
Lorna has been involved with Rothesay Ballet School for over 45 years, beginning first as a student of Sylvia Logan in the inaugural class, and later, being involved as a performer and instructor.
As a girl, Lorna attended the National Ballet School’s summer program in Toronto and studied in the professional program of the Royal Academy of Dance through which she achieved her Intermediate Level I (Advanced) certificate. Currently she is working towards her International Ballet Barre Fitness Association certificate and enjoys incorporating various ballet barre techniques into her adult pilates and ballet classes. She has enjoyed many and varied roles in productions such as The Nutcracker, La Filles Mal Gardee, and Sleeping Beauty with Rothesay Ballet School and Gala Ballet Company.
Lorna holds a B.Comm degree from Mount Allison University, is a Certified Landscape Professional and owns and runs Urban Landscaping Ltd. with her husband Neil.
Linda Yang Poirier
As one of the very first students at RBS, Linda trained under Mrs. Sylvia Logan and obtained her certificate in the Elementary Executant Examination at the age of 16. Her most cherished memories were dancing the “Sugarplum Fairy” in The Nutcracker with the Saint John Symphony Orchestra, “Giselle” in the spring recital, and choreographing both her own senior solo as well as a multi-disciplinary project based on Romeo and Juliet. She was chosen to dance at the Jeux Canada Games, as well as in various KV Players productions.
A former classroom French teacher at public school and college levels with a B.A., M.A. & B.Ed., she returned to RBS as an adult with her own children and volunteered with Gala Ballet Productions. Inspired and mentored by Mrs. Logan, she returned to the studio. Linda completed the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS), is a Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). She is also a certified instructor in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Silver Swans®, Holistic Yoga Flow. and a Wellness Advocate with DōTERRA. She enjoys teaching at all levels, from babies & preschoolers to those in their golden years, or as we say in ballet, all Silver Swans! Linda is pleased to be working together with the other teachers and families to help continue Mrs. Logan's important work and the legacy of RBS in our community.
Diana Hong
Diana began her dance training in South Korea, studying classical ballet through the Vaganova method alongside contemporary dance. After moving to Canada, she continued her ballet training through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), completing her Advanced 2 examination while in high school.
Diana has trained extensively in both classical ballet and contemporary dance throughout her dance education. In 2018, she placed 3rd in the Ballet Solo category at the RAD Dance Challenge and received several awards at dance competitions, including 1st Place in Ballet Solo at the En Pointe & Just Dance Competition, an
Overall 1st Place Award in Ballet Solo at
Ultimate Dance Connection, and High Score awards at Move with the Beat and Shine Dance Competition.
From 2020 to 2022, Diana studied Dance
Performance at George Brown College in Toronto, graduating with an Ontario College Diploma. The program provided intensive training in classical ballet, pointe, modern and jazz, as well as repertoire, composition, acting,
and vocal training. The program also included professional practice and pedagogical training, developing her ability to teach ballet, modern,and jazz dance.
With a strong foundation in both classical and contemporary dance, Diana brings experience from multiple dance training systems and a passion for helping students develop strong technique, musicality, confidence, and artistry.
Sylvia Logan
Late Founder & Ballet Mistress Emerita
Sylvia Logan received her ballet training in England in Royal Academy and Vaganova styles and emigrated to Canada in 1962. Upon opening Rothesay Ballet School in 1975, students were introduced to a professional style of ballet training and Mrs. Logan continued her association with the Royal Academy of Dance. She become a Registered Teacher in the first year that registration became mandatory in Canada.
The school quickly gained a reputation for performance and academic success. Gala Ballet Company was founded in 1982 and became the performing arm of the school. A highlight of these performances was when they danced for their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Mrs. Logan was passionate about sharing her love of ballet with new generations of students whom she helped find their place and develop their own passion for over 50 years.
Her legacy is unparalleled and we honour her with love and a renewed sense of purpose to carry on her commitment to the community. (See Tribute page for more)