XBa Centre of Dance
Surrey, Mainland/Southwest
XBa Centre of Dance
Surrey, Mainland/Southwest
XBa Centre of Dance has always been at the forefront of dance innovation; a leader in our industry and ground-breaking in everything we do, from methods of teaching, to choreography, to opportunities for our students, to advancements in dance education. Our dance school fosters a free-thinking environment, where creative participation is strongly encouraged for all our students. The styles offered are streamlined, and taught by world-class faculty, and we guarantee the best quality of dance education in a higher-learning environment. XBa’s philosophy has always been that dance should be available to all, regardless of previous experiences. XBa was founded in 1999 by Nela H, and was started as an off-ice training centre for figure skaters. Throughout the decades, it morphed into a groundbreaking dance facility, and now it is the only dance education facility in Western Canada to offer the International Certification of Dance Studies Program, awarded by UNESCO's International Dance Council. In 2023, it was announced that Nela's daughter and Operations Manager Amadea would become the new Owner and Artistic Director.
Nominations
Read below to find out why they deserve your vote in each category.
Best Youth Entrepreneur
What motivated you to start your business and what is your vision for the future of the company?
I was told at the age of 7 that I would never be a dancer because I was "built all wrong", and as I got older and really understood what those words meant, I used that as motivation to become the best I could. After winning competitions, getting a silver medal at Nationals, and going pro at 19, I vowed to never turn away any dancer for their differences. My vision for the future involves an expansion of my studio to at least one more location, to offer more styles of dance, and to continue pursuing excellence in dance education.
Why do you deserve to win the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award?
If you know me, you know I don't like to boast about my accomplishments or talk about my low points. However I deserve to win the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award because I have never given up on anything, anyone, and more importantly, myself. I welcome challenges and have no fear for what may come. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2022 and while I was going through treatment, one of the very few things that kept me going was my drive and passion for XBa, and all the dancers from ages 4 to adult who needed that artistic release through dance. I have fought not only for myself, but for my business as well during personal times of crisis and the covid pandemic. Because of my determination and relentless quest to ensure everyone's personal safety, my studio remained one of the few who are still open today, and remained a transmission-free zone. I firmly believe that our personal challenges make us stronger. As a fighter and survivor, I have a renewed sense of purpose and I really think that the best is yet to come.