Shedoesthecity: When did you know that dance was more than just a hobby for you—that it was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

Stephanie Sy: I trained at a competitive dance studio; we trained upward of 35 hours a week and participated in annual competitions, so it felt like a profession by the age of 10!

SDTC: When did you open PUR?

SS: I opened PUR last year, and we officially began classes in January, 2013. It took me a few months to get it up and running all on my own.

SDTC: What made you want to open your own studio?

SS: I wanted to find a place where I could do all of my work under one roof, and at the same time provide a beautiful space for other like-minded individuals to work out. I wanted a holistic studio where we could do dance, fitness, training, and treatments for the mind and body—something that was out of the ordinary, eco-friendly, modern, and comfortable.

I also opened PUR because I felt that there wasn’t a studio out there that offered dance and fitness at the high calibre of instruction that my team gives. There are very few studios in BC that offer this. I was tired of driving to clients and needed a place I could call home.  

SDTC: What do you offer at PUR?

SS: We offer drop-in dance, fitness, and Power Plate® Training. We have specialized programs that are cutting edge and used by professional athletes and celebrities. We do functional training because we believe in ultimate health and wellness. I want clients to age gracefully and be active for their entire lives. We also offer Registered massage therapy treatments.

SDTC: What has the reception been like so far?

SS: It’s been interesting because I had this idea that it would be easy to set up a new business in the city I grew up and live in, but the truth is that because I had spent time in LA and working downtown, I knew those markets far better than my own city’s. So networking and learning about the people that live in Richmond was really important. I’m still learning every day. We talk to our clients to see what they’re looking for and need. We try to give people the best service we can; I hire the best in BC. We are growing and I hope we keep growing.

SDTC: How hard is it to make it as a professional dancer?

SS: You definitely have to network and get to know your niche and market. I’ve learned to have a thick skin and to not take things to heart. Auditioning every day and getting denied hurts, so I count my blessings when I book work. I have to keep pushing myself as a person, a dancer, an instructor, and a choreographer, and I am better and more well rounded because of it.  

With the commercial dance world, there are so many factors that you can’t really control. It’s not just about your talent and skill, its about your look, height, ethnicity, etc. Are you what the casting directors are looking for?

SDTC: How would you define success for yourself?

SS: I think about this all the time. I define my success as being content and happy with what I’ve accomplished. Opening PUR and leaving what was so comfortable was a major gamble, but I just had to do it because I was curious. I didn’t want to live my entire life and not take the leap.

I view my career as successful thus far; I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of major motion films, television shows, commercials, print ads, and live shows. And I’m now doing more creative behind-the-scenes work like choreography, judging, and staging. It’s really gratifying being able to get work, but to also give work to other professional dancers. That’s the beauty of owning PUR: I’m now able to offer other professionals work, and to take their classes and learn from them in a beautiful studio setting. It’s so gratifying because I built the studio from ground up! And hopefully it stays up. Ha.

SDTC: Any advice for other women looking to open their own businesses?

SS: My grandmother owned her own business and so did my mom, so I’ve always been surrounded by beautiful, strong, and admirable women. I like the challenge and don’t have a problem doing the hard work (but don’t get me wrong, opening PUR has been the most stressful thing in my life so far). It’s been hard and still is hard, but it’s extremely gratifying to have clients that appreciate what you built for them.

My advice is to take the leap, but be as calculated and prepared as you can. Be open to learning a lot of new things (for me that meant everything from installing a sink to figuring out how to operate a computer software system).

SDTC: What do you love about dance?

SS: I love that dance is universal. It tells a story without words. It’s beautiful to me that you can convey an emotion, message, or story through movement. I love that it makes people happy and helps them forget about their problems in life. It’s an escape for me and I know it’s an escape for others, too. When I dance, it puts me in a place of peace.

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Women all across Canada are eating Philly Chocolate in their bed! Some guys too! Join the movement! Share it with the world! We officially challenge you. See how others are doing the Philly Chocolate breakfast bed party here.

So incredibly delicious. So easy. So..so…so..so…sOMG!!!! Don’t just try NEW Chocolate Philly; try it in your bed! 

**BONUS**

SPECIAL OFFER HAPPENING ON FB RIGHT NOW!

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On Saturday, June 8, the indie fashion magazine is throwing SECONDHAND PROM, a party that celebrates the launch of their 16th issue while going back in time and giving us the proms we wish we had experienced (oh, and we’re stoked to be a media sponsor). Prom attire isn’t required, but it is encouraged. We’re picturing updos, metallic lipsticks, and strappy heels. Maybe a few clip-on sparkles in your hair? Perhaps a tassly shawl draped across your elbows? You can also spruce up your outfits with WORN corsages and boutonnieres!

There will be Steam Whistle beer ($4) and spiked punch ($5), plus a handcrafted cake by Corey Moranis and music from This Broken Mixtape. Basically, it’s going to be the best prom ever.

Everything kicks off at 9:30pm — ending at  2am — at Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square). Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased here or at Type Books (883 Queen St. W.). You can also get ‘em at the door for $15. Admission includes a copy of the new issue! We promise you will have a better time than she did (but what a dress!).

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Thrown by the Bangs & Blush ladies, Fuck It features the best (worst?) tunes from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s (think Britney Spears, Blink-182, The Village People, Will Smith, Spice Girls, Hall & Oates, S Club 7, and Disney songs). Don’t pretend that you don’t like it.

Doors at 10pm. $5.

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The Life and Death of Marina Ambramovic

Telling her life story under the direction of acclaimed director Robert Wilson, international art star Marina Ambramovic plays dual roles on stage: those of both herself and her mother. Following her personal narrative from her troubled childhood in Serbia to her current status as an artistic icon, the show is sure to stir up some pretty intense emotion. After all, that’s what Ambramovic does best. The show is making its North American debut at Luminato. $55-$125.

Happening at the Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front St. E.) on:
Friday, June 14 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 15 at 7:30pm
Sunday, June 16 at 2:00pm
Monday, June 18 at 7:30pm

Danse Lhasa Danse

After being born in New York, Lhasa de Sela settled in Montreal. The singer-songwriter released three albums, the last of which was released in 2009—the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. She died less than two years later. To celebrate her life and artistry, choreographer Pierre-Paul Savoie created this tribute of music, dance, and film—presented outside Quebec for the first time. Free.

Happening at David Pecaut Square (55 John St.) on:
Wednesday, June 19 at 9:00pm

A Literary Picnic

Surrounding a theme of beginnings, over 60 authors including Jowita Bydlowska, Stacey May Fowles, and Edward Keenan (hi, Ed!) will take to three stages to share selections from their work. They will also be discussing how they start the process of writing, and how a story begins; as well, many authors will be setting up picnic blankets backstage for special one-on-one chats with the public. Book nerds are encouraged to bring gently used books to trade for others at a special table; the Toronto Public Library Bookmobile (um, COOL) will also be there. Pack a picnic or munch snacks from one of the many food trucks that will be on site! Free.

Happening at Trinity Bellwoods Park (155 Crawford St.) on:
Saturday, June 22 at 12:00pm

The City as a Stage

This talk centres around how we live together in cities and how public space defines our day-to-day human interaction. How do we collaborate and live harmoniously in our city? How can we better our city, creating more inspiring and exciting experiences for all of its citizens? The talk will be led by Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat, Vancouver “condo king” Bob Rennie, and Centennial Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics Richard Sennett. $20.

Happening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King St. W.) on:
Friday, June 14 at 6:00pm

Joni: A Portrait in Song

Iconic singer and artist Joni Mitchell is turning 70. 70! To celebrate, Luminato—working directly with Mitchell—is putting on a massive tribute to her and her music. Featuring an all-star lineup of artists, including Chaka Khan, Glen Hansard, and Rufus Wainwright, the evening will demonstrate the power and longevity of Mitchell’s work. $35-175.

Happening at Massey Hall (178 Victoria St.) on:
Tuesday, June 18 at 7:30pm
Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30pm

For a full list of Luminato happenings, click here.

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Starring an amazing cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Cain and Morgan Freeman, Now You See Me pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse against “The Four Horsemen”, a super-team of the world’s greatest illusionists.  “The Four Horsemane” pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, showering the stolen profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of the law.

ENTER TO WIN!

Tweet: “Hey @shedoesthecity, I would love to attend the red carpet premiere of #NowYouSeeMe!“
Winners will be selected on May 24 by 1pm EST.

Now You See Me
Red Carpet Premiere
Wednesday May 29th, 7PM
Scotiabank Theatre 

In theatres everywhere May 31. Watch the trailer now.

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rock.paper.sistahz festival: May 24 to 31 at Artscape Wychwood Barns

b.current has been hosting the annual rock.paper.sistahz festival since 2002.The event concentrates on presenting performance work by black female artists and artists of colour. “Taking its name and form from the well-known hand game, the festival is always dynamic, fast-paced, and surprising as we strive to develop and present fresh material, performance styles, and ideas seldom seen in professional contemporary spaces; while also focusing on themes, forms, and styles which have grown out of the black diasporic culture.”

InspiraTO 10 Minute Play Festival: May 30 to June 8 at Alumnae Theatre

Canada’s largest 10-minute play festival, the InspiraTO Theatre Festival, offers an innovative approach to the 10-minute play format. The festival is made up of four distinct shows, with six 10-minute plays in each show—and each show addresses a creative challenge. This year, for the first time in its history, the InspiraTO Festival will also feature the White Show: a “safari” approach where audiences will be led to four site-specific venues and see a 10-minute play at each one.

Toronto Fringe Festival: July 3 to 14 at various venues in the Annex

This year marks the Toronto Fringe Festival’s 25th anniversary! The festival features 148 shows in 35 venues, in every genre featuring artists from all over the world. It promises “new plays and old favourites, experimental works and fresh hits… eight dance productions and FringeKids! Shows… a Site-Specific Art Category, with 20 shows in venues such as a pawn shop, a laundromat, a storage unit, and the Campbell House Museum.”They also have a slew of free activities and, of course, everyone’s post-show favourite: beer tents!

SummerWorks: August 8 to 18 at various venues on Queen West

Founded by five friends with an idea to form a fringe-style festival, SummerWorks Festival has been active on the Toronto scene since 1991. Summerworks is now the largest juried festival in all of Canada and it aims to present new Canadian plays, reflecting Toronto and Canadian culture. In addition to theatre, SummerWorks also hosts music and performance art pieces,.

Guild Festival Theatre: July 18 to August 11 at Guild Gardens (okay, a bit out-of-the-way but it sounds beautiful!)

Having began in 2009 the Guild Festival Theatre is one of Toronto’s newer festivals, but its content is rich with history. The Guild Festival Theatre presents pieces from the past, presenting an annual festival of classics on a Greek open air stage in the Guild gardens, above Lake Ontario. Its philosophy is that theatre “educates the soul, not only the intellect.” This year the Festival is presenting Moliere’s The Misanthrope.

Shakespeare in the Park: July 2 to September 1 at High Park Amphitheatre

This summer, Shakespeare in the Park is showcasing Macbeth and Taming of the Shrew. The performances are produced by Canadian Stage production in collaboration with the Department of Theatre in the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University. You can get your fix of both tragedy and comedy as the shows alternate nightly, and are both pay-what-you-can!

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Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival bike tour, May 19 around the city

Such a cool way to see what this month-long festival has to offer! This Sunday CONTACT’s Artistic Projects Manager, Sabrina Maltese, is leading a bike tour through the streets of Toronto and stopping at the festival’s public installations along the way. You’ll cycle through the Dundas and Ossington area as well as the downtown core to see exhibits like Broomberg and Chanarin’s Shirley’s and Chris Marker’s La Jetée. The tour starts at 1pm at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (952 Queen St. W.). Oh, and it’s BYOB (that’s bring your own bike, y’all).

Amanda Mabro and Chris Assaad, May 22 at the Drake Underground

Named one of the city’s most promising singer-songwriters by The Montreal Gazette, Montreal’s Amanda Mabro is a jazz/pop singer that is sure to grab your attention. Check out a preview of her latest effort, The Lost EP (it features a duet with Ron Sexsmith!), at this show at the Drake Underground (1150 Queen St. W.). Accompanying her on the bill is pop/folk singer Chris Assaad, who will make your heart melt. Tickets are $10 advance and $15 at the door; show starts at 8pm.

Picture Day, opening May 24 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

This film as a Canadian female director. Woo! It’s the debut feature by Kate Melville and stars TIFF 2012 Rising Star Tatiana Maslany. Picture Day tells the story of Claire Paxton, a teenager who is forced to repeat her last year of high school after a slew of bad grades and missed classes. Despite this, Claire still chooses to cut class whenever she can and spends her nights going out clubbing. Not a girl, not yet a woman, you know? 

Doors Open Toronto, May 24 to 25 around the city

The 14th annual Doors Open Toronto offers the chance to take a peek inside some of the city’s most architecturally, culturally, socially, and historically significant buildings. This year’s theme is Creators, Makers and Innovators, and features over 150 Toronto buildings. There’s an awesome walking tour program, as well as a new informative speaker series featuring experts like architect Will Aslop and Toronto community leaders Wayne Swanton and Sheldon Levy.

Yard Sale for the Cure, May 25 at Trinity Bellwoods Park

Head to one of the city’s best parks for a day of shopping in the sun—that benefits the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation! Pretty sweet deal, methinks. It’s happening from 10am to 7pm, so give yourself a good amount of time because there will surely be a plethora of goodies to buy! These Yard Sales are happening in communities all over the country; find others here.

Lore, opening May 31 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

The much-anticipated follow-up to Australian director Cate Shortland’s debut feature Somersault (2004), Lore is set in 1945 in the aftermath of WWII. In it, a 14-year-old German girl named Lore has to lead her four siblings on an intense journey across the country to reach their grandma who lives in the north. It’s sure to be an inspiring story, plus it has a strong female lead!

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We’re talking sneakers, skimmers, espadrilles, and just your every day flat in bright colours with metallic detailing and literal animal prints. This summer, flat shoes are ready for anything you can throw at them and it’s even more helpful that many of them can be found at a low price point. WIN. We are flat out ready for flats. Bring it on summer.

Superga sneaker: Supergas are the best change-up from classic sneakers like Vans and Converse. They have a bit of a platform, which is kind of fun, yet are sporty and classic. If you’re looking for a pair of running shoes that aren’t only for the gym but rather for every day outings, look no further than Superga. Gravity Pope, $70

Opening Ceremony Ballerina Flat: These are like your grandma’s floral couch for your feet—what a treat. Opening Ceremony makes the ultimate cool girl staples and these shoes are no exception. The combination of silver detailing with the light springy florals makes splurging on these flats soooo worth it. Gravity Pope, $345

Zara Flat Sandal with Buckle: Talk about a funky take on the 90s sandal trend/Birkenstock. We will acknowledge that these are definitely not for everyone but if you’re feeling so totally 90s for summer, these will be your best friends on the weekends. Zara, $90

H&M Ballet Pumps: The most basic pair of the bunch, these H&M flats are still key for summertime. They will let your foot breathe with the little perforations and when fall comes and they are no longer white, you won’t feel guilty about chucking them away (that is, if you have destroyed them) because they are cheap. H&M, $30

Cooperative Applique Kitty Skimmer: Let the records show that I am a dog person but I am also a big fan of the literal animal print. We will never turn down a good piece in leopard print but for now, we’re taking a break and wearing actual animal faces on our clothing. Just do it. Urban Outfitters, $34

Kiko Black Strap Shoes: Not going to lie, but these are my number one pick for flat shoes. The combination of all-black plus cut-outs plus buckles makes these shoes not only interesting but also practical—which is the reason we started searching for flats in the first place. They aren’t a basic ballet flat but more of a shoe-boot (shobootie?) and would look nice at work but also on the weekends. These shoes are definite winners. Topshop, $124

Gap Printed Espadrilles: Striped espadrilles for only $30—do we need to say more? No, no we do not. Gap, $30

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