Ms Lorraine Blake Wins Black Tie

This past Saturday, Brentwood’s Head of Dance, Ms Lorraine Blake, was nominated for, and won, the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Award for Art in Business. As accomplished as she is, ms Blake was “so humbled” to be selected for the award. At the age of three and continuing into her teen years, ms Blake began training in England and Zimbabwe. She eventually received her teaching certificate through the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D) an examination board specialising in dance training and education based in London, England. ms Blake eventually achieved her Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship status with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (I.S.T.D), another examination board based out of London. ms Blake is now the Head of the Dance at Brentwood, and the owner of Steps Ahead Dance in Mill Bay, BC. ms Blake is highly esteemed among her students and peers. She is said to have a “teaching style [that] is unique to dance” and she brings a lot to the table. One of ms Blake’s students said that “ms Blake brings a unique and positive energy to every dance class she teaches. She is always ready to accept new ideas and is one of the most encouraging teachers I've had the pleasure of taking class from. I'm glad to hear her talent and passion for dance has been recognized.” With her extensive background and experience in dance, she has brought many successful performances to Brentwood, Steps Ahead Dance, and everywhere else that has had the pleasure of receiving her.  The Black Tie event, hosted by Brentwood, sponsored the award and the category where ms Blake was nominated by a committee, and was selected out of all of the other very qualified finalists as the winner. All of ms Blake’s students, fellow Brentwood teachers, and family, are very proud to see her awarded for her successes. All who know ms Blake are very excited to share in the excitement with her, and nobody is surprised that she was the one nominated and selected in this category. On behalf of the Brentwood community, I would like to wish Ms Blake well, and to say congratulations in her successes awarded, as well as many more to come. Ms Blake’s work will be on full display during the run of the annual Evening of Dance in the Bunch Theatre May 9-11. Tickets are available at http://theatre.brentwood.bc.ca/ Sydney R, Allard ‘18