In 1997, Miss Rebecca Brettingham-Filice, owner and Artistic Director of Dance Extreme Inc., had a dream. After teaching dance for many years and while studying Political Science at Western University, Miss Rebecca had a vision that started small and has only grown since. With the undying support of her parents, Bernice and John Brettingham, at the age of 21 Rebecca began teaching her own dance classes in St. Thomas at the Public Library and Dorchester Community Centre during the evenings while working a full-time day job. This was the inception of what we have come to know as Dance Extreme.
In 1998, Dance Extreme Inc. found its home, complete with two studios, 3,500 sq ft, at 312 Commissioners Road West with 300 dancers. Throughout the first 19 years, Dance Extreme remained on Commissioners Road, but the physical studio space changed its design many times, growing with the dancers and the needs of the studio over time. The past 25 years have been filled with amazing studio accomplishments – from dancing at local London festivals, London Knights hockey games, London Lightning basketball games, Nuit Blanche, the London Fringe Festival and more, to in 2011 when Dance Extreme performed the biggest Flash Mob over the course of the Ribfest weekend.
Most notably, in 2012, dancers, teachers and parents spent a year preparing for the trip of a lifetime to the Summer Olympic Games in London, England. Through the amazing efforts of parents, faculty and Miss Rebecca, we prepared for a week spent dancing throughout London at Olympic events and even at Olympic Park. Led by KCI Concerts, dancers and teachers toured London, England sights, attended Olympic events, and performed a total of five times. All of these events took place to offer our dancers performance opportunities and a way to connect and give back to the larger community.
In 2018, Miss Rebecca’s Dance Extreme moved to its present location. It took many years of planning a move as large as it was – and turning a former Home Hardware store into the Dance Extreme as it stands presently. Brettingham-Filice, with the support of her talented faculty and staff, have built many programs over the past 25 years. From 2013 to 2018, DX Triple Threat, our musical theatre performance group, enjoyed a successful run. In 2016, Barefoot Creative Dance Company was offered to provide dancers an opportunity to perform in a contemporary dance company. In 2018, we began our Performance Team.
Dance Extreme has offered countless numbers of dancers the opportunity to learn dance and, more importantly, learn skills they will carry with them for a lifetime. These opportunities would not be possible without the dedication and passion of Miss Rebecca and her extraordinary vision.
As a young adult, Miss Rebecca would never have imagined celebrating 25 years. But this past June’s recital was a culmination and celebration of her incredible achievements as the owner and Artistic Director of Dance Extreme. It has been said that ‘It is the size of one’s will which determines success.’ Brettingham-Filice’s success is driven by her will and visionary thinking. Congratulations, Dance Extreme, on 25 years!
By Richelle Hirlehey for Dance Extreme
