Hello Kelowna !
Train. Sweat. Perform.
ARMY of SASS is a training and performance program for all levels, designed to build confidence and gain physical strength while developing sassy dance skills in heels.
There are 3 different 10-week sessions per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Every week you will train for 2 hours on drills and choreography. At the end of the session, you will showcase your new sassy moves in a themed performance with your fellow AOS dancers!
Your week just got a whole lot SASSIER!
This session, join 2000+ dancers across North America as we train together and perform together in an original show!
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
• Program dates & registration fees vary by location.
Join us and be part of this growing community and movement!
All Skill Levels
LEVEL 1 • PRIVATES
Absolute Beginners to Beginner-Trained Dancers
LEVEL 2 • CORPORALS
Intermediate to Advanced in Heels Dance
LEVEL 3 • LIEUTENANTS
Advanced to Professional in Jazz/Hip Hop/Heels Dance
• Classes •
Fall 2020 Session
10 weeks between September 28, 2020 and December 7, 2020
• Rates •
Full year • 3 sessions
Available June 10 - October 17$900 +tax
• Unlimited drop-in classes across Canada & US (space permitting; please contact individual locations regarding availability)
• Reserved spot for 'Full session' registration
• Valid for 3 sessions: Fall, Winter & Spring
* Available only at select locations
Full session • Early bird
Available August 1 - June 30$Various +tax
• 2 hrs / week for 10 weeks
• 1 full cast rehearsal
• Performance
*Available at select locations
Full session • Regular
Available August 1 - June 30$Various +tax
• 2 hrs / week for 10 weeks
• 1 full cast rehearsal
• Performance
Drop-in
Contact us for current rates$15 to 30
• 1 hr class
• First come, first served
• Contact us for availability & payment options
• Shows •
No show info yet.
• Spotlight •
SASSY MERCH!!!
Sass Merch is coming your way! We have an amazing line of merchandise, perfect for in studio, and your everyday sassy life!
Click here to get your hands of some amazing sassy merch!
Stagette/Birthday Parties!
BACHELORETTE PARTIES
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Looking for something to do for a Bachelorette Party or Birthday Party?
Our Sergeants of Sass from Army of Sass Kelowna are available to hire for a fun heels style Sass Class! We will help boost your confidence as you learn how to strut, dip and whip to prepare you to hit the dance floor with your ladies. It’s a great way to warm everyone up for a day full of sassy fun.
Contact: Lucy Hazelwood
Kelowna@armyofsass.com
(250) 317-4006
• AOS Kelowna Team •
Carla Catherwood
Commander-in-chief (CEO & Founder)
ARMY of SASS™
Carla knows what it’s like to start from the bottom and work your way up.
Dedicated, focused and driven to detail best describe her work habits. With over 20 years professionally in the dance industry and over 10 years experience as a self-made entrepreneur, she has worked not only as a professional dancer, choreographer, and producer, but most importantly as an entrepreneur, teacher, and mentor to many developing up-and-comers.
Her mentoring and teaching style consists of clarifying and developing the direct abilities that are needed to become a successful performer, teacher, and AOS Licensee by educating them on function, technique, and leadership skills. She has a special talent in bringing out what is natural within each individual by pushing them into what she calls “The Pocket” of each movement, teaching method, or leadership goal.
Carla’s story: how it all started
It started with a twist of fate…
About 11 years ago I was out with some dance friends and a fellow teacher from LA in Vancouver. We were having a good time dancing the night away. Next thing you know… a shootout between two gangs erupted and there were some innocent victims caught in the crossfire. Luckily I was pushed out of the way and only grazed with a bullet (but don’t worry I’m ok! I was blessed enough that all I needed was a band aid on my wrist!) Unfortunately there were a few innocent victims… one of them being my friend from LA. I was blessed to have walked away pretty much unharmed considering what had happened. At that point I knew I needed to do something to help my friend.
Fast forward to one year after the incident, I joined forces with the pretty much the entire entertainment community of Vancouver to put together a fundraiser in honour our friend to help with his recovery process and costs. PS. he’s doing great now!
With it being the first show I had ever produced… and as a dancer and choreographer I naturally wanted to put together a piece of choreography for the show… but it needed to be DIFFERENT! Later that week I saw a cabaret burlesque-style dance troupe on TV and I said “YESSSSSS I’m going to do something like that!” I gathered 10 of my girls and we did a burlesque inspired piece for the fundraiser. Vancouver HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT! People went crazy! So I decided to keep doing it!
I created a dance crew called Burlesque Beauties with a few of my girls and had a ton of fun! We did everything from lounge gigs, to corporate events over the years and even performed at the infamous Playboy Mansion! As time went on I wanted to perform less and teach more so I coined the style “Nuvo-Burlesque” and started to teach the heel’s style to dancers of all levels.
The day before I moved from Vancouver to Toronto in 2010 I was in a car accident and my injury made performing a challenge so at the age of 29 rolling on 30 I knew it was time to throw in the ‘performing towel’ and go full speed ahead with producing, choreography, and teaching.
So there I was… alone in a new city and not sure where to start. I got a call from my mom and she reminded me I was doing cabaret and shows, she said “why don’t you put together a program for your students and have them be part of your show”. So, “DING”, a light went off! Great idea mom! I’ll do that!!! So there it all began!
- It started with 12 girls in Toronto under the “Nuvo-Burlesque Performance & Training Group”
- After a year I created the first satellite program in Vancouver
- I was building something and it was time to come up with a better name!
- So while in class with 25 plus women strutting towards me… “DING” again! They just looked like an ARMY OF SASS!
- And that was it; yep that’s the name! The ARMY of SASS was born and there was no turning back!
As of the beginning of 2015, just over 10 years from when I began all of this, we have over 275 registered students across the country with over 100 in Toronto and the rest in our satellite cities Vancouver, Abbotsford, Penticton, Kelowna and Calgary! I am so HAPPY to be able to share my wealth of knowledge about not only running a sustainable and profitable business but also sharing the personal lessons I’ve learned along the way…
For all of my dancers out there wanting to build something of your own but don’t know the steps to get there… I hear you and I feel you! I’ve been there… Please understand that: I know what it’s like to have a dream and not have the funds to do it, to be broke, to be on your own, to grow up in a small town and want more. I’ve lived through tragedy and setbacks, but most importantly I’ve learned to overcome all of them to get to where I am today and that is why I am doing this licensing program with a free education portion. It was built so my AOS team and me can help eliminate the struggle for you to build and achieve your dreams!
If your dream is to run your own AOS program, we look forward to helping you do that!
I’m here to EDUCATE, CREATE and PAY IT FORWARD to my dance community. It doesn’t matter if 5 or 500 people license this program, what matters to me is to be able to provide a FREE and strong education program to help those that wish to do what I do without the personal, physical, financial, and educational struggle I had endured.
If I can leave you with any form of advise it’s simply this… “There’s a solution to every problem and if there’s a solution… there’s no problem!”
Jennifer Long
General Manager (AOS International)
ARMY of SASS™
Jennifer Long proudly brings over 15 years of diverse management and marketing experience to every project she tackles.
Hailing from the lush hills of Prince Edward Island, Jennifer is pleased to now call Vancouver home. A graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts, Jennifer has been an entertainer since the age of three! Her first job at age 13 was definitely unusual; at a family friend’s suggestion, she auditioned for (and was subsequently hired to play) the leading character at Canadian World Theme Park in Japan. After pursuing a decade-long professional career in the arts, she decided to focus her talents on the behind-the-scenes world of arts management, including contracts with Canadian Idol, Canada Games, Vancouver Circus School, and Army of Sass Canada.
A self-professed “life long learner”, Jennifer holds a variety of post-secondary and continuing studies certifications including Event Management (Holland College), Professional Bookkeeper (Langara College), and is currently working towards her CPA designation in British Columbia.
Lucy Hazelwood
General (AOS Location Licensee)
Lucy Hazelwood is the young founder of LUKI Dance Productions. Originally from England, Lucy has studied to the highest levels of Dance & Performing Arts. She obtained numerous scholarships for internationally acclaimed dance institutions including The Laban Centre, Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, as well as Bird College, where she would go on to gain a BA (HONS) Degree in Dance & Theatre Performance, London, England. After completion of her formal training, Lucy’s professional work has taken her from performances in London’s infamous West End, to locations in and around the United States. Lucy also danced with Jean Ann Ryan Productions, entrusted with the prestigious position of Dance Captain from her very first contract.
Since arriving in Canada Lucy has worked as a teacher, choreographer and performer within B.C. Lucy is now happy to call Kelowna her home as she makes great strides to further the arts and dance scenes in Kelowna. She strives to pass on her extensive knowledge and experience of the performance world; making the performing arts accessible for all is one of her biggest goals.
Lucy began ‘LUKI Dance Productions’ in 2011, a unique and diverse company specializing in Training & Performance.With over 20 years experience in the field of Dance and Performing Arts, both on stage and behind the scenes in the studio, the Army of Sass program seemed like a natural addition to the company. Lucy was one of the original Army of Sass licencees and couldn’t imagine her dance world without her Sassy new family! You can find out more about LUKI Dance Productions here: www.lukidance.com
Larissa Stavrou
Sergeant (AOS Teacher)
Larissa began her dance and performance career in London, England at the age of 4 and has trained in jazz, hip-hop, ballet, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre throughout Europe and North America. Larissa received her Commercial Dance Diploma through Pineapple Dance Studio and the London Theatre School. She also had the privilege, at the young age of 18, to travel to California and Dance for Disneyland. Larissa joined Luki Dance Productions as a Company member in 2014 after completing her pre-professional training with the On-Pointe program and can now be seen performing at various events throughout the Okanagan as well as teaching at LUKI Dance Productions. After spending the last 3 years travelling across Canada with some of LA’s Top Dancers and Choreographers, Larissa is back in the Okanagan and hopes to pass along her passion for dance to all her students.
Kamila Korycka
Sergeant (AOS Teacher)
Originally from Poland where Kamila had studied Latin & Ballroom dance for 4 years, Kamila moved to the lower mainland at the age of 9. Here she studied Hip Hop,Jazz, Ballet and tap at McHardy Dance Studio and would go on to teach both at McHArdy and Fleetwood Park Secondary School. Teaching would be put on pause whilst pursuing her career as a Registered Nurse in Vancouver, but Kamila continued to train at Harbour Dance Center whenever she had the chance. After moving to Kelowna her passion for dance was reignited when she found the Army of Sass program. A member since 2016, Kamila has been working her way through the ranks and is proud to be our newest team member.
Kylie Cridland
Sergeant (AOS Teacher)
Kylie has been dancing since she was 2 years old with training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary and hiphop styles. She found AOS 2 years ago and her passion for heels dance was ignited. Kylie is moving her way up the ranks! She is so happy to be joining our team! Kylie loves being in a room full of positive, powerful people that AOS attracts and can’t wait to start inspiring them even more. Kylie oozes Sass, Class, and Confidence and truly represents what AOS is all about. Watch out Kelowna! Shes coming for you!!
Jo Tricia
Sergeant (AOS Teacher)
From the early age of three, Jo has had a love of dance and studied many different forms ranging from ballet to jazz to contemporary. Originally from Vancouver Island, Jo has spent years living in Vancouver, Ireland and has now landed in the Okanagan. After a long hiatus from dance, during which time Jo pursued other passions such as acting in film and theater, Jo’s passion for dance was reignited when she joined AOS two years ago
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After spending a few years dancing as a corporal dancer, her warm heart and bubbly personality shone through and it was the next natural step to have her step up to assist with the Private Levels. She has now taken the teachers certification and we cannot wait to see her in action!
• FAQ •
Check out these frequently asked questions, or contact us using the form below.
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Do I need dance experience to join the ARMY of SASS?
NOT AT ALL! We have classes in 3 different levels:
• Beginner (and yes we mean absolute, never been in a dance class kind of beginner)
• Intermediate
• Advanced & professional -
What do I wear?
• For training: stretchy, comfortable and SASSY clothes that you feel fabulous in!
• For performance: costumes will depend on the production theme for that term. -
What kind of shoes do I wear?
Comfortable, CLEAN, and thick heeled indoor shoes! Doesn’t matter what height of heel, just as long as you are comfortable! Be mindful of stilettos… they may look fabulous for a night out, but wearing them while trying to execute the AOS moves for two hours can be difficult. If you’re first starting out we suggest a good pair of kitten heels or sneaker wedges!
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How much is the ARMY of SASS program?
The program is currently $285.00 plus taxes and fees for each 10-week program where you receive 2 hours/week of training, an all-cast rehearsal, and a session end performance.
That comes out to $13.75/class! Normally in the dance/fitness industry, drop-in classes are $20.00. That is a savings of $6.25/class!
Please note: registration fees are non-refundable. -
How much are the drop-in Sass classes?
Drop-in pricing will vary by location; generally classes are $15-$30. Please contact the location leader for pricing information.
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Can I try my first class for FREE?
YES! Contact us using the contact form below to get your FREE pass to a Sass class in your area!
NOTE: this promotion is for first-time students only.
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How can I pay for the program or drop-in?
Drop-ins are generally cash only, payable when you arrive at the drop-in class; first-come, first-served. Contact a location near you for info!
Program payments are generally accepted via Paypal, Visa, and Mastercard, cash, and cheque. Payment types may vary by location; click “Register now” for full details.
Please take note that some AOS locations do charge taxes, where applicable. -
Do we have class cards for drop-in Sass classes?
Some locations do, but not all. Please reach out to a location near you for info; you can use the online contact form below to do so.
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Are there any other costs incurred by the AOS Program?
YES! Just one. It is for the costume that you will be performing in. NOTE: We often use many of the same pieces over and over again, and just layer them with different affordable accessories or pieces so you don’t have to spend too much money. If it is your first time we would safely say you will end up spending roughly $80.00-$100.00 on the base pieces costume (getting your staple pieces: fishnets, thigh high socks, and bodysuit or dress). Each session may have different costume requirements; check with your location licensee on the exact costs for each show.
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Are there financing/payment plans available for the program?
Payment plans may vary by location. Please use the online contact form below to speak with a location near you!
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Can anyone take a class?
EVERYONE who is willing to dance and be fabulous in heels is welcome in our classes! Army of Sass is open to anyone of legal age in their province/state, all abilities, and all genders.
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Can people watch?
Not the whole class. If someone is picking one of you up after class and the door is open or there is a viewing mirror in the studio, yes they can watch at the end.
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Questions or comments ? Contact us here !