604-465-6636
Where Our Story Started...
3 generation family run dance studio continuing Peggy's legacy.
Peggy Peat School of Dance was established in 1970 and successfully operates in Maple Ridge. Peggy grew up dancing in England before moving to Canada. She had spent more than 60 years in the business of teaching dance to children and adults. Her daughter, Margaret Derksen, moved to Maple Ridge in 1975 to join her mother as a teacher and business partner. They quickly moved out of Peggy’s basement to a church basement then to several commercial locations.
Margaret’s daughter Talia grew up dancing at the studio. When she graduated she moved to Los Angeles, CA to continue her dance training at the professional studio Edge Performing Arts Centre in Hollywood. She then enjoyed performing & studying all over the world. She toured China in a traveling show & cruised the world aboard Holland America. After 10 years away Talia decided to return to her roots and join her mother and grandmother back at Peggy Peats.
Today PPSD occupies more than 7,000 square feet in 4 spacious studios. A “magic” wall allows for a huge 3000 square foot double studio for rehearsing large production numbers. All the studios have sprung wood floors, are well lit and have plenty of mirrors. We recently added another small studio – which is now a lunch/homework room for the students equipped with tables & chairs, cubbies for their dance bags & a microwave. PPSD also has a large waiting room.
Peggy Peat Dancers regularly perform at events in our community. They enjoy dancing at community shows, Seniors’ Centres, hospitals, banquets, charity events, Pitt Meadows Day, Maple Ridge Mountain Festival and the Maple Ridge Canada Day Celebration.
Peggy Peat
March 16, 1928 ~ July 28, 2018
At the age of 3, Peggy put on her first pair of dancing shoes. She took weekly lessons and fell in love with dance. At nine years old, Peggy left home frequently to perform in Pantomimes. Her starring role was the Cat in Dick Whittington and His Cat. She loved the thrill of performing and being on stage.
When World War II broke out, her opportunity to perform ended but she continued to dance and take lessons. In her spare time she taught the neighbourhood kids singing and dancing routines to perform at the hospitals.
When the war ended, Peggy married Canadian soldier, David, and came to Canada. They settled in Moose Jaw and she immediately started teaching children to dance at a local studio. A few years later she opened her first dance school - the Peggy Peat Sunshine School of Dance.
Peggy moved to Maple Ridge in 1970 and started the now well-known and highly respected Peggy Peat School of Dance. The studio locations have changed throughout the years, but her school's reputation for providing quality instruction and excellent experiences for dancers has always remained steadfast.
Peggy sadly lost her battle with cancer in July 2018. Peggy lived her life doing what she loved, instilling the love of dance into generations of young dancers.
We will continue her legacy and spread her love of children and joy of dance to all.
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