Acoustic Upgrades at the North Van Studio

Nora has submitted these 3 photos and the following update:

"Marcel and his friend Glenn A just finished our 1st acoustic upgrade to the North Shore dance studio. We installed sound barrier curtains on the ceiling and our main entrance wall to improve the sound quality in the studio. We are very excited to now be able to lower the volume of our music in the studio and to be able to hear our dancers, general conversation and instruction when everyone is talking! Thanks a million Glenn and Marcel for all your help! I hope the dancers enjoy the improvement!"

Taking Down The Walls

Nora has submitted these photos from the initial stages of the studio reno last month. Two interior walls were taken down in order to provide more space for the dancers. Andrew G (Raven's dad), Marcel, and friend Glenn undertook this big job and Nora writes "I would like to say a big thank you to Glenn, Andrew and Marcel for their professional destruction expertise! It made a world of difference!"

More Photos from the New Studio

Here are more photos of the new studio, sent by Nora. That's assistant teacher Rebecca sweeping up in Photo #2, and stretching before teaching in Photo #4. Courtney puts up a poster (Photo #3) and shows off the new cubbies and storage! (Photos #7 and 8). Happy dancers arrive for the first day of classes on Tuesday (Photos #5 and 6), and Nora looks very pleased to move the NPIDA clothing from her house to the new studio! (Photo #10 - taken by Courtney).

Reno Photos from Monday September 6

Nora has submitted lots more photos and notes from the final day of the reno (Monday) as well as opening day (Tuesday). Check back in the next day or so for more photos of Nora, Courtney, Rebecca and students at the studio on the first day!

Nora's notes about Monday:

"Monday was by far my busiest and longest day at the studio with all the painting, tidying up and cleaning of the studio! I think I was working on the studio that day for almost 12 hours. Markus came back for 4 hours to help us finish our last painting details, and Marcel was busy for about 6 hours working on technical aspects of the studio. When I turned off the lights and headed for home at 8:00pm, I was sore from head to toe but I knew the studio was going to be ready for our first little dancers on Tuesday!"

More Studio Reno Updates from Nora

Nora has submitted all of these photos taken at the new Bowser St. studio during the past few days of renovations (for earlier photos, see the September 1 post).

Nora and Marcel would like to offer huge thanks to the wonderful volunteers who have helped them with the studio reno! In addition to those already mentioned in the September 1 post, these people have provided hours of hard labour over the past few days of painting, flooring, cleaning and much more: Kate and Paula K, their mom Heather K, Kelly-Erin K, Chris L (Samantha's dad), and Markus from College Pro Painters.

A few reno notes from Nora:

"On Thursday we got a ton of painting done and the new floors for the reception and waiting area got started".

"On Friday we ran out of paint 3 times so Rona was my personal home-away-from-home that day!"

Also on Friday; "Marcel and Chris worked on floors (Photos #2 and #3) while Heather, Kate and Markus were painting together (Photos #5, #6 and #7). The snack and drink machines arrived too (Photo #4). It's so amazing to be able to open the back door entirely now! The photo of the studio (Photo #1) was taken from the parking lot outside!"

"Heather and Kate gave the men's bathroom a big face lift, as well as the dancers' change room".

"On Sunday Marcel was solo on baseboards and finishing work until I arrived with our kids. The girls had lots of fun hiding in the new cupboards and playing princesses with empty paint cans, paint poles and cover sheets!"

"Tomorrow Marcel and I will finish up the details, put a second coat on the men's bathroom, and clean clean clean!"

"On Tuesday morning professional acoustic engineers arrive to assess the studio and give recommendations on how to improve the acoustics in the room".

Paint and Reno Party at the New NPIDA Studio!

Nora forwarded these photos to me tonight - all photos taken by Connie G. Today, NPIDA dancers, parents, friends and family young and old were tackling the reno at the new NPIDA Bowser St. studio in North Vancouver. (That's Nora's dad in the 7th photo). Big thanks to everyone who showed up to help! There will be lots more work going on tomorrow as well.

THANK YOU to the Wednesday reno team: Kayleigh C; Samantha L and her dad Chris (carrying the big roll of old carpet in Photo #5); Brianna S; Shannon, Morgan and Connie G; Sheryl J; Jennifer R; Heather K (Heather on the ladder in Photo #9); and of course Nora, Marcel, and Nora's dad.

And the Thursday reno team: Kelly-Erin K, Kate and Paula K, Marcus from College Pro Painters, and Nora and Marcel. Update from Nora late Thursday night: the floors are almost done and the painting is 70% done. Photos from Thursday pending...