Ambition Performing Arts has scored high with their routine, winning gold as the best place to take dance classes in this year’s Best of Airdrie Readers’ Choice Awards.
The accolade comes at a significant time for the organization, as the studio in Luxstone looks to celebrate their 20-year anniversary in 2023. Founder and president Tara Pickford said that after two decades of operation, the studio has set themselves up to be the gold standard of performing arts.
Offering programs in music, dance, and theatre, Ambition Performing Arts looks to help children develop skills in both the studio and in life. Watching the kids reach their full potential is what brings Pickford and the staff joy.
They want to make sure the arts are accessible for all children within the community.
“It looks like giving kids safe spaces to grow up, to become great humans, to have wonderful mentors who care about their development and the type of people they become,” Pickford said. “In our 20 years, we’ve given out over $200,000 of scholarships back to the community to make the arts accessible to everyone.”
Speaking highly of her team of staff, Pickford said she recognizes the hard work they’ve put in to support those who attend their programs over the years. The team is passionate in seeing the kids succeed in whatever they want to do, be it with dance or otherwise, and they know that the work they do goes beyond teaching.
This award highlights the beginning, not the end, according to Pickford. She is happy that her team has been a focal point for their work in the community, noting they are passionate about what they do.
Pickford was happy to see their hard work pay off after finding out they reached the top spot in the dance category.
Since reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve hit the ground running to make sure Airdrie’s dance community feels their presence.
“Our industry was very hard hit by the closures that have happened in the last few years,” she said. “We have been really working hard to provide value and great classes to make sure that the community knows we’re still here and we’re still providing excellence.”
Wishing to leave the community better than she found it, Pickford believes it starts by helping children learn the tools to become good members of society. She said watching kids find their passion is something that brings gratification into her life.
Believing in the power of small businesses, Pickford said that the more successful they become, the more they are needed to help out in the community. Pickford is passionate about community involvement and wants to see Airdrie prosper.
“I believe that it’s important for us to be leaders and stewards of our community,” she said. “I believe that the more successful we are as a business the more we can help our community grow and thrive.”
