Warmland Arts Academy is an arts-inspired learning community in Duncan, BC, offering students in Grades 3–12 the rare opportunity to pursue serious performing arts training alongside supplemental enrichment experiences.
Our program nurtures confidence, creativity, collaboration, and a deep sense of belonging, helping students grow both artistically and academically within a vibrant learning community.
Quality Performing Arts Training Meets Enrichment Learning — now you can have both.
A Day in the Life at WAA
Located on Kenneth Street in the heart of downtown Duncan—neighbouring the iconic City Hall clocktower and beside the Duncan Farmers Market Square—Warmland Arts Academy (WAA) offers a unique in-person educational experience for students in Grades 3–12.
Our program combines enrichment learning experiences with exceptional dance and performing arts training. Through an interdisciplinary, arts-inspired approach, students develop creativity, confidence, and strong foundations in a nurturing, community-based environment.
Students learn in our beautiful sunlit classroom and large, modern sprung-floor studios, designed to support both focused academic learning and high-quality performing arts training.
At Warmland, students experience a balanced day that blends dance training, academics, movement conditioning, and creative exploration. Learning moves fluidly between the studio and classroom, keeping students engaged both physically and intellectually.
Throughout the week, students participate in a variety of learning experiences including:
- Dance technique and choreography
- Movement conditioning and physical literacy
- Interdisciplinary academic studies
- Performing arts and creative expression
- Rotating exploratory courses such as woodworking, visual arts, cooking, and other hands-on skills
- Community-based learning projects
These subjects are woven throughout the day, creating a dynamic rhythm where academic learning and the arts support one another.
Supplemental Arts & Enrichment for Online Learning Students
How Warmland Supports Your Family’s Learning Journey
Warmland Arts Academy offers a supplemental arts-inspired experience for learners enrolled in Provincial Online Learning Schools, District Online Learning Schools, or registered as homeschoolers. Warmland is an approved vendor, and families may choose to allocate supplemental funding toward dance and enrichment experiences at our academy.
Warmland is not a school. Your child’s enrolling school remains responsible for the planning, delivery, instruction, and assessment of their educational program. For registered homeschoolers, parents hold this responsibility. Participation at Warmland is a supplementary learning activity, similar to other community-based opportunities.
Parents and guardians are responsible for working with their enrolling school to document and report on all learning, including any learning that occurs at Warmland. Families should share reflections and learning artifacts with their school’s educators for review and assessment.
At Warmland, students engage in rich, interdisciplinary enrichment experiences with options like Anatomy of Dance (Science), Dance History (Social Studies), and Lyrical Dance Studies (Language Arts). These experiences can support and supplement learning across curricular areas, especially in movement, arts, and other hands-on activities.
At Warmland, your child will experience:
- A supportive, community-centred environment where students thrive artistically and personally
- Enrichment experiences in the arts, movement, and hands-on learning
- A creative and nurturing space that encourages individuality and lifelong learning
All students are welcome to enrol with any public or independent online learning school, or register as homeschoolers. Warmland Arts Academy does not require students to be enrolled with any specific school in order to participate in our programming. Please refer to our tuition schedule to understand how funds are allocated to our organization.
Our Learning Approach
Warmland Arts Academy is not an online or worksheet-based program. Students engage in meaningful enrichment experiences designed specifically for them and guided by experienced educators.
Our program prioritizes:
- Enrichment and strong foundational skills
- Arts-inspired, interdisciplinary learning
- Movement, creativity, and critical thinking
- Community and collaboration
Students may explore creative academic courses such as:
- Anatomy of Dance (science)
- Dance History (social studies)
- Lyrical Dance Studies (language arts)
As an approved vendor for online learning schools, Warmland offers supplemental enrichment experiences that can support students’ learning journeys, allowing flexibility for passion-driven exploration in the arts and beyond.
Parents remain actively involved and are responsible for working with their child’s enrolling school to document and report on all learning, including any enrichment that occurs at Warmland.
Leadership
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Warmland Arts Academy is led by Leah Burley, M.Ed., an innovative educator and sought-after teacher known for her engaging, interdisciplinary approach to learning.
A Waldorf-trained educator, Leah brings many of the strengths of that pedagogy—creativity, storytelling, experiential learning, and whole-child development—into a modern program grounded in strong academics and the performing arts.
Her teaching approach balances academic depth, movement, and creative expression, ensuring students develop both intellectual curiosity and artistic confidence in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Life at the Academy
Looking Ahead
(Grades 10–12)
Warmland Arts Academy is growing toward future opportunities for students in Grades 10–12, including both full-time and blended pathways for learners moving through the BC Grad Program.
These offerings are being developed so students can be supported by a teacher while progressing through graduation requirements in alignment with the rich arts experiences that define learning at WAA.
More details will be shared as this next stage of the program takes shape.
Weekly Schedule
Grade 3–4
Monday – Thursday
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Grades 5–6 & 7–9
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Lunch: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Detailed daily schedules and class rotations are provided to families upon enrolment.
Uniform Dress Code
At Warmland Arts Academy, our uniform supports our values of freedom to be oneself, sense of belonging, focus on learning, and pride in our shared community.
Our uniforms are worn each learning day and are designed to support comfort, focus, and pride in our shared community.
What to Wear
Tops
- White or navy collared uniform shirts (polo or button-up)
- Must display the official Warmland Arts Academy logo
- Solid-coloured sweaters, cardigans, or layering pieces may be worn over the collared shirt for added warmth and comfort
- All tops must be free of external branding or logos, aside from the WAA logo
- Tops may be purchased through the learning community or provided independently and sent in for logo application ($10 per item)
Bottoms
- Families are responsible for sourcing their own bottoms (not sold by the learning community)
- Acceptable grey bottom styles include:
- Dress pants or slacks (no jeans, leggings, or yoga pants)
- Clean, logo-free grey sweatpants (permitted up to twice per week)
- Pleated uniform skirts, skorts, or shorts of modest and comfortable length
- May be sent in for logo application (optional, $10 per item)
Footwear and Socks
- With skirts, skorts, or shorts: clean black dress shoes or other closed-toe shoes, with white ankle or knee socks
- With slacks: clean black dress shoes or closed-toe shoes, with socks
- With sweatpants: clean white socks and clean running or closed-toe shoes
- Open-toed shoes are not permitted at any time
Dance Class Attire
- On days with dance classes, students may wear appropriate dancewear.
- We will also offer a WAA t-shirt for purchase, suitable for dance, or casual wear.
For more about dance attire, visit the Warmland Dance Studio website and scroll to the attire section.
Outerwear & Layers
Students are encouraged to bring outer layers suitable for the weather and classroom comfort, including:
- Solid-coloured sweaters or fleeces to wear over uniform shirts
- A seasonal jacket or coat for outdoor time (we will be learning outdoors often)
- A water-resistant layer as needed
All outerwear must be free of external logos or large graphics, in keeping with the simplicity and unity of the uniform.
Optional Items for Purchase
(order forms coming soon)
- WAA Logo Backpack
- WAA Logo Fleece Zip Up
- WAA Logo T-Shirt
- WAA Logo Jacket
- WAA Logo Uniform Blazer – Optional for performances and formal events
Ordering & Recommendations
We recommend that each student have at least:
- Four uniform tops
- Three uniform bottoms
- One solid sweater or layering piece
- Two pairs of uniform shoes
- Plenty of clean white socks
- One weather-appropriate coat or jacket
Your feedback is valued — please feel free to connect with us anytime.
2026 Tuition & Enrolment
15% discount before June 30 $6,500 annually
($650/month on a ten-month term)
($700/month on a ten-month term)
Amounts paid directly to WAA by an independent learning program or DL provider*
*Covered by the family if no DL provider is used
15% discount before June 30 $7,500 annually
($750/month on a ten-month term)
($800/month on a ten-month term)
Amounts paid directly to WAA by an independent learning program or DL provider*
*Covered by the family if no DL provider is used
Tuition assistance is available.
Enrolment Checklist
Thank you for considering the Warmland Arts Academy Day Program! Please follow the steps below for a smooth enrolment process and let us know if you need assistance in completing your registration.
Register with Warmland Arts Academy
- Complete and submit the application form.
- You will receive an email asking for additional details to ensure this is a good fit for your child. Please respond with the requested information.
- For new applicants, a non-refundable application fee of $100 is required to review your application.
- Pay through the Warmland Dance Parent Portal OR e-transfer the fee to admin@warmlanddance.ca.
Pay Your Deposit
- Once accepted, pay your $250 non-refundable deposit, which will be applied to your tuition payment.
- This deposit will hold your spot in the program.
Choose Your Learning Pathway
- Choose the option that best fits your family: enrol with a public or independent online learning school, or register as a homeschooler.
- We support families in all of these pathways and will clearly explain the options when this step comes up.
Set Up Tuition Payments
- The annual program fee will be added to your account upon enrolment. Log in to the Parent Portal to view your balance and set up monthly payments.
- For payment arrangements or tuition assistance, contact Pamela Shakespeare at admin@warmlanddance.ca.
Connect with Your Enrolling School
- Our team will help you understand the next steps for connecting with your enrolling school or setting up your homeschool registration.
Parent FAQ
Yes. Students will participate in both technical dance training and choreography during the learning day. These components are taught in units that rotate throughout the season, providing a balanced and evolving experience in various dance styles and performance techniques.
Yes. Select choreographic pieces from the daytime program may be chosen to represent Warmland at festivals and competitions throughout the year. Participation will be based on readiness, interest, and artistic suitability.
Yes, to some extent. While all students follow a structured daily program, there are opportunities for learners to influence the artistic subjects we explore, particularly in project-based units and electives. This encourages engagement, ownership, and creativity.
Yes, partially. We strongly encourage Youth Company dancers to continue their training with their competitive peers in the afternoon and evening programs. At minimum, ballet classes outside of the day program are required for all Youth Company members. However, all other company requirements are satisfied by participation in the daytime arts academy.
Yes. Warmland Arts Academy offers a full-time supplemental program for students in Grades 4–12, combining enrichment learning experiences with daily arts training. Families work with their enrolling school to ensure all educational requirements are met.
Warmland Arts Academy is not a school. Students must be enrolled with a public or independent online learning school, or registered as homeschoolers. Warmland is an approved vendor that provides supplemental arts and enrichment experiences.
Enrichment learning experiences at Warmland are facilitated by our in-house team, led by Leah Burley, M.Ed., a qualified, experienced educator with a background in Waldorf and arts-inspired education. Our program is designed to be engaging, interdisciplinary, and supportive of each student's learning journey. All formal instruction, assessment, and oversight remain the responsibility of the student's enrolling school or homeschool parent.
There is some light, project-based or reflective homework, but the majority of academic and artistic work is completed during the learning day. Our goal is to support a balanced lifestyle where students can pursue other interests and family time outside of class hours.
Absolutely. Students will participate in showings, performances, and festival opportunities throughout the year. These may include studio showcases, community events, and formal stage productions.
No. While many of our students are passionate about dance, we also welcome learners with interests in theatre, music, creative writing, visual arts, and other performance disciplines. Our interdisciplinary approach supports a broad range of artistic identities.
Yes. We offer generous tuition assistance through internal bursaries, external partner foundations, and work-trade options. We are committed to making the program accessible to families who share our vision.
Begin Your Child's Journey
Spaces are limited. Register now to secure a spot at Warmland Arts Academy.
Contact Us
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you. Reach out with questions, to book a tour, or to start the enrollment process.
25 Kenneth St
Duncan, BC V9L 1T6
Vancouver Island