Suzy Stiperski – Performance Arts in a Boutique setting

Her studio has been described as a boutique. A small specialty shop dedicated to quality rather than quantity.

Suzy Stiperski is director and owner of the Academy of Performing Arts on Broadway Avenue in Orangeville.  And while many children’s activities today are organized on a big scale Stiperski says she prefers to keep her school to a manageable size.

“It’s not a Costco. I know the kids, and know my clients, ” she says. “We take care of them.”

Suzy started her business in a one room studio above her parents’ shop Royal Appliances on Broadway in 1994.

She says it was pretty scary in those days starting up her own business when she was just in her early 20s. She started with 23 students in that first space on Saturdays and a couple of nights a week.

Just up the road from that original location, her three-story studio now trains close to 300 students including her own daughter Maya, who spends a lot of time at the studio.

Fortunately the eight year-old loves to dance. Makes sense since she was learning hip hop in uetero!

A few days a week Maya can be seen running up and down the studio stairs going from class to class. She studies jazz, ballet, acro, hip hop, vocal and musical theatre. Like any kid her tastes change but right now she loves acro and hip hop with Miss Ashley.

The studio also offers several adult classes such as ballroom and yoga. Business, she says, is good.

Reflecting on the years since startup she says it’s still about making the kids happy.

“I love the excitement on their faces at recital.” For her the performance is what it is all about. Stiperski says that competition is not a big part of AOPA, instead she prefers to focus on the performing arts.

“It’s not just about the tricks, I’m looking for quality,” Suzy says.

So in addition to end-of-the-year recitals she tries to organize performances at local schools and retirement communities. Donating that time means the students get more opportunities to perform.

At the end of the day Stiperski returns to the solitude of her rural property.

Suzy lives in her dream home in Mono. “It’s peaceful and beautiful and every window has a view. It is like coming home to the cottage everyday.”

Stiperski trained at Ryerson and once lived in Toronto and though she may have sacrificed a night life, what she loves about living in the hills is that you know someone everywhere you go.

“It’s quiet, but if you want to be social just go grocery shopping,” she says.

On her list of favourite activities, Stiperski mentions skiing with Maya, painting and cooking something she gets from her mother. Her Croatian inspired dishes are something she loves to create when she’s not busy with the studio.

New directions with the company are keeping her very busy these days. This year she added vocal classes taught by local performer Pamela Scott.

“The kids love her,” she says of the vocal and theatre instructor. In fact, she credits her strong staff for the continued success of the Academy. Many got their start at the Academy, went on to train and work in the field and have since come back to teach.

There are so many things she loves about the Academy like the families contributing to the annual parade float and the recitals at the end of the year.  She takes particular pride when she sees a student go on to perform later in their careers.

“It makes you feel like you must have done something right.”

Suzy Stiperski’s favourites:

Places to eat: Mono Cliffs Inn, Bluebird Café, Maya loves Kelsey’s desserts

Places to shop: Winners, Pear Home

Places to play: Busker Festival, loves to treat herself to a spa moment