Three women in athletic clothing, with back to the camera, practicing cheerleading or dance moves with gold pom-poms in a ballet studio.

Not just training - a direction. Downstage.

View schedule
Young woman with blonde hair in black athletic wear and white sneakers stretching on a blue gym floor

shape the dancer, build the athlete

Join us on Tuesdays for a variety of classes this summer! As we work on expanding our offerings for the upcoming year, your participation will help shape the future of Downstage Method. Can’t wait to see you in the studio!

the Method

the Method

Two women practicing yoga in a studio, both in a lunge pose with arms extended upward, facing away from the camera.

A comprehensive approach to dance training. We focus on refining technique, building strength, and increasing performance skills in commercial styles.

Mainstage

Pro Cheer Jazz
Beginner to Advanced Levels

Pro Cheer Pom
Beginner to Advanced Levels

Backstage

Technique & Across the Floor
Beginner to Advanced Levels

Barre, Conditioning
Open Level

Spotlight

Guest Classes and Pop-Ups!
Various Levels

Meet the Team

Three young women smiling and standing side by side, wearing athletic outfits, in front of a plain wall.

Hayley O’Neil

Born and raised in Halifax, Hayley O’Neil (she/her) started her dancing career 20 years ago at Maritime Dance Academy. Hayley has 7 years of elite coaching and choreography experience under her belt as well as 5 years of professional experience with the Halifax Thunderbirds Dance team where she holds the position of lead choreographer. Hayley graduated from Dalhousie with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2023 and has been balancing her passion for dance with her professional career for the last two years. Through her time with the Thunderbirds dance team, Hayley fell in love with the Pro Cheer styles and has a passion for choreographing and sharing the tools and techniques she has picked up throughout her dance career.

Julia Colpitts

Julia Colpitts (she/her), born and raised in Dartmouth, N.S., has a lifelong passion for dance. She grew up training at Coastal Dance, and has over 10 years of experience teaching dance throughout the Halifax region. She has earned a BSc in Psychology from Dalhousie University and a BEd in Elementary Education from Mount Saint Vincent University. Julia joined the Thunderbirds Dance Team in 2022, and has choreographed routines for game performances. Currently, she works as a classroom teacher for Halifax Regional Centre for Education, while continuing to share her knowledge and love for dance with students across the city. Her classes focus on building strong technique, musicality, and performance quality - all foundations which she values deeply.

Julia Sarty

A lifelong mover with deep roots in both dance and sport, Julia Sarty (she/her) began dancing at age three, training with both Maritime Dance Academy and the Leica Hardy School of Dance. She has performed and choreographed with the Halifax Thunderbirds Dance Team since 2021. Julia brings over five years of coaching experience, including work with swimmers from recreational to elite levels. A former varsity athlete, she competed with the Dalhousie Tigers Varsity Women’s Swim Team from 2015–2020, earning Academic All-Canadian and AUS First Team All-Star honours. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (2020) and a Master of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering (2023) from Dalhousie University. Through Downstage Method, Julia merges her passion for movement with a commitment to excellence in training, community, and creative development.