Toronto Is My Home

I am a first generation Canadian born and raised in Toronto by two beautiful humans who immigrated from Trinidad & Tobago. My parents were the first to show and share with me the concept and importance of community. It was the Caribbean community and local Trinidadians here in Toronto that raised me and gave me a connection to the country my parents no longer called home. My parents were hard working individuals who taught me the value behind a strong work ethic, standing tall with confidence and how investing in community is the best gift you can give yourself.

My love of movement came from dancing in a Caribbean cultural group which led me train in other disciplines of dance. I was then introduced to the arts community, where I thrived as a performer. I’ve had the opportunity to dance on various stages across the globe behind amazing musicians and entertainers, televised performances like the Juno’s, Canadian Urban Music Awards, iHeart Radio Much Music Video Awards and the cruise ship industry.

Working on cruise ships gave me the opportunity to see the world in a very unique way. Continuously returning to different countries weekly for months on end allowed me to feel and be treated like a local in each destination. The faces became familiar, relationships develop and memories were made. And right as I began to fall in love with the community that had taken me in, my contract on the ship would end and I would have to go “home”. What was interesting to me was at home I felt like a stranger. My family and friends kept me grounded in the idea of community but I was never home long enough to feel a part of the place I called home. 

As a Dancer and Singer with Carnival Cruise Lines for a decade, I had the privilege of bringing out three inaugural ships, becoming the first cast manager of a newly created production entertainment concept, and accepted a supervisor role teaching industry talent while managing the production shows for the fleet. Miami became home, though it was hard to feel a part of the community because I was always on the go.

After 10 years of being a citizen of the world I was ready to be a local in the place I called home. I retired from ships, moved back to Toronto with my husband and was ready to plant some roots. An old roommate from my ship life (as we call it) gathered all the “retirees” together for a night out at a restaurant called The Kennedy. It was my first night out in my neighbourhood since moving back. What I didn’t know was that 6 years later I would open a studio above that same restaurant.

During my vacations, a.k.a. coming home, I would attend a Barre class to keep myself moving while I was on a break from the stage. I fell in love. I thought to myself “when I leave ships, I’m going to work here…” And that’s exactly what I did. I got a job teaching at Barreworks and found a new sense of community. The pandemic forced the closure of many businesses including Barreworks, but this incredible group of instructors were onboard to keep the community alive through virtual offerings with the intent of eventually finding a place to call home. 

Along my journey abroad I would often take yoga classes in different ports of call to add variety of movement and centre myself from the challenges presented. This pandemic gave me the opportunity to explore and deepen my love of Yoga and engage in a community that has cultivated my personal growth and the practice of meditation. Through the layers of yoga I continue to learn ways to calm and connect the mind and body, especially during these unprecedented times. Movement has and still is my meditation, so it felt natural to bring all movement modalities I love under one roof.

Throughout my life I have found myself in so many communities but haven’t seen myself or many people of culture. I have seen the least amount of representation in both the Barre and Yoga communities, but that is changing. I look forward to providing the opportunity for more people to see themselves in our instructors and community members. The opportunity to engage physically in this community as a local and stay connected online allows the BCTO to grow in ways I can only imagination. Toronto is my home and it definitely feels that way. 

My name is Shelley-Anne and I am the owner and director of The Toronto Barre Collective.  Now that the formalities are out of the way and you know a little about me, I want to get to know you! 

Breathe. Love. Inspire.