Hardy honoured by Walk of Fame

Trixie Hardy is a common name around Sault Ste. Marie dance circles.

Hardy has been recognized nationally and internationally for her “excellence in teaching, adjudication and lecturing” and was won many awards for her accomplishments and contributions to dance.

Just how much of an impact did she have on her students and a dance instructor?

Many of the dance studios that have been established locally have been taught by Hardy and she has had students who have gone onto careers in dance, acting and singing as well.

“There’s a wealth of talent here,” Hardy told those in attendance at the Walk of Fame ceremony held at the Essar Centre on Friday. “All of the people in Sault Ste. Marie are great. I just love being here.”

Hardy has also produced and directed some theatrical performances.

She has been involved in the Musical Comedy Guild, Soo Opera Society and the Algoma Steel Variety and Minstrel shows of the 1950s and 1960s.

Hardy began dance lessons at 2-years-old and opened a dance studio shortly after arriving in Sault Ste. Marie in 1948.

Her first dance studio opened in the old Moose Hall and had six students.

Over the next 58 years, Hardy became a name synonymous with dance in Sault Ste. Marie and in the process earned a spot among those who wave made major contributions locally and took her place on the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame.

Hardy was honoured for “the promotion and strengthening of the arts and enhancing cultural development in the city.”

With the 2011 inductees, a group which also included Tanya Kim and LCol Walter Wallace, the number of inductees has grown to 31.

A biography on Hardie provided by the Walk of Fame Committee follows.

To read what they had to say about Tanya Kim, please click here.

To read what they had to say about LCol Walter Wallace, please click here.

************************* Miss Trixie Hardy

As the daughter of former vaudeville performers, in England, Beatrice – better known as Trixie - came by her talent naturally.

Having started dance lessons at age two, her commitment to her art was apparent from an early age.

When she arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1948, Miss Hardy opened a dance studio almost immediately at the old Moose Hall with six students.

Over the next 58 years, she taught thousands of children from both Saults and all over Canada.

Many of her students have gone on to their own careers as dancers, actors, singers or Teachers of Dance.

Many of the dance studios that are established today in the Sault were founded by her former students including Davey Dance Company; Sherry Walsh Academy, Soo Dance Unlimited as well as the former Kiana School of Dance Arts, Shelley Peters and Judy Ross Dance Arts.

In addition to teaching, Miss Hardy also produced and directed a number of theatrical performances, shows and musical comedies.

Performances and comedies she was involved in included the Musical Comedy Guild, Soo Opera Society as well as the Algoma Steel Variety and Minstrel shows of the 50s and 60s.

Miss Hardy is a Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, honourary Member of Dance Masters of America and the Canadian Dance Teacher Association.

As an Examiner Emeritus, Miss Hardy has been recognized nationally and internationally for her excellence in teaching, adjudication and lecturing.

She is the past recipient of many awards recognizing both her accomplishments and contributions.

Today we honour Miss Hardy with a granite maple leaf in the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame.

She is being honoured for the promotion and strengthening of the arts and enhancing cultural development in our city.

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