INTRODUCTION
As a competitive highland dancer for the past 18 years and a member of a performance group that travels around the world, there has always been a question of where I would one day locate my own dance studio. Some dancers, after they retire, become fully certified instructors and plan to set up their own studios. As, I am graduating this semester and am no longer competing at the national and international level, I wish to set up my own dance studio in the Lower Mainland soon. Using the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I have been able to consider many variables and to analyze the question spatially to see which locations in the Lower Mainland would suit my specific interests. This analysis is designed, not only to determine an area suitable for me, but to provide information for all new teachers in the area. A list of the most suitable locations for particular types of studios will be compliled at the conclusion of this analysis. The main difference between studio types is competitive and non-competitive as well as small and large numbers of students. Competitive studios focus on major championships and competitions worldwide, while non-competitive studios deal more with the performance aspect of highland dancing and travel more locally.
Concert in Christchurch, New Zealand (April 2001)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION