Dianne Miller (Founder)
Dianne Miller brought Pilates to Canada in 1984, when she first used the Pilates Method to rehabilitate an injured dancer. She then opened Canada’s first Pilates center in 1985. She is a founding member of the Pilates Method Alliance, the international not-for-profit organization for the Pilates Method. Dianne became the first Canadian Board Member of the Alliance, and was an invited contributor to the development of the P.M.A. Pilates Certification Exam. Dianne is also a Franklin Method Educator, Level Three, Boulder, Colorado 2011.
Dianne came to Pilates through the ballet world. She was a professional dancer who returned to her first love, teaching, under the tutelage of her mentor, Ruth Carse. She has taught at all levels, from children through professional dancers in both ballet and modern dance companies. Additionally she spent 10 years teaching ballet in the degree program in dance at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts. She continues to teach ballet to selected professionals and injured dancers needing rehabilitation.
Dianne began her Pilates training with Ron Fletcher in 1978, and continued to train with him throughout his teaching years. She also trained with Mary Bowen, Eve Gentry, and Kathy Grant. These four elders of the Pilates Method have remained major influences in her life.
Dianne Miller trained the first Pilates teachers in Canada, and developed the Dianne Miller Pilates Teacher Education Program™. In addition to her commitment to training Pilates teachers, Dianne successfully challenged applications to trademark the name "Pilates" in Canada, on behalf of those teachers she had trained. Her efforts to preserve the right to teach the method and use its creator's name have benefited every Pilates teacher in Canada, and have contributed to the widespread popularity of the Pilates method of exercise. The VPC continues to be the home for her program, offering teacher training and continuing education for Pilates teachers.
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