Academic
BSc - Northwestern University, Evanston,ILL
MSc - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIch.
Psychotherapy training - Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Post Graduate studies in Sociology - University of Toronto
Gestalt Workshops - Esalen Institute, CA
Professional
Queen Street Mental Health Centre - Psychotherapy Out-patient Clinic
Owner & Director - Abraxas, a 30 bed centre in the Hockley Valley, ON. Intensive individual & family therapy. Retreats for mental health professionals, and business management courses

Joyce Jones is the founder of Joy of Dance Studio. The Studio is the result of a vision developed from many years of involvement in the ballroom industry. Joyce believes that dancing is a significant therapeutic option for the many ills facing our society. She says words cannot explain the JOY of dancing, it must be experienced. Much like an "existential encounter." It is an opportunity to make contact with another human being, an increasingly rare experience in our high-tech society.

In order to be able to offer the JOY of dance to you, competent professional teachers are needed. To this end, she is launching the first ballroom and latin teachers training course in Canada. This course will be taught by a faculty of professionals. Students will graduate with certification in the DVIDA program. Joyce wishes to thank and acknowledge Diane Jarmolow the originator of this new system of certification. Diane is the founder and current National Director of the Ballroom Dance Teachers College in San Francisco.

Joyce attributes her entrepreneurial spirit to her mentors, Dr. D.J. McCulloch and Professor Farrell Toombs (University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry). They encouraged her to go where angels fear to tread. She was doing family therapy before there was a name for it. Joyce has enjoyed much success with learning disabled and autistic children. She was one of the first therapists to do group therapy which was observed behind a one-way mirror by many professionals from all over Canada. No one she knows is surprised that she is opening a dance studio.

One thing she knows for sure is...........

This was the first commercial building in the area. Built by Albert E. Playter and his brother William around 1909. They strategically placed the building where the Broadview Ave streetcars turned around. It soon became the commercial and social centre for the district.

The hall became the place to dance nightly to big name bands in the 1930's, like Guy Lombardo. From the ashes of a terrible fire, the Joy of Dance Studio is resurrecting this space so once again people will be dancing.