Devoted to Dance - Meet Ballet Dancer and Student Maggie Oates-Johnson

Maggie Oates-Johnson is one of the Talent Trust’s younger scholarship recipients. She's also one of the seven who appear in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video.

Maggie received her first scholarship and won the Talent Trust Robert George Jackson Award in 2017. 

That award was established in 2011 and, if merited, is awarded to a scholarship recipient who shows exceptional commitment and potential in dance.

Behind the scenes at the Talent Trust video
shoot. Photo: Filet Production Services.

Maggie received a second scholarship in 2018 to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Connecticut. In the summer of 2016 and 2017 she attended Canada’s National Ballet School. 

Maggie began her journey in dance at the age of three, under the watchful eye of teacher Leica Hardy. She’s danced with KiDanCo, the pre-professional company at the Leica Hardy School of Dance in Dartmouth, Halifax Dance, the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and has performed in Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker since 2014. She recently performed as a Local Participant in Anastasia with Canada’s Ballet Jorgen.

Tina Oates-Johnson watches daughter Maggie rehearse.

Dance is a big part of the Oates-Johnson household. Maggie’s elder sister Mollie is also a Talent Trust scholarship recipient. She began her studies with Leica Hardy, and in addition to being part of the KiDanCo company, Mollie has attended summer sessions at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, and The School of Alberta Ballet.

In addition to great teachers and mentors, family often plays a significant role in a young artist’s development. Dancers need clothing, footwear and lessons, and there’s the time and travel to rehearsals and performances. It takes a lot to get a performer to the stage.

Maggie’s parents, Tina and Trevor, appear with her in our 75th anniversary scholarship campaign video. We’d like to thank them, along with Maggie, for being so generous with their time to work with us to make our video project truly special.




Want to be part of the campaign to double Talent Trust scholarship funds? Click here to donate. And thank you!