Moving to the Beat: How Two Small Men Offered a Helping Hand to Deborah Laxton's Calgary Dance School

When Deborah Laxton left the UK to begin a new life in Canada, she carried with her more than just her family’s belongings. She brought a lifelong passion for dance and teaching, along with the dream of continuing her work as a dance educator. Out of that dream, the Deborah Laxton School of Dance was born in Calgary in 2012.

Starting a new chapter in a new country was not easy. “It was really difficult,” Deborah recalls. “My husband got a job in Canada, so he came over first. Then my son came over with him and I was trying to keep my business going in the UK while trying to set up here.” For several years, Deborah split her time between her established school overseas and the challenge of building one in Calgary. Financial limitations meant she could not buy or lease a permanent studio, so she worked to secure rental space in a community center in Rocky Ridge, on the far northwest side of the city.

The school specializes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and tap, welcoming students as young as three years old and extending opportunities to adults. For Deborah, the emphasis is not on competition but on cultivating a love of dance and the joy of learning. “I don’t offer competitive. I think that’s probably my downfall,” she admits candidly. “But I don’t want to teach competitors. I think it’s nicer for the kids to not have that pressure of having to perform and get everything to perfection.”

Her mission is clear: to provide a friendly, inclusive environment where young dancers can gain skills, confidence, and friendships without the stress of constant rehearsals and competitive expectations. “Mine’s more for the everyday kids that want to get dance, learn, get to know more about the different styles. They’re not having to push themselves to the point where they stop enjoying it,” she explains. “So mine’s more for the friendly environment. Get to know some friends, enjoy yourselves, but also learn professionally as well.”

That philosophy has been a guiding principle throughout Deborah’s career. In the UK, many of her former students went on to professional careers in performance, from cruise ships to film and stage. In Calgary, the environment is different. The city is saturated with dance schools, many of which emphasize competition, making it harder for a small, non-competitive school to stand out. “In England, it covered a bigger area and there weren’t so many dance schools,” she says. “While in Calgary, it’s absolutely swamped with them. Every block, you’re nearly looking at another dance school.”

Still, Deborah perseveres. Her school remains small, with about 30 students, but she maintains her commitment to quality instruction. She stresses the importance of properly trained teachers and laments that many schools in Calgary place inexperienced instructors in charge of classes. “I just come from a different dynamic,” she says.

Like so many small businesses, Deborah’s school was hit hard by the pandemic. Enrollment slowed, growth stalled, and she had to work tirelessly to keep classes running. “I managed to keep going on nine classes, which was good. And it kept the kids coming,” she says. The challenge has been immense, but her determination has kept the doors open.

A turning point in her recent journey came when Two Small Men with Big Hearts entered the picture. Each year, Deborah organizes an annual recital to give her students the chance to perform on stage, complete with props and costumes. Managing the logistics of moving everything from her home to the YMCA performance venue had always been a daunting task. “In the past, it was myself and my husband. We’d do it between us in cars and just take endless trips up and down,” she recalls. “To have that issue solved was so good.”

Through a connection with Kristin Sherlock, who works with Two Small Men, Deborah was offered moving assistance for her recital. “She heard that I hired a truck to go to the dress rehearsal, which cost me a fortune,” Deborah explains. “So she offered Two Small Men to come and do the actual recital move. They came to the house and picked up all my props, my costumes and everything I needed. And then picked up at the end, which was amazing. It was so good.”

The service was donated, and for Deborah, the impact was enormous. “Oh, it was huge. It made such a difference. It really did,” she says. “They just literally came and took everything in one lot. We got ourselves there and then they were there and they just unloaded it. It saved me so much energy before I even started.”

While the distance from her home to the YMCA was only about 15 minutes, the assistance transformed the experience. “It wasn’t a huge amount of stuff, but it was enough,” she notes. “And to have it all done in one trip, it was brilliant. The guys were so nice, they were so helpful. They were amazing.”

For Deborah, that kind of partnership represents more than just convenience. It is a lifeline for small community organizations trying to make a difference with limited resources. Her story also shows the value of hiring professional movers in Calgary when it comes to saving time, money, and stress. “For me, I mean, for anybody, it’s just, and especially if you know you can trust them to do the job and to do it quickly, well, professionally, which they were,” she says. “All of those, they were so good. I would recommend them to anybody. I really would.”

The experience highlights the importance of community partnerships, particularly for small businesses and grassroots programs. In a city where Deborah has often struggled to find local support, the generosity of Two Small Men stood out. “Nobody will help small businesses,” she says. “So when this came up, it was brilliant. A lot of it is word of mouth to get businesses known.”

Although her collaboration with Two Small Men was a one-time event so far, Deborah is hopeful it will continue. “I would always use them, probably now, each year, but it’s only once a year,” she says. “For personal use, if I ever needed it, we would use them for sure because the guys were so helpful.” She has even considered recommending them to other dance schools in Calgary who may also need the support of a professional moving company.

At the heart of Deborah’s work is a belief in giving children opportunities to experience the joy of dance without undue pressure. The support she received from Two Small Men reinforced her own philosophy of community and generosity. Their assistance allowed her to focus less on logistics and more on the students and their recital experience.

Looking ahead, Deborah remains optimistic. Her school may be small, but her vision is steadfast: to create a nurturing, professional environment for young dancers. And with the help of community partners like Two Small Men with Big Hearts, and access to reliable Calgary moving services, that vision becomes more sustainable.

“They were so good. I can’t praise them enough. They were brilliant guys. Perfect. Absolutely brilliant. And I would use them again without a doubt,” Deborah concludes.

The Deborah Laxton School of Dance is more than just a place to learn steps and routines. It is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of community support. With a little help from friends, both old and new, Deborah continues to build a legacy of dance that is as much about joy and connection as it is about movement.

To find out more about Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving and the many organizations they have given back to over the years, click here.