Julia Gosson founded Quinte Elite Dance in 2017 with a vision of creating something different: a studio where high-quality dance training and competitive success could exist alongside kindness, inclusion, affordability, and a healthy life outside the studio.

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​Unlike many studio owners, Julia’s professional background is not in dance, it is in social services, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community development. Before founding QEDT, she served as the Executive Director of the United Way for more than a decade and throughout her career, has led and contributed to campaigns that have collectively raised more than $60 million in support of local social services, community healthcare, postsecondary education, and services for women and children.​

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Inspired by her daughter Jenna’s experience in competitive dance, Julia recognized an opportunity to approach the traditional studio model from a new perspective. She combined her professional expertise and education, with her experience as a dance parent to build a studio that puts people first, removes financial barriers wherever possible, and gives dancers the opportunity to pursue their goals without sacrificing a healthy life outside the studio.

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​Under Julia’s leadership, QEDT has grown from a small competitive team into a thriving recreational and competitive dance community. Her innovative approach, including sponsorship opportunities, fundraising programs, accessible fee structures, and flexible training options, has helped make dance possible for more families throughout the Quinte region.​

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Although Julia may not be the one teaching technique in the classroom, she is deeply involved in every aspect of studio life. She works closely with QEDT’s experienced faculty to create programs that challenge dancers while supporting their individual needs, goals, and well-being. She believes success should be measured not only by what dancers accomplish onstage, but also by the confidence, resilience, friendships, and sense of belonging they develop along the way.

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​Now celebrating QEDT’s 10th season, Julia remains committed to the values on which the studio was founded: respect, integrity, inclusion, accountability, teamwork, and excellence through effort. Her greatest source of pride is the welcoming community that has grown around those values, and watching young dancers become confident people who know they belong.