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Järvi Raudsepp

@birdofthelake

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🇪🇪🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈
Järv(i) (pronounced Yarvi): "Lake"
Lind(a): "Bird"
Estonian Ballet Dancer and Instructor from Tkaronto

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QDC PDD: We will be learning steps from my favourite ballet, Don Quixote! You don’t need to be an expert, you don’t even need to be strong (but if you’d like to flex those muscles then please, be my guest 💪🏼) you just need to be willing to learn and trust your partner.

*modifications will be provided based on your level of experience, don’t worry! Jarvi @birdofthelake and I WILL TEACH YOU :)

Only a couple spots left!

Sign up in link in bio 🤍

#queerdanceculture #lgbtballet by @birdofthelake

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6 days ago

QUEER PAS DE DEUX WORKSHOP - October 12th, 11:00-1:30 @ The Fifth Dance 366 Adelaide St E, Toronto

Come learn the fundamentals of partnering
Come learn pas de deux repertoire
Come dance with someone you actually want to dance with

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼Open to all levels, whether you’re a beginner or want to strap on those pointe shoes (yes, pun intended) there will be modifications and versions to fit everyone’s dance level

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼Sign up with a partner, or sign up by yourself and you will be partnered with someone

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼Sign up LINK IN BIO - Workshop fee: Sliding scale $20-$30

#queerdanceculture #torontodance taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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18 days ago

Somebody is a year old today. :):) 💕🥳🐾 Happy birthday, kitten! Now a full-grown cat ahhh! We love our Halo girl. 🐈‍⬛

To many, many more years of:
-nose boops
-hearing her go "prrrrp" when she jumps off of things
-adorable mischief
-protecting us from balcony pigeons
-slow blinks
-somersaults
-immediately getting comfortable into one of our laps the moment we sit down
-settling into Jamie's arms like a baby and falling asleep to his cat lullabies
-her cute little run/trot and impressive jumps during playtime
-her loving, affectionate heart

🐾🩷🐾

She means so much to us. Halo appeared in our lives at just the right time....It was mid-December 2025, and we had just gone through a very personal and painful loss about 6 weeks before. These bright eyes stared up at us through her adoption picture, and her angelic name was a sign that we were meant to meet. We were a perfect match, and have watched her grow from a guarded, hesitant 4 month old kitten to a free-spirited, joyful cat! Jamie and I are so proud of her. We do everything in our power to give her the most fulfilled life possible and love her with our whole hearts. 🩷 by @birdofthelake

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a month ago

Gliding through my favourite stretches on a melty summer’s day. 🌻 Been sick this week so taking it slowly. 🩷

Haven't posted on the main feed since the winter haha. So much has happened, but most of it is personal, or I keep it hidden and secure to protect the privacy of children and family. So a dancing update is always straightforward and pleasant lol!

Leotard courtesy of the lovely @em.goodman. 😍

#épaulement taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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3 months ago

Sending love and warmth to everyone.❤️
#balletteacher #cozyvibes #kitten #kittenoftheday #torontoballetclasses taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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8 months ago

There is nothing like the pure joy of a Snow Day.💕❄️ Views are from a gentle walk through Cedarvale Ravine.😍

It was also the perfect day to open a Prosecco I received as a Christmas gift from a lovely student. :)

#snowday #january #joyofsnow by @birdofthelake

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8 months ago

We adopted a kitten ahhh! This is Halo. 🥹💕 She is just so precious, and we love her so much our hearts ache.

Jamie and I have talked nonstop about having a cat ever since we were in our long-distance stage, and this little one made our dream come true hehe! We saw her picture on the shelter site on Dec. 14, and that little face stole our hearts. On Dec. 16 we drove to Brockville to meet her, and she came home with us that very night. 💕

Halo is 5 months old now, started out very timid, and has been gradually coming out of her shell. She grows more confident by the day and we are so proud of her. 💕

It is a privilege to care for her and see her thrive. She brings us so much joy. Life gets rough, and worrying about the world is always on the mind and heart. Grateful for the balance that these little ones bring. ❤️

“Kittens are angels with whiskers.”
-Alexis Flora Hope by @birdofthelake

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8 months ago

Little moments of quiet warm-up and practising in 2025. Grateful to teach at so many beautiful studios to enjoy! ♥️😍♥️

My body and mind have been through a lot, so I am also grateful for any dancing I am capable of doing nowadays. ♥️
#balletteacher #semiretireddancer #quiettime

Leotards:
@dell_aira_designs
@liza.kalashnikova.dancer

Studios:
@the.dance.official
@canadianballettheatre
@thefifthdance by @birdofthelake

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10 months ago

Ballet makes my soul run free. Grateful for the positive aspects of this art form. 🤍

Photos by Danny Tang
@dancebydannytang

#worldballetday
#worldballetday2025 taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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a year ago

32nd year of dancing, 23rd year as a professional dancer, and 16th year as a teacher. Wouldn't trade this journey for the world. ♥️ My arabesque is not super high anymore because my lower back is not a fan of all these decades, but I have come to accept it, haha! Wishing everyone a wonderful season. :)

Photography: @dancebydannytang
Studio: @thefifthdance
Wardrobe: @em.goodman and @alenaballerina
Thank you so much! taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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a year ago

Staring into your soul...
Photography by @dancebydannytang
Studio: @thefifthdance
Wardrobe assistance: Sarahí Cardenas taken in The Fifth by @birdofthelake

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a year ago

This still feels like a dream...

My Jamie and I are married!

He is my great love story. This day was absolutely magical. 🥹💓

We had our ceremony right on our apartment balcony on Sun. Jan. 26, 2025. There were sparkling snowflakes drifting through the air, and then: the moment we stepped out to get married, the sun started beaming down. ❄️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️☀️

Thank you to loving family. Thank you to dear friends. You made this day so beautiful. ♥️

Sigh, we are so deeply in love. What started as a bright flame full of sparks between us has continued burning even brighter. Our relationship is full of immense support, warm understanding, thoughtful and earnest communication, and joviality. He's witty and I'm silly. He's suave and I'm theatrical. He has smooth chat and banter, and I laugh at my own jokes before I finish delivering them. We catch each other acting like one another at times (and usually do it on purpose) and it's such fun.

We are true equals, know each other deeply, and never stop treating each other with kindness, class, and the utmost respect.

6 weeks of dating in-person, 3 years of Covid long-distance with visits, and then Jamie proposed to a resounding "YESYESYESYESYES."

He then picked up and moved to Toronto from London, UK in 2023 so we could be together. We got married in our very own home.

I am so grateful to him for everything he's done for us. Moving all the way out here, finding a job here, going through actual mountains of paperwork.... he's a rockstar.

I love us and I love him. Always and forever. ♥️

Thank you to our family and friends for the beautiful photographs!!! 🥹 by @birdofthelake

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a year ago