A familiar Chatham-Kent business is moving into a new chapter.
After many years of helping dancers, performers, families, studios, schools, and theatre groups find the shoes and performance essentials they need, Greg Bondy is retiring from Act 1 Theatrical Supplies.
The business will continue as Act One, under the care of Greg Simpson and Brianna Cernanec, at a new location at 530 Victoria Ave in Chatham.
For many people in the local dance and performing arts community, Act 1 has been much more than a place to buy shoes. Greg Bondy built a reputation for patient, personal service and for taking the time to help customers understand what they needed. Whether someone was searching for a child’s first pair of ballet shoes, tap shoes for a new class, character shoes for a musical, or a hard-to-find performance item, Greg approached each customer with knowledge, honesty, and care.
That is the legacy Greg and Brianna hope to carry forward.
Learning from Greg and Barb
Over the past several months, Greg and Brianna have spent time with Greg and Barb Bondy learning about the business, its customers, its suppliers, and the many relationships that have allowed Act 1 to serve the community for so long.
The transition has involved much more than moving inventory from one location to another. It has meant learning the details behind the service customers have come to trust: how different dance shoes fit, which products are most commonly requested, how studio and production requirements vary, and how to help someone who may not yet know exactly what they need.
Greg Bondy has been generous with his time and knowledge throughout the process, helping Greg and Brianna understand not only the products, but also the values that have made the business important to so many people.
Greg and Brianna are deeply grateful to both Greg and Barb for their encouragement, patience, and willingness to help make the transition thoughtful and personal.
A New Home Designed for Dance and Performance
Act One’s new home at 530 Victoria Ave is being designed specifically as a welcoming retail and fitting space for dancers, families, teachers, schools, and performers.
The space will include room to browse dancewear, compare options, ask questions, and receive hands-on help with dance shoe fitting. The goal is to create a store that feels calm, approachable, and easy to visit—especially for parents and new dancers who may be unfamiliar with dance shoes, sizing, studio dress codes, or performance requirements.
The store will focus on practical, commonly requested products, including:
- ballet shoes
- jazz shoes
- tap shoes
- lyrical shoes and half soles
- character shoes
- dance tights
- leotards and class-wear basics
- hair accessories and bun supplies
- performance essentials
- special-order items, when available
Act One will carry familiar Capezio options in a range of children’s and adult sizes and commonly requested colours, while continuing to help customers understand the difference that proper fit, quality materials, and dance-specific construction can make.
Because inventory can vary by size, colour, season, and supplier availability, customers looking for a particular item will be encouraged to contact Act One before making a special trip.
Continuing the Hands-On Care Customers Know
The most important part of the transition is not the name, the shelving, or the new location. It is the commitment to continue offering the thoughtful, hands-on service that customers have appreciated from Greg Bondy.
Dance shoes do not always fit like regular street shoes. Requirements can vary between studios, teachers, schools, choreographers, and productions. A parent may arrive with only a teacher’s email or a recital note. An adult dancer may be starting a class for the first time. A performer may need character shoes for an upcoming musical and have no idea where to begin.
Act One wants those customers to feel comfortable asking questions.
Greg and Brianna’s goal is to help people understand their options, find an appropriate fit, and avoid buying something that does not match the dancer’s needs or the requirements they have been given.
Act One will remain a resource for the entire Chatham-Kent dance and performance community. The store will respect the dress codes, shoe requirements, and recommendations of each dance studio, school, teacher, director, and choreographer.
The intention is not to replace those relationships, but to support them.
Building New Connections While Honouring Existing Ones
Greg and Brianna are already active in Chatham-Kent’s dance, theatre, music, and community arts circles, but they know that many longtime Act 1 customers may not know them yet.
They are looking forward to meeting the dancers, families, teachers, theatre performers, directors, choreographers, and community organizations that have relied on Act 1 over the years.
They also hope to build new connections with:
- recreational and competitive dancers
- adult dancers
- dance studios and teachers
- high school drama and musical theatre programs
- community theatre companies
- choreographers and production teams
- schools and arts organizations
- families who are new to dance
Act One will continue to serve customers from across Chatham-Kent and surrounding communities, while making it easier to find store information, fitting guidance, updates, and educational resources online at act-one.ca.
Opening This Summer
Act One is planning a soft opening in mid-July 2026, while the team continues to organize inventory, complete the retail space, and settle into the new location.
The official Grand Opening is planned for August 10, 2026.
More information about opening hours, fitting availability, grand-opening activities, products, and store updates will be shared through the Act One website, email list, Facebook page, Instagram, and YouTube channel.
Customers can also visit the website for practical guidance on dance shoes, dancewear, fitting, studio requirements, adult dance, and performance footwear.
A Thank You to Greg Bondy
Act One’s next chapter is only possible because of the business and relationships Greg Bondy built over many years.
Greg and Brianna recognize the trust involved in carrying that work forward. They are honoured to continue serving the people who already know Act 1, while welcoming new dancers, families, studios, schools, and performers into the new space.
The location is changing. The name is changing slightly. The shelves are being moved, reorganized, and prepared for a new season.
But the purpose remains familiar:
To help dancers and performers find what they need with patience, practical guidance, and genuine care.
Act One
530 Victoria Ave
Chatham, Ontario
N7L 3B6
To follow the transition, opening updates, and Grand Opening details, visit act-one.ca or follow @ActOneChatham on social media.