Sarah began her dance training at Halifax Dance, where she was a student in the Intensive Training Program and a member of The Young Company. After completing a BSc in Microbiology at Dalhousie University she moved to Montreal, where she received her diploma from the Professional Training Program of Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne à Montréal. Sarah received three Nova Scotia Talent Trust awards, which enabled her to study in both Montreal and Toronto. In 2004, Sarah coordinated a Halifax Fringe Festival event, Limits are Optional, to explore her interest in impromptu creation and performance.