Instructors

We’re proud to have a large faculty, who are experts in their field. Instructors have degrees and diplomas in dance, memberships with professional dance organizations, and carry with them a great deal of experience in dance performance and education.

We are the only studio in the region directed by a University graduate who holds a Degree in Dance as well as Education. We have an extensive knowledge of dance skills, and the ability to impart them on our dancers effectively in a nurturing manner.

 
 

Jennifer McKay is an accomplished adjudicator, studio director, instructor, choreographer, and performer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors) Dance Degree and Bachelor of Education Degree both from York University. She is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor, ADAPT instructor, and Yoga instructor (RYT-200). As an adjudicator for events across Canada, Jennifer is a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance and the ADTA Acro Dance Adjudicators, and is a Mental Wellness Certified Dance Adjudicator. She has successfully completed the Discover Dance Early Childhood Dance Education Foundations course, and, as a developing student, completed examinations in Ballet (R.A.D.), Jazz (C.D.T.A.), Tap (I.S.T.D.), and Modern (I.S.T.D.). She has had the honour of working with notable dancers such as Isaiah Peck (The Next Step), Shelby Bain (The Next Step), Thomas Colford (Backstage), and Paul Gordon (Hairspray) among others. 

As an accomplished studio director for twenty years, Jennifer has received numerous Reader’s Choice awards for Favourite Dance Instructor, Favourite Summer Camp, and, for 10 years, Favourite Dance Studio. Her dancers have received top competitive awards, achieved outstanding exam results, represented Team Canada - placing 2nd - on the IDO world stage, and earned regional and international scholarships. Her students have gone on to post-secondary and pre-professional dance studies including Quinte Ballet School, York University, and Point Park University. Jennifer is regularly recognized for entrepreneurial and community work and contributions. She is contracted by schools to deliver engaging dance curricula, is hired by studios to conduct workshops and set choreography, and is requested to choreograph for community and corporate events.

JENNIFER McKAY

Owner/Director

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

  • Bachelor of Education

  • ADAPT Certified (Jazz, Tap, Ballet)

  • Professional Adjudicators Alliance Member

  • YRT-200 Yoga Certification

  • Acrobatic Arts Certification

  • Acro Dance Adjudicator Certification

  • Ontario Certified Teacher

  • Mental Wellness Certified Dance Adjudicator

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Alicia’s extensive dance experience spans over 20 years. She has studied under the CDTA, RAD, Cecchietti, and ADAPT associations, and has successfully completed exams in tap, jazz, modern and ballet. Alicia auditioned for Team Canada, and was selected to represent her country en pointe at the IDO World Champions in Poland, ultimately receiving Gold and the World Cup. She studied dance at Holland College in partnership with Confederation Centre of the Arts, receiving her diploma in Dance Performance and achieving many high marks including 100% in composition. During her post-secondary studies, she had the opportunity to work with Le Fils D’Adrien Danse contemporary company, dance in award shows, and perform on both the Mackenzie Theatre and Confederation Stage. Alicia is an ADAPT certified teacher who is qualified to teach and train dancers to be examined in ballet, tap, and jazz. Alicia’s students have successfully completed exams, with several receiving distinction after completing their first ever exams. She has attended workshops and seminars to continue her professional development, including ADTA courses (formally Acrobatique). She has extensive experience working with both recreational and competitive dancers. Her competitive routines have received numerous overall awards and special awards including best in style, best costuming, most entertaining, and best choreography. Her students have received top scores as well as international scholarships. Many have gone on to pursue dance post secondary in both Canada and the U.S. with others being accepted in to programs such as the Quinte Ballet School. Additionally, some of Alicia’s students have represented Canada with both IDO and World Performers Canada, achieving medals at each. Alicia runs dance programs for public schools across the Simcoe Muskoka region as well as provides workshops and choreography for community theatre programs. Alicia has been sought after to conduct workshops and choreography across the country.

ALICIA SMITH

Artistic Director

  • Diploma in Dance Performance

  • ADAPT Certified (Jazz, Tap, Ballet)

  • Professional Adjudicators Alliance Member

  • World Cup Recipient

  • Esteemed competitive choreographer

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Regan began dancing at the age of 3 and has trained and competed in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and modern dance. Growing up, she always enjoyed participating in as many opportunities as she could, including two summers at the prestigious Rockettes Summer Intensive at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 2011 and 2012. She also began an apprenticeship with Simcoe Contemporary Dancers while still in high school and continued to dance with them through her University experience as a guest artist. Regan attended York University and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Honours in Dance, specialising in Choreography and Performance. She also spent the final year of her degree on exchange in England at The University of Chichester in their dance department, having one of her choreographic works performed by their undergraduate touring company 3Fall Dance Company. Since graduating Regan has become a certified instructor in Tap and Jazz through ADAPT as well as completing her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance. She is also certified as an Acrobatic instructor through Acrobatic Arts, as well as a certified Pilates, Barre and Yoga instructor, bringing her knowledge of healthy and safe movement to all of her classes. She always stays up to date with current dance science and loves to share her passion for the art form with her students!

REGAN MCQUOID

Certified Dance Educator

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

  • ADAPT Certified (Jazz, Tap, Ballet)

  • Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Teaching Certificate

  • Pilates, Barre, and Yoga Teaching Certificates

  • Acrobatic Arts Certification

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Maddy is a proud member of The DanceRoom’s alumni and is currently in her third year of studies at York University, working to obtain her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.  She has been training since 2012, and has been exploring teaching roles within the studio since 2017.  While at York, Maddy has been taught by highly qualified, esteemed dance artists and has been a featured dancer in performances and short films. Maddy has trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, ballet and hip hop at The DanceRoom.  Since attending York, her specialities now include modern, ballet and contemporary-based movement.  Upon completion of her dance degree, Maddy wishes to obtain her Bachelor of Education and teach dance in-studio or in secondary schools. Maddy loves to express herself through movement, and  inspire other dancers to do the same.

MADELYN MONEYPENNY

Prospective BFA in Dance Graduate

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) in progress

  • ADAPT Exam Experience (Jazz, Tap, Ballet)

  • Award-Winning Choreography

  • Overall Award and Scholarship Recipient

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Kat has been dancing since the age of 3 and grew up focusing on tap and jazz dance. In high school she attended Canterbury, a school of the arts in Ottawa, and majored in voice with a minor in dance. She continued her arts education at York University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. After university Kat continued to dance in an Afro-Caribbean dance company and started performing all over Toronto in venues large and small. She learned the rare and difficult skill of dancing on stilts and performed with a stilt dance company for two years. She then went back to her tap roots to perform for several years with Alana Hock, and later with the Sole Sisters. Regular adult ballet classes at the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto helped to keep Kat’s ballet training fresh throughout the years and her burlesque performances enforced a feeling of confidence and empowerment

KAT SALVADOR

Certified Dance Educator

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

  • Recreational & Adult Tap expert

  • Administrative & office assistant

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Alyona is an accomplished gymnast and dance instructor. She graduated from the University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism with Honors in Russia with a Master Degree focusing on Dance as a component of Physical Education for children 5-6 years old.  She also earned a Master of Sports in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

She is a recent graduate of the Acro Dance Teachers Association (formally Acrobatique) which provides teachers with a quality syllabi for dancers to study. Her students have received high marks in both Acrobatique and ADTA exams. She is certified in other forms of movement arts including Yoga, Latin, Aerial Circus, and Pole. Alyona has worked and performed across the globe, including in Russia, China, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, and Europe. She has over 20 years of experience teaching both children and adults, and has her CPR and First Aid certification. 

ALYONA SERIGELYI

Certified Dance Educator

  • Master Degree in Physical Education and Sports (with a focus on Dance and Rhythmic Gymnastics)

  • Acro Dance Teacher Association Certified

  • Yoga, Latin, Aerial Circus and Pole Teaching Certificates

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