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At a young age, Brianna developed a passion for life, music, humour, and theatre arts. Her formal studies include dance, piano, voice, drama, and musical theatre, but it was dance that ultimately became her most loved method of artistic expression. Since the age of 4, she has studied under many dance instructors across Canada and the US, in many different styles, and for 6 years danced as a member of a senior competitive team.
As she matured as a dancer, Brianna found herself with both the desire and natural ability to express herself through original and imaginative choreography. As an honours student and captain of the Ursuline College dance team, she was presented the school’s “Excellence Award in Dance”. Always ready for new dance challenges, she became an increasingly sought after choreographer for numerous theatre productions, musicals, and church and charity events. Most recently she received accolades in the role of choreographer for Theatre Kent’s 2019 production of Mamma Mia.
Brianna is an active member and accredited ballet teacher under the Cecchetti Council of America, and currently has the certification of Teacher Professional Intermediate Grade 6.
Brianna is currently in her 11th year as a dance instructor. Her dance students range in age from toddlers to adults, teaching Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap and Hiphop. She continues to be an enthusiastic and dedicated coach. She takes great pride in her choices of age-appropriate music and themes. At competitions, her dances have earned overall high score awards, judges’ choice awards, as well as countless choreography awards.
Brianna’s outgoing personality influences her caring and supportive teaching style. She loves sharing her creativity and love of dance with all her students. Running her own studio has given her a chance to grow as a teacher, creating her own curriculum to best fit the needs of today’s dance students.
Paige is a professional singer, dancer, and actress from Chatham-Kent.
Her passion for dance began at the age of five, having trained with competitive dance teams at All That Jazz Dance Co. and Pure Academy. She is experienced in many dance styles including: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Music Theatre, and Pointe. She especially enjoyed her time with Florence Abel taking tap, ballet and pointe.
Paige attended Ursuline College and had the opportunity to assist with choreography in their staged productions of Les Misérables, and Shrek The Musical. She also performed in the following UCC productions: Beauty and The Beast - Silly Girl, Les Misérables – Ensemble, Jesus Christ Super Star – Mary Magdalene, and Shrek The Musical, Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy/Featured dancer. Community Theatre credits include: The Sound of Music - Liesl von Trapp (Theatre Kent) and Assistant choreographer for Ridgeplayers production of Annie.
Performing has always been Paige’s greatest passion in life and she was thrilled to attend and graduate from the prestigious Sheridan College with Honors Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance. At Sheridan she had the privilege of receiving dance instruction from working professionals in the Theatre industry including: Stephen Greig, Gillian Saunders, Derek Sangster, Barb Leese, Robert Allan, and Julie Tomaino (Radio City Rockette) to name a few. Sheridan show credits include: Crazy for You – Follies Girl, The Phantom of The Opera – Featured Ensemble, and On The Town – Ivy Smith Understudy/Featured Dancer. Paige also had the opportunity to workshop a brand new musical through the Canadian Music Theatre Projects where she played Marla, and the featured Tango dancer.
Upon graduation from Sheridan College, Paige accepted her first professional contract as a Singer/Dancer with Norwegian Cruise Line. She performed in a total of seven production shows dancing in many styles including Ballroom, Irish Tap, Theatre Jazz, and Partnering while singing at the same time!! She was thrilled to be on a Luxury Cruise ship for six months travelling to places like French Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand while doing what she loves on stage each night.
When she isn’t performing she spends her free time painting, drawing, playing soccer and cooking yummy vegan food!
Paige is excited to be teaching the students at Ascension Dance and is looking forward to this new adventure.
Jocelyn is seventeen years old and has been dancing since she was two, however, she didn’t find her true passion for dance until 2008 when she joined a team. Jocelyn has experience in all styles such as, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop although her favourite style is tap. She has been recognized at many competitions for her tap solos and has been to several conventions including the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference and Tapper Fest in Mississauga. She has been an assistant to Brianna for many years and is very excited to start teaching classes of her own.
Avery is a recent UCC Graduate who has trained in dance from the age of three. She has danced competitively at Pure Dance Academy as well All That Jazz Dance Co, and also trained with Florence Abel. She is trained in many dance styles including: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Music Theatre, and Pointe. Avery has had the opportunity to attend many dance conventions over the years learning from industry professionals such as Mia Michaels, Melissa Williams, and Travis Wall. Avery has also received several special awards and dance scholarships such as ‘Be Discovered Scholarship’ and TDR Summer Intensive.
Avery has especially enjoyed her time performing in the following Musical Stage Productions at UCC, Dorothy in The Wizard, Annie in Annie, and Carla /and featured dancer in In The Heights. Some other past community theatre roles include Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables, Ensemble in West Side Story, Chip in Beauty and the Beast, Dodger in Oliver, Young Fiona/Featured Tap Dancer in Shrek the Musical, Marta Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
She has also studied voice for 14 years and has received many vocal scholarships and awards over the years. She is a 5 time Provincial Finalist in Music Theatre and Voice, where she has received Honourable Mentions and placed 3rd two years in a row.
Avery is very excited that she has recently been accepted to Sheridan College in Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance where she will continue to study Dance, Acting and Voice. She is thrilled to be joining this new studio, assisting her sister Paige, and having the opportunity to teach her own master class!!
Abby is a recent UCC graduate and has been dancing since she was 7. She has experience in many dance styles such as ballet, jazz, musical theatre, modern and tap; however she especially loves hip hop and contemporary. She has trained with Melinda’s School of Dance and danced competitively with All That Jazz Dance Co. Abby has competed at many different competitions, receiving multiple awards for her solos, duets, trios, and group dances with her team. Her fondest memory is competing her first Musical Theatre solo and earning a special award for her loud personality and performance quality on stage.
Abby has participated and performed in UCC’s Dance Shows for 3 consecutive years, and has been a team member of UCC’s Dance Team for the past 2. While on this team, Abby was given the opportunity to create and showcase her own original choreography. This coming season, Abby was accepted at the University of Windsor to study Social Work combined with Disability Studies. While at school, she hopes to continue her dance training with the University dance team.
Abby shares that she loves to dance because it has been a part of her life since as long as she can remember. She feels she can express emotions through her movements and use dance as an escape from difficulties life throws at her. She is very excited to be joining Ascension Dance, and to have the opportunity to create her own unique choreography and share her passion for dance with the community.
