Our Instructors
Our qualified, experienced instructors strive to promote self-esteem and positive self-image.
Dance styles include Tots & Toes, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, and Hip Hop.
CHANTELLE MCEWEN
Dance Program Coordinator
Chantelle McEwen has been the Dance Program Coordinator for the Canterbury Dance Centre for 10 years. She has over 16 years of experience teaching Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Lyrical at the recreational and competitive level. Chantelle received her training in the Durham Region successfully completing ADAPT (Tap and Jazz) and RAD (Ballet and Modern) examinations. She participated in a competitive training program for over 10 years and upon completion of her training moved to Ottawa and continued her love for dance through various performance opportunities (local Musical Theatre show and CFL performance team). Chantelle has achieved her MA Counselling Psychology and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of dance, promoting positive self-image and inspiring youth!
ELIZABETH (LIBBY) DAVEY
Libby has been teaching at the Canterbury Dance Centre since 2009. She is a choreographer and dancer for the Ottawa entertainment company Toptyr Productions. She was with the dance company DRIVEN Dance Ottawa for 6 years competing and performing all around Canada. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a double Major in Psychology and Anthropology. She trains and choreographs for the University of Ottawa GeeGees Dance Team and was a member of their team for 5 years. Libby received her formal technical training in Ottawa at Greta Leeming Studio of Dance where she completed many levels of RAD and ADAPT syllabuses as well as competed and won many awards. She is an accomplished Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary and Lyrical dancer. Libby eats sleeps and breaths dance. She attends as many workshops as she can that run in Ottawa and Montreal. Libby has been in several music videos, performed with international singer Mohombi, performed for top DJ’s at the Escapade Music Festival and performs regularly at many events in Ottawa, Gatineau and Canada. Libby might be little, but her enthusiasm makes her presence very large!
JUSTINE MCNULTY
BIO COMING SOON
LAUREN HEWITT
Lauren has been dancing at the Centre since she was three, finding a passion for tap and jazz very early on. She is no stranger to the performing arts, having taken part in numerous dance competitions, musical, and choral productions. Lauren assisted teaching at the Centre for many years and has run a variety of children’s music and leadership workshops, through all of which she has found a natural love for helping kids learn and thrive while having fun! While completing her Bachelors degree in Nursing, Lauren is thrilled to be sharing her passion for dance with the Canterbury Dance Centre dancers!
MICHELLE BRAWLEY
Michelle’s love for teaching ballet developed early. Her first ballet teacher’s training was with L’Ecole des Grand Ballets Canadiens then the National Ballet Schools and with great Ballet Masters in London and Paris. She opened a ballet school in her home town in Quebec then moved to California where she directed Ballet Schools and also gave Master Ballet Classes. After returning to Canada, she created The Ballet Society, a not for profit organization for the development and education of classical ballet. Michelle understands ballet technique very well and teaches it in a way that is engaging, efficient and fun. She brings over 50 years of experience.
ANGELICA BLAIS
Angelica has been teaching in Ottawa’s dance community for over 10 years. Growing up in the greater Toronto area, Angelica trained and competed under the direction of Sondra Simonetta (Sondra’s Tri-Dance Inc.), where she had the opportunity to compete at the national level as well as internationally for Team Canada at the IDO World Dance Championships (2007-09). Angelica has also trained with the Radio City Rockettes in New York City, as part of their summer intensive program, where she learned the importance of detail and precision in dance. At the University of Ottawa, where she has obtained both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Human Kinetics, Angelica was a choreographer and member of the Gee-Gee’s Competitive Dance Team (2010-2014). She is now working towards her doctoral degree in Human Kinetics at uOttawa and the CHEO Research Institute, where her research focuses on how children develop physical literacy. Her knowledge of movement skill development, fostering motivation and building confidence align perfectly with her positive approach to teaching dance at all levels. Angelica is excited to be working with the dancers at Canterbury Dance Centre and can’t wait to see them thrive in the studio and on stage.
CASSIDY CLOW
Cassidy began her dance journey at the age of 2 with a city-run program, then attended several different dance schools within Ottawa. Over the past 15 years Cassidy has primarily focused on ballet examination (RAD) and jazz (ADAPT). However, she has also practiced musical theater, acro, contemporary, and was on the competitive team for her former dance school. Cassidy has been assisting younger students for the past 6 years and is excited to be stepping into the role of teacher to share her love of dance with her students.