Tracy Mitchell (RAD RTS)

Tracy has taught for NLDC for many years and served as Artistic Director from 2009 to 2011.  She is a London native, and a graduate of the Ryerson University Dance Program in Toronto under the tutelage of former National Ballet of Canada principal dancer Nadia Potts. Tracy is a fully registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as holding teaching credentials in ISTD Modern Dance, and BATD Tap.  She is also a much sought after Pilates and yoga instructor.  Tracy performed as a professional ballerina in Europe with the Pforzheimer Ballett in Pforzheim, Germany, where she appeared in many productions including "Coppelia," "Cinderella," and "Kiss Me Kate."  Tracy specializes in the teaching of children, teens, and young adults.

Dale Yoshida (ARAD, RAD RTS) - Senior Grades Instructor

A highly regarded and respected artist and teacher, Dale brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our school. She trained at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in the Professional Division before being accepted into The Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. As a company dancer, she toured North America regularly with special tours to England, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Mexico. Dale danced as a soloist in many ballets, notably Rodeo, in which Agnes de Milles personally selected her for one of the roles. While involved with the RWB she took part in a number of television productions. Since 1987, Dale has been on the staff at The University of Western Ontario teaching classes in the Adult Ballet Program. She is also a lecturer in the Don Wright Faculty of Music at UWO in ‘Ballet Fundamentals,’ which she began and developed in 2006.  Dale is a well known guest teacher throughout Ontario and has choreographed for a number of theatre productions in London.

Dr. Keri Lamb

Keri had her first exposure to dance in Toronto, her hometown, where at age twelve she joined a youth dance collective focused on contact improvisation and modern dance.  At Debbie Wilson Studio, she trained in Horton technique, and had the privilege of taking classes alongside company members of OMO, Debbie Wilson's highly regarded dance company.  While at McGill University, she was a performer and choreographer with the McGill Contemporary Dance Company, "Mosaica."  In Montreal, Keri also discovered her love for hip hop, training with Shauna Roberts, whose gangster hip hop style has definitely made its mark on Keri's classes today.  Keri has also trained in popping, locking, breaking, and house dance. Most recently, Keri has been a member of Hip Hop Western as well as the Western Mustangs Dance Pack, Western's official varsity dance team, and has also taught at Sport Western’s summer dance camp program.  As a teacher, she aims to bring the many eclectic styles of hip hop to the classroom, and to foster in her students the core strength that both modern and hip hop styles have to offer.  Keri is delighted to be returning to NLDC for her fifth year of teaching.

Brandy Ostrosser

Dancing since the age of three, Brandy Ostrosser began her training at a small recreational dance studio in St. Thomas, Ontario. Engaged in the study of dance, Brandy moved to Toronto, Ontario and trained for four years as a young professional student at The National Ballet of Canada. Committed to the performance studies, Brandy moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to proceed in a two year Graduate Dance Diploma Program with ArtsUmbrella simultaneously participating in the ArtsUmbrella Senior Dance Company. During these two years, Brandy got to train her body in more versatile styles of dance while working with many well known choreographers such as Crystal Pite, James Kedulka,Gioconda Barbuta, Roberto Campanella, Cherise Barton, Shawn Hounsell, and Serge Bennathan. Brandy is continually inspired by the wide range of performance the dance community has to offer. Brandy continues to assist and inspire young artists while presently working with Cadence Progressive Contemporary Ballet, in Toronto Ontario.

Kelsey Mercer

NLDC were delighted to welcome back our long-time faculty member, Kelsey, to the school after successfully completing her studies at the University of Guelph, obtaining her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Marine and Freshwater Biology.  A versatile teacher and choreographer, Kelsey has been involved in dance for 25 years, and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and lyrical.  During Kelsey’s twelve year competitive dancing career, she trained at five workshops in Los Angeles, working with various choreographers and a group called The Young Americans, as well as performed in Disneyland on numerous occasions. Her love of dance has continued through the years, in turn developing into a love of teaching. Recently accepted into Althouse Teacher’s College, she will start work on a Bachelor of Education this Fall, while continuing to be a valued member of the North London Dance Centre faculty.

Kelly Hajar - Director

Kelly has been involved in dance for more than 25 years, and is the Founder of the Maritime Dance Performance Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she served as Artistic Director of the company for eleven years. She is a graduate of the Intensive Training Program at Maritime Dance Academy, where she obtained her Associate Teacher’s License with the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association and taught ballet, jazz, and tap. Subsequently she continued her training at several schools throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario, and successfully completed the advanced exam in the Russian (Vaganova) ballet syllabus. An avid performer and choreographer, she has created more than 20 original commissioned works during her career, and was the recipient of the prestigious Pat Richard’s Choreographic Award in 2000. In addition to her dance experience, Kelly also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Sam Hajar - Facility Manager

Sam has an extensive background in property ownership and management in his hometown of London, Ontario. He looked after the full renovation of our facility over the past summer, and also works on the front desk at North London Dance Centre. A former police officer, and long time City of London employee, Sam looks forward to learning more about dance, and working with the wonderful North London Dance Centre staff.

Employment

We encourage energetic, outgoing, and positive dance instructors who have reputable training and teaching certifications to apply at any time throughout the season.  Specifically, we are interested in hearing from candidates who are:

•      Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) certified ballet teachers for students ages 3 to adult, Dance Development through to Advanced.

•      Modern dance teachers with professional dancing experience and/or teaching qualifications in any of the following techniques: Limon, Graham, Horton, or I.S.T.D.

•      Tap teachers with professional dancing experience and/or teaching qualifications in any style of tap dance: Broadway, C.D.T.A., I.S.T.D, or B.A.T.D.

1. •     Jazz teachers with professional dancing experience and/or teaching qualifications in any style of concert jazz dance: Broadway, modern jazz, contempory jazz,
   

        lyrical jazz, Luigi, C.D.T.A., I.S.T.D, or B.A.T.D.

1. •     Hip hop teachers with professional dancing experience and/or teaching qualifications in any style of hip hop dance
   

Please send your cover letter indicating your specific strengths, qualifications, previous teaching experience, hourly rate of pay expectation, as well as your resume to nldc@northlondondancecentre.ca to the attention of Kelly Hajar, Director.  Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

nldc faculty

Jacqueline Shantz

Jacqueline comes to us from Kitchener, where has been involved in dance for 18 years, and is currently in London pursuing her Kinesiology degree at The University of Western Ontario.  She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical, and successfully completed all of the Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams through to Advanced 2, as well as all of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association stage exams in both tap and jazz up to her Associate Teachers license.  At the age of 17, Jacqueline performed with the Moscow Ballet at Center in the Square, Kitchener, and the following year traveled to Paris, France on a scholarship from iDANCE convention.

Jessica Coenen (ARAD)

Jessica has been dancing since she was three years, training extensively in ballet, but also in both jazz and modern dance.  She completed her RAD Grade 8 Award with distinction in 2009, and her RAD Advanced 2 ballet exam in 2010.  She was accepted into and attended the Quinte Ballet School of Canada’s Professional Summer Program in the summers of 2006 and 2007.  She is presently captain of the Western Mustang’s Dance Pack, as well as captain of the NBL London Lightning Dance Team.  She attends Western University and is working towards completing her BA in Psychology.  

Megan Alfano

NLDC is pleased to welcome and introduce Megan Alfano, who will be joining our respected faculty for the 2012-2013 season. Megan started her dance training at the age of 4 and has been tapping, twirling, and teaching ever since! She holds her Canadian Dance Teacher's Association Stage Division Full Member and is continuing her studies to also become a certified ADAPT instructor. Megan recently relocated to London from Saskatchewan where she spent over 12 years as the Assistant to the Choreographer, Choreographer, and Assistant to the Artistic Director of the touring Performance Company, Saskatchewan Express, gaining teaching expertise in jazz, tap, ballet, musical theatre, hip hop, and lyrical.  She was also the Director of the Exprites, the Mini Express and The Expressions, as well as the Director of the Regina Musical Theatre Studio, running both the recreational and competitive programs.  Megan has choreographed for many high schools and arts organizations for shows including Suessical, High School Musical, Oliver!, Candide, Grease!, Nine, Guys and Dolls, Cats, The Shipbuilder and Pride and Prejudice. She is a well-respected dance festival adjudicator and has been a certified Salsa Babies and Tots instructor since 2008. Megan adores teaching young people and knows firsthand what a difference the arts can make in their lives. She is excited to share her love of dance with the students in London!

Midori Nediger

Born in London, Midori started dancing at a young age, and spent many years training at North London Dance Centre.  She has trained in various styles, including jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet.  Most recently, she completed both her RAD Grade 8 and RAD Advanced I ballet exams, and has previously taught at Sport Western’s summer dance camp program.  Her love of ballet propelled her to get involved in dance at McMaster University, where she is working on a Bachelor of Science degree.  As a Choreographer and Secretary for the McMaster Dance Club, Midori is able to apply her creativity and pass on her passion for dance to her fellow students.

Shannon McGonegal

We welcome Shannon to NLDC for the 2012-2013 dance season!  Shannon has trained extensively for more than eighteen years in jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, lyrical/contemporary and musical theatre, successfully attaining all RAD ballet examinations up to the Intermediate level at the Bojangles Art of Dance studio.  At the renowned Eastwoodsʼ Integrated Arts Program, Miss Shannon was a dance, visual art, and vocals major, citing Janis Price as a major influence in her artistic studies.  Industry giants with whom she has taken class include So You Think You Can Dance Legends: Nick Lazzarini, Mandy Moore, Dee Caspary, Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, and Ray Leeper.  One career highlight was having her group at the Jump Competition and Workshop in New York City being chosen to perform on the famed Radio City Music Hall Stage.  In 2012 Miss Shannon graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph with a major in Studio Art and minor in History; this year she’ll attend UWO’s Althouse College to receive her Bachelor of Education, Intermediate/Senior Division.  Miss Shannon cannot wait to start her fifth year of teaching dance and share her passion with the students of North London Dance Centre.

Sarah Logan

North London Dance Centre welcomes our new Acro instructor, Sarah to the school.  Sarah has been a competitive dancer for over 10 years, training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary and her speciality; Acro. Sarah has taken workshops with some of the dance industry's legends including, Tre Armstrong, Blake McGrath, Nico Archambault, Mandy Moore, Kevin Mylrea, Jheric Hizon and Boneless.  Before making the decision to become a dancer, Sarah was a competitive gymnast for over 5 years,  training more than 15 hours a week.  Sarah is excited to share her love of dance with the students of NLDC.