Meet Our Instructors
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Melissa Lee-Keating
Artistic Director
Melissa Lee-Keating
Artistic Director
Melissa began dancing when she was 8 years old. She studied various dance styles and received a scholarship to train in the professional programme at Quinte Ballet School in Belleville, Ontario. She has had the opportunity to study with distinguished master teachers from around the Globe.
With a goal to educate and share her high caliber, high-energy training and performing experience, Melissa started teaching for dance schools in the Peterborough area. In 2004 she became the principal, artistic director, and founder of Imagine Studios. Melissa continues to attend teaching workshops and dance conventions to further her knowledge and skills. She has received several choreography awards, judges’ choice awards and local community volunteer awards for her work over the last 25+ years of teaching and directing the studio.
She has achieved certification with Performing Arts Educators of Canada.
Teaches: Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Acro, and Musical Theatre
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Nicole Kelly
Principal Instructor
Nicole Kelly
Principal Instructor
Nicole is a graduate of the Dance Performance Diploma program at centennial College with a specialized focus in dance/movement. Nicole is an award winning choreographer with a passion and dedication to succeed. Nicole has won provincial accolades and scholarships as well trained at intensives in places such as Artist in Motion, OIP, The Pulse, Broadway Dance Centre, Alvin Ailey, and Build a Beast to name a few. She has travelled to New York, Miami, and California to train underneath world-renowned choreographers and artists. She is currently a part of Dark Dance Company in the Xperiment program under the direction of Derick Robinson.
Nicole is a dedicated young choreographer who is making a huge impact on the dance community. Nicole is constantly involved in different aspects of the Canadian art industry, working with musicians, hair and fashion stylists, and mainly using her experience and creativity to enlighten her students. She is continuously looking to grow and learn from a multitude of teachers and mentors, in order to achieve the best version of herself she can be.
Teaches: Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Jazz
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Keri Post
Instructor
Keri Post
Instructor
Keri has over 30 years of dance experience. She is internationally trained and a well-accomplished dancer, with extensive training in R.A.D., P.A.E.C., and D.M.A. She has over 20+ years of teaching experience, including recreational and competitive. Her specialties are jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop. Keri also travels to Los Angeles and New York City frequently with Be Discovered as assistant and chaperone, teaching dancers about the industry and training with top choreographers. Keri has also been a professional performer travelling around Ontario and Quebec with Millennium Productions. She has also had the honour of being an adjudicator at competitions across Canada. Keri’s passion and love for dance are portrayed through her student’s many accomplishments and her wide range of community involvement in the arts.
Teaches: Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical & Contemporary
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Taylor Stark
Instructor
Taylor Stark
Instructor
Taylor has been dancing since the age of 5. In 2016 she was part of the Canadian Tap Team competing in Germany at the Sachsen arena. She has trained in the styles of Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop although Tap is her favourite. Taylor was a competitive dancer for 6 years and has been assisting and teaching classes for 7 years, helping dancers of all ages from children to adults find the joy of dance. Outside of dance Taylor has graduated from 2 different programs at Fleming College. She spent 2 years completing her Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma where she was able to get certified as a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer with CanfitPro. The following year she completed her Recreation and Leisure Services Diploma where she has taken her knowledge and applied it to work for the OFAH Get Outdoors Summer Leadership Camp in Huntsville helping campers find a passion for outdoor recreation. Taylor has a passion for teaching and can not wait to start sharing her knowledge at Imagine Studios
Teaches: Tap, Jazz
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Bryanna Ostrander
Instructor
Bryanna Ostrander
Instructor
Miss Bryanna has been dancing since the age of four. She has trained in Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and her favourite, Musical Theatre. She attended Thomas A Stewart SS for their Integrated Arts program in both dance and drama. She has continued to be an active volunteer with the program, choreographing and assistant directing. Bryanna recently graduated from York’s Theatre and Bachelor of Education programs. She has over ten years of experience performing in the Peterborough community in dance and theatre. She has been teaching dance and drama at local camps and studios for the past five years.
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Julie Carbonneau
Instructor
Julie Carbonneau
Instructor
Julie joined the studio at age 11 and has felt apart of the family ever since. She quickly joined the intensive team after her first year, and has been competing for 13 years winning overalls and judges choice awards. She loves performing on stage and being able to show everyone her talent. Julie started teacher assisting at age 14 and began teaching her own classes at age 18, she has always loved working with children. Taking master classes from performers such as Ivan Koumaev (Justine Timberlake lead dancer), Wade Robson, Mia Michaels and educating herself at teaching training programs with the best dance educators from around the world has helped Julie to continue to grow her knowledge, skill and stay current with the creative dance world. Recently Julie has started teaching dance to multiple classes at the French elementary school Monseigneur-Jamot. Julie can’t imagine a world without dancing.
Teaches: Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Jazz
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Dana Throop
Instructor
Dana Throop
Instructor
Dana has been teaching recreational and competitive dance programs for many years. Dana has taught in Tillsonburg, Burford, Kingston, Belleville, and now Peterborough! By day Dana works at Bayfield School, teaching a wide variety of academic subjects in grades seven through twelve, though specializes in English, Math, and Physed.
Dana is versed in jazz, tap, musical theater, and stretch & strength, but her passion and specialty is acro. She has been teaching acro to both students and teachers for many years, and enjoys passing on her knowledge and skills to her students. In her spare time she enjoys a variety of sports, especially soccer and horseback riding. She can also be found curled up with a good book during any down time she can find.
Dana holds an Honours degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Western Ontario, a diploma in Developmental Service Work with a specialist in Education/Educational Assistance, and her Bachelors of Education from Queen’s University.
As a dancer in her younger year she participated in shows, demonstrations, and competitions throughout South Western Ontario as a dancer for Burford Dancers, Waterloo Academy of Dance, Dance Stop, and the University of Western Ontario.
Dana is certified with Acrobatic Arts (modules 1&2, aerial and backhandspring), and was a Master Instructor and Examiner with Acrobatique AcroDance Inc, a company that has since rebranded to the ADTA (Acro Dance Teachers Association). Dana remains on faculty for them at this time. Dana has completed her Junior level A.D.A.P.T certification, and levels one through three with Alixa Flexibility, and is working toward becoming a certified flexibility specialist.
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Jaclyn Harris
Office Manager/Instructor
Jaclyn Harris
Office Manager/Instructor
Jaclyn has been involved with Highland Dance for 25 years. She began dancing at the age of four, and started highland at the age of seven with Kelly Biduke School of Highland Dance and with the Pride of Stewart Highland Dancers in Brooklin.
Jaclyn taught in Uxbridge for four years and at a Performing Arts Centre in Ajax for six years. She danced with the Touch of Tartan Fusion Dance Company in Toronto, and performed with the Scottish musical group Claidhmor until she moved to Peterborough with her family where for 6 years successfully owned and operated MacDuff Highland Dance Academy in Buckhorn.
She is BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dance) certified in Highland Dance.