Meet our faculty

Miss Mikayla took her first dance class at age 10, and it was love at first pirouette! Mikayla trained in both competitive and professional environments for 12 years, and has won a plethora of awards and scholarships across many competitions and conventions. Throughout her competitive journey, Mikayla got the chance to dance alongside many other talented dancers like Tate Mcrae, and learn from renowned instructors including Autumn and Krista Miller, Blake McGrath, and Galen Hooks. During her years of training, Mikayla completed ballet exams in both RAD and Russian classical ballet. 

Mikayla’s love for dance led her to successfully audition for and attend the Integrated Arts Program at Eastwood Collegiate Institute, majoring in both dance and music, training in modern, ballet, anatomy, and musicality. Here she learned her true passion for choreography and instruction, and received several awards and recognitions for her choreographic abilities. During this time, Mikayla began assisting classes at her dance studio and before she knew it she had received a permanent position teaching recreational and competitive classes at another local studio. Mikayla spent 6 years here as a competitive instructor, with 2 years as the lead instructor and choreographer for competitive programming. 

Mikayla has received a collection of choreography awards over her teaching career, recognizing her unique storytelling and impactful movement structures. Her dancers have received countless overalls, special awards, and scholarships for their routines. She holds a collection of certifications through SpringCDT and Acrobatic Arts, and she continues to learn and grow as an instructor through teacher workshops and certification programs. Mikayla provides education-based training not just for the body, but also for the mind. With four years of studies in Psychology at the University of Guelph under her belt, Mikayla’s teaching methods are catered to match and assist stages of child development, while also fostering healthy body relationships, building self-confidence, and encouraging gentle, intrinsic motivation. She believes a healthy mind is essential for a strong body, and her research in child sports psychology reinforces this approach.

Miss Mikayla is so excited and proud to launch UDC, opening her doors and her arms to both new and familiar dancers of all ages and levels. Mikayla is known for fostering a safe, healthy, productive, and inclusive learning environment, and UDC will be exactly that! She cannot wait to see what season 1 will bring, and to welcome her new dance families! 💚✨

Miss Hope has 20 years of dance experience across a wide range of genres, as well as 8 years of teaching experience both recreationally and competitively! With many teacher courses, workshops, and training seminars under her belt, Miss Hope has gained extensive knowledge across many dance styles and instruction methods. Every year Hope continues to attend seminars and upgrade her certifications to ensure she is providing dancers the best training possible. 

Over her years as an instructor and choreographer, Hope and her students have earned a plethora of special awards and overalls for her pieces of choreography. She loves to keep dance fun and you can see it in her routines! Hope is adored by every student who steps into her classes because of her warm and welcoming nature. She prioritizes creating a positive and productive space, and ensures each and every dancer she crosses paths with is laughing and improving every day!