Samantha Paul - BA, Assoc. Grad TTS DMA, CDMA ch. #38
Samantha has been dancing since age 3 and has been teaching children and adults for over 15 years. She studied dance and its history at Eastwood Collegiate, the University of Waterloo, and through the 4 year Dance Masters of America (DMA) Teachers Training School at the University of Buffalo. After completing the DMA programme, Samantha took her exams in jazz and tap and is now a certified instructor with the century old organization. She is also a jazz examiner and examines teachers wishing to become certified. She has performed and competed across North America, winning many regional and national awards. Samantha danced with the “First Generation Dancers” Irish dance troupe for four years where she performed at festivals across Ontario such as Goderich’s Celtic Roots, Toronto’s Harbourfront and Hamilton’s Earthsong. She has organized and directed many dance shows, and her choreography has been featured several times on local, provincial and national television. Samantha has also performed on Breakfast TV. In 2007/2008 Samantha choreographed Rockway Mennonite’s sold-out production of High School Musical. She has also choreographed and/or performed for several artists including The Spirit of the West, The Irish Descendants, Ken Brown, Pierre Schreyer, Failte, The Marcell School of Drum, The K-W Symphony, The Millennium Orchestra and Choir, the Community Connection Choir and for euro dance singer Tânia Costa of Azuria. Samantha believes dance class should be fun and at the same time provide a strong technical base. She’s happy to answer any of your questions.
Corinne Pratt - BA, BEd, CDMA ch. #38
Corinne is trained in many facets of dance from ballet, jazz and tap to modern, lyrical and musical theatre. She is also an experienced dance teacher having taught for over 16 years, both at the recreational and competitive levels. In 2010 Corinne successfully sat for her jazz and tap exams and is now a certified instructor with the Canadian Dance Masters of America. For three years Corinne was the coach of the Dance Crew at Monsignor Doyle CSS in Cambridge, where she led high school students through hip hop, jazz, musical theatre and liturgical dance choreographies. As a dancer Corinne took exams in ballet, jazz and tap, achieving advanced levels in each form. She was also a competitive dancer for many years in both group and solo routines. Corinne attended the University of Waterloo where she obtained her BA, and from there she went on to teacher's college. She is currently working as a teacher for the Catholic school board. SSDC is excited to have Corinne on our staff.
Audrey Butt - RAD, RTS
Audrey specializes in ballet. Her passion for this form of dance began at the age of 3. Her early dance career began in Singapore and later continued in Canada. After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a B. Sc., she realized her love for ballet was still there and she went on to receive her teaching certification from the Royal Academy of Dance. Audrey looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion to all the dancers at SSDC.
Kristen Ethier
Kristen has trained in Irish and jazz dance at local studios, SSDC and with the Lancaster School of Irish Dance. She has been teaching all levels of Irish dance, recreational and competitive, as well as pre-dance classes in jazz and ballet for six years. Kristen's competitive routines have won many overall awards and special awards, and her creative choreography has earned her judges choice awards. During her time as an amateur dancer she worked as a class assistant, and performed and competed with SSDC's company, Celtic Dynamic. She has performed throughout the Kitchener-Waterloo area for many St. Patrick's Day events and summer festivals. A highlight for Kristen has been dancing a full-length duet on the interview segment of CKCO News and Noon. She is a graduate of Mohawk Collage for advertising and continues to take professional dance workshops. When not at the studio Kristen works for Sparks in Cambridge. Sam's Steps Dance Centre is proud to have Kristen on our teaching staff.
Deanne Bingleman - BA Dance
Deanne (Dee) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Waterloo, and we are absolutely delighted she has joined Sam’s Steps faculty teaching jazz and tap. Dee brings with her more than 20 years teaching experience and 30 years technical experience, and throughout her career has explored tap, various jazz forms, ballet & contemporary techniques. In 1998 she received a Leading Edge KW Arts Award for her contributions to the K-W dance community. Dee has enjoyed many years of participation in local and area festivals, creating dance shows for Rogers Cable and performing on Breakfast Television and the 8:08 Dance Series in Toronto. She is currently the Artistic Director for the KW Children’s Drama Workshop. Dee sees it as her life mission to bring dance to as many people as she can, and in as many nooks and crannies as she can. Children to adults alike, she believes everyone can learn to dance. Dee aims to inspire all of her students and hopes it is as rewarding for them to incorporate dance into their lives as it is for her to teach it.
Alyzza Dixon
Alyzza is trained in acro, gymnastics, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, ballet, pointe and hip hop. She has been teaching acro for 3 years and assisting classes for 9 years. As a dancer Alyzza has completed her ballet exams up to grade 8 and has been a competitive dancer for 10 years. She was also a competitive gymnast. As a performer Alyzza was cast in the Catholic School Board's tri-city production of 42nd Street; as well, she has performed at many benefits, choreographer's balls and at Disney World. Alyzza is currently studying to take her teacher's exams in acro and jazz with the Dance Masters of America (DMA). SSDC is excited to have Alyzza on staff this year as an acro and jazz instructor!
Michelle Banerjee
Michelle has trained in many types of dance, starting in ballet, and then moving on to take jazz and Irish dance. She continued her love of dance while attending Brock University taking jazz, Irish, street jazz, hip hop, balloom and latin. During her second year at Brock University, Michelle took over teaching the Irish dance classes and continued to do so until she graduated. In 2007 Michelle won the "Outstanding Teacher" award for Brock Dance. We are pleased at SSDC to have Michelle as an Irish Dance Instructor.
Melanie Gondosch
Melanie is happy to be back teaching at Sams Steps after being away the past two years. Melanie has been dancing since the age of four. She has been trained in various styles including jazz, tap, ballet, musical theatre, lyrical, and modern. She was also a competitive dancer for many years. Melanie has performed in many school musicals and plays as an actress, dancer, and dance captain. She has been teaching dance since the age of 15 at different studios in Kitchener- Waterloo and at summer dance camps. She is also trained in ballroom dance, having received her ballroom teaching certificate. She has been a member of the Transylvania Club dance group for the past four years, performing at different cultural events throughout the community. She is currently the reigning “Miss Transylvania 2011”. Melanie is a graduate of Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and is currently enrolled in her third year at the University of Guelph. SSDC is glad Melanie back teaching dance at the studio!
Joanne Tiernan
Bio and photo coming soon!
Marianne Paul - BA
Marianne is the office manager at Sam’s Steps, and is happy to answer your questions and help you in any way she can at the studio. Outside the studio, Marianne works as a writer. She is the author of three novels and a poetry book. Marianne won the 2006 Canadian Aid Literary Award for her book, Tending Memory. You can find out more about her writing by visiting her website, www.mariannepaul.com
