Dance. Act. Perform. Create.
a Registered Canadian Charity #865734107RR001
MEET OUR
STAFF AND FACULTY
Sydney started dance at the age of 3, growing up at CCDA. She has had the opportunity to be a part of performing in the half time show at the orange bowl, being a part of the dance team that performed at the Canada Games and doing conventions with different choreographers from around the world. She also took part in drop in programs in Toronto at the Underground and Millennium and at Drop in Dance. Her favourite style has always been tap or ballet. She is currently studying at the university of Winnipeg, finishing her 3rd year of a Kinesiology degree with plans to get a Masters degree in Physical Therapy.
TAYLER FEY
Executive Director
Dancing at the age of 6, Tayler has completed her six years of teaching with the SPACE. Her love for dance has grown throughout the years, leading her to train in tap, jazz, ballet/pointe, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, Irish and ballroom. For the past 15 years she has been competing in numerous competitions and has been fortunate enough to be able to travel with dance and train in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, and Minneapolis. Travelling has given her the opportunity to be able to learn from some of the best choreographers. Tayler was honored to have received the Extreme Apprentice Scholarship Award where she was able to travel and assist with Canadian Choreographer Melissa Williams (SYTYCDC). Tayler has recently transitioned into her new role as Arts and Outreach Coordinator at the SPACE.
MELISSA BAERT
Dance Program Coordinator
Melissa started her dance education at the age of 4 with CCDA. After starting her training in our Mentorship Program in 2008/09 she joined our Faculty in 2013/14. Melissa has taken on many different roles and can't wait to continue her future at the SPACE!
TEACHING FACULTY
MELANIE WARBECK
Lyrical, Jazz, Dance Fit, Acro
Melanie has many years of teaching and performing experience. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Arts, Education and a Post Baccalaureate in Special Education. Starting at age 6, Melanie's formal training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical and musical theatre was completed through the Academy of Dance and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She received her jazz and tap training through the ADAPT syllabus and attended many workshops and seminars in both Canada and U.S. Travelling the NYC for the New York Dance Teachers Summit to attend workshops given by Master teachers from across the globe was a definite highlight. Melanie has performed in local performances at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Club Regent Casino, The West End Cultural Centre, The Pyramid and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet adult program. Miss Mel enjoys sharing her love and passion for dance with her students. She provides a high energy class that focuses in developing dance technique, musicality and confidence as a dancer.
GLORIA CHEN
Ballet, Pointe
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Gloria Chen started dancing at the age of 6, studying various dance forms including Chinese dance, modern and ballet. Her dance journey led her to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet where she graduated from the Professional Division Teachers' Course program in 1998. Gloria holds certificates in Intermediate, Advanced I and Advanced II Cecchetti as well as Associate and Associate Diploma degree's in teaching from the Cecchetti Society of Canada. For the past 19 years, Gloria has been dancing with Bolero Dance Theatre, performing Flamenco, Spanish Folk, Classical Spanish and Bolero.As a member of the company, she has performed in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's Indigenous Festival Concert with the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers as well as many Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Gloria has been with the SPACE since 2003/04.
MELISSA BAERT
Tap
Melissa started her dance education at the age of 4 with CCDA. After starting her training in our Mentorship Program in 2008/09 she joined our Faculty in 2013/14. Melissa has been a member of the Canadian Junior Formation Tap Team travelling to Riesa, Germany in 2008 and 2011 placing 3rd overall in 2008 and 2011 and placing 2nd overall on the Production Team in 2011. In 2012 she began her involvement with the Springfield Theatre Company as a student and then in 2014 she started as the Assistant to the Director. In 2015 Melissa received the Senior Tap Scholarship at the Dance Manitoba Provincial Festival and performed at the annual Dance Manitoba Gala Night. Melissa has taken on many different roles and can't wait to continue her future at the SPACE!
DAYNA LADD
Ballet, Jazz, Combo Tap/Ballet, Pre-School, Lyrical, Acro, Dance Fit
Dayna has been dancing with CCDA since she was nine years old. She started her training in our Mentorship Program in 2009/10 and joined our faculty in 2014/15. In 2015, Dayna received the Senior Tap Scholarship at the Dance Manitoba Provincial Festival and performed at the annual Dance Manitoba Gala Night. Dayna has recently graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a 4 year Bachelor of Kinesiology degree and is now working towards becoming a certified Fitness Leader.
KARLEY MELSTED
Tap, Jazz, Combo Tap/Ballet
Karley started her dance training with Cooks Creek Dance Academy at the age of 3. She studied many different styles including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Pointe. Karley travelled as part of the Performing Program Team for two years, competing in Minneapolis multiple times and attending many competitions/conventions around Winnipeg. She joined the Mentorship program in 2010/11 and graduated to join the faculty in 2015/16. Karley currently teaches tap as well as combo ballet/tap classes. With the completion of her studies at the University of Manitoba, she has graduated on the Faculty of Science Dean's Honour list and has received her Bachelor of Science with a Major in Psychology.
HANNAH SHIBOU-SAVOIE
Combo Tap/Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz
Hannah started her dance journey at Cooks Creek Dance Academy when she was 7. She continued to grow with dance, taking ballet, jazz, tap, hiphop and lyrical over the years. She joined the Mentorship Program in 2012/2013 and joined the faculty in 2016/2017. Hannah has taught Hip Hop, Combo Tap/Ballet, Lyrical, and Jazz. She is currently studying to become a Nurse at UofM!
MACKENZY SOBOTKIEWICZ
Hip Hop
Kenzy starting dancing at the age of 5 and competing at the age of 7. Slowly adding more styles to train in; including Ballet/Point, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary. She continued her training in those styles for 10 years which earned her a scholarship with the Manitoba Dance Festival. Dancing allowed her to travel to compete in California, Chicago, Toronto, Minneapolis in the different styles studied. Learning from some of the best Choreographers in the industry. At the age of 15 she started to dance with B.O.S.S Dance Team making her the youngest dancer to make it on to the team. During that time she helped organize free dance sessions to introduce kids to hip hop, this includes participating in Move ’N Groove-a-Thon with The movement Centre of Manitoba. She moved on to be apart of Wolves Dance Team, which helped her travel and continue to compete. She is currently still taking classes in the hip hop community to further her knowledge and growth.
JULIA PAINTER
Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical
Starting at the age of 6, Julia has studied many different styles from Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe and Musical Theatre. She started off dancing in Regina and after moving here in 2009, joined us at the SPACE. Over her time here with us, Julia has been a part of the Performing Program Team, travelled to Minneapolis to compete, attended many competitions/conventions around Winnipeg, and completed three Cecchetti Ballet exams including grades 2, 3, and 4. In 2013, Julia joined the Mentorship Program training to be an assistant dance teacher, which eventually led to her graduating from the program in 2018 and becoming a fully trained dance teacher. Julia has also been a part of our summer programs here at the SPACE. Starting as a Junior Leader for two summers, Julia eventually took on the role of Summer Day Camp Coordinator for three summers. Julia graduated from College Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau in 2016 with a french diploma and has her DELF (Diplômes d’études en langue français) certification. Julia completed her post-secondary education in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She is currently working at the Elementary School level as a French Immersion teacher.
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Maja Larson
Mixed Media Creative Arts Instructor
Maja enjoys mixing her own archival paints using plant-based acrylic medium and plant-based watercolor binders, then layering together adding modeling paste and texture paint permanent markers, Posca pens, and metallic paint pens.
These mixed media are part of the unconventional wisdom that informs all aspects of her work.
The human imagination and creative current inform Maja’s unique perspective and are reflected in the Fantastical nature of her growing body of Art.
Based in Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada she thrives on creating unique original paintings and facilitating Art Education in her community and on line.
Join her this Fall 2022 for Creative Mixed Media Arts on Friday Evenings with the wonderful staff at The SPACE
Jay Buchanan
Jay Buchanan has had a diverse career in the arts as an actor, teacher, multi-instrumentalist, and now producer. He started making waves in the jazz scene just after high school, performing & recording with Derrick Gardner and Ron Paley's Big Band. Since then they have performed in Canadian festivals (Winnipeg Jazz, Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg Folk) as well as directing and starring in theatre productions (Life's Lyrics, Jesus Christ Superstar, It's A Wonderful Life).
Jay has been teaching music for 7 years, and is looking forward to expanding the SPACE program. He is honoured to join this 30+ year team and will be focusing energy to grow our music program!
Breanna Markiewicz
Standing 5 feet tall with a 6 foot attitude, Breanna has had a passion for dance since the age of 4. Hip hop and street jazz are at the forefront of her current ventures within dance, but she still has a sweet spot for the various styles she has trained in at a younger age, such as ballet, lyrical, and contemporary.
Outside of dance, she enjoys her time grooving to her favourite tunes, pushing her physical boundaries within pole arts, and extending her grounds for compassion to all beings living under the sun. She holds a BAH in Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications from the University of Winnipeg and has an interest in digital culture. Her future goal is to one day retire and spend her time rescuing animals (while continuing to live off a diet of vegan “chicken” nuggets, orange juice, and coffee).
Live performances, music videos, competitions, freestyling, and choreography. As an instructor, Breanna loves to translate her experience into tips and tricks for young, aspiring dancers. Most importantly, though, she strives to promote a healthy relationship to the art itself.
"In this space, we dance to feel exhilarated."
Korinne Hewitt
Korinne has been teaching dance since 1986 and has obtained her Advance 1 Ballet Cecchetti exam, Cecchetti Associate Diploma (A.I.S.T.D. dip (CSB), A.D.A.P.T Advance Tap and Jazz exams, her Accreditation in A.D.A.P.T. Tap and Jazz, Progressive Ballet Technique Certification, and has also trained in the Royal Academy of Dance and Russian Ballet Syllabus. She has completed a variety of courses, workshops and exams in many dance disciplines, in addition to owning and running a dance school. She has also taken students to participate in local and national dance conventions, competitions and festivals.
Korinne has been the recipient of many scholarships and awards throughout Manitoba and North America. She also has credits in modeling, Film and Television (shows & commercials), Ballet in the Park, Grey Cup, Pam Am Games, Rainbow Stage, Manitoba Opera, and Dean Gunnarson productions to name a few. As well as working various other events in the city she has worked and toured worldwide with numerous Magicians and Hypnotists and had the privilege of working with local casting directors as a talent agent for Film and Television.
Korinne has worked with many Junior High and High schools in the City of Winnipeg helping to Coordinate their dance programs as well as teach for them. She is a graduate of the RWB Professional Division Teachers Course and taught in the professional and general divisions. She has taught various workshops and classes throughout the province and North America as well as adjudicating dance festivals and competitions across Canada. Korinne sat on the Board of Directors for Dance Manitoba for many years holding the positions of board member, Vice President, President and Past President.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
PHYLLIS KALLUSKY
SPACE Administrative Assistant