Dance Faculty - Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts

MARITIME CONSERVATORY SCHOOL OF DANCE

Faculty of Dance

Click on the profiles below to read each instructor’s full biography

Janet Bradbury

Janet’s early training in ballet was here in Nova Scotia, followed by studies and performance experience in the UK and US. She began teaching at the Maritime Conservatory in 1995 as a student in the Teacher Training Diploma under Barbara Dearborn, and upon graduating in 1996 joined the Dance Faculty at The Conservatory. She is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (Teacher Training Certificate 1996, Teaching Diploma 1998), a Licentiate with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association in Ballet and Stage, and Examiner of Classical Ballet. Janet is also a licensed Silver Swans® Ballet instructor. Teaching all ages and levels for over 25 years, Janet has trained students from Pre-School to Solo Seal. Her latest passion is adaptive dance for dancers of all abilities. ...Learn More

Solène Bernier

Solène Bernier is an emerging dance artist and a graduate of École de Danse Contemporaine de Montréal (2019). She has performed in work by Bradley Eng for Festival Quartiers Danses and collaborated on Cheline Lacroix’s dance film May the Best Loser Win (F-O-R-M Festival Vancouver). Currently based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax NS, she has worked with local choreographers including ...Learn More

Alexa Cherrett

NBS TTP (Dip.), RAD RTS, AISTD, B.A.

Alexa is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School’s three-year Teacher Training Program, a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, and an Associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (National Dance). As a young student, Alexa joined the Professional Ballet Program at The School of Dance in Ottawa. With the guidance of Merilee Hodgins and Mary Ross, Alexa had the opportunity to focus on performances, showcases and teaching. Alexa was inspired to pursue...Learn More

Kathleen Doherty

Kathleen Doherty is a dancer, choreographer, improviser and teacher based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax. After completing her Bachelor's of Commerce degree at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Kathleen moved to Calgary to attend Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’ Professional Training Program. Upon returning to Halifax in 2012, Kathleen co-founded Votive Dance, and has worked as Artistic Director since the company’s inception. She also works as Administrative Director with Kinetic Studio. ...Learn More

Nora Dunn

Nora Dunn is a dancer and educator, from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nora grew up dancing at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and is a graduate of the school’s Senior Certificate Program. Additionally, she is currently studying Health Sciences at Dalhousie University. Nora has a principal focus in the study of ballet, and has completed graded and vocational ballet exams with the Cecchetti Society and the Royal Academy of Dance, including her RAD Grade 8 exam with ...Learn More

MacKenzie Greenwell

MacKenzie Greenwell is a leading voice in the Canadian Tap scene. Originally from Cochrane, AB he has spent the last 15 years traveling all over the world Performing, Teaching, and Choreographing. He’s a former touring cast member of the Internationally Acclaimed show Tap Dogs. He was also a principal dancer in Rhythm & Sound Tap company in Toronto, as well as Choreographer for the Canadian National Team in 2018. MacKenzie now lives in Nova Scotia where he is an ...Learn More

Laura van Herk

NBS TTP (Dip.), RAD RTS, AISTD (NB)

Laura is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program (diploma), a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and an associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (National Dance). Growing up in Nova Scotia, Laura trained under Micaela Archer-Shee, Nora Oakey and Diana Rutherford. ...Learn More

Sarah Hopkin

Sarah Hopkin is a dance artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She dances for Mocean Dance, the Ottawa Dance Directive, and teaches at Halifax Dance. She has danced for Votive Dance, TAKE UP SPACE, Nostos Collectives and for choreographers Peggy Baker, Cathy Kyle Fenton, and Allison Burns. She danced as a junior company member with Toronto Dance Theatre (2015-2016), an intern with Mocean Dance (2015), and in Dance Ontario's...Learn More

Sheilagh Hunt

Sheilagh Hunt graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in 1971. Her career has included work as an independent dance artist/choreographer, visual artist, costume designer, and illustrator. She attended Dalhousie University Costume Studies program and worked in the wardrobe department at the Charlottetown Festival for 13 years. She has created costumes for local Nova Scotia theatre, dance and film productions, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1995. Sheilagh was the Artistic Director of Kinetic Studio for many years, and served as a member of the board of directors of Dance Nova Scotia, and the Nova Scotia Masterworks Award Foundation. In 2011 she received the Nova Scotia Established Artist Award and the Diane Moore scholarship award. Sheilagh has been teaching at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts for many years. Her teaching is now focussed on Contemporary Dance and Ballet Barre for mature students....Learn More

Meredith Kalaman

Meredith Kalaman is a two time Chrystal Dance Prize recipient, dance educator and enjoys both dancing in other artists work and creating her own. She has created pieces about; giraffes, girl guiding, exploring constellations, superheroes, female identity and the impacts of gender socialization. Choreographers that have left a particular influence on her include; John Ottmann, Noam Gagnon, Farley Johansson, Karen Jamieson, Peggy Baker, Judith Marcuse, Judith Garay, Julie Lebel and Kate Franklin. Her first full length work Femme Fatales toured to Victoria, Edmonton and and was presented at Ufertstudios in Berlin in 2017. Presentation highlights including sharing the stage with the Good Women Dance Collective, Dance in Vancouver 2017, Dancing on the Edge and New Works. Meredith is a graduate of the Ballet BC Mentor Program...Learn More

Michèle King

Originally from Montréal QC, Michèle’s dance journey began over 25 years ago with a love for Tap. Upon moving to Nova Scotia, her studies continued under the Society of Russian Ballet and the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (Jazz and Tap) examinations. During her high school years Michèle participated as a member in Maritime Dance Performance Group, a pre professional youth company at the time here in Halifax. From there, Michèle continued her studies at Montréal’s Concordia University where she completed their Contemporary Dance Program. During her time in Montreal she worked for Festival Bouge D’ici , Festival Fringe MTL and completed...Learn More

Elena Labartkava

Elena Labartkava has graduated from the Odessa State University in Ukraine with a Master of Fine Arts and Geography degree in 1986. In 1998 she has received a Degree in Education from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS.

Her early training in character dance was in Ukraine and Russia. She was a member and performer with the professional dance company in Odessa for almost 15 years. ...Learn More

Jana Macgregor

B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Certified STOTT PILATES® Instructor

Movement and the study of the human body have always been important to Jana. As a child, Jana was passionate about dance and she trained and performed with the DancEast Young Company in Moncton, New Brunswick. After high school, she completed a bachelor’s degree in Anatomical Sciences at McGill University and continued her dance studies in the professional training program at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre....Learn More

Mabel Macneil

Mabel Macneil is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia and grew up dancing at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. Growing up, she trained in a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, modern, and character. Mabel has completed several exams through the Royal Academy of Dance, and the Cecchetti Society. Upon graduation from the Conservatory’s Senior Certificate program, Mabel joined...Learn More

Nick Dzuy-Anh ‘GenNew’ Nguyen

GenNew has started learning about the Breaking Artform, and movement since 2009. He had taken classes with various organizations in Halifax, until starting to teach informally in 2010 and formally in 2011. GenNew believes it to be integral to learning the Original HipHop dance, Breaking, by recognizing the roots of HipHop being born from Black resilience. GenNew’s background in Health Promotion and community engagement...Learn More

Tirene Padget

B.A., B.H.K., R.T.S., T.T.D., C.B.T.S.

Originally from the Maritimes, Tirene received her first Teacher Training Diploma from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. She then went on to complete her B.A. in Dance Science and Education at York University, B.H.K. in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, and her second Teacher Training Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance. She has completed examinations in R.A.D., Cecchetti, C.D.T.A., and Russian styles of ballet and has gone on to teach and choreograph at both recreational and competitive levels. As a Kinesiologist, her expertise extends into the world of Kinesiology where she focused her first degree on healthy practices and prevention of injuries among dancers. It is her belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their optimal abilities, regardless of age and training background. ...Learn More

Cole Richardson

Cole started ballroom dancing in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, during his final year of high school, and moving to Halifax to continue his development upon graduation. Training under two of Canada's most experienced coaches, Jane Edgett and Barbara Child, Cole represented Nova Scotia in competitions across Canada before shifting his focus to spreading the joy of ballroom dancing to first-time and experienced dancers alike. Cole's goal for you in his classes is to have fun - learning to dance is just an added bonus! With this in mind, Cole approaches each class with energy and enthusiasm, while also striving to create an inclusive environment so you can have the best ballroom experience possible. ...Learn More

Jane Wooding

Fellow and Examiner, CC -CICB

A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School, Jane performed with the National Ballet of Canada from 1972-78, dancing romantic, classical and contemporary repertoire. During this time, she was privileged to work with exceptional mentors Celia Franca, Erik Bruhn, Rudolf Nureyev, Karen Kain, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Ms. Wooding is a Fellow and Examiner for Cecchetti Canada and has taught at Canada’s National Ballet School, York University, and George Brown Dance / Ballet Jorgen. Jane now lives in Nova Scotia, where she teaches at Halifax Dance, and the Conservatory School of Dance. Her teaching style is lyrical and inclusive....Learn More