OUR INSTRUCTORS

Kristy Leigh Barbeau
Director
Teacher, Choreographer and Costume Designer
Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Technique, Stretch & Conditioning
Kristy Leigh Barbeau
Kristy Leigh became a professional dancer after graduation and moved to Tokyo, Japan to dance for Disneyland in the stage production of “Encore” a medley of Broadway shows. In 2005, she was hired by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. She danced and trained as an aerialist in shows for Royal Caribbean Productions. Kristy Leigh performed 8 contracts all over the world and was also rewarded the role of Dance Captain for 3 of her contracts. One of her favourite and most memorable performances was the Broadway musical “Saturday Night Fever”.
Another proud moment was working with Keith “Tyce” Diorio from SYTYCD in the Bahamas at Club Med Paradise Island. Other skills include Modern, Adagio/Partnering, aerial work such as silks/ halo harness/ bungee.
Kristy Leigh is completing her fifth year at Elite Dance Studio and celebrates some of the following accomplishments. Last summer at Star Systems Nationals Championships in Orlando Florida, her routine “After the Fire” won 1st place in the Dance-Off and are Grand Champions of the senior division 2017. This season at the American Dance Awards regional competition, “Melody” and “Hypnotic Twist” both achieved Diamond Choreographies, at the same time “Melody” and “Bed Of Roses” won the Highest Adjudication awards. The Candance 2018 Tour in Montreal saw her routine “Auto Pilot” place 4th in the Senior Diamond Dance Off with “King of Pop” placing 3rd overall.
“Melody” also took the top honours in the Senior Dance Off at Fever Dance Awards. Kristy Leigh was recognized for other overall high score awards for “Speechless”, “Islands”, “Circles”, “Back In Time”, “Keep Me Sane” and “Diamonds”.
Kristy Leigh is very passionate about her students, she loves to see their growth from year to year and supports them with achieving their goals. She is very excited to continue her career as a teacher and mentor at Elite Dance Studio.

Antonia Niles
Teacher and Choreographer
Tiny Stars, Pre-Dance, Jazz, Acro, Contemporary, Technique, Stretch & Conditioning
AAC1, AAC2
Antonia Niles
Antonia began dancing at the age of 3, joining the competitive team at the age of 6, and has never looked back. She has studied numerous disciplines such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary. With a successful completion of her graded and vocational exams, including Advanced Foundation under the R.A.D syllabus. Throughout her time as a competitive dancer, she began assisting at the age of 12, and has loved every minute of it. She is now attending Carleton University under the Child Studies program, hoping to continue to work with young children in and out of the studio atmosphere.
Antonia developed her passion for dance at a very young age and has never left her since. With her competitive team, she has traveled regionally and nationally, and could not be prouder of their accomplishments. She has also recently been able to study under the guidance of Stacey Tookey through ‘The Protege Movement’. While also receiving invitations to dance with Talia Favia in ‘Chapters’, as well as participate in Stacey Tookey’s ‘The Bridge Movement’. She is grateful for all the opportunities that have come her way, and cannot wait to continue developing her knowledge!

Brianna Rennie
Teacher and Choreographer
R.A.D, R.T.S
Brianna Rennie
Brianna began teaching dance at summer day camps, encouraging young children to begin dancing, and has now been teaching and choreographing for over 14 years. Her passion is ballet and her favourite thing is sharing her love of ballet with her students.
Brianna is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and holds her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. She regularly attends courses and conferences to continue her dance education and expand her knowledge and loves learning new techniques to improve her students’ training.
Brianna graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and Canadian Studies from the University of Ottawa. When she is not teaching dance, Brianna is a Manager for the Telfer School of Management’s Executive Programs department. Brianna is fluent in both English and French.
Performance credits include The Nutcracker with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (mouse), The Nutcracker with Ballet Jorgen (Oriental, rat & other roles), and Oscar Hammerstein’s Showboat (Little Kim).
Choreography credits include top 5 Overall finishes in Junior, Intermediate and Senior divisions, and many special awards. In 2016, she was honoured to receive a first place finish and a choreography award from judge Ryan Foley at Move Dance Competition for her ballet “Over the Rainbow”. In 2018, her ballet “Up!” won multiple special awards for excellence in story telling and technique as well as Adjudicator’s Choice. Her choreographies have consistently won top medals and first place amongst competitors.
Brianna manages the Elite ballet program and is extremely proud of the success that Elite students have had with their Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams and technical training.

David Lafleur
Teacher and Choreographer
A.D.A.P.T.
David Lafleur

Emma Wiskowski
Teacher and Choreographer
Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acro, Stretch & Conditioning
AAC1, AAC2
Emma Wiskowski
Emma’s drive and passion for dance has never failed her. Throughout her years of being on a competitive team, she has travelled regionally and nationally proudly bringing home many titles and accomplishments. One of her proudest moments includes winning first place overall at Star Systems Finals in Florida summer with her team (2017).
She started teaching at Elite as a junior assistant at the young age of 12 and has never looked back. Hoping to inspire dancers as much as she was by her teachers, Emma is excited to be apart of the teaching staff.

Jill McArton
Teacher and Choreographer
R.A.D, A.D.A.P.T, I.S.T.D
Jill McArton
Throughout the 20 years that Jill spent as a national and international competitor, she was awarded many titles and honours. Jill has won both national and world championships.
Jill is a true motivator. Her enthusiastic teaching style has enabled her students to achieve outstanding results. Jill remains current with the latest dance styles by regularly attending dance conventions and workshops throughout Canada and the United States.

Kailey Sanford
Teacher and Choreographer
TTP-DIP (NBS), Associate CC-CICB, C.D.T.A
Kailey Sanford

Lorraine Barbeau
Teacher and Choreographer
Technique
A.D.A.P.T.
Lorraine Barbeau
Lorraine has expanded her teaching abilities by attending numerous dance conventions throughout Canada and the U.S. with renowned teacher/trainers such as Brian and Faye Foley. She continues to develop her skills with coaches such as Rebecca Davies from Australia and others.
Many of her students have won Overall High Score Awards including National Dance –Off competitions. Lorraine is proud to say that she has won choreography awards and has had students place in the Dancer of the Year with the well-known American Dance Awards, CanDance and Shine competitions. Students have gone on to seek professional careers in touring companies, theater companies, productions such as “Encore” in Tokyo Disney, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Project Phoenix Dance.
As a member of the distinguished Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers, A.D.A.P.T., several of her students have achieved the highest grades on their dance assessments. Lorraine’s positive and upbeat teaching style has made her an excellent motivator and admired by all her students. She is proud of all her students and looks forward to another season with Elite Dance Studio.

Rachele Benvenuti
Teacher and Choreographer
Tiny Stars, Pre Dance, Hip Hop
Rachele Benvenuti
In 2019, Rachele was chosen to be a member of Five Star Dance Company. After a week of intense training, this pre-professional dance team travelled to Cancun Mexico to perform at a resort.
Rachele also won the 15-18 yr category of Young Chorographers for her solo chorography, ” Without Conclusion”.
Rachele graduated from Canterbury High school of Fine Arts. She was an Ontario Scholar and on honour roll. Rachele was most proud of her Subject of Excellence Award for Dance Composition. Her choreography for Handle With Care, received top marks.
Rachele is currently enrolled at Carleton University for Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Rachel Cornejo
Teacher
Tiny Stars, Pre-Dance, Ballet, ZUMBA
Rachel Cornejo
After high school she was accepted into all dance programs she applied to, but decided on training at George Brown College in Toronto. Learning alongside the Ballet Jorgen Company members she graduated with an award of distinction and her Performance Dance Diploma. Rachel continued her dance studies with the International Dance Teachers Association and Dance Educators International to recieve two teaching certificates. She also has her CanFitPro Fitness Specialist training, her Zumba accreditation, Acrobatic Arts Certification, PilatyCore Certificate and her Conditioning with Imagery for Dancers Level 1.
Rachel is thrilled to be a part of the Elite team for her second year and brings her love of movement and artistry to every class.

Sarah Mousseau
Teacher and Choreographer
Pre-Dance, Tap
Sarah Mousseau
Sarah has a diploma in Early Childhood Education, a degree in Child Studies, and her Bachelor of Education. Her passion for teaching extends beyond the studio and into the classroom, where she is currently a Primary teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board.