OUR INSTRUCTORS

Kristy Leigh Barbeau

Kristy Leigh began her career at Elite Dance Studio at the young age of 3. She continued dancing in Ottawa under her mother’s training where she completed her Pre-Inter ADAPT Jazz & Tap exams until she turned 16 when she moved to Toronto to further her training. She was accepted at Cardinal Carter School for the Arts and Performing Dance Arts Studio (PDA) under the direction of Danny and Lisa Poland, where she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Hip Hop and completed her ADAPT credentials.

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 performed as an aerialist in shows for Royal Caribbean Productions. Kristy Leigh performed 8 contracts all over the world and was also awarded 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”.

Kristy Leigh is completing her tenth year at Elite Dance Studio and celebrates some of the following accomplishments. Since joining Elite as a teacher and choreographer, she has achieved many Overall High Score awards as well as Diamond Choreographies for her pieces. She has won several Dance-Off competitions regionally and nationally, including National Elite 6 Dance Off and Top Solo at American Dance Awards in New York City in 2019. This season, we have won Top Studio at The View Dance Challenge as well as winning the Final Showdown with the routine ‘Let’s Get Loud’ that she and her staff choreographed. 

Kristy Leigh is very passionate about her students, she loves to see their growth and achievements from year to year. She is very excited to continue her career as a director/teacher and mentor at Elite Dance Studio.

Antonia Niles

Antonia developed her passion for dance at a very young age and continues to fuel this passion with different dance programs and intensives across the United States and Canada.  She has also been able to study under the guidance of Stacey Tookey through ‘The Protege Movement’, where she has gotten the opportunity to work with faculty such as Chantelle Good, Chantel Aguirre, Jason Parsons, Kathryn McCormick, Martha Nicols, and more. Antonia has also received invitations to dance with Talia Favia ‘Chapters’, a program based in Los Angeles, California, as well as an invitation to participate in Stacey Tookey’s year long mentorship program  ‘The Bridge Movement’. She is grateful for all the opportunities that have come her way, and cannot wait to continue developing her knowledge and share it with the dancers! 

Brianna Rennie

David Lafleur

David Lafleur is an emerging tap dancer based in the National Capital Region. At the age of 15, David met his current mentor, Ryan Foley, which is when he truly began to develop his passion for the art of tap dancing. He has since performed in various productions across Canada. Most recently, he has been selected as one of 11 dancers to further his artistic development at Jacob’s Pillow in the 2021 Tap Dance Performance Ensemble directed by Michelle Dorrance, Dormeshia and Derick Grant. In February 2020, David danced as part of the main cast in Rhythm and Sound’s all-acapella installment “Unplugged”, produced by Johnathan Morin and Cori Giannotta. In July 2019, David also opened for comedians Aba and Preach at The Just for Laughs Festival with the Montreal Swing Riot, representing tap dance. In the same month, he was featured in Toffan Rhythm Projects’ “TRI Explores the Music of Oscar Peterson”. Back home, David is devoted to sharing his love of tap dance with his community by educating, mentoring and guiding young dancers.

Emma Wiskowski

Emma began dancing at the age of 6 and never looked back. Joining the competitive team in 2010, she has extensively trained in multiple styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern and Hip Hop. Throughout her years of being on a competitive team, she has traveled regionally and nationally proudly bringing home many accolades alongside her teammates. 

She has successfully accomplished graded and vocational exams with Royal Academy of Dance. In her final year, Emma graduated from the Canterbury High School Fine Arts program with distinction. 

She is proudly entering her first full season with the Ottawa REDBLACKS cheer and dance team. Emma is looking forward to getting back onto the field, attending community events and performing in front of hundreds of fans with her teammates.  

Her drive, love and passion for dance has never failed her. Emma is looking forward to a summer filled with lots of dance and many professional development courses! Hoping to inspire dancers as much as she was by her teachers, Emma is happy to be a part of the EDS teaching staff.

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.

Kayla Van Gaal

Kayla began dancing at Elite at the age of 2; she competed in Elites competitive program between the ages of 4 and 18. Elite Dance Studio has been a major part of her life since the day she was born.

She trained in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip Hop. She began her teaching career as an assistant in Royal Academy of Dance ballet classes. Since 2015 Kayla has been a teacher at Elite teaching various disciplines including pre dance; part time competitive jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre; and stretch and technique for both full time and part time competitive students.

Kayla is very dedicated to Elite and is excited to continue to work with such a devoted and passionate team. 

Lorraine Barbeau

Lorraine began her training in dance and baton twirling with Elite Dance Studio, formerly known as the World Champion Gail-ettes, at a young age. She competed and performed in different cities around Canada, the United States and Europe. She owned and operated a dance studio in Ottawa and brings over 45 years of experience to the industry. She has distinguished herself as a teacher, choreographer, adjudicator and mentor.

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

Rachele began her dance training at Elite Dance Studio at the age of 3. She was a member of the competitive dance team for 13 years where she trained in all disciplines – jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. Rachele began teaching as an assistant at the age of 12 and at 16 she became a teacher and choreographer. In 2020, Rachele graduated from Canterbury High school of Fine Arts and received a Subject of Excellence Award for Dance Composition.  She is currently enrolled at Carleton University for a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology.

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 has also always loved creating choreography. Since 2020 she has competed in many choreography competitions including Young Creators Challenge and Breaking Boundaries Movement. She has won many awards but is most proud of her Limitless Artistry award (2021) and being selected to teach at a Breaking Boundaries Movement workshop (2022). In 2022, Rachele became a Breaking Boundaries Movement Ambassador and was also asked to return to Canterbury as a guest teacher and choreographer.

She is so happy to be a part of Elite and share her passion for dance with the next generation!

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