Kelly MacWilliams is an experienced dance instructor and performer with a strong background in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. She has taught at various institutions including Island Dance Academy, Dance Umbrella, DancEast Dance Centre, and DalDance, choreographing for student showcases and recitals. Her performance highlights include roles in EVITA, The Nutcracker, and original works showcased by the PEI Council of the Arts. Kelly holds advanced training, including RAD Advanced 1 Ballet certification, and has completed professional-level studies at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Her career reflects a deep commitment to both dance education and performance and she is excited to be teaching Intro to Ballet/Jazz this year. 

Dawn developed a love for teaching many years ago and specializes in numerous styles including Tap, HipHop, African Dance, Afro Jazz, Musical Theatre, Caribbean Movement, and Contemporary. She trained with the Bahamas Dance Theatre where she developed her love for the stage. She’s an alumnus of both the Theatre Performance and Dance Performance programs at Holland College, and studied Theatre Production, English Literature and Sociology at Acadia University. 

Dawn has shared the stage with many artists such as Popcaan, Destra Garcia, Cardi B, and has featured in multiple stage productions in the last two decades.  

Within her first year in PEI back in 2014, she founded the Hurricanes Dance Team at Holland College, whom she coached for 7 years. After moving permanently to PEI in 2018 with her husband and daughter, she has cemented herself as a key figure in the Charlottetown arts landscape. 

Dawn has directed, choreographed and performed in many shows on the Island such as Kings and Queens with The Island Fringe Festival and Street Fusion, Munschables, Island Vibe, Anne of Green Gables The Musical, The Play That Goes Wrong, Jersey Boys & Island Steps with The Confederation Centre of the Arts. She is the former Associate Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Festival, and is now the current Education & Outreach Coordinator of Arts Education. 

She is also the Co-Creative Director of black owned dance company, Xclusiv Crew, alongside her husband, Joe Dames. You may have seen the crew at Canada Games Opening Ceremony back in 2023. 

She remains dedicated to elevating and diversifying the styles she teaches, practices, and performs on Prince Edward Island, to break stereotypes, and pave the way for young artists like herself.

Charlotte Byrne has a love for children that drives her passion for teaching them to feel empowered, special, and free to be themselves. With over 15 years of experience, she has been a member of Canada’s World Performer’s national dance team, with a background in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and Caribbean fusion. She works as a full time Early Childhood Educator and Special Needs Assistant, as well as with Oshuns Dance Company as a dancer. 

Dominic Who has danced internationally with companies including Canada’s Ballet Jorgen, Les Grands Ballets, Ballet Theatre UK, Alberta Ballet, Chateau Versailles Spectacles, and currently with Opera Atelier and his own works. A graduate of the School of Alberta Ballet, he has toured multiple countries and performed in theatres including the Ed Mirvish Theatre and the Royal Opera House in Versailles. Having danced an extensive number of roles, including Albrecht from Giselle, Slave in Corsair, and Siegfried in Swan Lake, Dominic is now turning his attention to his choreographic works and teaching. He has choreographed and directed four shows, and has choreographed numerous pieces throughout his career. He has learnt from renowned teachers and has taught classes to adults, students and professionals. Dominic is always enthusiastic to share his passion and knowledge with others, and is excited to meet the PEI dance community. 

Elan has trained in all styles of dance, favouring afro jazz, modern and fire dancing. Elan was the choreographer for the Bahamas All Star Marching Band, performing most notably at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Ireland), Florida Classics, and most recently in Dubai. She has performed with the Miami Heat Dancers, as well as danced alongside Grammy-nominated artist and producer Sketch, Julien Believ,e and other Bahamian artists featured in music videos and commercials. In 2017, she moved to Charlottetown where she enrolled and graduated from the SoPA dance program at Holland College. Currently an emerging artist and assistant choreographer for Oshun’s Dance, Elan has performed at the Roma Heritage Festival, Diversity Festival, Black Cultural Society and River Clyde Pageant. She is thrilled to be working with the amazingly talented staff and kids at the Centre.

Amy Kaye (AK) Mullen-Johnson earned an MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado, and a BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University. Mullen-Johnson worked as an adjunct professor in the Division of Theater Department at York College while choreographing musicals for their mainstage theatre. Supporting arts in education, she worked for the Pennsylvania Council Arts education and stARTSomething program in the Cultural Alliance of York, PA creating dance residencies integrating STEAM and dance into the classroom curriculum. She has also worked with the Fulton Theater and Dream Wrights Center for Community Arts . She is excited to return to dance umbrella to share her passion of dance with the students, collaboration with co-workers, and developing dance residencies in PEI.

Wanda Naylor has trained in a variety of dance genres such as tap, jazz, ballet, social dance, and creative movement at York University, Humber College, and private studios in Ontario. She has earned degrees in Fine Arts and Primary/Junior Education from York University. Wanda has performed with Merrytime Clown and Puppet Theatre in Ontario and PEI, including The Charlottetown Festival. She has created choreography, costumes, and scenery for the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival. Wanda is delighted to be teaching dance in our musical theatre program.

Julia Sauve, MA has her Master’s Degree in Movement Education and has been performing, teaching, and choreographing dance on PEI and in the US for over 40 years. She co-founded Montage Dance Theatre and dance umbrella, has performed with The Charlottetown Festival, choreographed for numerous community, school, and theatre organizations, and most recently taught within the Holland College School of Performing Arts.

As a former dance umbrella student, Kayla is thrilled to to continue working with the dance umbrella program, as well as furthering other education initiatives. She has continued her dance training with George Brown College, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Training, and has a BFA in Dance Education at York University. Kayla is excited to be teaching My Parent and Me, Creative Movement, Inclusive Dance, and contemporary styles this year.

Morgan is a graduate of UPEI with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice and a Bachelor of Education (français langue seconde). She has performed in Anne & Gilbert: The Musical, the Island Fringe Festival, the Charlottetown Feast Dinner Theatre, the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival, and the Young Company at Confederation Centre of the Arts. Morgan has worked as the music director or choreographer for multiple Island productions, including Happy Days: A New Musical, Bring It On: The Musical, Camp Rock: The Musical (Bluefield High School), High School Musical (Charlottetown Rural), Little Shop of Horrors (ACT PEI), Seussical Jr., Wizard of Oz Jr., and Frozen Jr. (Havenwood Productions). Morgan is excited to be teaching in our musical theatre program.

Sandy Zinck holds degrees in both music and drama from Acadia University and a BEd from University of Alberta. Prior to moving to PEI she taught music and drama with Edmonton Public School Board and the Toronto School Board. She has co-written and directed multiple original musicals for the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival and served as PEI’s Chapter Director for the Educational Theatre Association of Canada. Sandy currently teaches music at West Royalty Elementary School in Charlottetown. She is looking forward to another year of teaching voice and drama with dance umbrella’s musical theatre program.

Halina Terentiev was born in Kherson, Ukraine. She has around 27 years of experience in teaching various styles of dance. In 1997, Terentiev graduated from the Ukrainian University of Culture with a degree in choreography. In 2003, she founded her own modern dance ensemble Edent in Israel. This group, competed in international competitions, where they always won prizes. The members of the ensemble also took part in international festivals and concerts. In Israel, Halina continued to take refresher courses and improve her choreographic skills. In 2009, Halina immigrated to Canada and in 2010 she started working with dance umbrella. In 2011, she began working as a dance and yoga teacher in IMA. Since 2012, Halina have also been working with Island Gymnastic Academy as a dance instructor with competitive girls. Some girls received prizes for the best choreography in their floor routine.

Joe started dancing at the age of sixteen in his senior year in high school. His training consisted of African dance, housing, breakdancing, and tutting with the Bahamas Dance Theatre, acting essentials & afro jazz with Georgia’s School of Dance and Theatre, and ballet with Louis Seiler Academy of Dance. His love for dance and the art of hiphop led him to establish his own dance crew, called Xclusiv Crew, which he now leads alongside his wife, Dawn Ward-Dames. Joe has had the opportunity to share the stage with Bahamian artists such as Stileet and Alexis Pelecanos, and international artists such as Popcaan and Cardi B. He has choreographed for multiple dance organizations including Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh, and Planet Dance Cincinnati, where he had the opportunity to work with Andrew and Missy Hubbard from Cats The Musical. Joe has featured in stage productions such as The Lion King, Fame, and Raisin In The Sun. Joe has co-directed and choreographed many shows on PEI including Kings and Queens with the Island Fringe Festival, and Street Fusion & Island Vibe at Confederation Centre of the Arts. He is a proud father of three beautiful girls and looks forward to being a part of the change and pathway to provide opportunities for them. Fun fact: Joe recently had the opportunity to co-choreograph for the 2023 Canada games opening ceremonies.

Callista McIsaac developed a passion for dance and performing arts at a young age, training in ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap styles. She is a graduate of Holland College Dance Performance Program, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Management. Callista is a certified yoga fitness and barre instructor through Fitness NB. Callista continued her exploration of contemporary dance with the training initiative, Modus Operandi. While in Vancouver, BC she performed on various stages including choreographies by Emmalena Frederikson, Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond, Harold Rhéaume. Callista continues her dance career in PEI as a member of Oshun Dance Studio, and Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers performing island-wide in various festivals and events including DiverseCity and Fringe. Callista is grateful to share a part in fostering arts education in island youth through her role as arts education administrator at the Centre, and inspiring the next generation as a dance instructor with dance umbrella.

With more than 25 years of combined teaching and performance experience, Laura Ono is a passionate and committed music educator, and is also Head of Operations for the PEI Symphony Orchestra. She has a Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from the Longy School of Music of Bard College (Cambridge, MA), and is currently completing overseas studies in the Dalcroze License, which is a credential for teacher training. Laura also holds an ARCT in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) as well as an Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education, a joint program between the RCM and Toronto Metropolitan University. She has also completed pedagogy studies in Kodály and Orff, and holds an MBA from York University. 

Laura is the Training Chair for Dalcroze Canada, a Canadian charity dedicated to promoting the pedagogical principles of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, and offers professional certification in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Prior to moving to PEI, Laura was the director and owner of My Musical Upbringing, a private music studio specializing in Early Childhood Music Education in Toronto