MISS MAKENNA
Studio Owner/Instructor
BBA, ADAPT, AAC, PBT, NCCP
Dancing for almost all of her life, Makenna has trained in many, many styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, open, musical theatre, hip hop, funk, african, and more! Makenna danced competitively for years, travelling across the country, receiving multiple group and individual awards/scholarships. During her competitive dance years with her childhood dance studio, she also studied at The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
Makenna began teaching her own dance classes independently at the age of 14, and soon after her career as a competitive dancer ended, she knew that teaching was her passion and threw herself into the world of teaching by completing multiple teaching certifications. Makenna is Acrobatic Arts Certified and also a graduate from the three year, ADAPT Teacher's Training Program. She also has certifications with Alixa Flexibility, Progressing Ballet Technique, and the National Coaching Certification Program. Makenna also has a business degree, concentrating in Business of Sport and Recreation. Makenna absolutely loves teaching dance, has won many choreography awards, and is always so proud of her dancers.
In 2019 Dexterity was awarded the Chestermere Rising Star Business award and in 2023 Makenna was awarded the Abstract Movement Studio Owner award.
In recent years, Makenna has began to dip into the world of dance adjudication, judging the Calgary Stampede Talent Search and working through the process of becoming an Impact Dance Adjudicator.
Chestermere is and has been Makenna's home since she was a young girl, attending Prairie Waters Elementary School, CLMS, and Chestermere High School. The community of Chestermere is extremely important to her, therefore important to Dexterity Dance Studio!
You will hopefully see Makenna out and about in the community! But you can definitely find her working with our dancers in their ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, acro, and Barre None classes!
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MISS REMY
Instructor
AAC
Remy was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and began dancing there at the age of 2. She fell in love with it, and has been pursuing dance ever since. Remy was extensively trained in all areas, including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, tap, ballet, musical theatre, and pointe. Remy grew up alongside her mom, who was the acro teacher at the studio she attended. At a young age, she started to assist her mom in classes, and started to realize she had a deep passion for dance, specifically acrobatics.
Remy just finished her second season as the Vice President and head choreographer of the MRU Cubs Competition Team. Remy assisted in the cleaning of dances for Team Canada Acro, and ran acro privates through the summer. Remy has finished Advanced 2 RAD ballet, trained intensely alongside Acrobatic Arts, and completed multiple ADAPT jazz exams. She has been featured in a variety of short films throughout Calgary, all featuring her as a dancer. She loves taking drop in classes throughout the year to learn more from other instructors from all over Canada! Remy is currently in the process of getting certified with her Module 1 Acrobatic Arts.
Remy is so passionate about dance, and cannot wait to continue teaching and sharing her passion. She is so excited to connect and inspire young minds. Nothing makes her happier than dancing!
Remy is excited to be part of the Dex teaching staff and can’t wait for this season!
MISS BRENNA
Instructor
ISTD, METHOD
Brenna began dancing at the age of 3, training both recreationally and competitively in Chestermere and Calgary, and competing across the province. She has trained in a wide range of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop, lyrical, acro and contemporary. Studying RAD, ADAPT, METHOD, and AAC syllabi. During her competitive years at Dex, Brenna earned and received numerous awards and scholarships with her team.
Since the opening of Dex, Brenna has been a part of the studio. At the age of 3 when Brenna began dancing she was taught by Makenna, eventually when Dex opened Brenna became one of Makenna's student teachers and now she is a full time teacher at Makenna's own studio. Talk about a full circle moment.
She is set to attend Mount Royal University to study Public Relations in Communications, after a gap year dedicated to work and to travel the world. Brenna is IDTS certified, METHOD certified, and is working towards her Alixia Strength and Flexibility certification.
Brenna is deeply passionate about her students, focusing on developing their strength and technique. She strives to ensure that every student is heard and seen in her classes. Brenna looks forward to continuing her teaching career and inspiring her students, welcoming them with open arms to every class.
She is SOO very excited for another season with Dex, and can't wait to see her incredible talented dancers grow!!
MISS PAITYN
Instructor
IDTS, AAC
Paityn, raised in Chestermere, has had the opportunity to train her passion locally in multiple genres including acro, ballet, contemporary, hiphop, jazz, lyrical, and tap. While completing her years of dance, she has had the opportunity to train weekly under the RAD, ADAPT, and AAC syllabi.
Paityn student taught directly under Miss Makenna and has now taken on her own classes. She has gratefully been a part of the Dex community since it opened. She has cherished her most memorable experiences growing up at the studio, made lifelong relationships within the dance world, and achieved multiple team awards and scholarships.
Paityn is International Dance Teaching Standards (IDTS) certified and is currently working towards receiving her Acrobatics Arts M1 certification. She is also studying at Mount Royal University to complete her Criminal Justice degree.
She is excited to share her passion and love for dance with her own students so that they can find their own drive for dance as they grow up and develop as dancers in the studio. She is especially excited for next season and helping her students grow as individuals!!
MISS PAIGE
Instructor
AAC, NCCP
Paige started dancing at the age of 5, studying ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, acro, and highland.
Paige has travelled to Hawaii, Ireland, Scotland, England, Florida, California, and New York City to perform and take classes.
Paige fell in love with Acrobatics at a young age, and has completed exams up to level 8 in the Acrobatics Art Program.
Paige is a certified in Acrobatics Arts Module 1, Pre School AcroDance, Alixia Strength and Flexibility Module 1, and NNCP Level 1 Artistic Gymnastics.
Paige also has a strong ballet background. She trained RAD growing up and has completed her RAD exams up until Intermediate Foundation.
Paige is currently working as a Recreational Therapist Assistant and studying online through the University of Montana Speech Language Pathologist Assistant and Bachelor’s in Communication Science Disorder Degree.
Paige is very excited to become a part of Dex faculty this season!
MISS MELANIE
Instructor
The Movement
Mel is the creator and founder of The Movement. The Movement was created out of a burning desire to make a shift in how we view movement. A shift from movement being only of the body to that of our entire being - body, mind + soul. The mission is to offer a brave space for one to move the entire being for vitality, for life, and most importantly for themselves.
Mel was welcomed into the Dexterity Family many seasons ago, and it was a true honour to have her move with the competitive dancers through The Movement’s dance fitness class, Release. A brave space was cultivated to allow the team to condition their cardio, while doing what they love, dancing….with some burpees and mountain climbers thrown in ;).
Mel works exclusively with the competitive dancers in their Barre None class, building/maintaining their cardio, strength, and stamina throughout the season.
Mel is looking forward to the upcoming season with the Dex Team, and is thankful to our Dex parents for trusting her to be apart of it with your amazing kids.
MISS SAMARA
Front Desk/Admin
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MISS MACKENZIE
Instructor
BBA, ADAPT, AAC, ISTD, ADTA
Mackenzie is a passionate, experienced, and diverse dance teacher from Calgary, Alberta. She is certified in ADAPT (Tap & Jazz) and Acrobatic Arts (Modules 1 & 2), and has her Associate in Ballet with the ISTD. She is also a former faculty member of the Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA) where she gained a great deal of knowledge in Acro Dance.
She spent two years training with illFX Education for hip hop and previously danced with Esira, a Calgary-based contemporary performance group. In 2023, she began her dance adjudicating journey. Mackenzie has over 25 years of dance experience and has loved every moment of it.
Mackenzie is also part of the acting community and has a Theatre Performance Diploma from Mount Royal University (MRU). She has been involved with multiple theatre and musical theatre productions over the years and has enjoyed working with so many wonderful individuals in this field. Most recently, Mackenzie spent a session teaching Musical Theatre For Young People at Storybook Theatre.
On top of her Theatre Performance Diploma, Mackenzie has a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Management from MRU and has experience in management and marketing. With her background in business, she currently co-owns and operates an Alberta-based dance competition.
Mackenzie is passionate about instilling strong foundational technique in her dancers as well as cultivating solid relationships with her colleagues and students. She is passionate about building up each dancer and finding every thing that makes them special, both as a dancer and as a person.
MISS KYLA
Kyla grew up dancing all over the province of Alberta! She has experience with both recreational and competitive levels of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, open, and musical theatre. Contemporary is one of Kyla's favourites. She has over 10 years of experience on stage and on TV & film. Kyla was signed to Talent Inc. and got the opportunity to attend their National Conference in 2015. Along with dance and film, Kyla is also vocally trained, singing with many groups and bands. Kyla's teaching experience includes many years as a student teacher, before receiving her own classes.
Kyla is a graduate from Mount Royal University with a degree in Education and has also completed her International Dance Teaching Standards (IDTS) certification. She is also certified in Children's Mental Health through MRU.
The dance studio has always been Kyla's second home and she can't wait to help her dancers find the same love and passion for dance as she has found!
Instructor
BEd, IDTS
MISS BRIANNE
Instructor
AAC, NCCP, ICU, Rambert
Brianne is a dedicated dance professional with a diverse background in competitive dance and extensive teaching experience spanning 14 years. Originally from Airdrie, Brianne’s passion for dance led her to Los Angeles, where she gained valuable training and performance experience. Highlights of her adventure include performing with Far East Movement and Wiz Khalifa, performing at a P.E.T.A charity event, providing pre-game entertainment at the Dodgers Stadium, training and performing with an all-girl dancer troupe (PCH), and landing the lead for a local TV commercial.
Upon returning home, Brianne integrated into the local dance community through training and performances with Flomatik, and illFX, as well as her tenure with En Corps Dance Collective from 2015 to 2021 where she performed, choreographed original works, directed shows, and served on the board for four terms, including two as president.
Beyond her dance career, Brianne is a photographer specializing in dance portraiture.
As an instructor, she brings extensive knowledge and expertise, focusing on building a strong foundation, technical proficiency, and safe progression in her teaching style. Brianne is certified by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) in gymnastics (Level 1 & 2), Acrobatic Arts (Module 1 & 2) for AcroDance, and the International Cheer Union (Level 1 & 2) for Cheer. She is also an accredited teacher of the Rambert Grades Syllabus for Contemporary Dance.
Passionate about her students' success, Miss Bri creates a supportive and motivating environment where she helps build their self-confidence and encourages artistic self-expression in every dancer she teaches.
MISS JADE
Instructor
ISTD (trainee)
Jade Gourlie is a versatile dancer with a diverse experience in various styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and lyrical. She has completed ISTD ballet exams up to Advanced 2 and is currently training for her associates in ballet for ISTD.
She has trained competitively in dance for her whole life and has recently started to venture into the world of ballet and teaching. She looks forward to growing and learning more as a dancer and a teacher and bringing her love of dance into the dancers that she will begin to teach.
Aside from dance, Jade is pursuing a degree in Manual Osteopathy where she will eventually be practicing as a manual osteopathic practitioner. She aspires to bring this intensive knowledge of the body and healing into the dance world, enhancing dancers' wellbeing and performance. Jade also owns a small clothing business with her sister where they make custom, comfy apparel.
Miss Jade is very excited to meet her new students and start the season!
MISS EMILY
Emily began dancing when she was just three years old. She has training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and acrobatics. She has been dancing and competing in the Calgary community for 15 years, and this is ready for another season on the Dexterity Dance Studio faculty. Emily is also a Dance Instructor for the Calgary Stampede Showband, where she has created original choreography to be performed at the Calgary Stampede as well as prestigious international competitions, ultimately receiving its seventh world championship title. Emily is currently Acrobatic Arts certified.
When Emily is not teaching or dancing, she is studying at the University of Calgary to complete her Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance. She enjoys reading, and spending time with her family and friends on any time off. To advance her choreography, instructing, experience, and knowledge, she enjoys going to classes, auditions, workshops, and observing other teachers classes!
She is dedicated to sharing sound dance instruction and developing her own teaching skills. She aims to provide her students with a solid technical basis as well as the virtues of accountability, self-assurance, perseverance, and teamwork.
Instructor
AAC
MISS SAHIRA
Instructor
ISTD
Sahira has been dancing since the age of three, and quickly fell in love with dance. She began competing at the age of six, dancing for studios all over Alberta. She has been with DEX since season one! Sahira is trained in many genres including, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, contemporary, acro, hiphop, open, and more!
Growing up she completed multiple exams within the Cechetti syllabus, later on moving into RAD syllabus completing up to her Intermediate exam. She received training within her weekly classes consisting of RAD, AAC and ADAPT based syllabus. She is very dedicated to her practice, excelling at competitions and receiving many awards and scholarships. Sahira danced with the Lightning elite performance team in Disney world Florida, performing in front of many Disney guests for their winter spectacular 2023! She has also taken workshops at many studios to diversify her training. This includes spending a week in Vancouver in 2024, using her time to take a wide range of classes at Harbour Dance Centre on scholarship.
Sahira is very passionate about dance and wishes to share that passion with her future students. She is very eager to see her students develop their own skills throughout the year!
Office Manager
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