Meet Our Faculty

Owners

Jenna

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SESSIONAL PROGRAMMING-OWNER

Jenna Brenan has been dancing since the age of four. Her background includes Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and Irish. Jenna not only studied and trained locally here in Edmonton, but has also trained under a variety of professionals fr ... Read More

Chantel

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF FULL YEAR PROGRAMMING - OWNER

When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way. ~Wayne Dyer Chantel Sampson has been dancing since the age of three. A lifelong passion for dance has continued to fuel her spirit. He ... Read More

Staff

Jenna Zoe

Front Desk Staff

JZ is a university student currently working on her BFA in visual arts. JZ takes candid photos for recital and occasionally during classes throughout the year. She grew up taking contemporary, tap, and hip hop classes at J'Adore Dance. JZ works ... Read More

Rachel

Front Desk Staff

Spencer

Front Desk Staff

Abi

Front Desk

Instructors

Bridget

Instructor

Bridget was introduced to dance in junior high when she began attending Victoria School of Visual and Performing Arts. She went on to receive her BFA in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University in Montreal where she was trained by a number of pro ... Read More

Heather

Instructor

Dancing since before she could walk, Heather is absolutely passionate about dancing, choreographing and performing! She started ballet at age 3, creating her first memory of performing on the stage at the Jubilee Auditorium. Over the years, she has s ... Read More

Jason

Instructor

Jason discovered his passion for dance while in university; but is no stranger to the teaching and performing worlds. You might have seen Jason on stage while working towards his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Concordia and other performances around ... Read More

Jeannie

Instructor

Jeannie Vandekerkhove is a teacher, choreographer and dancer who trained classically in her youth, furthering her studies at Arts Umbrella and Ballet British Columbia’s Mentorship Program.She has taught professionally at Arts Umbrella, MareMac Dance ... Read More

Jodie

Instructor

Jodie Vandekerkhove is a professional artist with extensive training and education in the field of dance, holding a holding BFA (Simon Fraser University, Canada) and MA (University of Alberta, Canada). Jodie's MA research focused on Ethical Practices ... Read More

Liesa

Instructor

Liesa has always loved to dance. Her mom likes to say Liesa danced before she knew how to walk, which makes sense since she owned a dance studio before Liesa was born, and was her very first teacher. Throughout her training, Liesa studied jazz, music ... Read More

Meg

Instructor

Meg grew up in a household steeped in dance and music. She started highland dancing at the age of 3 and competed until the age of 24. Bagpiping went hand-in-hand with her dance career, and from the age of 7 she lived, breathed, and worked for dance a ... Read More

Melanie

Instructor

Melanie Smith-Doderai holds a B.A, B.Ed and M.Ed.  Melanie has been an instructor at J'Adore Dance since its opening in 2011. Melanie has extensive training in pre/postnatal fitness, aerial arts and her speciality - early childhood movement. At ... Read More

Masani

Instructor

Dive into the culture of West Africa and take a spiritual, musical journey. These dances are full of joy and rhythm, and are sure to energize your week! Our West African class is taught by Masani St. Rose-Toth, a captivating and authentic instructor ... Read More

Jewel

Instructor

Jewel Zahr is a tap dancer from Edmonton, Alberta. Jewel started dancing in all disciplines at the age of four and quickly realized the love she had for tap. She graduated in 2016 from Victoria School of the Arts where she pursued her passion for the ... Read More

Camille

Instructor

Camille Ensminger has trained and performed for many years in ballet, jazz, tap, flamenco and contemporary dance. Camille is a company member of Synaethesis Dance Theatre, performing at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in Letters an ... Read More

Erin

Instructor

Erin Brese is a dancer from Edmonton Alberta Canada. Erin took her first dance class when she was just 5 years old at Dance Unlimited. Every week she looked forward to slipping on her ballet shoes and getting her body moving! She continued to dance r ... Read More

Kasha

Instructor

Music, Fitness, and Community have always been a driving force of Kasha's being. Growing up, she trained and played soccer competitively at the college level. Kasha is passionate, a lover of people, and a champion for her daughters. After having ... Read More

Erin

Instructor

From a young age, Erin found and developed a passion for an active lifestyle. She danced competitively for 16 years, became a swimming instructor/lifeguard, and developed a love of teaching dance and movement. She married her high school sweetheart a ... Read More

Ethan

Instructor

Ethan Sampson is completing high school at Mother Margaret Mary and throughout his education he has had the opportunity to take part in all aspects of the performing arts. For as long as he can remember, Ethan has been up on the stage acting, sin ... Read More

Jilly

Instructor

Jilly has been dancing for 12 years and is looking forward to continuing to take after her mom, her mentor. Jilly has danced for many studios including Cloverdale Community League, For the Love of Dance, Scoil Rince Clannad, Monsignor Fee Otterson Sc ... Read More

Amanda

Instructor

Amanda Hodgins started dancing when she was 4 years olds. She has trained in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical/contemporary, and hip hop. While studying at Edmonton Dance Factory (EDF), she competed in many co ... Read More

Trung

Instructor

Trung has been training for 10 years at Edmonton's Kore Dance Studio. His favourite styles include bboying and popping. Trung is inspired by the well-known dance, The Kinjaz. Outside of training, Trung enjoys spending time with friends and family a ... Read More

Mackenzie

Instructor

Mackenzie commenced her performing arts training at age three at Casey's Dance Centre where she trained in various genres. She's thrilled to have recently graduated from MacEwan University's Theatre Arts program where she was exposed to vigorous trai ... Read More

Maria

Instructor

Maria is a student at the University of Alberta working towards a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Sociology. Maria loved to perform from a very young age and never missed an opportunity to take the stage, ... Read More

Daelyn

Instructor

Daelyn has been dancing for 17 years at the Wainwright Dance Academy.  Growing up she had the opportunity to dance around Canada and the United States including dancing on the stage in Disneyland. Daelyn started teaching dance when she was 14 an ... Read More

Kate

Instructor

Kate began her dance training in Edmonton at the age of 10, in a variety of styles such as ballet, jazz, acro, lyrical, and modern at Flexpointe Studios. Throughout her time dancing, she volunteered as a class assistant, which cultivated her passion ... Read More

Grayson

Intern

Grayson has been dancing since the age of 5. She began with Ms. Jeannie is a level 2 class and is now back dancing with her in the youth contemporary and pre-pointe program. Grayson has also trained under Ms. Chantel,  Ms. Jenna and Ms. Jessica. ... Read More

Lauren

Intern

Lauren previously trained at Sandra Gray School of Dance for 6 years before deciding to give other sports a try. While at SGSD, she was involved in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and musical theatre. When she's not at the studio you can often find her r ... Read More

Junior Assistants

Eve

Junior Assistant

Eve has been dancing at J'Adore for 12 years with amazing teachers like Ms. Jeannie, Ms. Jessica, and Ms. Chantel. Over that time she has done different styles such as ballet, jazz and contemporary. When Eve is free she enjoys doing musical theatre, ... Read More

Thea

Junior Assistant

Thea has been dancing for 13 years in ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary under Ms Chantel, Ms Bridget and Ms Jenna.  Thea has danced at the McKernan Community League, J'Adore, and Strathcona High School where she is going into Grade 11. Out ... Read More

Kate

Junior Assistant

Kate has been dancing for 10 years and has trained at Riverbend Dance Academy before coming to J’Adore.  She has trained in ballet, contemporary and jazz under Ms. Annie, Ms. Bridget, Ms. Jenna, Ms. Chantel and Ms. Jeannie. When not dancing, Kat ... Read More

Avery

Junior Assistant

Avery has been dancing with J’Adore dance for the past 10 years. She has trained in the JBallet and JTap, Pre-pointe and Youth Contemporary programs.  Avery's teachers have included  Ms Chantel, Ms Jenna, Ms Annie and Ms Bridget and Ms Jean ... Read More

Hailey

Junior Assistant

Hailey has been dancing her whole life. She started in parented classes until she was old enough to dance on her own at age three. Hailey has trained primarily in ballet with one and a half years of tap. Hailey loves to camp with her family, read, pl ... Read More

Julianna

Junior Assistant

Julianna has been dancing at J'Adore for the past 6 years. Her teachers include Ms. Shara, Ms. Farah, Ms. Chantel, Ms. Bridget, Ms. Robyn, Ms. Jenna, Ms. Teighan and Mr. Trung. When not dancing, Julianna loves making art, playing video games and watc ... Read More

Mikayla

Junior Assistant

Mikayla has been dancing at J'Adore for six years. She has trained in jazz, ballet, and Contemporary. She loves to paint, draw, and collect pins. Mikayla also loves to dance, play trumpet, and play piano. Some of her fantastic teachers include Ms Bri ... Read More

Reed

Junior Assistant

Reed has been dancing for the past 7 years. She has trained in ballet, jazz, and hip. Reed has danced with Ms. Chantel, Ms. Bridget, Ms. Annie, and Mr. Trung. When she is not dancing, Reed loves to read and swim. Reed is excited to once again be a pa ... Read More

Aaliyah

Junior Assistant

Aaliyah has been dancing at J'adore since she was three. She has been a part of numerous jazz ballet classes with a great deal of teachers. Some of the teachers over the years include Ms Chantel, Ms Jeannie and Ms Bridget.  This past year she wo ... Read More

Carys

Junior Assistant

Carys has been dancing at J'Adore Dance since she was a baby when her mom used to bring her to Babies class. Since then, she has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary with Ms. Jessica, Ms. Liesa, Ms. Hannah, Ms. Chantel, Ms. Bridget, and Ms. Teighan. ... Read More

Méyara

Junior Assistant

Méyara loves to sing, dance, paint, draw, do gymnastics and cook. Méyara has trained at both Dancin' and J'Adore Dance in a variety of styles such as Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and Ballet and has trained under Mr. Trung and Ms. Farah whom which she looks up ... Read More

Sydney

Junior Assistant

Sydney has been dancing for 6 years at J'Adore Dance in a variety of styles such as Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop. She has trained with Ms. Tegan, Ms. Annie, Ms. Bridget, and Mr. Trung. When Sydney is not dancing, she spends much of her time raising ... Read More

Mira

Junior Assistant

Mira has been dancing since the age of 3 years old. Her hobbies include painting, dancing and sketching. Mira has trained in Ballet and Jazz at J'Adore Dance under the direction of Ms. Hannah, Ms. Robyn, and Ms. Bridget. Mira also Irish dances at Cel ... Read More

Harmony

Junior Assistant

Harmony has been dancing since she was a baby when her mom brought her to Babies class at J'Adore Dance. While she loves to dance, Harmony also enjoys singing, baking, musical theatre, sports, circus, art, and gymnastics. Harmony has trained in a var ... Read More

Leia

Junior Assistant

Leia has been dancing at J'Adore since she was 4 years old. She has done jazz, ballet, contemporary, and tap. Leia has danced with Ms. Chantel, Ms. Bridget, Ms. Shara, Ms. Jenna, and Ms. Jeannie who are all amazing teachers. When she isn't dancing, L ... Read More

Molly

Junior Assistant

Molly started dancing at the age of 10 and trained with many Edmonton studios before finding J’adore. Currently, Molly is taking ballet, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. She was thrilled last year to be cast in Spring Awakening at Strathcona High scho ... Read More