Sharon Leeming Mann; R.A.D., A.D.A.P.T., I.S.T.D.
Sharon is a diverse & talented teacher & choreographer who started her teaching career in dance in 1973. Her choreography has received numerous Overall Awards, including the Top Production Trophy for 10 years in a row & many of her students have won Dancer of the Year titles in regional & national competitions of both Candance & the American Dance Awards. One of her students won Junior Miss Candance for North America in 2008 and 2010, America’s Junior Dancer of the Year 2010 and Teen Miss Candance 2012. Another held the title of America’s Teen Male Dancer of the Year 2011. 2 students won Junior Miss Candance and Senior Miss Candance North America in 2014 and the most recent award was the National One Shot Senior Soloist Title for 2016 won in Atlantic City.
Former students have performed as backup dancers for Lady Gaga and Pink, on the Academy Awards, in Cirque du Soleil’s Love in Las Vegas, and in the lead role of Wicked, San Fransisco and Mary Poppins on Broadway, and a lead role in Jersey Boys and Canada’s So You Think You Can Dance top 12 dancers. Other shows include Dirty Dancing, Lion King, Mama Mia, Hairspray, (Toronto) and 42nd Street, Saturday Night Fever, Boy From Oz and Oklahoma on Broadway and in the movies Chicago, Hairspray and Honey. Still others are dancing in Toyko Disney, in Stratford, Ontario, on cruise ships or have forged their own career as dance teachers.
Mrs. Leeming Mann is a Full Member & Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dancing & a Full Member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association. Sharon holds the Advanced Certificates with Honours of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in both National & Modern Dance & is an Accredited Teacher with the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers.
Since 1993 she has had the privilege of adjudicating dance competitions across Canada & the United States for such associations as the American Dance Awards, Candance, Fever, Rhythm, Terpsichore, Dance Canada, On Stage, C.D.T.A., the Peel Festival & the Wild Rose Festival. She is a former competitive gymnast & has performed in many dance & theatre productions. Sharon is a graduate of the Canadian College of Dance, Ryerson University, Toronto & founded Leeming DanceWorks in 1989.
Brelene Laskoski is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Ottawa. She began dancing at the age of 14 at Leeming Danceworks and Canterbury High school in the dance program. She is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, improvisation, and contemporary. After graduation Brelene moved to Toronto where she continued her dance education. She had the opportunity to work with various artists such as Jasmyn Fyffe, Ryan lee and many more. She also studied Graham, Horton, contemporary, ballet, and creative process while in Toronto. In 2018 she had the chance to choreograph a 20 minute piece titled “Canary in a Coalmine” for Ryan Foley’s company, Signature Dance Inc along side 5 other choreographers. Brelene has also had her choreography shown in Fever After Dark, Choreographer’s Ball, Young Creators Challenge, and Let the Elephants Dance. Brelene is now diving deeper into her teaching as well and is level 1 certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and level 5 certified in Alixa Flexibility.
Jade studied ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and contemporary at Leeming DanceWorks for 11 years, completing the A.D.A.P.T. Pre-Intermediate 3 jazz and tap exams, as well as the R.A.D. Intermediate ballet exam. In 2013, she performed in Ottawa Fashion Week as a model and dancer for the local designer ‘Kania’. After graduating, Jade continued to expand her knowledge as a dancer, choreographer and member of the executive team on Carleton University’s competitive dance team, ‘Ravens Dance Pak’, and hip hop crew, ‘CUDC’. She has also obtained her Bachelor’s in Commerce, specialized in Marketing.
Jade has trained, rehearsed and choreographed for Leeming DanceWorks’ competitive students in tap, hip hop and contemporary since 2013, having been recognized by multiple competitions for her choreography in mini, junior, intermediate, teen and university divisions. Her group numbers have consistently received top placements and special awards due to their high performance value and strong technique. Jade looks forward to continuing to enhance her expertise and share her passion with young dancers in the coming year!
Pascale started dancing hip-hop at the age of 12, originally coming from a gymnastic background. From the first day of class, she found her passion and has been dancing ever since. Her dance journey started with Future Shock Ottawa, which she was a member of for 5 years. With that youth troupe, she travelled the world dancing in international showcases in Washington D.C, Los Angeles Atlanta and various places in North America. At the age of 16 she started teaching for Future Shock and eventually started her own group called Sick Mindz. This all-female hip hop crew performed at multiple shows throughout the city including Winterlude, Canada Day and was invited to perform at the Annual Culture Shock Ottawa showcase. After leaving Future Shock Ottawa and in the mist of dancing in her own group, Pascale started teaching at Remix Dance Academy and quickly became the senior hip hop choreographer teaching for all of their senior competitive crews where the teams won multiple awards throughout the years. Within the company she was also the Orleans supervisor for all the other junior teachers. As of September 2018, Pascale ventured off to being the Artistic Director to her own independent hip hop group called ASAP Krew. Over her entire dance career, Pascale has always took pride in educating and pushing her students to their full potential. Pascale is passionate about her craft and is excited to spread her knowledge and love of hip hop dance to her students at Leeming DanceWorks!
Since the age of 2, when she began her dance training, Katie DeCaire has had a passion for dance! Trained extensively in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap and musical theatre. Growing up as a competitive Dancer, then later continuing her dance education post-secondary. Katie is a graduate of the Commercial Dance Studies and The Performance Dance Studies Programs from George Brown College. In addition, she is a registered teacher with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and holds her Dance Masters of America Teaching Diploma. Katie has obtained her associates degree in Business Marketing and Event Planning and is the proud Owner/Director of Elite Dance Challenge.
Katie has been an active member of the Dance Community for over 20 years. She is an award winning choreographer and has been teaching recreational and competitive classes to Dancers 2 years to adult. As a Member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance she travels across Canada sharing her knowledge and inspiring today’s young competitive dancers. She continues to pursue her dance education through professional development by attending many teachers’ workshops, seminars and classes. As a dancer Katie represented Canada on the Canadian National Show Dance Team, was a member of the Toronto Rock Dance Team (2005-2010), Performed at the Grey Cup, Breakfast Television, Commercials and Many industrials around the GTA.
Helen Gagné Dip. RBS (TTC), ARAD, RAD RTS began full-time vocational training at the age of 8, attending The Arts Educational School in Tring Park, England, where she received intensive performing arts training alongside an outstanding academic education. She went on to graduate from England’s prestigious Royal Ballet School (RBS), achieving the RBS Teachers’ Training Course Diploma as well as gaining numerous additional qualifications as both a dance teacher and advanced dancer.
A member of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) since 1984, Helen is a Registered RAD teacher, a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, and holds the Teaching Certificate in Benesh Movement Notation. She has successfully completed the “Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders” certification. Mrs. Gagné continues to expand the scope & breadth of her knowledge & expertise by exploring and studying a vast array of subjects, and participating in continuing professional development courses on a regular basis.
In the studio, Mrs.Gagné is known for her passion and keen attention to detail. She strives to inspire, challenge & motivate each of her students toward achieving their full potential and, as they experience the joy of dance, to nurture within them a love and appreciation of dance that will last a lifetime.
Gemma-Lee is a Certified Jazz and Tap Teacher (ADAPT), and her ultimate passion has always been specializing in Hip Hop. Gemma-Lee began dancing at the age of 3 and she is an accomplished dancer winning Special Awards and Overall Highest Scores at various Dance Competitions.
Gemma-Lee’s dedication to her students of all ages never goes unnoticed, she believes in using an imaginative approach when teaching dance. She is devoted to being the type of Dance Teacher that continues to inspire her students both inside and outside of the studio, and knows from experience that dance teaches many valuable life lessons.
Outside of dance, Gemma-Lee holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Communications and enjoys spending time outdoors and travelling.
Caitlin Ennis is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer originally from the GTA before moving to Ottawa for university. She began dancing at the age of 4 and competitively at age 6. She trained in ballet/pointe (RAD), jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and hip hop while competing across the GTA. She won several special awards and scholarships that led her to opportunities such as Canadian Dance Expo, classes at Underground Dance Centre, and Move. In her last year of high school, Caitlin took a keen interest into teaching and choreography. This led to joining the Gee Gees Dance Team at University of Ottawa in her first year and choreographing 2 groups. Her first large contemporary group received an overall award at Terpsichore’s University Dance Challenge and from then on, Caitlin has choreographed several routines for the Gee Gees Dance Team, CASCO’s gala (student-charity organization at uOttawa), and Connections Dance Collective in Guelph. Caitlin has a profound passion for dance, as demonstrated by her commitment to the Gee Gees Dance Team as Assistant Captain in 2020-21 and her role as Captain in 2021-22. Caitlin shared her love for dance with students and staff at uOttawa this past year as she taught jazz and hip hop classes. Now, she looks forward to sharing her passion for dance with Leeming DanceWorks.
Hannah first started dancing at Leeming DanceWorks at the age of 3 and quickly fell in love with the world of dance. She started competing at the age of 6 and has trained in a variety of styles including tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and lyrical. Hannah is trained up to the Advanced Foundation level of the Royal Academy of Dance and has completed her intermediate level exams in both jazz and tap. From the age of 9, she has assisted in a variety of classes including tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. Hannah received a regional title for her tap solo at the Canadian Dance Awards in 2022. She also received the Most Overall Improved Dancer of the Year award for the 2021 – 2022 with Leeming DanceWorks. Miss Hannah has a profound passion for tap and she greatly enjoys sharing it with young dancers!
Leah started dancing at Leeming DanceWorks at the age of three, and started competing when she was seven. During this time, she has trained in styles such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical and Contemporary. Leah has attained her Advanced 2 certificate of the Royal Academy of Dance with Merit and was training at the Advanced level in both Jazz and Tap with the A.D.A.P.T. syllabus. Over the past four years, Leah assisted numerous classes, and working with younger dancers is something that she has always enjoyed. As she enters her third year of teaching, Leah is very passionate about sharing her love for dance!
Avery began dancing at the age of three and joined the competitive team at Leeming DanceWorks at the age of seven. She has trained in multiple styles such as Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro and Lyrical. Avery has attained her Advanced 2 certificate of the Royal Academy of Dance with High Merit and was training at the Advanced level in both Jazz and Tap with the A.D.A.P.T. syllabus. Since the age of twelve, she has assisted multiple classes, including Kinderdance, Lyrical and Jazz. Avery has achieved many accomplishments while participating on the competitive team including most recently receiving the title of Senior Miss Candance in Brockville in 2022. She has a profound passion for dance and loves to share that passion with upcoming dancers as she enters her third year of teaching.
Abby began dancing at the age of two, training in multiple styles such as Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, Acro, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. Abby has regularly completed dance exams and was trained up to the Advanced 1 level of the Royal Academy of Dance and Advanced Levels in the jazz and tap A.D.A.P.T. syllabi. Since the age of ten, she has assisted multiple classes, including Ballet, Tap, Hiphop, Acro and Jazz. Abby has a keen dedication to her passion of dance and recently earned a ‘Dancer Of The Year’ Title Award at the Canadian Dance Awards (CDA) 2021. She has also performed as a guest dancer in ‘Swan Lake’ with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen and ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the National Arts Centre. Additionally, Abby loved performing as a guest Hiphop dancer with “The Mini-Pop Kids” on tour. Abby is thrilled to be teaching with Leeming DanceWorks!
Mélissa has been dancing since she was 3 years old and started dancing competitively at the age of 7. She has trained in multiple styles such as Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro. Mélissa has obtained her Intermediate exam in the RAD ballet syllabus and is currently training at the Advanced 1 level of the Royal Academy of Dance and Intermediate 3 Level in the A.D.A.P.T. jazz syllabus. Over the past three years, Mélissa has assisted many classes including acro, jazz, ballet and tap and has run our Summer Dance Camp. In order to broaden her knowledge, she has completed the Assistant Teacher Program by A.D.A.P.T., is certified in level B of CPR and is a certified lifeguard. She is loves sharing her passion for dance through teaching and mentoring young dancers.
Olivia has been dancing at Leeming DanceWorks since the age of five and has been on the competitive team since the age of six. She has trained in styles such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acrobatics, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre. Olivia has won numerous awards, titles, top overall styles and special awards at competitions. She has most recently won Overall Highest Scoring Senior Soloist at Breakthru Dance Competition and Overall Highest Scoring Number of Competition at Kick it Up Dance Competition in 2022. Olivia has also competed in competitions for her choreography, such as the Young Creators Dance Challenge. She enjoyed being an ambassador for Move X Ultimate Dance Convention and working with the Mini Pop Kids as a guest Hip Hop dancer. Olivia completed several A.D.A.P.T Jazz and Tap exams and has been awarded Honours for her Pre-Intermediate 1 Jazz exam, as well as top mark of her class. She is currently training towards her Advanced 1 Ballet exam with the Royal Academy of Dance. Apart from dance, Olivia has received school awards such as the Sportsmanship Award, the Citizenship Award, and is certified in Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED Level C. Olivia loves to share her passion for dance by teaching younger dancers, and has enjoyed teaching summer camps and assisting weekly classes.
