A dance teacher helps their students find the song in their heart and the beat in their feet and a passion for life.
Meet the faculty
Lynn Nakonechny & Noelle Philippe
Studio Owner/Directors
|
Lynn Nakonechny and Noelle Philippe are the Co Owners and Directors of Diamond Dance Academy and founded the studio in April 2013. Their passion for dance grew from watching their children emerge themselves into the world of dance, giving them the opportunity to open the studio and to work with their amazing faculty. Noelle received her Junior level Acrobatique in 2015 in Toronto. You can find both Lynn and Noelle working extremely hard to ensure that the studio runs smoothly with all the day to day operations. Along with their staff at Diamond Dance they are looking forward to an amazing year at Diamond Dance.
|
|
Lacee Nakonechny
Creative Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Lacee started dancing at the age of 3 where she advanced to all disciplines throughout her dancing ages. At the age of 15 Lacee began teaching her own classes in the styles of ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop and lyrical. Lacee has successfully completed her exams in Jazz and Tap in the ADAPT syllabus. Lacee has achieved the ADAPT assistant training certificated and then went on to completing The Teachers Training School to receive Professional Teachers Certification in Toronto, Ontario.
Over the years Lacee has won many awards dancing in the competitive program, from two World Cup championships to her most memorable have been winning Triple Threat Dance Conventions Intermediate Ultimate Threat. She attended the Triple Threat Next Step dance in Los Angeles taking master classes from several famous choreographers at the age of 15. Lacee has found her passion for choreography, and many of her routines have gone on to win special awards, overalls, and judges choice awards at competitions across Canada and receive with invitations to Nationals. Upon completion of our competitive program, she went on to perform for the singer Serena Ryder and the opening ceremonies for Canada Summer Games where she was then selected by Wondersee Entertainment to tour as one of their dancers across Canada. Lacee is looking forward to another amazing year of dance at Diamond and working with new and returning dancers to create unique routines that inspire each dancer to show their true passion and individual talent.
Over the years Lacee has won many awards dancing in the competitive program, from two World Cup championships to her most memorable have been winning Triple Threat Dance Conventions Intermediate Ultimate Threat. She attended the Triple Threat Next Step dance in Los Angeles taking master classes from several famous choreographers at the age of 15. Lacee has found her passion for choreography, and many of her routines have gone on to win special awards, overalls, and judges choice awards at competitions across Canada and receive with invitations to Nationals. Upon completion of our competitive program, she went on to perform for the singer Serena Ryder and the opening ceremonies for Canada Summer Games where she was then selected by Wondersee Entertainment to tour as one of their dancers across Canada. Lacee is looking forward to another amazing year of dance at Diamond and working with new and returning dancers to create unique routines that inspire each dancer to show their true passion and individual talent.
Sydney VallanceTeacher/Choreographer
Sydney began dancing with Kelly Waterman School of Dance at the age of three. She later went on to dance at both Aurora Dance Academy and Diamond Dance Academy. She joined the competition team at the age of 9, and has competed in the local Arts Festival as well as numerous competitions across Canada and the United States where she has won various awards and scholarships. Sydney began with ballet however quickly immersed herself in other disciplines including jazz, tap, hiphop, musical theatre, lyrical/contemporary, acro and pointe. Under the ADAPT syllabus Sydney has completed up to her Class 4 ballet exam, Intermediate 3 Jazz Exam and Pre-Intermediate 2 Tap Exam. Her passion for dance continued year round as she often took private lessons and attended summer dance schools including Wade Dance Camp, RWB Summer Intensive and receiving a scholarship and attending Breaking Bounds Summer Intensive in Toronto. Sydney has attended multiple workshops including Triple Threat and Idance and has worked with talented choreographers such as Melissa Mitro, Wayne Santo, Damien Lavergne, and Blake McGrath. Sydney has completed her ADAPT teachers training and continues to love using all her skills to improve dancers training in the classroom.
Kaidie Morris/Artistic Director/Teacher/Choreographer
Kaidie started dancing at the age of 5 at the Kelly Waterman School of Dance where she studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theatre. She has successfully completed exams with the Royal Academy of Dance Children and Vocational Syllabus, as well as ADAPT jazz and tap. Kaidie has participated in dance conventions and competitions throughout her dancing career. At the age of 11 Kelly Waterman began training Kaidie to assist classes and create choreography. She's been teaching ever since in a variety of styles. Kaidie looks forward to bring her passion of dance to Diamond Dance Academy this upcoming fall.
Jen Tretjak/Executive Director/Teacher/Choreographer/Zumba Instructor
Jen began dance at the age of 5 with Kelly Waterman School of Dance, where she studied ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. During her time with Kelly Waterman School of Dance she completed her exams in with the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus, as well as her exams in Adapt Jazz & Tap. Jen has attended Adapt Teachers Training Program in 1998 in Winnipeg, MB, in 2000 in Lethbridge, AB. Jen has attended various dance conventions as well as competitions receiving many awards. Jen began teaching for Kelly Waterman in 1997 where she taught jazz, tap, and hip hop and also choreographed many of the year end recital pieces. Through Kelly Waterman School of Dance Jen submitted students in the ADAPT Jazz and Tap exams and is planning to finish her certification in ADAPT jazz and tap. Jen is also a certified Zumba, Zumbatomic, and Zumba Toning instructor. Since Jen has come on with Diamond Dance Academy she has strived for technique and excellence and believes in strong dedication to each discipline and looks forward to bringing back the root of dance with the discipline and respect it deserves.
Abbi St. Pierre/Teacher/Choreographer
Abbi began dancing at the age of 3 at Kelly Waterman School of Dance. She continued to train in Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz , Tap and Lyrical. At the age of 7 she continued her classes Diamond Dance Academy. Abbi began assisting teachers with their classes at the age of 12 at Diamond Dance Academy and then began teaching her own classes by the age of 15. Over the years Abbi has attended Triple Threat Dance Conventions and Dance competitions locally and out of town/province. Abbi has completed her ADAPT Exams up to Inter 1 for Jazz, Tap and Ballet. She has had the opportunity to dance under or learn choreography by Blake McGrath and Damien Lavergne. Abbi has danced competitively since she was 6 years old and had won many awards competitively and locally. Abbi loves to teach dance classes and introduce new students to the passion of dancing!
Alexandria McKeown/Teacher/Choreographer
Alexandria started dancing at the age of three years old at Ida Sauve Dance School in Sudbury, Ontario. She competed in Ballet, Acro, Modern, Lyrical, Pointe, Interpretive Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theatre from the age of 7 to 19 in the categories of Solos, Trios and small and large groups. Alexandria taught recreational and competition dance at Sheryl Graham Studio in Sudbury, Ontario for 4 years in various styles of dance. Over the years she also stage managed Sudbury Dance Competitions. Alexandria studied at York University and received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and added Middle Eastern, Asian, African and South American Dance styles to her studies. She professionally performed in Toronto, Ontario in Contemporary/Modern Dance and World Dance (Middle Easter, African). She had the opportunity to tour with an Iranian Dance Company “This Dance I Wish” which toured to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Alexandria continued to dance internationally where she began teaching in Malaysia where she taught Grade 12 dance class and school groups. She organized and ran talent shows and dance festivals in Malaysia. Alexandria did a field trip called Breaking Barriers with the students who taught workshops of different dance practices to kids in Sabah who don’t get exposed or have the opportunity to learn other dance styles. In return they taught the students their local dance and art practices. Alexandria is excited to start teaching at Diamond Dance Academy this fall.
Eva Parobec/Teacher/Choreographer
Eva Parobec has been dancing for 15 years and competing for 12 of those years, embracing a wide variety of dance styles. Her passion for dance has taken her to places like Toronto, Edmonton, and Las Vegas. Throughout her dance career, Eva has received various awards, reflecting her dedication and hard work. She has also completed some of her ADAPT dance exams, always striving to improve her skills. Teaching dance is one of Eva's greatest joys, as she loves sharing her knowledge and inspiring others to pursue their love of dance.
Tessy McKay/Teacher/Choreography
Tessy started dancing at the age of 4 at the Kelly Waterman School of Dance where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theatre. Tessy has participated in dance conventions and competitions throughout her dancing career. She has successfully completed exams with the Royal Academy of Dance Children and Vocational Syllabus, as well as ADAPT jazz and tap. Tessy also completed her ADAPT Teachers Training. At the age of 12 Kelly Waterman began training Tessy to assist classes. Tessy went on to teach her own classes soon after. Tessy ooks forward to bring her passion of dance to Diamond Dance Academy this upcoming fall.
Reese St. Pierre/Choreographer
Reese began dancing at the age of 6 in jazz at Kelly Waterman School of Dance. She continued her training in Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical at Diamond Dance Academy. Reese began student teaching at the age of 13 at Diamond Dance Academy and then began teaching her own classes by the age of 16. Over the years Reese has attended Triple Threat Dance Convention, competing in the Ultimate Threat Competition as well as other Dance conventions out of town and locally. Reese has completed her ADAPT Jazz Exams and has completed her Inter 2 Tap and Class 3 Ballet Exams with ADAPT. Reese has won numerous awards with Diamond Dance Academy competing at various competitions over the years. Reese had the opportunity to work with the following choreographers Blake McGrath, Wayne Santos, Damien Lavergne. Reese has found a new passion for choreography and looks forward to continuing to choreograph routines while she is away studying for her Bachelors in Psychology.
Stephanie Abgrall/Office Manager
Stephanie joined our team in 2024 as our office manager. You can find Stephanie in the office taking care of the accounts, taking payments, ordering costumes, assisting in recital planning and everyday day to day planning. Stephanie is excited to be part of the Diamond Dance Academy Team and looks forward to another amazing year!
STUDENT TEACHERS
Jerzie Carroll
|
Adriana Martinez
|
Ava Haywood
|
Alexis Abele
|
Payson Bie
|
IN MEMORY OF MS. CARRIE
