MEET THE FACULTY!
JodyKym Hanson - Director
CBTS RAD, CDTA Stage Member, CSTD, AAC, C.P.R. & Sports First Aid
JodyKym Hanson is a mother of three with a passion for teaching and dance. JodyKym has the belief that everyone has the right to learn the love of dance regardless of the personal goal- whether they dance for exercise, recreation, the love of the art or for quest of profession. Miss Jo's mission is to help educated dancers and guide them to reach their goal in a constructive, nurturing and positive environment. JodyKym trained in Moose Jaw growing up where she participated in RAD ballet examinations, CDTA and ADAPT jazz and tap examinations as well as many competitions and conventions. She spent summers with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, as well as the Alberta Ballet School. She is a current member of the Royal Academy of Dance, CDTA Stage Division in jazz, CDTA Modern Associate Member, affliate Memeber of ISTD Contemporary Division. She is also a certified AAC instructor ( acrobatic arts). JodyKym has won numerous awards for choreography and has adjudicated many festivals/competitions. Miss Jo has contributed her work to charity events and many school programs, as the studio believes in paying forward. She continues to train in the field, and is currently working towards her ISTD Contemporary Memebers. Miss Jo is very proud of her Dance Elements family and the environment it's created- her home away from home <3
SARAH BAXTER - Substitute Teacher & Office Support
BSN, RN, CDTA ASSOCIATE JAZZ DIVISION, AAC, CPR C, BASIC LIFE SUPPORT & FIRST AID
Sarah started dancing at the age of 5, while training in all disciplines of dance. Miss Sarah has completed her C.D.T.A. Advanced Jazz, R.A.D. Advanced One Ballet, A few tap exams but most importantly her Associates Jazz exam with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (C.D.T.A.). Miss Sarah will be subbing classes and helping out with office tasks for our 2019/2020 season.
When Miss Sarah is not hanging out at the studio, she is working as a Registered Nurse at RUH in the NICU. Miss Sarah has found her true passion in life taking care of these babies and families!
Miss Sarah has loved her time teaching at Dance Elements and the relationships she has made with the many dancers and their amazing families!
MADISON RAJCHYBA - INSTRUCTOR
B.F.A., A.R.A.D.
Miss Maddi has over 20 years of dance training and over six years experience in various Pilates methods. She grew up participating in dance competitions in Saskatchewan and Alberta while studying CDTA jazz and tap, as well as receiving a grade of Distinction in her RAD Advanced 2. Her dance pursuits paid off when she was offered a full tuition talent scholarship to Adelphi University's Dance Program run by Frank Augustyn in New York. While there, she studied ballet, Classical Pilates and various modern dance techniques including Graham, Taylor, Mueller, etc. She is one of the few Adelphi dancers who have been in all eight possible performances throughout her degree. Within those four years, she also had the opportunity to perform at the Joyce Theatre in New York City, not once, but twice. Alongside her dance schedule, she partook and excelled in science-based classes to aid in her pursuit of medical school. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and received the prestigious, outstanding dancer award, the Ruth St. Denis Award. This past summer, alongside the medical school application processes, she has found the time to complete her teacher Pilates Mat Certification in Edmonton under her first Pilates mentor, Steven Bryson. What you can expect from her class is an educational and eye-opening movement experience. Her classes always start with breathing and internalizing one's focus. From there, she teaches how to access intrinsic core stabilizers via one's breath to achieve optimal alignment and muscle balances. Since there are many ways of learning, she teaches with her voice for the listeners, demonstrations for the visuals, and tactically teaches for the kinesthetics. Questions and dialog in regard to what individuals are feeling during the movements is endorsed to encourage a learning environment for all!
KATE THOMAS- INSTRUCTOR
CDTA Associate Tap Division
Miss Kate started dance when she was 6 years old, after realizing that the household push for hockey wasn't going to work out - especially when she found out that music only plays during intermissions- LOL! Since then she has expanded her dance vocabulary from tap and jazz to include ballet, modern, lyrical, acro and hip hop. But Tap is Miss Kate's FAVORITE because you make music with your feet and Miss Kate loves music! Miss Kate has been successful through out many exams - CDTA Advanced Tap and Jazz, RAD Intermediate Ballet. Miss Kate plan to be an Associate Member of CDTA by summer 2019. Miss Kate in in her 2nd year of university pursuing her education degree. She also works as an E.A at John Dolan- another passion of Miss Kate's. Hopefully when done her schooling she will work specifically in this field. She Miss Kate's love of humans does not stop at the studio doors but carries through in her everyday life where her positivism and spunky attitude flourishes. Miss Kate is excited for another season with her Dance Element's family and is thrilled to be part of the DE faculty for another season.
MEGAN ANDERSON - INSTRUCTOR
Miss Megan knew she was meant to be a dancer at a young age when she danced more than she walked. Miss Megan's parents recognized this passion and enrolled her in ballet at the age of 4. Miss Megan continued to grown and expand as a dancer adding all other styles of dance to her vocabulary- such as tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, acro and lyrical. Miss Megan has completed many exams including her CDTA Advanced Tap, Advanced Jazz, RAD Advanced 2 & Discovering Repertoire 4 and her CDTA Modern Grade 3. Miss Megan has also attended many competitions and conventions and has been recognized with numerous awards, scholarships and medals, including top overall soloist 2019. Miss Megan is about to start her 2nd year at the University of Saskatchewan. Miss Megan is thrilled to now be able to share her passion for the art of dance with her Dance Elements Family!
She is very excited to start the 2019-2020 Season!
KIRK FORD - INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Kirk is a multi-disciplined dancer from Saskatoon and the Hip Hop teacher here at Dance Elements. He has trained in all genres of dance since age 4 but really focused in on his passion for hip hop over the last 4 years. He was a member of Team Canada Hip Hop in 2016 and currently team captain and member for 2017! As well as training with Team Canada Mr. Kirk has furthered his education as a Hip Hop dancer/instructor by training with some of Canada's top choreographers, and has been to many competitions and conventions across Canada. Mr. Kirk is also a member of the 18+ BsoFlo Co. We thank Mr. Kirk sharing his enthusiasm and passion for hip hop dance while rocking his fanny pack and visor with our dancers! Mr. Kirk is excited for an awesome 3rd season with his DE teams this year!
MICHEAL HARRIS - VOCAL INSTRUCTOR
Michael also currently directs two choirs in town – le Choeur des Michael has gained much experience in Saskatchewan over the past 17 years. He has sung with the Regina and Saskatoon Symphonies as a soloist, especially in productions of Handel’s Messiah. He has had many roles with the Saskatoon Opera Association, both as a soloist and as a director of Chorus choirs. Michael Harris is a talented and sought-after performer. He is familiar with many musical styles, and has two degrees in music performance, including training as an operatic tenor. He is passionate about music and the arts, and about teaching young performers to engage their communication skills in the theatre arts. plaines, Saskatoon’s only Francophone community choir; and St. John’s Cathedral Choir, where he is also the Music Director. He is a long-standing member of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and has maintained a private singing studio over the past 13 years.
Melanie Giannios - Instructor
E.C.E. CPR C & First aid
Melanie Giannios is a mother of two living with her husband and children in Saskatoon. Melanie has studied the art of dance primarily from Mrs. JodyKym Hanson and Mrs. Yvonne Jaspar, attaining advanced RAD certification in ballet, training in CDTA tap and jazz, as well as multiple achievements at local dance competitions as both a dancer and teacher. Melanie has had the pleasure of teaching hundreds of children in and around Saskatoon both recreationally and competitively for various studios, including the opportunity to prepare students for performances with the Moscow Ballet. Her experience as a preschool teacher comes through in her patience and ability to adapt to each child's method of learning while passing on her love for dance. Melanie is proud to be a part of Dance Elements.
Mason Leier - Instructor
Mason started his dance education as a tap student only at Tisdale Dance Centre. Once he moved to Saskatoon he took all the classes he could; including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip Hop. Over the years he has obtained many scholarships to workshops all over including New York and Vancouver. In 2015 he attended a summer session at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Mason has attained his Advanced Tap and Advanced Jazz in the C.D.T.A., and his Advanced 1 ballet with the R.A.D. syllabus. After graduating high school he attended a summer session at the QBSC, and stayed as a full-time student of their PTP for a term. Now, Mason continues dancing and teaching as a part of the Dance Elements family!
Janae Hunter - InSTRUCTOR
Janae started dancing when she was 6 years old and has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre, modern, lyrical, acrobatiques and hip hop. Miss Janae has completed her R.A.D. Intermediate Ballet exam, and her C.D.T.A. Advanced Jazz & Tap exams. In the fall of 2019, Miss Janae will begin her nursing education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic/University of Regina. Miss Janae's fun-loving spirit and kind heart have made her a fabulous assistant at Dance Elements, and Miss Janae will be joining the faculty as an instructor for our 2019/2020 dance season. Miss Janae loves Dance Elements for its family-forward, accepting environment. "It is really amazing to be around people who share the same passion as you and love dance just as much as you." Miss Janae is excited to teach this season, as she loves watching others learn and grow through dance. Miss Janae is excited to share her passion for dance with the students of Dance Elements this season!
Nicole Katelnikoff -INSTRUCTOR
Nicole Katelnikoff started dancing at the age of 2 until her graduating year. Miss Nicole realized she wanted to be a teacher after her many years of assisting. Miss Nicole fell in love with choreographing at the age of 14 when she choreographed her first solo. She fell in love with all styles but Tap and Contemporary hold a close place in her heart. Miss Nicole has done a lot to branch off in her dance education, Miss Nicole has traveled to Riesa, Germany to compete with Team Canada Tap finishing in the top 2.
Miss Nicole was apart of the first street dance crew to perform at Riders games.
Miss Nicole has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, musical theatre, hip hop, street jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, acro and pom. She has completed most of her ADAPT tap and jazz exams, CDTA Tap exams and RAD ballet exams. She can not wait to see what the upcoming season has to offer and to share her passion of dance!
DE is excited to welcome Nicole to our family!
Kate Devito-PoRTER- INSTRUCTOR
BIO COMING
