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FACULTY

 

Leah Anna Sanguinetti - Owner / Director, Instructor

Leah Anna has been involved with dance for the past 30 years as an all-round dancer, teacher, choreographer and studio director. She has extensive training in jazz, ballet, acrobatics,lyrical/contemporary, modern and musical theatre. She danced competitively for many years and continued her studies at Ryerson University in the Theatre Arts Dance program for 2 years. Leah Anna has performed professionally at various industrial shows and large functions. Leah Anna went on to complete a health science degree from York University (HESO) with Kinesiology and Dance as teachable subjects.

Leah Anna has taught both competitive and recreational programs in Jazz, Acrobatics, Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre at many studios throughout the province. She founded In Harmony Dance & Wellness 17 years ago and has since had the pleasure of developing hundreds of students. Leah Anna is certified in Jazz, Acrobatics and Ballet through the PAEC (Performing Arts Educators of Canada) dance association and BADT (British Association of Dance Teachers). She also holds certification through Acrobatics Arts of Canada (AAC) and IADA (International Dance Academy of Adjudicators).  Leah Anna is also CPR/First Aid trained and holds a certification in YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance).  Leah Anna continues to train and educate herself so that she can pass the best dance education along to her students. She attends various workshops locally as well as the Dance  Teachers Summit in New York City.

Leah Anna has won awards for both her dance and choreography talents. She hopes to inspire, educate and guide dancers as they reach their goals and discovering their talents. Leah
Anna is blessed not only to work with, guide and motivate her students but also enjoys being a mom to her four children. Leah Anna believes that dreams will come true when you put your mind to it. Leah Anna would like to wish all of the dancers the best of luck this weekend. “Always believe in yourself and your dreams. Reach for the moon, at least you’ll land somewhere among the stars.

Shelby Thoms - Assistant Director, Instructor

Shelby holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Ryerson university and is a member of the professional Adjudicator's Alliance.  Ms Thoms trained as a competitive dancer for many years, earning numerous awards in many styles.  She is proud to have worked with and performed under a number of notable choreographers and teachers including Allen Kaeja, William Yong, Nadia Potts, Karen Duplisea, and Vicki St. Denys.  Ms. Thoms has continued her training and development by attending summer programs at Toronto Dance Theater and Ecole de Danse Contemporaine de Montreal.  She is extremely proud of her well-rounded training as a dancer in many styles as well as acting and singing.  Ms. Thoms is a company member of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers and co-owns Bradford Fine Artists, a not-for-profit organization that supports local artists in pursuing and developing their crafts. 

Ms. Thoms has extensive experience teaching and choreographing competitively, recreationally, and privately.  She has spent the past 10 years as a proud member of the In Harmony family.  Her passion to better herself and her students as an artist and dancer is unparalleled.  She recently became certified with Acrobatic Arts and furthered her training abroad Impulstanz International Dance festival in Vienna Austria, working with teachers and dancers from all over the globe. Shelby has been dedicated to becoming not only the best dancer she can be but becoming a teacher as motivating, inspiring and knowledgeable as the teachers she has trained with throughout her life.  Shelby hopes that she can help instill the love for dance in her students that has motivated her life for many years.    

Kelly Smith - Competitive Director & Instructor

Kelly is an accomplished instructor with more than 22 years of teaching experience. She prides herself on development, hard work and dedication. You can always find her students working to achieve their goals, as she guides them along their dance journey. As a dance teacher, at a studio level, she has learned the importance of thorough explanation for one to understand the body in dance and believes continued education is the key to success.

Kelly currently resides in Ajax, Ontario, but Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is where she grew up and began her dance education. She began training in her hometown and has been dancing for over 30 years. She is trained in Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Lyrical and Contemporary. Kelly’s education includes a B.F.A. in dance with a Jazz Concentration from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa., as well as a graduate of the Dance Masters Of America Teacher’s Training School in Buffalo, New York. She has trained with numerous dance masters such as Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Ron Tassone, Doug Bentz Doug Caldwell and Susan Stowe just to name a few. She is also a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, in which she has adjudicated numerous dance competitions in Ontario.

For the past 22 years she has been choreographing and teaching students throughout North America and her students have been recognized with numerous regional and national awards. As a dedicated teacher and adjudicator Kelly can always be found not only encouraging her students in dance, but in life lessons as well. Kelly has been on the faculty of In Harmony Dance for the past 9 years and she is looking forward to continuing to share her love and passion of dance with her students

 

Jaqui Brown - Instructor

Jaqui grew up in Newmarket, Ontario and has been a dance teacher and choreographer for dance and theatre schools in Ontario since 2006. She is a graduate of George Brown College where she earned a Diploma in Performance Dance Studies, and a Certificate in the Performing Arts. Her formal training includes modern dance (Limón; contact improvisation), ballet (RAD; Cecchetti), jazz (BATD; theatre), vocal, and acting. Jaqui is currently a company member of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers, a not-for-profit professional dance company based in Barrie, Ontario. Additionally, Jaqui has her degree in Psychology and Spanish from York University. Her passion for dance extends through to her love of other artistic forms such as singing, and photography. Jaqui hopes to inspire her students to follow their dreams, as teachers have inspired her to do so in the past.

 

 

Angela Cecchino - Instructor


Angela has been in the dance industry since the age of 3 years old and has been recognized by many professionals in the industry.  She graduated from St. Elizabeth School for the Arts in 2007 and has gone on to achieve great accomplishments and prestigious awards since then.  She was named a pulse protege which provided her with the opportunity to be trained by and perform for Brian Friedman.  She has also assisted Brian Friedman, Laureann Gibson, Chris Judd and Rhapsody.  She has also worked with hip hop sensation Luther Brown and assisted and danced for Leon Blackwood and Nelly Furtado's choreographer Scott Fordham.  

Once of Angela's greatest accomplishments was being chosen to be a part of Blake McGrath's team Canada, where she competed in a world championship held in Germany.  This wonderful opportunity then led to her being hired by Blake Mcgrath as one of his main dancers on his TIme to Move Tour which allowed her to dance and travel all across Canada.  Angela has also danced in music videos for Shawn Desman.  Aside from her own dancing accomplishments, she has also received many special awards for her unique choreography and is currently pursuing her dreams of sharing her experiences by teaching and choreographing many talented dancers across Canada.  

 Tara Nicholson - Instructor

     

  Bio to follow

Bryanne Sawaged - Instructor

Bryanne started dancing at the age of 5. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical with many accomplished teachers. Bryanne is a member teacher of the B. A. T. D. and has attended many workshops in Canada, the United States and Europe. As a competitor, she was a member of the Canadian National Tap Dance Team that won the 1st Canadian Gold Medal in 1998 in Reisa, Germany. She has also participated in many competitions at both the regional and national levels. Bryanne has taught and

choreographed for many studios in Toronto and surrounding communities. Her work has won many prestigious awards and scholarships. Bryanne is a very passionate and energetic teacher who encourages confidence, discipline and commitment from all of her students. Bryanne has a very special talent in communicating and working with children.

Natasha Booth - Instructor

Natasha O'Hara began dancing at the age of 3 in Barrie, ON. Completing many of her C.D.T.A Jazz, R.A.D Ballet and S.R.B. Ballet examinations, she fell in love with the art of dance. At the age of 8 Natasha began to dance competitively which fueled her passion to share dance with others around her. She led both her elementary and high school dance teams, and became a teaching assistant with her local studio.
In 2009 upon graduating high school, Natasha continued her education with Laurentian University via Georgian College receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Studies. During her four years of University, Natasha continued her journey as a studio office assistant and dance instructor. 
In 2014 she joined Simcoe Contemporary Dancers, a non-profit dance company based in Simcoe County, as a Company Member and Outreach Coordinator. Through SCD Natasha organizes and runs Celebration of Dance, an annual charity fundraising event. She continues her training in dance by performing with the company and attending various workshops and annual teaching seminars.
In 2017 Natasha completed her Barre Essentials instructor certification. She has also been working towards completing her full teaching certification with The Society of Classical Ballet. Today Natasha can be found as a resident dance instructor with several studios teaching both recreational and competitive classes. Natasha and her husband also have their hands full at home with their 3 year old daughter and almost 2 year old son!
Natasha strives to bring a positive and fun-filled energy to her classes as well as a love and respect for the art of dance. Miss Natasha is excited to be a new member of the In Harmony team and is looking forward to an amazing dance season!

Katherine Mascarin (Guest Instructor)

Katherine Mascarin began dancing at the age of 3 at the Woodbridge School of Ballet, and later graduated from Jaymor School of Dancing. She trained in Jazz, Ballet and Acro, and participated in the competitive team where she won numerous awards and scholarships. She furthered her studies at George Brown College, graduating the Fitness and Lifestyle Management Course, and at Humber College, graduating the Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist Assistant Program.

Katherine has been teaching for the past 17 years in Acro, Jazz and Ballet. She has choreographed and coached competitive groups at multiple studios. Katherine continues to increase her knowledge and skills of dance by regularly attending workshops, seminars and classes. She is an Associate member of Performing Arts Educators of Canada for both Acro and Jazz, and has her Full Membership with Acrobatic Arts Canada. Katherine is a certified Acrobatic Adjudicator (AAC) and is certified progressive ballet technique (PBT) instructor.