Director
Jill Williams
An accomplished dance instructor and mother to two dancers, Jill is the Owner and Studio Director at Leap Studios. Beyond managing the studio, she enjoys leaping in to produce performance choreography and provide technique training to all ages. Jill is proud to have acquired her dance training at Showtime Dance Promotions - known as Canada's leading dance talent production company and founders of the Great Canadian Dance Challenge competition.
In addition to learning and experiencing the joys dance for over 40 years, Jill enjoyed a successful corporate career that spanned continents, in finance and marketing management in oil & gas and manufacturing industries. She is passionate about creating consistently exceptional experiences for all of our students, their families, and our community. Above all, she loves watching the gifts of being a dancer unfold for each student (her own children included!).
Jill holds instructional certifications as a Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Instructor, Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (Y.P.A.D.), and Leap 'N Learn ballet Instructor. She is currently obtaining Teacher Certification in the ADAPT tap and jazz syllabi and Acrobatique acro syllabus.
Besides building a positive community within the studio, she also enjoys giving back to the community at-large. Jill is an active member of the local non-profit "Wild Rose Dance Arts Association" (WRDAA), and serves internationally on the Board of Directors for YPAD (www.ypad4change.org). Leap Studios is a proud sponsor of local school foundations, community groups and teams and non-profit agencies through corporate donations and sponsorships.
Instructors
Miss Chelsea
Miss Chelsea's love for dance began when she took her first dance class at the age of three in her home town studio in Lloydminster. As a dedicated technique and performance dancer, Chelsea completed all R.A.D. Ballet exams and all C.D.T.A. Tap exams. Her talent and commitment earned her exciting opportunities to travel and showcase her artistry: she has performed as a dancer with Caribbean Cruise Lines, on stage with Shania Twain and in a Jason Blain music video.
Chelsea obtained her Bachelor in Education from the University of Saskatchewan in 2011, and has taught in elementary and middle schools in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She recently moved to Calgary from Kelowna with her husband and daughter (who celebrated her second birthday this past summer!). Chelsea has completed her Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) and Leap N' Learn (ballet and creative movement) certifications through Leap Studios' -sponsored faculty development program.
Chelsea is excited to be back in her home province, bringing her 7+ years of dance teaching and choreography experience in all genres to our studio and to contribute to our "small town" studio culture. Her areas of expertise are vast: Chelsea is teaching tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop/street, lyrical and contemporary dance styles, in both the non-competitive and performance competitive divisions.
Miss Allie
Miss Allie grew up dancing in her home town of Innisfail, Alberta, dancing competitively and completing exams in Adapt Jazz & R.A.D. Ballet. She had the opportunity to attend many dance festivals and competitions around Alberta as well as participate in two dance trips to Disney Music Days in Disneyland. In 2016, Miss Allie helped train Leap’s performance dancers for our Disneyland Parades trip, teaching choreography and performing in the parades herself!
Allie is a Junior Acrobatique Certified Instructor and is currently working on her Intermediate Acrobatique Certification. She holds the honour of being an Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA), earning her designation in the Stage Division (jazz). Allie has completed her Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) and Leap N' Learn (ballet and creative movement) training through Leap Studios' -sponsored faculty development program.
Allie has been teaching for over 9 years and is excited to enter her sixth year with Leap Studios. She enjoys teaching at Leap because it has a small studio feel and teaches solid technique, focuses on fun and prides itself on building community. Her overall goal as a dance teacher is to share “the love of dance”, igniting the passion within students to achieve while providing the highest level of dance training possible to her students !
Miss Carley
Miss Carley continues her great momentum in to her third season with Leap Studios, teaching our Mini Company Tap and Acro programs, Crew Performance Jazz, plus Hip Hop/Street, Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theatre in our non-competitive division.
Miss Carley recently completed a childcare education degree at Mount Royal University, and is presently completing a Bachelor of Education.
Miss Carley has completed her Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) and Leap N' Learn (ballet and creative movement) certifications through Leap Studios' -sponsored faculty development program.
Miss Jenna
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Jenna back to her second year with Leap!
Miss Jenna has been an active member of Calgary's dance community for over 20 years. She has gleefully spent 13 years dedicated to dancing competitively, and three years in a pre-professional high school program at Central Memorial High School. She loves to teach all styles of dancing but in particular Jazz and Acro hold a place in her heart.
Jenna recently completed her certification in Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT), Module one of Acrobatic Arts, as well as her first and second module of Acro Dance Teachers Association. Miss Jenna has also attended countless teacher workshops with some of the top choreographers in the world including:
Mia Michaels, Shannon Mather, Denise Wall, Anthony Morigerato, Mandy Yip and more.
Miss Heather
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Heather to Leap!
Heather Thomson was born in Calgary Alberta, Canada. She started her professional training at the age of 15 at the School of Alberta Ballet under the direction of Murray & Nancy Kilgour. She later joined Alberta Ballet II under the direction of Aram Manukyan, where she performed a variety of Ballets including Ben Stevenson’s Don Quixote, Edmond Stripe’s The Nutcracker and Madame Butterfly, set by Houston Ballet’s Stanton Welch.
Heather received the Muriel Jolliffe Endowment for Dance scholarship to attend the Banff Centre’s Professional Dance Program the summer of 2015. She later joined Ballet Kelowna, and since that time has performed works by Artistic Director Simone Orlando, and choreographers such as John Alleyne, Gioconda Barbuto, James Kudelka, Heather Myers, Donald Sales, Gabrielle Lamb and Matjash Mrozewski. In 2017, she joined the Performance Research Project in Vancouver, under the direction of Lesley Telford. Most recently in 2018, Heather has performed in Dancer’s Studio West's 37th Annual Alberta Dance Festival under the direction of Sasha Ivanochko, performing We Three choreographed by Allison Burns.
Heather’s true passion lies in movement and connection with her students. Through her dance and teaching experience, she aims to create a motivating and empowering atmosphere for her students to grow and unlock their maximum potential. When Heather is not occupied by the arts, you can also find her on her yoga mat as a registered yoga instructor.
Miss Maegan
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Maegan to Leap! A full bio to follow.
Miss Sarah
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Sarah to Leap! A full bio to follow.
Miss Josie
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Josie to Leap! A full bio to follow.
Miss Jenny
We're thrilled to welcome Miss Jenny to Leap!
Dance has been a part of Miss Jenny's world since she was 7 years old. She has experience with all different kinds of styles including tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet, musical theater, hip hop, modern, lyrical, and pointe.
Miss Jenny competed for 12 years at many different dance competitions! Let's just say she can't even count how many numbers she has done!!! Miss Jenny has even competed in the US and performed in Disneyland! Right now Miss Jenny is pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Royal University. She has also traveled to Vaughn, ON for the past 3 summers, and is now a certified Adapt syllabus teacher. Growing up, Miss Jenny completed her Adapt tap and jazz exams all the way up to the Intermediate 3 level. She has also completed up to the Intermediate level in the RAD ballet exams. Finally, Miss Jenny even did her level 2 Acrobatique acro dance exam!
Miss Jenny started teaching when she was just 13 years old as an assistant teacher. She loves all styles of dance, but tap and lyrical hold special places in her heart. She loves tap because she can create music with her feet and experiment with different rhythms. Miss Jenny loves lyrical because she believes that telling a story and making the audience feel something is one of the most important aspects of dance.
Miss Jenny's love of dance is contagious and we are so excited to have her share that with our students at Leap Studios!
Certifications & Affiliations
