Makayla Criss
Makayla began dancing at the age of 13 at Dance Zone Performing Arts Centre. She is trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, modern, and hip hop dance. She also has a variety of performance experience, competing for six years, and dancing in musicals throughout her high school career. Since graduating last year Makayla has begun the teacher training program at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, focusing on ballet training, children development, and pedagogy courses learning how to teach children.

Email Miss Makayla at m.criss@hotmail.ca

Dawn Halpin
Dawn began her dance training as a child in Germany under the ISTD British syllabus. Returning to Canada, she joined Dartmouth Dance Academy at 12 years of age and continued her training under the direction of Jacqueline Wright. She attained her Associate Teaching Certificate in the Stage Division of the CDTA in 1991, her CDTA Member level in 1994, and now has her CDTA Associate Ballet and her CDTA Acro Associate.

Continuing to dance and teach for DDA. Edgett International Dance and the Royal Conservatory, she co-directed and performed with Fusion Dance Performing Company locally in Halifax and she was involved in performing with the Nova Scotia Tattoo on an annual basis.

Moving to Ottawa in 1995 after graduating with a BScN from Dalhousie University, she taught, choreographed and performed for Vanessa Plettell and The Dance Studio, as well as for Le Jazz Hot Performing Company from 1995 to 2000. Her competition students performed in Dance Dance Canada competitions within Ontario and received many high-level awards, especially in Tap. She has trained in many syllabuses including the CDTA, BATD, RAD and ISTD and added to her knowledge base while in Ottawa by pursuing Hip Hop, Contemporary and Modern dance.

Dawn relocated back to Dartmouth in 2000 and resumed a teaching position at DDA. She has been teaching dance since 1984 and is experienced in all ages from three years to adult, and especially enjoys teaching children. Her nursing degree and extensive dance training, combined with having four children of her own, give her much insight into child development, anatomy and dance history. Dawn brings enthusiasm, devotion and passion to her classes.

Email Miss Dawn at missdawn@dartmouthdance.ca

Lisa Hart
To be a well rounded teacher, Lisa studied various forms of dance, as well as child psychology, to not only teach the art, but to apply the healing power of learning an athletic skill on the level of her students. She excels in her ability to relate to her students, as well as communicate with them on a level they understand. She received her degree as a transfer student from Mount Saint Vincent to BYU Idaho. 

Lisa first toured with an American Folk Dance team to China, representing the group at festivals with other dancers from across the world whom she was also privileged to observe and befriend. The experience left a strong impression of the influence of culture imbedded in dance, on a global and personal level.

Lisa then returned to Canada, where she began her study as a competitive dance teacher / choreographer for Danceworks, an Alberta dance school. During her five year training, she achieved and maintained top scoring in competition as a dancer and a teacher. Her students won top marks and medals with pieces like Sweet Honey and Bells For Her. 

Along with her professional career, Lisa has also taken the time to further her support of the arts, and support the needs of the community, with charitable performances for organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Aids Connection.

Now nurturing over twenty years of training and experience, Lisa has assumed the directorship of Dartmouth Dance Academy in addition to her role as director of its competitive dance division. Each year her students feel the success of her training and her expertise with hundreds of medals won in their respective categories at festivals such as the Millennium Dance Festival and CanDance.  

Lisa Hart is currently serving as an examiner for the Atlantic Division of CDTA in the stage division, and the National Board of Directors. She is concentrated on helping her students grow and experience life through the art and education of dance, as she has had the opportunity to do.

Send an E-mail to Lisa.

Claire Jeans
Claire began dancing at the age of three at Dartmouth Dance Academy. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance. Claire was also a member of Fusion Competitive Dance team for several years. After graduating from high school she moved to Newfoundland where she graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual), where she combined her love of dance with her passion for photography. While in Newfoundland she continued her dance training at Dance Studio West where she began her teaching career and also trained in hip hop and beginner ballroom. She has danced in The Rocky Horror Picture Show with the Off Broadway Players as well as a Bye Bye Birdie production with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. She is excited to return to Dartmouth Dance Academy to continue teaching and to share her love of dance with others!

Email Miss Claire at jeansclaire@gmail.com

Laurel MacNeil
Laurel comes to Nova Scotia after having competed her M.A. in Dance at York University (2007). Prior to her M/A., she completed her BSc in Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Laurel spent her years training in the dance forms of ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop; and more recently has been exposed to modern dance and many different cultural forms through her time at York University. Besides her regular dance training, Laurel has taught at a private school in Saskatoon and has taught with the University of Saskatchewan Dance School. Laurel has also had the opportunity to attend the Dance Olympus Conference in Minneapolis on two separate occasions. She is now looking to settle into the dance community within Nova Scotia and to continue learning and growing in all areas of dance.

Email Miss Laurel at misslaurel@dartmouthdance.ca

Raven Marshall
Raven is a second-generation dancer and teacher with 20 years experience. The family-owned and operated dance studio was her second home. In later years, she was studio and the performing company’s co-director and creative advisor. Miss Raven has studied with Dance Masters of America and at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is certified by the Dance Masters of America Inc. in classical ballet and modern dance. She has also studies with the Philadanco’s Peaches and Holly Wright and has worked with Chuck Davis’ American Dance Ensemble and The Moscow State Ballet. Miss Raven’s choreography and dancing have won many awards and titles in the US and she has been a professional judge for several national dance competitions. Miss Raven has an uncanny ability to work with dancers of all ages, always keeping structure, technique and “fun” in mind.

Now calling Dartmouth, N.S., her home and being an Associate member of CDTA, this will be Mis Raven's 6th year teaching at DDA and her 4th year coaching The Fusion Dance Team. We are delighted to have her experience, talent and enthusiastic contribution to our dance program.

Email Miss Raven at missraven@dartmouthdance.ca

Chris Pelrine
Chris returned to Halifax after graduating Cum Laude from Oklahoma City University with a degree in Dance Management. He has performed professionally with Freezone Dance Co., Synergy Dance Co., and The American Spirit Dance Co. Chris has worked as Costume Shop Foreman for OCU, where he got the chance to choreograph for The American Spirit Dance Co. With 20 years of dance experience Chris is well versed in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballroom, Ballet and Hip Hop.

Email Chris at chrispelrine@hotmail.com