Mrs. Tracey Coward, Director

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 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Clara has trained at the competitive level in various dance styles (Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, and Hip Hop) from a young age. She studied at York University, where she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts with honours in Dance and a double major with her Bachelor of Education. Clara studied at the Pavlova International Ballet School in Bergamo Italy on scholarship for a summer and took classes in LA with choreographers such as Stacey Tookey. She has trained and completed examinations in both RAD and Cecchetti ballet syllabi. 

Clara has many years of performance and choreography experience. She toured with ballet company, Ballet Jorgen Canada for three years, playing the lead role Klara in their version of the Nutcracker. Clara participated in dance competitions and showcases with her dance studio and high school dance program. She has both performed in, and choreographed various dance pieces throughout her studies at York University- primarily contemporary and modern. She has continued her training at ONE since 2017 and has enjoyed performing with the contemporary team and teaching drop-in classes. 

Clara is very passionate about dance education in Ontario schools and co-created a school program providing dance workshops from kindergarten to grade 8 that support expectations and requirements of the Ontario dance curriculum. She is a committee member for the Pulse Ontario Dance Conference which is held bi-annually that aims to support dance education in Ontario schools. 

Clara enjoys working as an elementary school teacher during the day and studio teacher in the evenings. Clara also enjoys teaching kids yoga as a certified Rainbow Kids Yoga teacher. Clara has experience teaching contemporary, modern, ballet, jazz technique, hip hop and choreography to various age groups for over 9 years. Clara is thrilled to be a part of the En Avant faculty to share her love and passion for creative expression and movement. 

Melissa has been dancing since a young age and has had extensive training in various genres of dance. After graduating from a senior competitive company here in London, Melissa found a strong passion for teaching dance, She has taught all styles of dance to all ages. Melissa recently completed her ADAPT certification and is looking forward to implementing this syllabus as a professionally certified teacher. Melissa has trained extensively in RAD ballet syllabus and was very successful when competing at various competitions. Melissa has been a part of helping prepare choreography for many high school shows and loves to work with all levels of dancers. Melissa is absolutely thrilled and thankful to be a part of the En Avant family. 

Nikki began her dance career at the age of two which sparked a lifelong passion for dance and the performing arts. Nikki has trained in several genres of dance in the sixteen years she has been dancing so far, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and musical theatre. She has competed in numerous styles of dance across the province with the studios she trained at. Nikki has recently completed summer dance intensive programs at The National Ballet School of Canada and The Ballet Jörgen. She was given the position of Dance Captain in Saunders Musical Theatre’s production of FAME in the spring of 2018. Nikki will be studying at Western University beginning in September 2019. Nikki is so excited and thankful to be joining the En Avant family and hopes to share her love of dance with other aspiring young dancers!