GROOVE STAFF
Michaela has been dancing with Groove since her own Shake Rattle & Roll days! She has a combined 15 years of experience working with children as a middle school teacher, dance instructor (Groove School of Dance), camp councillor (UCC Summer Camp, and Groove) and tutor (TutorBright, independently). She has a bilingual Honours degree in Business Economics from Glendon College at York University and attended Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK where she received a teaching degree. Michaela is an Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) certified teacher for French as a Second Language, and is completing an additional qualification for Special Education. Michaela loves helping kids succeed & being a part of the Groove community!

Angela Williams
Owner
Angela Williams, Artistic Director of Groove School of Dance and Co-owner of a Musical Theatre Company, brings over 20 years of experience in jazz, ballet, gymnastics, hip hop, musical theatre and acro to each and every one of her students. Angela enjoys spending her summers working with Zodiac Camp overseeing the Dance and Performing Arts programs and as well as directing the performing arts plays at Camp Tamarack in Muskoka. With a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies (focusing on children with special needs) Angela also holds a Bronze Ballroom certification, has trained in dance at the Brian Foley Dance Studio and has her Ontario Gymnastics Coaching Certification. Angela’s numerous media appearances include the Hard Rock Café Talent Show, spots on CGOH Ottawa TV, Ottawa Rogers TV Talent Focus, HGTV, Slice TV and Treehouse. Angela spent many years as a competitive gymnast and as a teen, held the accolade of third place overall provincially in Ontario. She also placed 2nd in the Ottawa Talent Search (Dance Category). For many years Angela performed as a dancer, actor and singer in a number of musical theatre productions with Company of Musical Theatre (Babies, A Chorus Line and Into the Woods). After working as an educator in the special needs field for many years, Angela passion and love for dance led to her open her first dance studio, Act Now in Ottawa in 1995. Upon moving to Toronto in 1997, Angela’s dream came true for a second time when she opened Groove School of Dance in 1999. Her main goal was to create a dance studio without emphasis on competition and focus on high positive nature of dance and movement – to make every dancer feel like a star!

Emma-Krysta
Head Instructor
Emma-Krysta’s love of dance and the stage began at the age of 2 and a half when she took her first ballet class. Since then her passion for dance has continued to grow. She joined a competitive team at her studio at the age of 6 and has since trained in many styles of dance such as ballet, acro, jazz, hip hop, popping, locking, house, dancehall, tap, modern and contemporary. Emma-Krysta regularly attends classes and dance conventions, continuously working towards developing her skills and expanding her artistry. Throughout her years within the dance industry she has had numerous opportunities including 2nd runner up in Canada’s Got Talent, promotion videos with DanceLifeX and Grit Dance Bags. In addition you can see her in TV and film productions in her role as a dancer including “The Next Step”, on the Netflix series “I Woke Up a Vampire” and the Disney movie “World’s Best”. She has also had stage experience getting the chance to perform with artists such Shawn Desman and Peyton Garcia from the Mini Pop Kids, Fever After Dark, Movmnt Collective’s show Elements Within, street festivals and during Toronto Kids Fashion Week as both a dancer and model. At a young age she was selected as a Junior Elite Dancer for Industry Night and recently represented Canada in Denmark for the Homegrown Experience. This past summer she also spent several weeks training in Los Angeles with KAOS Dance Convention as a cast member, learning from elite choreographers and performing in their Aftermath Y2KAOS show.

Nate Bernstein Cord
Front Desk/Office Supervisor
Birthday Party Coordinator
Nate's passion for performing began at a young age, when he took his first steps onto the stage at 5. Since then he has immersed himself in the world of musical theatre, performing on stages such as Al Green Theatre, Crow's Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille. Currently Nate is enrolled at the Etobicoke School of the Arts for musical theatre. When he is not on stage, Nate enjoys reading and baking. He loves working with kids and always brings enthusiasm, patience and creativity to his interactions. Since he danced at Groove at a young age, he is excited to be a part of the Groove Staff Family.

Molly Godfrey
Head Instructor
Molly began her dance journey at the age of 2, and has trained in styles like hip hop, jazz, and lyrical. She was apart of the Groove competitive team for 5 years, and won many high awards, trophies, and dance scholarships with her team. Groove has always been a huge part of Molly’s life, and she cannot wait to share her love for the studio with all of her students!

Franny Eklove
Head Teacher
Franny began her dance journey at Groove at the age of three and instantly fell in love with it. Over the years, she has explored a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical. Franny was also a dedicated member of the Groove competitive team for four years, during which she and her team earned numerous special awards, trophies, and dance scholarships. Groove not only sparked her passion for dance but also introduced her to a supportive community that played a pivotal role in her growth as a dancer!

Sarah Johnson
Competitive Director
Office Manager
Sarah developed her passion for dance at the young age of 3. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, contemporary and lyrical. Completing all of her RAD ballet exams has given her the ability to implement and teach proper technique in all of her classes. Growing up Sarah was a apart of her studios full time competitive program since the age of 7 and continued until she was 18. During that time she won several awards for both group and solo routines. Competing in international competitions such as Dance Masters of America as well as Dance Pageants. Sarah prides herself on pushing her students to be their best while also building their confidence up. Sarah began assisting at 12 years old and began her teaching journey shortly after when she turned 18. Since then she has never looked back. With over a decade of teaching experience Sarah is still looking for ways to grow and improve for her students. At 19 Sarah moved to New York for a year to participate in the Broadway Dance Centres International Student Visa Program, where she graduated with flying colours. She also has auditioned for shows such as So You Think You Can Dance. Always striving to continue her own dance journey ensures that she will always bring new and vibrant choreography/skills to her own classes. At Groove Sarah is our Competitive Director/Choreographer, recreational teacher as well as the Office Manager. Groove has been such an amazing hub for Sarah to share her love of dance and is always looking forward to sharing her love of dance and knowledge with all ages and levels!

Taylor Gellatly
Head Instructor
Taylor Gellatly is an accomplished educator and performer with a passion for the arts. With over a decade of experience, Taylor has dedicated herself to the world of dance, musical theatre, and vocals, leaving an indelible mark on students and audiences alike. Having honed her craft through years of dedication and training, Taylor holds a Bachelor's Degree in Community Music, which has been an invaluable foundation for her teaching and artistic endeavors. Furthermore, she has achieved the prestigious Level 8 Vocals certification from the esteemed Royal Conservatory of Music, a testament to her exceptional vocal prowess and dedication to musical excellence. As an educator, Taylor's approach transcends mere instruction. She empowers her students with a nurturing and encouraging environment, fostering their creativity, self-expression, and technical proficiency. Her passion for the performing arts is contagious, inspiring her students to achieve their fullest potential. Taylor Gellatly's journey is a testament to the transformative power of music and dance. With an unwavering dedication to her students' growth and a boundless passion for the performing arts, she continues to inspire and uplift aspiring artists.

Maxim Gautsel
Head Instructor
Max has been dancing for 20+ years! It was break dance that opened the door to the world of dance. Max has one several first place awards in dance battles. He was in -The modern circle Extreme Dance Theatre. - Worked all over the Ukraine - Dancing with the stars - Semi finalist on Ukraine's Got Talent! - Graduated from KSAFK as a teacher of physical education and sports dance. Max then began officially teaching break dance and modern dance at the KSAFK and Gymnasium 172. Breakdance is not only a style of dance to Max, it is an opportunity to forge friendships, learn discipline, and create self motivation.

Amelia Schlagbaum
Head Instructor
Amelia's passion for dance began at the age of 5. She has spent over 10 years dancing at groove, and has trained in styles like jazz, lyrical, hiphop, and contemporary. Beginning her competitive journey at age 13, Amelia spent three years on Groove's competitive team, winning multiple awards alongside her fellow dancers. Outside of Groove, she has expanded her passion for dance, being a member of her highschool's fashion show as a dancer for 4 years. In those 4 years, Amelia became a choreographer, and spent her last year in the show as head choreographer. Amelia has dedicated lots of time cultivating close relationships with her students, creating a safe and positive environment to benefit their learning and growth. Through these past 3 years of teaching, Amelia has enjoyed and cherished her memories at groove, and is excited for the moments to come!

Sabrina Merkur
Head Teacher
Sabrina has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember. She started dancing at Groove when she was just two years old, and over the years, her love for movement and performance has only grown stronger. As once a member of the competition team, she has trained in multiple styles, specializing in acro, lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop. With a strong foundation in gymnastics-having trained for seven years-Sabrina brings incredible strength, flexibility, and control to her dancing. Sabrina's passion for dance goes beyond technique; she thrives on the creativity, expression, and joy it brings. Sabrina loves being with kids and seeing their progress every week! Whether she's perfecting a routine, assisting with acro, or simply dancing for fun, her enthusiasm and dedication shine through in everything she does.

Sage Bernstein Cord
Guest Choreographer
Sage has been dancing since age two and has extensive training in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and street styles. She graduated as a Dance Major in the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School and is currently attending the Performance Dance Program (BFA) at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is a member of the Kode Red Dance Company and has performed in Toronto showcases with choreographers such as Kennedy Elder and Christopher Knowles. While Sage continues to build her career as a dancer, she also teaches dancers of all ages at various dance studios across the city, both at the recreational and competitive levels. Teaching brings Sage an indescribable amount of joy and fulfillment. She loves to share her love for dance with others and hopes that her choreography and teaching style spark creativity and engagement with her students. Groove holds a special place in Sage’s heart as this was where her journey began at two years old! She is so grateful for her Groove family and the relationships she’s developed with the students, staff, and parents at Groove over the past several years!

Allison Garcia
Head Staff
Allison has over a decade of dance experience. She started her dance journey at the age of 4 attending Ontario School of ballet. Allison's experience comes from classical ballet training as well as tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary and hip hop. Allison has also graduated from Cardinal Carter Academy from the Arts, and has worked with their dance department for the past four years. She has worked with children at Groove since 2021, helping them improve their technique and have fun in the process!

Bianca Campbell
Head Instructor
Bianca Campbell began dancing at the age of three at a studio in Kingston, Ontario. She trained and competed at competitions across Ontario earning her top soloist awards such as Regional Teen Miss CanDance and 1st Place at the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Dance Challenge. Her training also allowed her to complete her Advanced Jazz Examination (ADAPT) as well as her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet Examination, with Distinction. While still in highschool, Bianca began teaching and choreographing. For over seven years now, Bianca has choreographed and taught students of all ages in a variety of styles. Her competitive numbers have stood out, earning her and her students top awards. She has been a recipient of the Shine Dance Competitions ‘Young Choreographer Award’ in the years 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Currently, Bianca choreographs and performs with the Toronto-based contemporary company Unapologetic Dance Collective. While earning her BA in Psychology, she is also proud to be a choreographer and Health and Wellness Co-Executive for Toronto Metropolitan University’s competitive dance team, TMU Dance Pak. Bianca is very excited to join the wonderful faculty at Groove School of Dance, and continue to spread her love of dance with dancers of all ages and abilities.

Sadie Landry
Head Instructor
Sadie has been head over heels for dance since the age of two. She has been pursuing her creative passion ever since, beginning her competitive training at the age of 11. Initially only training in ballet (RAD), she expanded her horizons also training in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Acro, Hip Hop, and Tap. Throughout her many years of training, Sadie has dedicated countless hours to perfecting her technique and expanding her repertoire. Her commitment and talent have earned her numerous accolades and opportunities to perform on prestigious stages around the world. Sadie now continues to teach and inspire the next generation of dancers while she also pursues her own professional career/training in dance.

Romy Arbuck
Head Instructor
My name is Romy and I specialize in teaching hip hop, tap, and jazz! I started my dance journey at groove when I was just 4 years old, where I found my passion for dance. I have bounced around to various studios throughout my childhood trying to find the right fit for me. COVID impacted my dance career greatly, and with my current dance studio shutting down at the time, I lost my passion for dance. Last year, I joined the groove community where I competed in hip hop and jazz, and was appointed comp team co-captain. I am forever grateful to groove for supporting my dance journey and helping me reconnect with my love for dance. I love teaching at groove, working with kids, and being able to express myself through dance!

Charlie Ames
Head Teacher
Charley has been dancing since the age of 2, and has trained in various styles, such as hip hop, jazz, and lyrical. She was apart of the Groove competitive team for 5 years, and won many high awards, trophies, and dance scholarships with her team. Groove has always been a huge part of Charley’s life, and she loves to share her love for the studio, and dance, with all of her students