Our Faculty

Rebecca Middleton

Artistic Director

Originally from North Lincolnshire, England, Rebecca began her professional ballet training at the prestigious Academy of Northern Ballet (ANB) in Leeds under the renowned direction of Yoko Ichino. The rigorous training program at ANB emphasised classical technique and artistry, preparing Rebecca for a professional career in ballet. During her time at ANB, she performed in several productions, including an opportunity to appear in Northern Ballet’s Giselle, directed by David Nixon, where she gained valuable experience performing alongside a professional company.

At the age of 17, Rebecca advanced her training at Northern Ballet School (NBS) in Manchester. While studying at NBS, she danced her first soloist role as Big Swan in Swan Lake and performed a variety of roles with the school’s company, Manchester City Ballet. These experiences honed her skills in performance and versatility. Rebecca graduated from NBS with an NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance, a qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the UK, solidifying her technical and artistic foundations.

In 2015, Rebecca moved to Canada to join Coastal City Ballet (CCB) in Vancouver, BC. With CCB, she performed prominent soloist roles, including Myrtha in Giselle, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Big Swan in Swan Lake. Rebecca also collaborated with celebrated choreographers such as Wen Wei Wang, Joshua Beamish, Li Yaming, and Irene Schneider, enriching her repertoire with contemporary and classical works.

Rebecca’s teaching career began in 2016 while still performing with CCB, allowing her to cultivate a passion for teaching and education. She gained extensive experience teaching across multiple Vancouver ballet schools, working with students of various ages and abilities, and developing her approach to inclusive and effective teaching.

Upon returning to the UK, Rebecca further pursued her teaching ambitions. She earned a degree in Dance Education with 1st Class Honours from the University of Bath and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), becoming a Registered RAD Teacher. Rebecca’s students consistently achieve a 100% pass rate in RAD ballet exams, reflecting her dedication to high standards and student success. She also became a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher, integrating this innovative training method into her classes to enhance students’ strength, stability, and understanding of movement.

During her time in the UK, Rebecca worked with the charity Active Fusion as their sole dance educator. She launched Fusion Youth, an extra-curricular program providing free after-school dance classes to children in low-income areas of Doncaster. The program continues to thrive, offering young people the opportunity to experience the transformative power of dance.

In 2022, Rebecca returned to Canada, settling in the Gatineau/Ottawa region to advance her teaching career. She teaches classical ballet, pointe work, repertoire, Progressing Ballet Technique, jazz, and body conditioning. Rebecca’s teaching philosophy emphasises strong technique, a comprehensive understanding of movement, and fostering collaboration between teacher and student. Drawing on her international experiences, she blends classical ballet training with creativity and strength-building to inspire her students to reach their fullest potential.

Judith Davies

Founder/Director Emerita

Ms. Davies began her dance training in Toronto, under the direction of Bettina Byers and Marjorie Haskins. Moving to Montreal, she continued her ballet training with Joyce Lewis Cloutier, Sonja Chamberlain, Maisie Macphee and Yvonne Oldaker (nee grey). At age 14, she received a scholarship to attend the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, studying under Ted Shawn, Peggy van Praagh, Robert Abramson, and Matteo and Goya, among others. At age 17, she trained as a student apprentice with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

After graduating from university into contemporary dance, Ms. Davies trained with the Martha Graham School and went on to Toronto to perform with the Judy Jarvis Dance Theatre Company. Ms. Davies continued to use a background in Fine Arts to design costumes for the Judy Jarvis Dance Theatre Company.

Moving to Ottawa, Ms. Davies founded both the Ottawa Dance Theatre and ODCS.

As Artistic Director of Ottawa Dance Theatre, her choreographic credits include recipient of two Ontario Arts Council Choreographic Awards, and the choreography of a full-length Ballet “Alice Through the Looking Glass” to an original score by Peter Landey. Former students of Ms. Davies have been accepted by the National Ballet School, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Toronto Dance Theatre and Alberta Ballet.

Ms. Davies taught the extra-curricular Dance Program for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, from 1991 to 2006. She has been Artist in Residence at Danceworks, Dancers, Inc. & Dance Scholars, Memphis, TN, USA from 1990 to 2016 developing student choreography and teaching both classical and contemporary techniques.

Upon retirement, Ms. Davies now acts as Director Emerita for ODCS, providing guidance and coaching alongside the current ODCS faculty.

Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson

Contemporary and Jazz Teacher

Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson is a Franco-Ontarian dance artist from traditional unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory. Under the name TAKE UP SPACE she creates/performs/teaches/collaborates through connections between people/places and art forms.

Elizabeth’s training includes Quinte Ballet School, The School of Dance, Decided Jazz Danceworks Professional Training Program and The Banff Centre for the Arts. She has also trained extensively in inclusive dance techniques /teaching through Propeller Dance, Candoco (UK), AXIS Dance Co.(USA), & Stop Gap Dance Co. (UK).

Elizabeth continues to guest teach in Ottawa secondary schools and working with local professional companies such as Ottawa Dance Directive. She is currently being mentored by choreographer and dance artist Tedd Robinson.

Elizabeth works closely with the ODCS’ Ballet Intensive Program, delivering Contemporary, Lyrical and Stretch and Strengthening classes.

Igor Chornovol

Classical Ballet Teacher

Igor trained in the professional program of the Ukrainian National Ballet Academy in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He was mentored by an elite generation of teachers and dancers and performed principal roles at the Kharkiv Opera Theatre and the Kiev National Ballet.

Igor emigrated to Canada joining the Alberta Ballet Company as soloist where he continued to perform a number of principal roles. Igor retired to Ottawa to study and to assume a teaching position with Dance Educators, under the direction of Merle Adam.

Following this, Igor joined the ODCS faculty and teaches classical ballet for student and adult dancers.

Emily Rudenberg

Classical Ballet Teacher

Emily Rudenberg is a dance artist who works in stage, film, and photography. She has had a lifelong career in classical ballet as a performer, instructor, and choreographer. Emily trained in Ottawa at Arise School of Dance, where she completed her Intermediate and Advanced Royal Academy of Dance exams. After graduation, she danced and toured with Ballet 5:8 in Chicago, performing in original neoclassical ballets and teaching in the pre-professional children’s program. Since returning to
Ottawa, Emily has taught at Studio Danse Danielle, Danse Chelsea Dance, and privately coached students for successful exams and auditions. She also attended teacher training at The School of Dance in the Cecchetti syllabus with Suzanne
Plante, Examiner CSC-CICB. In 2018, Emily joined Les Petits Ballets as Choreographer, where she created, rehearsed, and directed The Nutcracker in 2019 and Alice in Wonderland in 2020.

Upon returning to Les Petits Ballets in 2021/2022 following lockdowns, Emily taught the intermediate and advanced students while continuing to re-stage her original works, Alice and The Nutcracker. Since 2023, she has focused on growing her small dance school, Ballet du Village, in her hometown of Rupert, Quebec, which now has over 50 children.

In the summer of 2024, Emily taught at the ODCS Summer Intensive and is delighted to be joining the faculty for the 2024/2025 school year.

Meghan Mainville

Jazz Teacher

Meghan Mainville (she/her) is a New Brunswick-born, Ottawa-based choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, contemporary dance educator, and fitness instructor; she is a graduate of The School of Dance's contemporary dance program (Ottawa), the José Limón Institute’s Launch program (NYC), and is a certified Group Fitness Instructor (ACE). Meghan has had the privilege of performing works by José Limón, Yvonne Coutts, Brad Beakes, Emmanuel Jouthe, Sylvie Desrosiers, Apolonia Velasquez, Dana Gingras, and Serge Bennathan and has worked with companies such as Tara Luz Danse and Ottawa Dance Directive, as well as presented her own work at festivals across Canada. Meghan’s most recent creation, a short film entitled “Shifting creatures, Restless structure”, has been selected for festivals across Canada and internationally; her interest in film brought her the role of coordinator of the film festival Cinédanse Caraquet 2023.

Meghan teaches jazz for Ottawa Dance Centre School, and has taught for Kaeja d’Dance, The School of Dance and has been a guest choreographer at De La Salle High School since 2022. She believes that art is vital! And movement is for everyone! Meghan loves to have fun in class and creates a low-pressure environment, where being silly and making mistakes is encouraged!

Sydney Trowell-Whitaker

Primary Ballet Teacher

Sydney grew up dancing in her hometown of Orangeville Ontario, primarily training in ballet under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. In 2018-2019 she completed her British Association of Teachers of Dancing associate exam and began teaching at her home studio. Sydney taught a variety of both recreational and competitive classes from 2019-2022 before moving to Ottawa to attend Carleton University. At university she has continued to share her love of dance through taking on an executive role with the club Carleton Dancelab. Sydney is thrilled to be joining ODCS as a primary ballet teacher!