ODCS Faculty 2023-24
Rebecca Middleton
Ottawa Dance Centre Schools is pleased to announce that Ms. Rebecca Middleton will be assuming the role of Artistic Director effective September 1, 2023. Originally from North Lincolnshire, England, UK, Rebecca began her professional classical ballet training at the Academy of Northern Ballet, Leeds, UK under the direction of Yoko Ichino. At age 17, Rebecca joined Northern Ballet School, Manchester, UK, and danced her first soloist role as Big Swan in Swan Lake. Rebecca moved to Canada in 2015 to join Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver, BC, and danced a number of soloist roles including Myrtha in Giselle, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Big Swan in Swan Lake. Rebecca also worked with choreographers Wen Wei Wang, Joshua Beamish, Li Yaming & Irene Schneider. Rebecca’s teaching career began in 2016 while she was dancing with CCB. She taught for a number of different ballet schools across Vancouver, gaining experience teaching for a number of different ages and abilities.
Following her time in Vancouver, Rebecca returned to the UK to pursue her teaching career. Alongside teaching for ballet schools in Southampton, Rebecca began her degree in Dance Education with the University of Bath & Royal Academy of Dance & became a Registered Royal Academy of Dance ballet teacher. Rebecca has a 100% pass rate for her students who have been entered to take their RAD ballet exams.
Since returning to Canada in 2022, Rebecca has continued to teach at a number of dance schools and has now chosen the Gatineau/Ottawa region as the place to develop her career.
Rebecca teaches classical ballet, pointe work, repertoire, Progressing Ballet Technique, jazz and body conditioning; she encourages strong technique, movement understanding and both student and teacher-led training.
Judith Davies
Artistic Director/Founder
B.A. Hons. Fine Arts (Concordia University); RTC, TD (Dist.), Teacher & Life Member - Royal Academy of Dance, Member of the Society for Canadian Dance Studies. Founder/Director, ODCS 1972 to present. Founder/Director of the ODCS/Greenboro CCA Dance Programme 1991-2017. Artistic Director Ottawa Dance Theater 1976-1987, teacher, director of Extra curricular Creative Arts Dance Program for OCDSB, 1991-2006.
Ms. Davies began her dance training in Toronto, under the direction of Bettina Byers and Marjorie Haskins, where she pased her first RAD examination with Honours. 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 such luminaries as founder Ted Shawn, Peggy van Praagh, Robert Abramson, and Matteo and Goya, among others. At age 17 she was accepted and trained as a student apprentice, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens; She broadened her training after graduating from university, into Contemporary dance, training with the Martha Graham school, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey; returning to Toronto, performance with Judy Jarvis Dance Theatre Company, Toronto; Ms. Davies continued to use a background in Fine Arts to design costumes as well for the Jarvis Co.
Moving to Ottawa, she founded both the Ottawa Dance Theatre and ODCS. As artistic director, her choreographic credits include recipient of two Ontario Arts Council Choreographic Awards, and the production, choreography of a full length Ballet "Alice Through the Looking Glass" to an original score by Peter Landey. The production premiered at the NAC to a sold out audience, and subsequently a further run in Kingston at the Grand Theatre.
Former students have been accepted by the National Ballet School, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Toronto Dance Theatre, Alberta ballet. international Dance companies, and Dance departments of major universities. Ms. Davies taught the Extracurricular 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 choroegraphies and teaching both classical and contemporary techniques. Ms. Davies continues to teach and act as guest examiner in Ottawa.
Judith Davies spoke at the Canadian Dance Studies Conference in 2010; read her presentation, Emergence of New Dance in Ottawa: A City Awakening 1970-80 on the History page.
Ms. Davies was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contribution to Dance.
Ping Feng
Formerly Soloist, Ottawa Ballet
Mr. Feng is a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, and holds a B.A. in. Dance Education from Beijing University. His professional performing experience includes the Beijing Dance Academy Ballet Company (Central Ballet of China) and Les Ballets Jazz of Montreal, Theatre Ballet, Ottawa Ballet 1990-92.
He has danced principal roles, and has extensive teaching experience in both Classical Ballet & Character. Mr. Feng has been on faculty at ODCS since 1992 and is guest teacher with several Ottawa area schools. He recently was guest teacher in Beijing at his former school, the Beijing Dance Academy.
He is a highly regarded Ballet master teaching both Classical Ballet and Character Dance to professional levels.
Tracy Mitchell
(ARAD, RTS, Royal Academy of Dance, Adv. I.S.T.D. (National and Modern), Diploma in Dance, Theatre Arts Dept., Ryerson U).
Associate Artistic Director of ODCS 2020-to present.
Ms. Mitchell joined Faculty in 2018 and continues to teach all levels of RAD, as well as Junior Pre-Ballet , Pilates, and Contemporary Dance.
Ms. Mitchell is also the Administrator of ODCS & is Associate Artistic Director.
Ms. Mitchell directed her own school in London, ON for a number of years prior to her move to Ottawa. She performed professionally in Toronto, and with the Pforzheimer Ballet (Germany) as well as touring internationally.
Her performance credits include roles in "Coppelia", "Cinderella" and an original dance adaptation of "Pink Floyd - The Wall" while with the Pforzheimer Ballet. Her contemporary credits include "Kiss Me Kate" and "Jesus Christ Superstar".
Ms. Mitchell is also a certified teacher of the acclaimed Melody Movement with Melody Bear Pre-school curriculum, as well as holding certification in Pilates and Yoga.
Daphné Paquette
Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Daphné moved to Vancouver to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance at Simon Fraser University. While there, she worked under the tutelage of various professors and industry professionals, including Rob Kitsos, Megan Walker-Straight, Judith Garay and 605 Collective.
Daphné is accredited with The Royal Academy of Dance and holds a diploma from the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School where she studied character, national dance, music, anatomy, conditioning for dancers, Benesh notation and dance history. Daphné is a passionate teacher who aims to share her love of dance with all her students.
Daphné has been on faculty with ODCS since 2016.
Francisca Filleul
Associate, I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti Society Branch) Graduate, National Ballet School of Canada, and Teacher Training Program of the National Ballet School
Francisca is currently the educational co-ordinator for ODCS Partnership Programs at DLS.
Francisca received her early training with ODCS as well as Intensive Studies with School of American Ballet, N.Y.C. and Harkness Ballet School N.Y.C. Her extensive teaching experience also includes Creative Movement Programs in Ottawa. Professional Performance with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Metropolitan Opera Company and Berlin Opera Ballet. Artist in Residence of Dance Works, Dancers, Inc. & Dance Scholars (Memphis, TN), 2000-2016.
Ms. Filleul currently guest teaches at Canterbury High School and the dance program at Ecole Secondaire de Lasalle. She is also on faculty with L'Academie de Dance de L'Outaouais.
Francisca is a beloved teacher of students of all ages and has been on faculty at ODCS since 1996.
Astrid Ahlgren
Certified Pilates Instructor.
Astrid has practiced Pilates since 2002. She became a qualified teacher in 2012, a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher in 2019 and an Associate Member of London College of Osteopathy in 2020. A member of the Pilates Method Alliance since 2011, she has taught Pilates to ODCS dance students since 2015.
Rosanna Hoult
Welcome ODCS's newest Guest Artist, Rosanna Hoult!
A triple threat performer and teacher, Rosie graduated with First Class Honours from the London Studio Centre. She also holds the Advanced certificate of the RAD in Ballet and won the Sheila O'Neill award for excellence in Musical Theatre.
A recipient of the Critics' Choice award, Rosie has performed as a dancer, singer and actress in numerous TV, Film, BBC and theatre productions. Among her credits are such musicals as Sweet Charity, Fame, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat.
Rosie has also actively taught students of all ages for the past 7 years in Great Britain.
Rosie was guest artist with ODCS commencing 2018 and joined ODCS Faculty in 2019. Rosie continues to inspire students with her wide knowledge of Contemporary styles and Broadway musicals ,as well as her own choreography.
Sofia Tsolis
B.A. in Dance with Theatre major, Netherlands. Master's Degree in Choreography form Theatre Academy of Helsinki, Finland
Ms. Tsolis' professional training includes Ballet and the contemporary techniques of Cunningham, Graham, Limon and Simonson (Jazz). Performance and advanced study with companies in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Belgium, Finland and England. She has choreographed for numerous festivals and companies and has collaborated with theatre and other inter-disciplinary projects, and has taught and choreographed for children's and students' projects in Europe. Currently specializing in Modern, contemporary repertoire, improvisation and composition.
Jordan Samonas
B.A. Hons.Psychology, Cert,P.A.E.C.(Instructors) Tap
Currently completing a Masters in Education degree, Jordan has extensive performing experience in Contemporary, Lyrical,Jazz, and Musical Theatre. She was a member of the Canadian National Tap and Jazz team 2006.Her teaching experience includes recreational classes as well as an instructer and choreographer at Ottawa U., and University of Guelph Athletic Centre where she developed classes for inclusion in the Athletic program. Jordan conducts Guest classes in contemporary idioms at ODCS.
Jordan is currently on sabbatical.
Maki Kabayama
A.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti Society Branch)
Maki is a graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada, and danced with the National Ballet of Canada, performing major Classical works including Rudolf Nureyev's production of "The Sleeping Beauty". She has also performed internationally, including Australia and the Netherlands, returning to Ottawa as a guest teacher with ODCS and performing with Ottawa Dance Theatre in 1977. She has subsequently taught ballet for the Groupe de la Place Royale and from 1989-2005 has resided and taught in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In Cincinnati, as well as directing her own school, she has worked with numerous educational programs and with professional companies. Maki and her husband, Nicholas Hilferink are also highly regarded teachers of International Folk Dance. They both now reside in Ottawa.
Maki has been on faculty with ODCS since 2006 and will conduct Master Classes during the 2021-22 season(TBA).
Bradley Sykes
B.A, M.A :Graduate ODCS, Graduate RWB school(distinction), Performance includes Les Grand
Ballets Canadiens, RWB, and Iceland Dance Co among others.
Mr. Sykes has taught for National Ballet School of Iceland.
Mr.Sykes will be a guest teacher with ODCS this fall.
Igor Chornovol
Igor trained in the professional program of the Ukrainian National Ballet Academy in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He was mentored there by an elite generation of teachers and dancers and performed principal roles at the Kharkiv Opera Theatre and the Kiev National Ballet. He subsequently 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. With the closure of the Dance Educators this Summer, ODCS welcomes Igor to our faculty.
Karen Zissoff
B.A. (Dance - York U.) T.C., T.D. Royal Academy Dance, International Dancer, Teacher, critically acclaimed Choreographer.
Artistic Director of Dancers Inc., and Dance Scholars, Memphis, TN.
Guest teacher, Tennessee Ballet and Memphis Ballet. ODCS Summer Guest Artist in Residence since 1998.
Marc Bertrand
BFA, Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame de Paris-Marcel Marceau
M.Bertrand has studied under the famed mime artist Marcel Marceau, and has performed extensively across Canada, conducting workshops for both elementary and High schools. His professional resume includes acting as a consultant and assisting in the production of ODCS childrens' ballets for the year end performances since 2008, as well as teaching workshops in Mime amd Mask.
Caroline Parent
Accredited teacher A.D.A.P.T.; Ms. Parent holds a Teachers Certification in B.E.A.T. Tap, and has extensive experience as a choreographer, and has recieved competition awards in Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance (Intermediate). Caroline is the Director and proprietor of Studio Expression Danse, that offers dance programs to students in the rural communities of Gatineau.
Ms. Parent has been on faculty with ODCS since 2007.
Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson
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, Decidedly 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 choreographeranddance artist Tedd Robinson.
Leya Vandewaeter
(Assoc., BATD (Acrobatic Dance) member, RAD (Adv), formerly student, National Ballet School of Canada, Graduate, ODCS Intensive Study, Student, L'Ecole De Cirque, Cirque de Soleil , Mtl.)
Leya has taught ODCS pre-School, Pre-Primary and Primary dance classes as well as Jr. Jazz and Acro since 2012.
Her classes always have an enthusiasm and sense of joy, and are also conducted in both French and English.
Abbie Metcalfe
Abbie is an alumnus of ODCS where she gained the RAD Advanced 1 examination certificate With Distinction. Abbie 's further studies include the National Ballet School of Canada and École supérieure de ballet du Québec, where she was also offered a full time position.
Further studies in Alberta led to gaining the Level 7 Vagonova certification and the teacher's certificate in Acrobatique. While out west Abbie continued to instruct children as co-director of a dance studio in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Currently Abbie is enrolled at the York University Dance program specializing in performance and choreography. ODCS is delighted to welcome Abbie back where her creativity and enthusiasm spills over into her classes for young children.
Zenisca Kalugdan
Advanced 2 (with Distinction) Royal Academy of Dance, 4th year Degree program in Psychology major, Health Psychology, Carleton University
Zenisca is a graduate of ODCS Intensive study program, achieving The Advanced 2 Certificate of the Royal Academy of Dance with High Distinction. She performed the Solo Seal Award in Toronto at York University.as well as in an Award winning Classical variation at the International Petipa Ballet Competition in Quebec City.
She has acted as an assistant teacher to both RAD grades and vocational levels of ballet and Character classes at ODCS since 2017.She has been mentored by ODCS faculty thoughout her years as a teaching assistant. The past year Zenisca has been actively teaching in the Ottawa area.We are delighted to have Zenisca join us as a resident teacher this season.