Julia Crews

Recreational & Performance Teacher/Receptionist

Lineen Doung

Hip Hop Instructor

Jessica Ilton

Staff

Jessica began dancing at the age of six and was competing by seven, continuing through to eighteen. She trained extensively in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, and Acro. Over 14 years, she studied Cecchetti Ballet and successfully completed examinations up to the Advanced 1 level.

With more than 10 years of teaching experience, Jessica has worked with dancers of all ages—from toddlers to adults—across multiple disciplines. A longtime member of the Canadian Dance Company family, she is deeply committed to fostering a positive and inspiring environment for her students.

Outside the studio, Jessica’s passion for working with children has guided her academic and professional journey. She has taught at summer camps, earned an Honours BA in Child and Youth Studies (2020) and a Bachelor of Education (2022) from Brock University, and is currently an elementary school teacher. She is also pursuing a Master’s in Clinical and Counselling Psychology at Adler Graduate Professional School, with the goal of becoming a psychologist specializing in children.

Jessica loves sharing her enthusiasm for dance and strives to create an engaging, supportive learning space where every dancer feels encouraged, challenged, and inspired to grow into the best version of themselves.

Chloe Reelis

Staff

Allison Adams

Staff

Josh Nitkin

Josh Nitkin is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and holds certifications with PAA (Professional Adjudicators Alliance), BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dancing), and PAEC (Performing Arts Educators of Canada) in Tap, Jazz, and Urban—where he also contributed to the creation of the syllabus.

With over 30 years of training and performance in Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, Modern, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre, Josh brings a wealth of experience to his teaching. Over the past 20 years, his students have earned numerous overall awards, and his choreography has been recognized with multiple accolades.

Josh is also a highly sought-after adjudicator across Canada and the United States. His adjudication credits include Dance Masters of America (North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Houston, Great Lakes), American Dance Awards, Terpsichore Dance Celebration/Dance Starz, AmeriCup, Dance Xtreme Nationals, Millennium Productions Nationals, Peak Invitational, and many more.

As a performer, Josh has worked with Celebrity Cruise Lines and Corpus Dance Projects, taking the stage in Alaska, France, the UK, Belgium, Japan, and throughout Central and South America.

Lila Ghadban

Yohance Guthrie

Ashley Earl

Ashley Earl is a dynamic performer, choreographer, and adjudicator whose career extends across multiple
dance disciplines and stages across Canada. With extensive training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop,
Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Acro, Ashley has earned numerous choreography awards and accolades for
her innovative work and dedication to the art of dance.

A graduate of the Sheridan College Performing Arts Program and the St. Lawrence College Music
Theatre Performance Program, Ashley has performed and choreographed throughout Ontario. She began
her professional career in 2007, earning her Equity card with her role in The Sunshine Boys at the
Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. Her favourite stage credits include Matron “Mama” Morton
in Chicago and Sheila Bryant in A Chorus Line. She has also choreographed beloved productions such as
Annie Jr., Peter Pan, Tweed the Musical, and Godspell.

Ashley’s choreography has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Brampton Bloom Award
for Best Choreography for Annie Jr. She holds her Associate Membership in Jazz through CDTA,
Associate Membership in Stage through BATD, and her Module Two certification in Acrobatics Arts.

Previously, Ashley co-owned and operated The Dance Challenge, a successful workshop and scholarship
event series that ran throughout the GTA. The events mimicked real auditions, offering dancers
opportunities to push their limits, gain professional insight, and earn scholarships for their talent and
growth.

For nine years, Ashley was part of Ballare Performing Arts in Woodbridge, serving as Artistic Director
for five of those years while overseeing the competitive team.

Dedicated to lifelong learning, Ashley continues to expand her expertise by attending professional
workshops and training programs. Her passion lies in inspiring the next generation of dancers to challenge
themselves, embrace their artistry, and continually reach for the next level.

Lexi Lailanie

Alexis-Lailanie (Lexi) is a passionate and versatile dance professional with a strong foundation from Dance Factory, specializing in acrobatics and fueled by a love for contemporary dance and conditioning. She has performed with the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Dance Team (2024) and currently dances with a Toronto-based company.

With more than five years of teaching experience, Lexi brings energy, technique, and heart to every class she leads. Outside the studio, she works as an Educational Resource Worker, blending her love for children with her dedication to education.

Lexi is excited to be part of the Canadian Dance Company family and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Melanie Allison

Melanie has been teaching dance to students of all ages and levels for over 30 years, and her passion for sharing the love of dance shines through in every class she teaches.

She began her training at the age of three and studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern/Contemporary, Pointe, and Hip Hop. As one of the original students of the Randolph School of the Arts’ three-year “Triple Threat” program, Melanie trained under some of Toronto’s top choreographers and teachers, while also expanding her skills through classes and workshops in Los Angeles.

As a professional dancer and choreographer, Melanie has appeared in and choreographed for numerous music videos, industrials, television specials, movies, and commercials—including Blues Brothers 2000 and Campbell’s Chunky Soup.

A proud original member of the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, Melanie performed with the team for five years and also co-directed and choreographed for the Junior Dance Pak. Her work with the Raptors took her to the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland and onto television specials broadcast across the U.S. She also performed as a Toronto Argonauts SUNdancer and served as choreographer for the Toronto Phantoms Arena Football team, creating routines for their dance team, the “Phantasy Girls.” In addition, Melanie choreographed the opening segment for ABC’s Monday Night Football with Hank Williams Jr., which aired weekly across North America.

Her large-scale choreography credits include being part of the creative team for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games opening ceremonies in Toronto. Most recently, Melanie was honored to join the Alumni Dance Team performing with the Toronto Raptors’ North Side Crew for both the 20th and 30th anniversary seasons.

Melanie is thrilled to bring her passion, experience, and energy to the talented teaching faculty at Canadian Dance Company – Burlington.

Olivia Currie

Olivia Currie began dancing at the age of four and was competing by seven, training extensively in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acro, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. She attended an arts high school, majoring in dance, where she earned her Regional Arts Certificate, and later performed as a member of the Power Dance Team for a semi-professional basketball team.

After completing her Early Childhood Education Diploma at Sheridan College, Olivia continued to expand her qualifications, earning certifications through the ADAPT Syllabus, Acrobatic Arts, Intellidance Early Years, as well as Kids Yoga and Aerial Yoga.

With over 10 years of teaching experience, Olivia has worked at various studios, instructing both recreational and competitive dancers in multiple styles. She has also successfully prepared students for their ADAPT Jazz and Tap examinations.

Olivia is passionate about creating a supportive and inspiring dance environment and is thrilled to bring her knowledge and love of the art to Canadian Dance Company this season.

Justine Panaccione

Justine is thrilled to return to Canadian Dance Company as a member of the teaching staff, bringing over fourteen years of dance experience that began when she was just four years old. She has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, acro, and hip-hop, and is a proud alumna of CDC’s Performance Company, where she danced for five years.

Justine has successfully completed multiple Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti ballet exams, as well as the Acrobatic Arts certification. Beyond her time at CDC, she was a dedicated member of Blessed Trinity Secondary School’s competitive dance team, earning top-three soloist placements at Dance Canada, Strive Dance Challenge, and Hamilton’s Best Dance Crew.

Throughout her training, Justine has cultivated strong technique, expressive performance skills, and a deep love for the stage. Now, as she steps into her new teaching role, she’s excited to share her passion and experience with the next generation of dancers—helping each student grow in confidence, artistry, and skill.

Andrea Pito

Andrea Pito began her dance journey at the age of six studying ballet, and by twelve, she discovered her enduring passion for jazz and tap — a love that continues to shape her artistic path today. Over the years, she has trained with world-renowned tap masters including Brenda Bufalino, Margaret Morrison, Susan Bach, Lisa LaTouche, and Tony Waag, and is certified through the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Tap Teacher Training Program.

Andrea has broadened her ballet education internationally, training in Cuba at national dance events and in Las Vegas at the Nevada Ballet Theatre. Her pursuit of excellence brought her to New York, where she refined her ballet and jazz musicality through classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway.

In addition to teaching at the Tap Dance Centre in Toronto — where she earned her Tap Syllabus Certification under the mentorship of Kim Chalovich — Andrea proudly serves as a Tap and Ballet Instructor at Canadian Dance Company.

With more than twenty years of teaching experience, Andrea brings both technical expertise and heartfelt dedication to her students. She finds joy in guiding dancers to develop confidence, artistry, and a genuine love for movement.

Samantha Lupien

Studio Manager

Studio Manager

Samantha Lupien began her dance training at her grandmother’s studio, Dot Blakeley Dance Studio in Simcoe, Ontario. She then continued her dance training at the Canadian Dance Company when they opened their doors in 1985 under the direction of her parents Allain & Dawn Lupien.

Samantha trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Pointe & Lyrical throughout her competitive years. Upon graduating high school, Samantha received the opportunity to perform aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines as Dance Captain and sailed to such places as the Caribbean, Hawaii and Alaska. She has also performed in Sears Fashion Shows, Mary Kay Cosmetics Industrials and Choreographed for the Disney Fashion Show at the young age of 17. Other Choreography credits include; Raven Simones Charity Benefit & various club performances for the Freestyle music artist Zoe. Samantha has taught both the Recreational and Competitive students here at the Canadian Dance Company for the past 14 years and currently teaches the competitive Hip Hop and Tap.

Not only is Samantha a Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer but she is also the Head Studio Administrator for the company. Samantha would like to thank her parents Allain & Dawn Lupien for providing such a fun & positive dance environment for all the dancers past, present & future of the Canadian Dance Company.

Flo Czok

Staff

Florence is one of the first friendly faces you’ll meet at Canadian Dance Company – Burlington. As our Receptionist, she makes sure every visitor and caller feels welcomed, valued, and supported. With a strong background in customer service, Florence provides clear information about our classes, fees, and schedules, and is always ready to answer questions or connect families with the right team member. Her passion for creating an inviting and inclusive atmosphere helps set the tone for the professional, caring environment our clients appreciate and expect.