• Connie Parsons, AISTD. ACDTA - Owner/Operator • Leslie Hammond, AISTD - Senior Teacher • Ashley Thorne - Ballet/Tap/Jazz • Allison Robbins - Ballet/Tap • Emily Fardy - Children's Work • Rebecca Harrell - Hip Hop • Aislinn Dunn Dicks - Adult Ballet/Tap • Maria Ellsworth- Children's Work • Matthew Pike - Boys streetfunk/breakin' • Jennifer Lundrigan - Jazz Connie Parsons, AISTD. ACDTA - Owner/Operator Owner/Artistic Director Fully qualified and professionally trained dance instructor. Associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Associate Diploma Cecchetti Ballet Associate Tap Associate Modern Theatre Associate member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association. Associate Ballroom(Latin American) Certificates from the National Ballet School of Canada for completing teacher training seminars. Certificates from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School for completing the seminar "The Art of Teaching." Certificate from Broadway Dance Center, NYC for attending the 2009 annual Teacher's Workshop in conjunction with The PULSE. Courses in Child Development and Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Advanced 2 Modern Theatre Advanced 2 Tap Advanced 1 Cecchetti Ballet Intermediate National Dance Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Newfoundland and Labrador (2000) Connie stays up to date on the latest trends in dance in able to provide classes in current as well as classic styles. She believes strongly in continued learning and regularly attends courses to update class curriculum and inspire new ideas. She has trained with some of the top dance pedagogues from around the world and is always eager to learn more. Connie attended the Broadway Dance Center's Teacher Workshop in New York City, held in conjunction with The PULSE on Tour. This experience provided the opportunity to study Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, and Theatre Dance with Tony winning Broadway stars and the faculty of the hit TV series "So You Think You Can Dance". In August 2009 she once again attended the Cecchetti Ballet National Conference held at The National Ballet School in Toronto. In 2008, she travelled to Europe to attend the ISTD Modern and Tap summer school hosted by The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London, England) Connie Parsons has enjoyed a fun-filled performance career which has included guest appearances dancing live in concert with Great Big Sea, and The Irish Descendants as well as performances in various local musicals. Leslie Hammond, AISTD - Senior Teacher Leslie Hammond has been a part of Connie Parsons School of Dance since the age of four. Now, at the age of 23, she has progressed from a dedicated student, to a conscientious teaching assistant, and finally a valuable and talented teacher at our school. Leslie has been trained through the ISTD examination program here at CPSOD and in May 2009 graduated through the required levels in tap having obtained her Associate teaching qualification. She has attended the official teacher's summer school for the ISTD in Chichester, England in 2008, 2010 & 2011. Leslie excels in many areas of dance having studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, latin jazz & modern. She started as a teaching assistant at CPSOD in 2003 and discovered a keen interest in teaching children and teaching dance. Leslie has invested a considerable amount of time into her dance education, she is currently working towards her Associate teaching qualification in the Cecchetti method of classical ballet. During the summer's of 2009 & 2010 Leslie travelled to New York City for Broadway Dance Center's teacher workshop in conjunction with 'The Pulse'. The highlight for her was taking class with MIA MICHAELS from the hit TV show "So You Think You Can Dance". In 2009, she attended the Cecchetti Ballet's National Conference at the National Ballet School, Toronto. Leslie took a group of students form our schoo to THE PULSE on tour held in Toronto in February 2011. Leslie has also been an avid performer for many years and was a featured dancer in many local musicals and shows including 'Footloose' (2003), ‘Our Diva’s do Christmas’ (2005,2006), 'Our Divas Do Broadway' (2008, 2009). Leslie's organizational skills and deep understanding of dance pedagoge make her a valuable asset to our teaching team. Associate in Tap with ISTD Advanced I Cecchetti Ballet Advanced II Tap 'The Art of Teaching' summer course, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (July 2006) ISTD Summer School for Tap & modern Dance, Chichester, England (August 2008, 2010 & 2011) Broadway Dance Center & The Pulse's Teacher Workshop, New York (July 2009, July 2010) The Pulse on tour, Toronto (February 2011) Cecchetti Ballet National Conference, Toronto (August 2009) Ashley Thorne - Ballet/Tap/Jazz We are very excited and proud to welcome back Ashley Thorne as a full time teacher at our studio again this season. Ashley has been dancing at CPSOD for the past 11 years and has always had a keen interest in dance having studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern & hip hop. Ashley was a part of the examination program for 7 years taking exams in ISTD tap and Cecchetti classical ballet. In 2006 Ashley became a teaching assistant helping teach children age 3 to 11 yrs. In recent year's, she has filled in as a substitute teacher and her dedication and love for dance was obvious and shone through. Ashley is upbeat and has an exuberant personality. She relates well with her students and knows how to bring out the best in all the children that she teaches. During July 2009 Ashley attended Broadway Dance Center's Teacher Workshop held in Conjunction with 'The Pulse'in New York City to work with world-renowned choreographers such as Shane Sparks and Wade Robson. In February 2011 she was part of the teaching team from CPSOD that attended THE PULSE on tour dance workshop held in Toronto, Canada. She is delighted to be a part of our teaching staff for the 2011-2012 dance season. Advanced II Tap (ISTD) - 2010 Broadway Dance Center & The Pulse's Teacher Workshop, New York (July 2009) THE PULSE on tour dance workshop, Toronto (February 2011) Allison Robbins - Ballet/Tap Allison Robbins began dancing at Connie Parsons School of Dance in 1997. She has danced extensively throughout the years and is an active member of our exam program in both Cecchetti Ballet and ISTD Tap. In the summer of 2008, she performed in "Mermaids of Avalon" with Kittiwake Dance Theatre. Most recently, Allison participated in the Millennium Inspiration Tour 2009 and was taught by "So You Think You Can Dance" celebrities, along with top industry professionals from across Canada and the United States. Allison is a lovely, mature young woman with a keen interest in teaching dance to young children. She had been a teaching assistant at CPSOD for the past 4 years, and joined our staff in 2009 to teach part of the children's recreational ballet program. Allison aspires to continue with a full-time career in teaching dance and we welcome her return to our teaching team for the 2011-2012 season! Intermediate Cecchetti Ballet - 2011 Intermediate Tap (ISTD) - 2011 Emily Fardy - Children's Work For the past 8 years, Emily Fardy has been actively involved in many styles of dance and has performed in numerous shows. She began competitive gymnastics at a very young age but moved on to dance at CPSOD in 2003. Emily participated in the Millennium Inspiration Tour in 2009, a dance workshop taught by professionals from Canada and the United States. She has always had a keen interest in teaching and has coached gymnastics and youth soccer in addition to assisting classes at Connie Parsons School of Dance. Emily has been involved in the exam program of both Cecchetti Ballet and ISTD Tap at CPSOD. She joined our teaching staff in September 2010 and is eager to get started again for the 2011-2012 dance season. Intermediate Tap (ISTD) - 2011 Rebecca Harrell - Hip Hop Rebecca Harrell began dancing in 1996 and since then has studied many different types of dance. Hip Hop remains her greatest passion. She became interested in teaching children's Hip Hop at the young age of 15. Rebecca excels at choreographing dances that are both energetic and enjoyable. Her classes are always a lot of fun! Rebecca has been involved in several local dance shows including "Do You Think You Can Dance". (2010) In February 2011, Rebecca was part of the teaching team from CPSOD that attended THE PULSE on tour dance workshop held in Toronto, Canada. At this event, she gained exposure to the skills and choreography of many of today`s popular dancers from the hit TV show `So You Think You Can Dance`. Throughout her years of dance, she had developed a great interest in both teaching & performing Hip Hop and is very excited to return to Connie Parsons School of Dance for the 2011-2012 Dance Season. THE PULSE on tour dance workshop, Toronto (February 2011) Aislinn Dunn Dicks - Adult Ballet/Tap Aislinn has been a student of Connie Parsons School of Dance since she was a child and has excelled in both the ballet and tap examination programs. Her greatest assets are her musicality and natural facility. Aislinn is currently a student at Memorial University and is studying piano performance at MUN music school. Aislinn is thrilled to be teaching at CPSOD this year as it gives her the opportunity to share her love of the arts with her students. Intermediate Cecchetti Ballet - 2011 Intermediate Tap (ISTD) - 2011 Maria Ellsworth- Children's Work Maria Ellsworth has been dancing with Connie Parsons School of Dance since 1998. She is a beautifully trained dancer with natural talent and a strong love of dance. Maria has been a student assistant at CPSOD for the past 2 years and has proven to have excellent work ethic and a strong understanding of how to encourage and motivate children to succeed. Maria also coached a grade 7 volleyball team during the 2010-2011 school year. Maria has been involved with the Cecchetti ballet program here at our school for the past 3 years and just completed her Intermediate Ballet examination in May 2011. She has also been trained through the ISTD Tap exam program for the past 2 years and completed her Intermediate Tap Exam in 2011. Maria is excited to take on the role of dance teacher this year. She certainly deserves this opportunity and has gained the knowledge and experience she needs to do a fantastic job! Intermediate Cecchetti Ballet - 2011 Intermediate Tap (ISTD) - 2011 Matthew Pike - Boys streetfunk/breakin' Matthew Pike began his formal dance training in 2003. His initial focus was Breakdancing. Breakin’ lead him to an interest in Hip Hop. Although he prefers these two styles of dance, Matthew also has experience in other forms of dance including co-ed and tango. Matthew has been involved in several local musicals and dance productions and never passes up an opportunity to perform on stage. He has attended numerous dance workshops over the past 8 years and has been taught by Lenny Len (Hip Hop dancer/choreographer - Toronto, Canada) and various members of East Rock Crew (Newfoundland’s own b-boyin’ group). Matthew has been heavily involved with Scouting for many years. He has proven to be great with kids, having been an active Beaver/Cub leader for the past 4 years. Matthew Pike is excited to be joining the teaching staff of Connie Parsons School of Dance for the 2011-2012 season and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experiences with the kids at CPSOD. Jennifer Lundrigan - Jazz Jennifer Lundrigan began her explorations in dance in St. John's, Newfoundland at just two years of age. She began her training in ballet but quickly started tasting more genres of dance such as modern, jazz and tap which gave way to an immense passion for movement. At the age of fifteen Jennifer began working with young children in a variety of settings. Jennifer enjoyed working at a daycare, working in summer camps, being a private childcare provider, and assisting dance classes at her studio. Jennifer learned that she could combine her passion for dance and her love of children and their healthy development, and she moved to Toronto to study modern and West African dance at York University. Jennifer has worked in Toronto teaching recreational creative movement, ballet, modern, hip hop and jazz, where she focused on providing low cost, nurturing dance classes to less advantaged children of the community. She has also taught hip-hop for the continuing education program at George Brown College and Seneca College. Jennifer believes that dance is not strictly for professionals, and that people of all ages and levels can benefit from dance. Jennifer has moved back to her home province of Newfoundland, and hopes to utilize her knowledge of dance and her enthusiasm for healthy child development to create a fun, inspiring dance experience for all.
	Site Design and Hosting by: ISP Atlantic Inc.