Revolution Dance Collective Staff
The Best in the Business
Alanna Smith
Owner/Artistic Director/R.E.P
Alanna has been sharing her love for dance since the young age of 3, receiving her training in Sooke and Victoria. She began her training in Tap and Jazz and quickly added ballet, Lyrical and Hip Hop to her repertoire. Alanna has completed her Gilbert Tap exams, passing with high distinction. Her teaching experience includes choreographing for numerous dance studios, elementary and high school programs and recreation centres. She has attended conventions and competitions across Canada and the United States and has performed both locally and internationally. Alanna has taken classes at The Edge Performing Arts Center in L.A and also had a lifetime experience of performing in Disneyland. Alanna’s classes are fun, challenging and technical. Alanna loves teaching here in Sooke and hopes to be a positive and influential role model to her students.
Julia Barrett
Senior Instructor - Jazz * Contemporary * Lyrical * R.E.P
A.I.S.T.D Modern Dance
Julia has been dancing since the age of three. She has completed the highest level of ISTD Tap and Modern exams, her RAD Advanced 1 ballet exam and has represented both Nanaimo and Victoria numerous times at the BC Provincials Performing Arts Competition. She is a credited instructor of modern dance, successfully obtaining her I.S.T.D Associate's Exam Teacher Certificate. After graduating high school Julia moved to Vancouver to pursue modern dance with established company, Modus Operandi. While in Vancouver Julia gained further experience and expertise in performing, choreographing and improvisation. Moving back to Vancouver Island in in 2014, Julia has been passionately working with youth - in the dance studio and at school as an Education Assistant. As a teacher and choreographer Julia has won many awards locally and internationally; outstanding choreography, adjudicators choice and top finalist contemporary and jazz groups. Julia loves to share her knowledge and inspiration with all dancers and is excited to share her love of dance with the students at RDC.
Mackenzie Mekelburg
Dance Instructor - RAD Ballet * Jazz * Contemporary * Acro * Lyrical
At the age of 3, Mackenzie began her technical dance training in jazz, ballet, and Martha Graham modern with Angela Mousseau at Michael Boston’s studio,  Boston Dance Collective, in Victoria BC. At the age of 10, Mackenzie joined Boston Dance Collective’s competitive company, expanding her training to all genres: ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip-hop, acro, ballroom, pilates, contemporary. Throughout her 13 years of training with BDC’s competitive company program, Mackenzie participated in a numerous local and provincial competitions, festivals, and conventions, which take place annually. During this era of training, she primarily studied RAD ballet grade 1 - Advance 2, contemporary/Martha Graham modern, jazz, as well as lyrical. The most influential and inspirational mentors throughout her competitive training career were Julia Barrett, Pearl Edmunds, Kelsey Dukelow and Angela Mousseau. In 2018, Mackenzie dedicated a summer of training at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver - studying with Ballet BC, Crystal Pite, and other brilliant world-renowned teachers. While undergoing training at Arts Umbrella, she furthered her knowledge and expertise in improvisation, choreography, and pointe work. Mackenzie has spent years studying under her mentors and assistant-teaching, to become a versatile and skilled dance instructor; she is extremely excited to share her love and knowledge for dance with the students of Revolution Dance Collective.
Dyllon Pallot
Instructor - Hip Hop
TBD
Meesh Montgomery
Dance Instructor - Jazz * Hip Hop
Meesh Montgomery began dancing at the age of four growing up in a competitive dance studio in the Kootenays. She trained in all styles until high school graduation and then went into a contemporary based program at the University of Calgary. During that time, she also discovered her love for hip hop and began a mentorship with hip hop icon, Lenny Len from Toronto, Ontario. Meesh is fully certified in Rhythm Works Integrative Dance: A ground-breaking rhythm & dance program designed for those with learning differences and special needs and from the age of 22-26 Meesh owned a competitive dance studio in her hometown. She is known for her high energy, fast paced classes and is so excited to join the RDC team for jazz!
Hanna Wheeler
Dance Instructor - Jazz * Lyrical * Contemporary
Hanna Wheeler moved to Vancouver Island at age 5 where she quickly discovered her love of dance.
Throughout her years of training, Hanna has studied various dance styles including ISTD modern and RAD ballet syllabus. She competed in many competitions year after year through out Vancouver Island, winning multiple performance and dedication awards at local music festivals.
Hanna has experience teaching a wide range of ages and dance styles but has always had a keen interest in jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance.
It is Hanna’s goal to promote a healthy and safe, class environment that will allow all the dancers she educates to reach for their highest potential.
Emily Morrow
Dance Instructor - TAP
Emily has danced throughout her entire life and fell in love with tap at an early age. Prior to graduating from Boston Dance Collective (now Protege Dance Project) in 2021, Emily specialized in tap, jazz and lyrical earning many awards for solo performances as well as duet, trio, and groups. Emily attended BC stage provincials in 2019 for her competitive tap and lyrical solos. Emily moved into the convention world where she worked with many experienced professionals from all over the world including personal recognition from Mark Goodman and Anthony Morigerato. Throughout being mentored by Micheal Boston and Christine Barrett in her home studio, Emily also had the chance to work with choreographers based in Calgary, Vancouver, and LA. She can’t wait to bring her passion for dance and love of teaching to Revolution!
Maija Stewart
Dance Instructor (ARAD) - Ballet * Acro
Maija started dance at the age of 2. She trained exclusively at Allegro Performing Arts Centre,
where she developed a comprehensive skill set across a wide array of dance styles, including
ballet, modern, lyrical, pointe, contemporary, jazz, tap, acro, national and hip hop. Her
achievements in dance are notable, having completed RAD examinations up to Advanced 2
with distinction, and earning distinctions and high distinctions in RAD Grades up to Grade 8.
Maija's experience extends to ISTD exams, where she also received distinctions up to
Intermediate level. Her exceptional skills earned her a place in the Solo Seal examination and
the Margot Fonteyn Ballet Competition where she was a semi-finalist. This experience included
participating in a 80 person commissioned piece choreographed by Valentino Zucchetti,
performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in London, England. Furthermore, Maija was one of the first
two international semi-finalists in the prestigious Grad Pro Competition based in England,
underscoring her global recognition and talent. Beyond her dance accomplishments, Maija is an
outstanding academic, excelling in science and reflecting her intellectual versatility. Her
multilingual abilities and genuine love for teaching enhance her effectiveness and engagement
as a dance educator. Maija combines her rich experience and academic excellence to inspire
and guide the next generation of dancers.
Alexa Baldwin
Dance Instructor - Twinkle Stars * Ballet * Jazz
Alexa has been dancing for 7 years and is still dancing proudly at RDC. She dances many styles, such as Contemporary, Hip Hop and Jazz but her focus is in Ballet. She has completed many RAD Ballet exams to a high level and has now reached the Advanced foundation grade. Since she was a little girl, Alexa has always loved dancing and she is very excited to share her love for dance with the next generation.
Jennifer Connell
Front Desk Manager/Admin
Jennifer's love for dance was instilled in her at a young age. She first began dancing in her grandmother's dance studio at the age of 2. She spent much of her youth dancing and helping out there.
Jennifer worked and danced with Sooke Dance Studio for the past 10 years. She was an integral part of the dance studio in the front office and administration.
She enjoys seeing and chatting with the parents and dancers everyday. She loves seeing the creativity and confidence that dance brings out in the students.
Jennifer is excited to be a part of Revolution Dance Collective and looks forward to the start of what's going to be an exceptional dance year!
Nai'a Johnson
Dance Instructor - Ballet
Nai’a started dancing at Sooke Dance Studio when she was just 3 years old.
Growing up she challenged herself with a variety of styles, and curriculums to
become a more adaptable, and diverse dancer; including Ballet, Jazz,
Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, and more. Training
at both Sooke Dance Studio and Victoria Academy of Ballet she went on to
complete her Advanced Foundation RAD exam. The past couple years she
expanded her dance knowledge even more by taking classes at Simon Fraser
University in dance technique, history, anatomy, and creation. Nai’a has a
knowledge, love, and passion for dance that she shares with her students. She
continues to find new and engaging ways to inspire them as they inspire her. She
is so excited to be joining the RDC team, and help mould the next generation of
dancers!
Keely Forsyth
Dance Instructor - Twinkle Stars * Hip Hop * Lyrical * Jazz
Beginning her dance journey in ballet at the age of 3, Keely has grown up been trained in jazz, hiphop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and tap. Keely has been part of the Victoria dance community as long as she can remember, dancing at studios such as Stages Performing Arts and Westshore Dance Studio, as well as being a part of the Royal Bay Dance Academy throughout all four years of high school. Keely has had an immensely positive experience with dance, and wants her students to be able to share that same feeling of support and positivity as they grow into the talented dancers they are destined to be.
Frankie Sun
Dance Instructor - Hip Hop * CREW
Bio to come .........
Kayla Harvey
Dance Instructor/Office Admin
Kayla began her dance training at the age of 2. she has studied multiple dance styles including jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, acro and tap. She has been a member of various Performance Company’s and Lil City Beatz hiphop crew. Her dance credits include performing in Victoria and Nanaimo Dance Festivals and Competitions, attended GSP dance convention, finishing her RAD ballet exams and receiving her RAD Ballet Solo Performance Award. She performed with PACE musicals and performed in numerous musical theatre shows. She has been teaching and choreographing for the last 9 years. She is excited to share her passion for dance with Revolution Dance Collective.