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Meet The Team
Meet The Team
JAIMIE
KOPECK
Jaimie is a performer, choreographer and educator who has worked with many industry professionals and taught across Western Canada, including Harbour Dance Centre (Vancouver) and CDTA Dance Jam (Regina). She moved to Regina in 2017, and has since had the pleasure of being the Head Coach of the University of Regina Dance Team (2018-2019), and the Director of Martin School of Dance & Baton Twirling (2020-2021).
Her performance credits include Good Morning America (ABC Studios), Package Deal (City TV/Thunderbird Films), "Cycles" with XY Dance Project (Nijawwon Matthews), Bray Entertainment Holiday (AC Cuilla), Candela Fridays NYC (Ashlè Dawson), Toronto Short Film Festival Selection "The Waltz" (Julie Tomaino), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Theatre Under the Stars), Oklahoma! The Musical (Royal City Musical Theatre), her own full-length production titled “The Happiest Christmas”, and recently one of A&W’s commercials!
Jaimie has studied at Vancouver's Harbour Dance Centre and New York's world-renowned Broadway Dance Center (recipient of the ISVP Outstanding Student Award), and was a member of Nijawwon Matthew's contemporary company XY Dance Project in New York City. She has cultivated workshops for emerging dancers, as well as created the dance film “5AM”, which debuted at New Blue Dance Festival in Toronto (2017). Jaimie is known for her warm energy in the classroom, and strives to inspire joy in every class she teaches.
When she's not dancing, Jaimie can be found at home with her hubby Tyler and their 5 pets. Collective Studios is her biggest adventure to date, and she can't wait to share her love of dance with the community of Regina.
EDDY
ALVARO
Dancing almost his whole life, Eddy is a self-taught hip-hop/street dancer with a huge love for all forms of dance. In high-school, Eddy, along with some friends, started a bboy crew and from there has travelled and performed at different competitions and events. Eddy continues to raise his profile in the dance community in Saskatchewan with the VibesYQR Dance Collective and is always looking for opportunities to help grow this community even more.
DANI
FONTAINE
Dani is a Latin dancer born and raised Regina, SK. Since taking her first salsa class in Peru in 2009, Dani fell in love with the music, dance, and culture. Although she has experience in a variety of styles, her passion lies in Salsa and Latin rhythms. Dani has taught, trained, performed, and competed all over the world. In addition to various national championships, Dani has won 2 World Championship titles at the 2018 and 2019 World Salsa Summit in the Pro-Am Salsa On2 and Amateur Salsa On2 divisions. Known for blending different styles and bringing positive vibes to the dance floor and studio, Dani strives to help her students use their strengths to develop a signature style of their own.
BRIDGET PALASCHUK
Bridget has grown up dancing in Regina, first studying Ukrainian dance, and then added additional training at Martin School of Dance & Baton Twirling. Through Martin she competed and performed for many years, along with taking multiple examinations such as her Adapt Pre-Professional Jazz and RAD Advanced 2. Her training continued when she joined the University of Regina Dance team and performed on stages in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Bridget continued her love of dance by becoming an instructor at Martin in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, and choreographed a number of award winning routines. She then coached the Leboldus Dance Team for many years before taking over as a Coach of the University of Regina Dance Team in 2019.
Bridget has enjoyed teaching her adult jazz and ballet classes in the past, and is excited to be a part of this new studio!
LISA
DAWN
Lisa was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. She began dancing at the early age of 3 at Martin School of Dance. Lisa was a very competitive dancer growing up, and knew she wanted to make a career out of it at a very early age. At the age of 20, she moved to New York to further her training and study at The Broadway Dance Centre in the International Student Visa Program. While in New York, she was trained by some of the most renowned choreographers and dancers in the country. She there found her love for heels dancing, being taught under the incredible Dana Foglia, along with many other amazing talents. To this day, she still carries the inspiration and fundamentals of everything she has learnt there over the years and couldn’t be more excited to share with everyone.
While living in New York she booked her first professional job with Celebrity Cruise Lines. After completion she moved to Princess Cruise Lines and is still employed with them to this day. Between contracts with Princess, she has worked in Macau, China as a showgirl in “Viva La Broadway” with BOR Productions. Lisa has also worked in Australia under QOD Entertainment as a dancer and performer at major clubs and event venues.
Lisa recently started her own professional female entertainment group Fempire and performs around the city of Regina. She truly believes movement is the best medicine, whatever that may be. She is so excited to share her knowledge, passion and love with each and everyone of you who walk into the studio.
VAUGHN
WLODARCZYK
Vaughn started his dance career at Latin Fusion Studio in 2012 and has not stopped ever since. Over the years, Vaughn has performed and competed on both national and international stages in Salsa, Bachata, and Cha Cha divisions. Alongside his partner Dani, Vaughn achieved a World Champion title in the On2 Amateur Salsa division at the 2018 World Salsa Summit in Miami, FL. As explained in one of his favourite quotes by Omar Guttie, Vaughn is proud to show that you do not need a dance background to succeed in dance: “It does not matter where you come from, who you are, what you look like, as long as you have the passion, the drive, the consistency, you can go ahead and reach your goal and make a difference.”
ALEX
AWA
Alexander Asiya Awa (also called Lexy Boy by friends and family) was born and raised in Nigeria. He is a professional dancer and choreographer who teaches Afrobeats and other styles of dance. Dance has always been his passion and the one thing he’s enjoyed doing since he was a little kid.
RILYNN
EPP
Rilynn is originally from Prince Albert Saskatchewan where she began dancing at the age of 5. Dancing for 13 years, she trained and competed in tap, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet. In 2016, Rilynn moved to Regina and completed her Advanced Tap Exam a few years later in 2018. In April of 2021 she received her Bachelor of Education and now teaches and supports individuals with disabilities. She is passionate about her work and looks forward to helping make Collective Studios a home for adult dancers of all abilities.
Rilynn started as a student at the Collective when it opened and can still often be found at the studio taking classes. She is thrilled to now be a part of the teaching team and is excited to share her love of dance with the community!
NIKKI
MCCALL
Nikki began her dance career at the age of 19 with the Regina Ballroom Dance Club. A hobby quickly became a passion. Nikki has competed in multiple pro-am and line dance UCWDC events winning first in every category. She loves all genres of dance and cross trains while currently looking for a competitive dance partner ;) Nikki specializes in country dances but would love to grow the ballroom scene in Regina.
BRADY
BELLAND
Brady Belland has grown up dancing her entire life. She began dancing at local studios in St. Albert, AB., and moved for high school to Vimy Ridge Academy’s Professional Dance Program in Edmonton, AB. Brady danced with the Edmonton Festival Ballet Company for the whole of her high school training, which performed throughout the Edmonton area. Brady is trained in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Classical Repertoire, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern, and successfully completed her RAD and Cecchetti Ballet exams, and grade 6 ISTD Ballet. Brady has been privileged to partake in numerous training opportunities with diverse companies such as Alberta Ballet, Ballet Jorgan, and Atlantic Ballet in Canada, as well as the Alvin Ailey School in New York.
Brady moved to Regina to complete her Bachelor of Education degree, and while here, joined the University of Regina Dance Team, and has taught at local studios since moving to Regina. She holds a Progressing Ballet Technique certification and continues to partake in professional development to strengthen her own technique and increase awareness of dancer’s safety with their own bodies. After a short hiatus, Brady has loved being back in the studio working with Collective Studios, and is excited to continue to meet and share her passion with both new and returning dancers.
CHLOÉ
DUFOUR
Chloé began her dance training at the age of five in Regina, Saskatchewan at the Ritenburg Dance Studio where she learned ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Growing up, Chloé focused on classical ballet, studying the Graded Syllabus of the internationally recognized Royal Academy of Dance. Chloé successfully completed many Graded and Vocational Examinations and holds her Advanced 1 RAD Ballet Certificate and her Grade 8 Award. During her almost 30 years of classical ballet training, Chloé has performed and competed countless times. Chloé continues her ballet and modern dance training at The Youth Ballet and Contemporary Dance of Saskatchewan.
In her early twenties, Chloé expanded her dance horizons, venturing into Latin dancing. As part of Latin Fusion Studios she trained, competed and performed at congresses and festivals all over North America. In 2015, Chloe competed in Miami, Florida representing Canada at the World Latin Dance Cup in the Amateur Salsa Couple on2 division and the Ladies Salsa Solo division, making it until the final round. Continuing her individual training, Chloé attends workshops, takes classes from professional instructors and attends as many international dance events as possible.
Chloé is fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many different choreographers and instructors in a wide spectrum of various styles of dance. This has led her to a great appreciation of dance in all its forms. Chloé is thrilled at the opportunity to join Collective Studios and she is looking forward to teaching, motivating and encouraging dancers of all levels, helping the dance community grow and sharing her love of dance.
When Chloé is not dancing, she is making art, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Art from the University of Regina. She loves travelling and has lived in the United Kingdom as well as Florida whilst working at Walt Disney World. She loves everything Disney, spending time with her family, friends and her cats.
SYDNEY
KLIPPENSTEIN
Sydney was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. She began her dance training at Class Act Studio where she danced for 16 years. While living in Saskatchewan, she was a competitive dancer and performed in Class Act Studio’s Nutcracker for numerous years and Bullets over Broadway by Sterling Productions. She continued her training after high school at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre where she performed choreography by Darryl Tracy, Julia Sasso, and Sharon B. Moore. After studying for a year in Toronto, Sydney moved to New York City to dance at The Ailey School in the Bachelors of Fine Arts Program joint with Fordham University. While she was there she performed choreography by Brice Mousset, Joanna Kotze, and Sarah Dolan and trained in Ballet, Graham, Horton, Jazz, Theatre Jazz, Contemporary, West African, Body Conditioning, Improvisation, and Composition. Sydney has also danced at intensives with the Radio City Rockettes and the Canadian School of Ballet. She recently graduated in May 2022 after completing her four year degree in New York City and is so excited to bring everything that she learnt back to Regina!
BRITTANY
MAMER
Brittany started dancing at the age of 3 in Regina, at the Youth Ballet of Saskatchewan. She is trained in classical & contemporary ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz. Along with a variety of other styles through summer schools, workshops and guest choreographers. She has performed for many years; being part of the pre-professional performing company along with taking multiple examinations up to RAD Advanced 1. Brittany continued her love of dance by becoming a dance instructor at the Youth Ballet of Saskatchewan; she taught Ballet, Pointe, and Jazz. When Brittany moved to British Columbia she also taught at Steps Dance Centre in Trail, BC. Brittany has enjoyed teaching adult classes in the past, and is excited to join Collective Studios!
SHANNON
HOLMES
Dr. Shannon Holmes is a singer, actor, director and educator. As a coach, she has maintained a busy private studio for over 25 years in Vancouver and, most recently, Montréal working with singers and actors. Many of her students have gone on to successful careers that include leading roles on Broadway, London’s West End, North American National Tours, and all of the major stages across Canada. Shannon has recently relocated to Saskatchewan to take a position as an Assistant Professor in the Theatre Department at the University of Regina and is excited to be part of the thriving arts scene here.