dance umbrella

Sam is a dancer from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She began her dance career with training in ballet, and later began to train in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, tap, musical theatre. She danced competitively for over 9 years, and has been teaching for over 6! During Sam’s competitive career she was awarded top overall results at several of Canada’s best dance competitions, as well as being invited to the SDF Dance Tours, and other incredible dance opportunities. Sam co-directed her own competitive team, Studio 7, from 2019-2021, which was awarded many special awards, top marks, and choreography awards at over 7 Canadian Dance competitions. She believes in creating a safe space for dancers to be creative and fostering a love for dance and performing! She is so excited to teach and to share the joy of dance!

Elan has trained in all styles of dance, favoring Afro Jazz, Modern and Fire Dancing. Elan was the choreographer for The Bahamas All Star Marching Band, performing most notably at the Macys Day Thanksgiving Parade, St Patrick's Day Parade (Ireland), Florida Classics and most recently Dubai. She has performed with the Miami Heat Dancers, as well as danced alongside Grammy nominated artist and producer Sketch, Julien Believe and other Bahamian artists featured in music videos and commercials. In 2017, she moved to Charlottetown where she enrolled and graduated from the SoPA dance program at Holland College. Currently an emerging artist and assistant choreographer for Oshun's Dance, Elan has performed at the Roma Heritage Festival, Diversity Festival, Black Cultural Society and River Clyde Pageant. She is thrilled to be working with the amazingly talented staff and kids at the Center.

Amy Kaye (A.K.) Mullen-Johnson earned an MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado, and a BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University. Mullen-Johnson worked as an adjunct professor in the Division of Theater Department, at York College while choreographing musicals for their main stage theater. Supporting arts in education, she worked for the Pennsylvania Council Arts education, stARTSomething program in the Cultural Alliance of York, PA creating dance residencies integrating STEAM and dance into the classroom curriculum. She has also worked with the Fulton Theater and Dream Wrights Center for Community Arts . She is excited to return to dance umbrella to share her passion of dance with the students, collaboration with co-workers, and developing dance residencies in PEI.

Wanda Naylor has trained in a variety of dance genres such as tap, jazz, ballet, social dance, and creative movement at York University, Humber College and private studios in Ontario. She has earned degrees in Fine Arts and Primary/Junior Education from York University. Wanda has performed with Merrytime Clown and Puppet Theatre in Ontario and PEI, including the Charlottetown Festival. She has created choreography, costumes and scenery for the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival. Wanda is delighted to be teaching dance in our Musical Theatre program.

Julia Sauve, MA has her Master’s Degree in Movement Education and has been performing, teaching, and choreographing dance on P.E.I. and in the U.S. for over 40 years. She Co-founded Montage Dance Theatre and dance umbrella, has performed with The Charlottetown Festival, choreographed for numerous community, school, and theatre organizations, and most recently taught within the Holland College School of Performing Arts.

is the Associate Director of Arts Education (Dance) for Confederation Centre of the Arts and an instructor for dance umbrella. As a former dance umbrella student, Kayla is thrilled to to continue working with the dance umbrella program, as well as furthering other education initiatives. She has continued her dance training with George Brown College, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Training, and has a BFA in Dance Education at York University. Kayla is excited to be teaching My Parent and Me, Creative Movement, Inclusive Dance, and contemporary styles this year.

Morgan is a graduate of UPEI with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice and a Bachelor of Education (français langue seconde). She has performed in Anne & Gilbert: The Musical, the Island Fringe Festival, the Charlottetown Feast Dinner Theatre, the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival, and the Charlottetown Festival Young Company. Morgan has worked as the music director or choreographer for multiple Island productions, including Happy Days: A New Musical, Bring It On: The Musical, Camp Rock: The Musical (Bluefield High School), High School Musical (Charlottetown Rural), Little Shop of Horrors (ACT PEI), Seussical Jr., Wizard of Oz Jr., and Frozen Jr. (Havenwood Productions). Morgan is excited to be teaching in our Musical Theatre program.

Sandy Zinck holds degrees in both music and drama from Acadia University and a BEd from University of Alberta. Prior to moving to PEI she taught music and drama with Edmonton Public School Board and the Toronto School Board. She has co-written and directed multiple original musicals for the Beaconsfield Children’s Festival and served as PEI’s Chapter Director for the Educational Theatre Association of Canada. Sandy currently teaches music at West Royalty Elementary School in Charlottetown. She is looking forward to another year of teaching voice and drama with dance umbrella’s Musical Theatre Program.

Allegra Wright (she/her) is an actor, singer, musician, and teaching artist from Vancouver, British Columbia with theatre training from Douglas College in New Westminster, BC and Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City. She has taken professional development workshops with David Smukler, Scott Swan, David MacMurray Smith, the Gateway Conservatory (Richmond, BC), and Bard Studio (Vancouver, BC). Teaching private voice lessons and acting/music classes with multiple theatre programs, Allegra is excited to join the team at The Confederation Centre this summer. Allegra is currently attending Holland College's SoPA - Berklee College of Music transfer program and can be found this summer in Anne and Gilbert the Musical at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall.

Halina Terentiev was born in Ukraine, Kherson. She has around 27 years of experience in teaching various styles of dance. In 1997, Terentiev graduated from the Ukrainian University of Culture with a degree in choreography. In 2003, she founded her own modern dance ensemble Edent in Israel. This group, competed in international competitions, where they always won prizes. The members of the ensemble also took part in international festivals and concerts. In Israel, Halina continued to take refresher courses and improve her choreographic skills. In 2009, Halina immigrated to Canada and in 2010 she started working with Dance Umbrella. In 2011, she began working as a Dance and Yoga teacher in IMA. Since 2012, Halina have also been working with Island Gymnastic Academy as a dance instructor with competitive girls. Some girls received prizes for the best choreography in their floor routine.

"Joe " started dancing at the age of sixteen in his senior year in high school. His training consisted of African Dance, Housing, Breakdancing, and Tutting with The Bahamas Dance Theatre, Acting Essentials & Afro Jazz with Georgia's School of Dance and Theatre, and Ballet with Louis Seiler Academy of Dance. His love for dance and the art of HipHop led him to establish his own dance crew, called Xclusiv Crew, which he now leads alongside his wife, Dawn Dames. Joe has had the opportunity to share the stage with Bahamian artists such as Stileet and Alexis Pelecanos, and international artists such as Popcaan and Cardi B. He has choreographed for multiple dance organizations including Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh, and Planet Dance Cincinnati, where he had the opportunity to work with Andrew and Missy Hubbard from Cats The Musical. Joe has featured in stage productions such as The Lion King, Fame, and Raisin In The Sun. Joe has co-directed and choreographed many shows on PEI including Kings and Queens with the Island Fringe Festival, and Street Fusion & Island Vibe with the Confederation Centre of the Arts. He is a proud father of three beautiful girls and looks forward to being a part of the change and pathway to provide opportunities for them. Fun fact: Joe recently had the opportunity to co choreograph for the 2023 Canada games opening Ceremonies.

Callista McIsaac developed a passion for dance and performing arts at a young age, training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Tap styles. She is a graduate of Holland College Dance Performance Program, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Management. Callista is a certified Yoga Fitness and Barre instructor through Fitness NB. Callista continued her exploration of contemporary dance with the training initiative, Modus Operandi. While in Vancouver, BC she performed on various stages including choreographies by Emmalena Frederikson, Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond, Harold Rhéaume. Callista continues her dance career in PEI as a member of Oshun Dance Studio, and Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers performing island-wide in various festivals and events including Diversity and Fringe. Callista is grateful to share a part in fostering arts education in island youth through her role as Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Confederation Centre, and inspiring the next generation as a dance instructor with dance umbrella.