Principal: Dianne Long, A.R.A.D., A.I.S.T.D.

MISS LONG holds her Advanced Certificate in Ballet from both the Royal Academy of Dancing and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She also holds the Advanced Certificate in Modern Theatre, with Honours, from the ISTD. She is an Associate Member of the Imperial Society in their Modern Theatre Dance Branch. She holds the Teaching Certificate of the Royal Academy of Dancing and is a Registered Teacher of both the RAD and the ISTD.
   Miss Long worked locally as a teacher for eight years before founding the Cambridge Theatre Dance School in 1984. She has worked as a Guest Teacher for the Alma College Summer School of the Arts in St. Thomas, Ont. and at the Summer School of the Performing Arts at the Centre in the Square, Kitchener, as well as numerous workshops. In 1985 Miss Long was the Local Rehearsal Mistress for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's production of the Nutcracker held at the Centre in the Square. In 1986 she founded the Cambridge Dance Theatre, a regional dance company.
   Miss Long began her training with Joyce Turley and Josephine Both, of Cambridge, then went on to study with Pam Eddleston, F.I.S.T.D. (Examiner) and Dorothy Scruton of London, Elizabeth Paterson, A.R.A.D. (Examiner) of Oakville, and Anita Hobbs, L.R.A.D. of Sarnia.
   She has attended many International Workshops with such teachers as Melissa Hayden, Ronald Emblem, John Field, Gill Anthony, Nadia Potts, Luc Amyot and David Howard.
   Miss Long holds the Elementary Certificate with Honours from the Benesh Institute of Choreology of London, England, and is an official Mentor for the CTBS Diploma program of the Royal Academy of Dancing, London, UK.  She recently guided senior  students through 13 successful PLAR challenges for the Grade 11 & 12 dance credits.
She  has two sons.

Staff Teachers: Bea Benian, Bethany Fleming F.I.S.T.D., Sarah Meadus, Hons. B.A. (Dance), B.Ed.; Sharon Millen, RAD RTS; Susan Gittens, Degree in Fitness and Health; Lilly Petru; Stephanie Rutherford

BEA BENIAN - Head of Modern Department
Bea is a dance artist who trained professionally at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Temple Studios in Guelph under the direction of David Earle and Suzette Sherman and has attended various forms of movement workshops and intensives including the Martha Graham School of Dance in New York, NY.,  Winter intensive. As an independent artist she has performed for Mewton Moreas Dance Theatre, Hamilton Dance Company, Bill James, Company TILT and Dance Theatre David Earle.  Bea teaches contemporary dance at the Carousel Dance Centre.  Bea is married and has one son.  This is Bea's second year on staff.

BETHANY FLEMING - F.I.S.T.D, Head of Tap Department
Bethany is a graduate of The Fleming School of Dance and she received further professional training at Arts Educational School and Laine Theatre Arts in England. She holds Advanced 1 and 2 qualifications in ISTD Ballet, Modern and Tap and her Fellowship with the Society since 1999. Bethany has examined Modern Theatre and Tap for the I.S.T.D. across Canada and the United States. Her teaching experience incorporates all disciplines of dance, from ages 3 to adults for the past 18 years with The Fleming School of Performing Arts. We are pleased to welcome her to the staff and to our 25th Anniversary Season!

SARAH MEADUS, Hons. B.A. (Dance), B. Ed.,  a former Graduate of the Cambridge Theatre Dance School who went on to study in York University's Dance Program and become a school teacher with the Waterloo Regional District Catholic School Board. She is married and has two children. This is Sarah's second year back on staff.

SHARON MILLEN R.A.D RTS - Head of Ballet Department
Sharon is a former student of the CTDS and a  graduate of Eastwood Performing Arts High School. She went on to graduate from the Conestoga College ECE program. She holds the Elementary Ballet Certificate of the RAD, the Advanced Modern Theatre Certificate of the ISTD as well as the Gold Jazz Award. She has completed the last phase of the Certificate of Teaching Ballet Studies with the RAD which has given her Full Registered status.  This will be her 13th year on staff. She is married and has three daughters.

SUSAN GITTENS - Head of Hip Hop Department
Susan completed a Degree in Fitness and Health Promotion at Fanshawe College.  She is a certified Pre/Post Natal Specialist, Fitness Consultant and has obtained Full Certification as a Pilates Instructor from the "Physical Mind Institute".  This is Susan's 5th year on staff.

LILLY PETRU - Administrator, Ballroom instructor and  Pre-school Ballet instructor
Lilly, a native of Romania, has a College Degree in Classical and Contemporary Dance from the Popular School of Arts in Arad, Romania.  She brings to us years of dancing professionally as well as teaching and choreography.  Lilly is currently enrolled in the Certificate of Teaching Ballet Studies with the RAD which will give her Full Registered status.  This will be her 4th year on staff teaching Pre-school Ballet and Ballroom.

STEFANIE RUTHERFORD has been a student of the school for 14 years and on staff for 8 years.  She holds the Advanced Two Modern Theatre Dance Certificate and the Gold Jazz Award for the ISTD.  She is also holds the Grade Eight RAD Ballet Certificate and is a student member of the Royal Academy of Dance.  She is currently enrolled in the Concurrent Education Degree Program at Wilfrid Laurier, Brantford.  Stefanie is our birthday party co-ordinator.

Accompanist: Eng Siew Tan, A.R.C.M. 

ENG SIEW TAN is a native of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mrs. Tan studied at the Royal College of Music, London, England. She graduated with a Teachers Diploma in Piano (A.R.C.M.), a Diploma in Piano Performance (L.R.A.M.), and a Graduates Diploma in Music (G.R.S.M.). In Canada since 1988, she is currently an Organist and Choir Director in Waterloo and teaches privately. Mrs. Tan is a widow with three children and has three grandchildren.  Mrs. Tan has been a staff member for 17 years

Student Teachers

SAM BALSILLIE is a graduate of the CTDS and this is her 4th year on staff. She holds the Grade 8 Ballet Award with Merit and the Vocational Exam of the RAD.  She holds the Intermediate Modern Dance Certificate and the Gold Jazz Award of the ISTD. She is a student member of the RAD.  She graduated from the Eastwood Performing Arts Program.  She is currently attending the University of Waterloo.

BRITTANY NORMAN has been a student of the school for 12 years and on staff for 8 years .  She holds the Intermediate Modern Dance Certificate and the Gold Jazz Award  of the ISTD.  She also holds the Intermediate Vocational  Exam  and the Grade 8 Award of the RAD and is a student member of the RAD. 

CASSANDRA RESENDES has been a student of the school for 11 years and on staff for three years.  She holds the Intermediate Moden Dance Certificate and the Gold Jazz Award of the ISTD.  She also holds the Intermediate Vocational Exam and the Grade 8 Award of the RAD and is a student member of the RAD.

Senior Teaching Assistants
Stephanie Passarelli      Hayley Schoales
Megan Beretta (substitute)

Teaching Assistants
Colin Hathaway          Sarah Roden           

Junior Teaching Assistants
Abbey Mills             Michelle Passarelli     

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