Denise Smith

Director

Denise has trained dancers at Denise Smith Dance Studio since 1979. She has adjudicated numerous prestigious dance competitions throughout Ontario and the United States as well as produced dancers who have participated in National Defense Tours to Bosnia, Alert and Yellowknife, danced professionally in movies, videos and dancers performing professionally on board Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Denise has choreographed and performed in many theatre productions with the Orpheus Operatic Society and Ottawa Little Theatre. Students from Denise Smith Studio have performed at a variety of Corporate Events including television. She continues to share her expertise and love of dance with her students.

Chemay Forrester

Director

Jazz, Technique and Tap 

Chemay is an award winning performer, choreographer and studio owner.  Chemay is the co-director of Denise Smith Dance Studio, where she has taught all forms of dance classes for the past 30 years.  Having started dancing at the age of 3, she danced competitively and performed in numerous productions throughout her dance career.  Trained extensively in all forms of dance, successfuly completely the (ADAPT) levels in Jazz and Tap.  Has had the privilege of studying with many great teachers and choreographers at various workshops and conventions across Canada and the United States.   Chemay has always had a true love for the art of dance and a true passion to teach. She is well known in the dance community for her progressive, energetic and innovative style of choreography and creative costume design.

Over the years, Chemay has trained numerous students, many of which have gone on to do professional work, including music videos, finalist on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Believe world tour and movie with Justin Beiber, Britney Spears, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and much more.  You can see some of her graduating students accomplishments on our Alumni page of the website.

Alyssa Charlebois

Ballet, Technique, Jazz (ADAPT) and Lyrical 

Alyssa has trained extensively in a variety of dance disciplines, including jazz (BATD and ADAPT), ballet (BATD and Vaganova), lyrical/contemporary, and musical theater. Throughout her competitive dance career, she was recognized with many awards and scholarships for her excellence in dance. After graduating from high school, Alyssa worked as a dancer for Carnival Cruise Lines, before returning home to attend university. She has since earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, as well as her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. When she is not teaching and creating at the dance studio, Alyssa works as an RN in the neonatal ICU.

Alyssa has over 10 years of experience, as both a dance instructor and choreographer. Her students have had numerous successes, placing top overall at many of their regional and national competitions. Her choreography has also been recognized and awarded for its excellence throughout the years. In 2020, she was honored to be named ‘Ottawa’s Favourite Choreographer’ by Faces Magazine. Alyssa has a true passion for what she does. She loves teaching and watching her students grow and mature in dance. She is thrilled that she is able to share her knowledge and love of dance with her students.

Jill McArton

Ballet (RAD)

Jill has been a director, choreographer, teacher, instructor and adjudicator. She is a graduate of the Canterbury High School Fine Arts program (Ottawa) and Ryerson University (Fine Arts – Dance)(Toronto). She is (A.D.A.P.T) jazz and tap certified. Jill is a full registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) and a certified member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (I.S.T.D.). Jill is a highly respected instructor and choreographer. She is sought after to adjudicate at competitions across Canada and the United States.

Throughout the 20 years that Jill spent as a national and international competitor she was awarded many titles and honors. Jill has won both national and world championships.

Jill is a true motivator. Her enthusiastic teaching style has enabled her students to achieve outstanding results. Jill remains current with the latest dance styles by regularly attending dance conventions and workshops throughout Canada and the United States.

Camryn Forrester

Tap and Jazz (ADAPT),  Lyrical

Camryn has been dancing at Denise Smith Dance Studio since the age of 3. She trained in all disciplines of dance, including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical/contemporary, and hip-hop. Throughout her years competing, Camryn has had many accomplishments. She has won numerous overall highscore awards for both her solos and groups. In December 2014, Camryn was fortunate enough to be a part of the Canadian National Tap Team and had the opportunity to travel to Germany and represent Team Canada, where they placed second in the world. In 2016 Camryn graduated from Canterbury Arts School, where she studied in the dance program.  

Camryn comes with over 6 years of teaching and choreography experiece. Her choreography has been recognized for its excellence by many renowned judges in the industry. Her students have had outstanding success, placing top in overalls at our regional competitions. Camryn is an enthusiastic, caring and talented teacher, with a passion for what she does. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to spread her knowledge to our young and aspiring dancers. 

Paige Forrester

Jazz, Lyrical, Acro and Stretch

Paige was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada.  At the age of two she began her dance training at Denise Smith Dance Studio, taking Ballet, Jazz and Tap classes.  Once she was abit older she added Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Acrobatic Gymnastics.  She grew up on the competitive team, winning multiple awards including Senior Miss Starpower Ottawa for three consecutive years, National Champion in 2018 and received two scholarships to AMDA University.  Throughout this time Paige also extended her training worldwide; across Canada, Greece and the United States.  Paige graduated Canterbury Performing Arts High School with the Dance Award and Dance with Distinction, during her time at Canterbury she trained in Ballet, Modern and Dance Composition.  Since then Paige has furthered her dance career becoming a dance instructor, choreographer, professional dancer and actor/model.  She has been featured in the Dance Spirit Magazine and the Coco Beach Club commercial with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  She is continuing her professional work under AMP TALENT group out of Toronto, Canada.  Currently Paige is working with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on her second dance contract.

Bronwyn Young

Ballet (RAD-RTS, ARAD)

Bronwyn is a registered ballet teacher, a teaching member of the Royal Academy of Dance, an Associate of the RAD and an approved tutor in the RAD's Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies programme.  As a young dancer, her talent and love of ballet allowed her to train with both the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Canada's National Ballet School, in addition to completing her RAD vocational examinations, attaining Distinction on her Advanced 2.  After an injury changed her path, she explored other movement forms and became a registered Yoga instructor.  Still, ballet had her heart and this passion led her back to the dance to become a ballet teacher.

Bronwyn uses a kinaesthetic teaching style coupled with a deep knowledge of functional anatomy to help each dancer embody their full potential.  She believes both dancers and teachers should always be learning and is currently completing a Master's degree in Dance Education with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Beth Pentland

Tiny Stars, Pre-Ballet/Jazz, Jazz and Lyrical

Beth has been dancing since the age of 2yrs and came to our studio when she was 9yrs old. Beth danced competively with our studio for six years and joined our faculty after graduating in 2020.  Her favourite styles of dance are jazz and lyrical.  Beth combines her years of dance training with her passion for working with children to create a fun and interactive environment for her students.

She is currently in her third year of undergrad at the University of Ottawa.  After her degrees, she plans on pursuing a career in child psychology or counselling.

Sharena Campo

Ballet, Pre-Ballet/Jazz and Lyrical

Sharena is a trained dancer with over a decade of competitive experience in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hip, musical theatre, and lyrical dance.  She has been teaching for many years as a dance instructor in the community where she is best known locally as 'Sharena Ballerina'. She was also the choreographer for the Ottawa 67's Dance and Cheer Team and spent three summers teaching jazz and Broadway style dance at an Arts Camp in Westport, Ontario.  Sharena continues to hone her skills and frequently travels between Ottawa and Toronto taking dance classes and learning from various choreographers.  Most recently, Sharena trained virtually with the New York City's Rockettes and NYC's The Ballet Spot.  Sharena has had the opportunity to act in commercials as well as for film and TV; in addition, she is an avid musical theatre performer, with a number of stage credits as both the lead and feature dance roles.  She loves sharing her smile and passion for dance with others!

Becca Gualdieri

Acrobatic Gymnastics and Lyrical

Becca studied Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Acro and Contemporary at JCB Danceworks in Richmond Hill for 15 years.  During her competitive years, she entered multiple National Title competitions and hold the title of Senior Miss Dance Champion 2015.  She then spent four years studying Forensic Science at Trent University, where she was elected Captain of the Trent Dance Team at the completion of her first year.  During her dance career, Becca was given the opportunity to perform with artists including  Nelly Furtado, and is a former member of the Ottawa REDBLACKS Dance Team. 

Becca is a certified Level 1 NCCP Gymnastic Coach, who uses her knowledge to develop programs specially designed for acro dancers.  These programs focus on safely transferrring skill from gymnastics equipment to the dance floor.  Becca has over six years of choreography experience and her students have been recognized with numberous judges' choice awards, high score overalls, and choreography awards.  She is thrilled to be joining the faculty and spreading her knowledge and passion to the next generation of dancers.

Xander Sen

Hip Hop

Xander Sen started dancing when he was 5 years old with the Ukrainian School of Dance. He then went on to study Ballet, Modern, Jazz with his primary focus towards Contemporary and Hip Hop.  He was awarded scholarships to attend both The Alberta Ballet Summer Program in Calgary, Alberta and the Joffrey Experience at the Joffrey Ballet in NYC. He has trained and collaborated with several noted choreographers including Jeff Dimitriou, Fefe Burgos and Cat Cagliandro among others. He was the featured soloist for the grand opening ceremonies at the National Arts Centre for Dignitaries including Prince Charles and the Governor General.  As a choreographer Xander has had the opportunity to teach hip hop classes in the city as well as choreographing routines for competitions and events such as Future Shock Dance Showcase and Dancers Give Back, Ottawa. Xander’s choreography has won numerous awards.  His goal is to grow and offer his knowledge of dance to his students, inspire them and fuel their love of dance.

Jerome Bobb

Hip Hop

Jerome is a dynamic; performer, teacher, choreographer and is also a national dance competition and dance event producer. He started performing at age 14, and has over 20 years of experience dancing professionally and teaching. He offers innovative choreography and a high energy class focusing on technique and execution as well as emphasizing the love of dance and performing with a positive attitude. Although Jerome has flexed both dancer and choreographer muscles on various on screen and on stage projects, he loves to run in the dance instructor lane. Jerome has been blessed to teach children, teens and adults in various studios and conventions internationally. Jerome is looking forward to spending time in the studio with the dancers at DSDS.

Kera Briggs

Acrobatic Gymnastics and Jazz

Kera is a recent graduate from Algonquin College’s Child and Youth Care program. Kera started dancing at a young age, she trained in many disciplines and was on the competition team at a local studio in Brockville, ON. throughout her teen years. Upon graduating high school Kera was a competitive and professional cheerleader, Kera is a proud alumnus of the Ottawa REDBLACKS Cheer and Dance team and the Ottawa Sooners Cheer Team. Kera is trained in artistic gymnastics by The National Coaching Certification Program and has 8 years experience coaching and instructing dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, and tumbling classes. Kera strives to share her passion for acro while promoting a safe environment with proper technique and positivity.  

Isabel Kelly

Acrobatic Gymnastics, Gymstars

Pre-Ballet/Jazz, Tap and Jazz

Isabel Kelly has grown up dancing at Denise Smith Dance Studio since the age of 4. She’s trained in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary and Acrobatic Gymnastics. As she grew into her dance career, she specializes her training in Jazz, Lyrical and Ballet. Isabel has won numerous awards across North America including Miss Starpower, Ottawa in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 as well as a top 3 finalist at Starpower Nationals and finally, Miss Candance, regional title winner in 2017 and 2019.  She had the opportunity to train at the summer program at The Joffery School of Balllet in New York City and was a student at Canterbury Performing Arts high school.  Isabel’s favourite part about being a dance teacher is being able to share her knowledge, passion and love for dance with all students.