WELCOME!
We are located off of Harvester Road in-between Guelph Line and Walkers Line in a spacious 5,000 square foot industrial air-conditioned facility. Boogie Down’s gorgeous raw space has beautiful wood accents, state of the art Harlequin sprung floors, and ample free parking. Our studio is bright with big windows, skylights, and high end finishes. With edgy exposed beams and 19 foot ceilings, our studio space has a special character and fresh unique vibe all it’s own!
Visit us! We promise you a warm and welcoming experience no matter what your age or level of dance may be!
LET’S BOOGIE
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM
Emma is the founder of Boogie Down Studio. She is trained in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre and has taken all of her major Cecchetti ballet exams. Emma received a BFA Degree in Theatre Performance Dance from Ryerson University. At Ryerson, she had the privilege of studying under some of the most influential industrial leaders such as: Kenny Pearl, Louis Laberge-Cote, TDT’s Christopher House, D.A. Hoskins, Vicki St. Deny, Robert Glumbeck and Nadia Potts to name a few.
Emma’s recent credits includes the “Beat Team” on 4 Square, a children’s show on Treehouse TV. This popular kids show has been on air since the early 2000’s, and has maintained its position as one of the top television programs on Treehouse TV. Emma has performed with M.I.A. and hit the MUCH stage with PSY in the finale performance of GENTLEMAN at the 2013 MMVAs. Emma is currently performing with Sole Power Productions and had the honour to recently share the stage with artists such as Justin Bieber and Salt N Pepa, as well as Lenny Kravitz at the Rogers Center for the 10th Year Anniversary Motoamore Rock and Roll Carnival. Emma has appeared on Kidomo Children’s Theatre: The Buster and Billy Show and the Clifford Show, as well as multiple Fashion Shows, Special Events and TV Commercials including Joe Fresh “Bring on Winter”.
Emma completed The Yoga Sanctuary’s Teacher Training Program in 2012. Emma turned to yoga as a way to rehabilitate her achy body from her intense dance training and completely fell in love with the practice. Emma’s unique approach and dance-like sequences set her apart from the norm, breaking the mold of what a regular yoga class feels like.
From her many years of dance and personal yoga practice, Emma is charged with creativity , sequence and flow. Joy, expression and lightness can be felt in her class as she encourages students to push limits, feel safe and strong. She is keen to share her love for the arts, to brighten the experience for others and help everyone to find/feel the DELICIOUSNESS.
Melissa has been dancing in the greater Hamilton region since the age of four. She has trained in several dance disciplines, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, as well as many other styles. As a competitive & recreational teacher/choreographer, Melissa has found her strength in the contemporary, jazz, open and musical theatre genres. Her skills have been recognized with Judges’ Choice Awards, Overall Titles, Scholarships and Young Choreographer Awards. Melissa has also been honoured with an overall Choice Choreography Award for an entire competition two years running.
Through her training, Melissa has successfully attained her C.D.T.A. Jazz examinations with honours and obtained her full Teacher’s Certificate in Jazz from the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association. Melissa has also earned a B.A. in Contemporary Studies from Wilfred Laurier University. Being able to study in both the academic and artistic world has helped round Melissa into an extremely capable and valuable dance teacher.
Melissa has had the opportunity to work with many students and studios in the greater Hamilton Area. Not only in choreography & training, but in creating workshops & dance intensives focusing on movement & improv in the contemporary genre. She has also had the pleasure of founding contemporary programs in two studios that she still works with closely today.
Melissa prides herself on creating unique, one of a kind pieces that allow her students to take risks and express their personal style on stage. The ultimate goal for Melissa is to share her knowledge and passion of dance. She strives to instil an artistic appreciation in her students where ever she teaches. Helping them fully understand the true art and expression of dance.
Raechele Lovell is a passionate Choreographer, Artistic Director, Dramaturg, Producer, Dance Instructor, Coach and Performing Artist specializing in multiple disciplines of dance, as well as dramatic arts and vocal music. She is a proud graduate of Eastwood Collegiate’s Integrated Arts Program, Dance Adventure Inc (In Loving Memory of Brooke Myers) and The Randolph College for the Performing Arts where she studied extensively as a Triple Threat.
Beginning her studies in dance, music and acting at the age of 3 and professionally at the age of 8 in her father’s touring steel drum band, Raechele has dedicated her lifetime to a career in the arts. Raechele has reached across the industry to gain countless credits in live theatre, film & tv, corporate and commercial settings. She is a former choreographer for the Mini Pop Kids and and a known choreographer in the indie theatre scene. She has acted in independent films streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime and been in commercials for Rogers and Metrolinx. After becoming a young mom, Raechele took a step back to focus on her new family and switched her career focus to teaching and choreographing children & youth during this time. Now, Raechele is a recognized Acro Dance specialist, having become fully certified with Acrobatic Arts and is a Founding Member of Acro Dance Adjudicators. She is also a Founding Member of the RCPA BIPOC Alumni Committee and a is a member of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists and Dance Ontario.
Known for her musicality, keen technical eye and attention to detail – Raechele has a passion for sharing her love of the arts and inspiring our next generation of Artists.
Recently, Raechele has taken on the role of Founder & Artistic Director of the new Professional Dance company, DiverseWorks Dance Co. As the Founder of DiverseWorks, she is growing a Afrocentric dance corporation for the future, engaging not only in presenting new works of art – but also presenting classes & workshops, an apprenticeship program and a unique new line of Dancewear that is representative and inclusive of BIPOC skin shades. In addition to her role with DiverseWorks, Raechele regularly works as a coach with competitive dance studios and a guest choreographer. Additionally, she still regularly performs as a guest artist with various established companies. Upcoming, she is working on the Equity Workshop of “Sugar Plum” with Nightwood Theatre.
Raechele is thrilled to join Boogie Down for the 2022/2023 season. She is looking forward to imparting her skills & expertise and sharing her passion with this fabulous team!
Paige began dancing at the age of three and has been involved in the dance world ever since. She trained as both a recreational and competitive dancer for 15 years, studying in disciplines such as tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and modern. She obtained high marks in RAD ballet examinations (completing her Intermediate examination) as well as CDTA tap and jazz examinations throughout her career as a dancer. She assisted recreational and competitive classes in multiple disciplines for 7+ years, this was where Paige found her passion for helping young dancers improve their technique and coached them to find confidence in themselves and their abilities. As an assistant, she was able to choreograph recreational routines and assist in the choreographing of competitive routines. Her attention to detail and desire for her students to achieve greatness, coupled with the guidance of her mentors, lead her students to victories. Paige attended many intensives and conventions over the years and had opportunities to grow as a dancer outside of her home studio such as, attending the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference, attending the Toronto Rhythm Initiative Summer Youth Intensive, and dancing for Walk Off The Earth at Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival.
Paige thought her life as a competitive dancer had ended when she graduated from Boogie Down Studio and moved on to study at the University of Guelph. Little did she know she would be jumping right back into a large community of University level competitive dancers. In her second year at Guelph, Paige joined the Guelph Gryphons Tap Pak, the University of Guelph’s competitive tap dance team. She quickly felt at home on Tap Pak as it was a space where she was able to work on her craft alongside fellow tap dance enthusiasts. Paige became a Co-Captain in her second year on the team and maintained this position in her third and final year. As a Co-Captain, Paige was able to teach and improve the technique of her peers as well as choreograph multiple routines for advanced level tap dancers. She lead her team to win many awards and quickly gained recognition in the University competitive dance community.
Paige has obtained a B.Sc., Hons majoring in Marine and Freshwater Biology with a certificate in Conservation Biology from the University of Guelph and is thrilled to be teaching and motivating the next generation of dancers!
Kirsten Legrand has spent many years dancing competitively, recreationally and in her kitchen. Her best choreography occurs in the kitchen. Kirsten has been teaching Hip-Hop for 2 years and is well trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, musical theatre, Hip-Hop and other street styles. She graduated with honours from the Humber Comedy: Writing and Performance program (2017). In addition, Kirsten also graduated with honours from Sheridan College’s Performing Arts Preparation program (2015) where she was trained by some of the best people in the industry. At Sheridan College Kirsten co-directed, choreographed, co-created and performed in her sketch show “Sketches Against Humanity”. Following her post secondary education she has been instructing multiple theatre programs with Burlington Student Theatre as well as teaching dance in the studio. Kirsten is certified with HIGHFIVE training and has been working with children for over 5 years. Kirstens most recent achievement is choreographing and appearing in an up incoming pop artist’s music video. Her main passions are grooving, expressing powerful Hip-Hop moves and creating a hard working happy environment for kids to express themselves through movement.
Cristina is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and she has successfully entered students into RAD examinations.
Cristina is a graduate of the Professional Teacher Training Program at National Dance Center in Paris, France. There she received her State Diploma of Classical Dance Teaching. She was trained by world renowned teachers from Paris Opera Ballet and Bejart Ballet.
Cristina began her professional ballet training at the age of nine at National Ballet School in her hometown Cluj-Napoca, Romania, graduating with a Major in ballet.
Entering the Romanian Opera Ballet she performed classical and contemporary repertoire and she had the privilege of working with renowned dancers and choreographers. During this time she toured internationally with the company, performing in ballets such as: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Esmeralda, Don Quixote, Giselle, Copellia, Romeo and Juliet, Scheherazade, Carmen, Scheherazade, etc.
She began her teaching career in Paris and after moving to Canada and she began guest teaching for dance schools all over Ontario.
Cristina continues with professional development through various workshops including National Ballet School and Royal Academy of Dance. She is a certified teacher in Progressing Ballet Technique and is a Silver Swans licensee teacher.
Cristina is an enthusiastic teacher and her goal is to bring the best of dance to her students through inspiration and dedication. She is very pleased to share her passion and knowledge to all her students at Boogie Down.