Our Team.
At the core of our dance family is a foundation of knowledgeable, skilled instructors, that carry with them years of experience and a passion for dance education. They are the driving force behind our vision to bring the art of dance; its beauty, its challenges, and its wonder, to our students. We are proud of our team, their accomplishments both on and off the stage, and the inspiration they bring to our dancers. Please take a moment to get to know us and if you see us around the studio don’t hesitate to say Hello!
Janelle Konowal
Founder/Instructor
Janelle Warren Konowal, was born and raised in Nova Scotia and has studied dance since the age of 4. Her love of movement, music, and nature provided a doorway into her relationship with community, health, and spirit. She travels extensively across North America studying dance, and holds B.A.T.D, C.D.T.A, and ADAPT teaching certifications. Throughout her dance training she performed in many notable shows and competitions in the maritimes. She completed her BATD dance exams and was chosen to go to Toronto for a scholarship before completing her teaching associate certification. She has choreographed for the former Halifax Rainmen’s dance team, and has been featured as a dancer and choreographer in music videos with artists such as Classified, Chad Hatcher, and SG.
Janelle holds a B.Sc degree from Dalhousie University, where she founded Dalhousie’s Black and Gold Dance Team. She is the founder of Element, where she currently choreographs, teaches, and acts as Artistic Director. She is the creator and host of the Podcast and Youtube channel The Dancer’s Edge.
Along with her award-winning choreography, Janelle is known for her love of teaching her students with a positive atmosphere, and attention to technical detail. Dance has been a huge part of Janelle’s life and she looks forward to sharing her love and passion for the art of dance with her students, and encouraging them to be the best dancers they can be.
Brittney McCarthy
Artistic Director/Competitive Coordinator/Instructor
At the age of thirteen, Brittney began her intensive training as a dancer. After her acceptance to the Banff summer dance intensive, Brittney continued to attend summer programs including the Okanagan summer dance intensive in Kelowna, British Columbia, the Ailey summer dance intensive in New York City, and Point Park’s summer dance intensive program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brittney began dancing at the age of three learning various styles in Nova Scotia, Canada. Celebrating her love of dance, Brittney has earned her British Association of Teachers of Dancing Associate’s Diploma in 2009 and her Associate’s Diploma with The Canadian Dance Teachers Association in 2016. Brittney has also studied with B.A.T.D earning various honours certificates for jazz and tap examinations as well as The Royal Academy of Dance’s Advanced 1 ballet examination.
Throughout the years, Brittney has focused primarily on jazz, tap, modern, ballet and contemporary techniques along with pointe and hip-hop training. In 2014, Brittney finished her studies at Point Park University’s Conservatory for Performing Arts earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cume Laude, majoring in Jazz dance. Brittney grew up attending dance festivals all around North America and has had the honour of being presented with Most Promising Dancer DanceAbition, Candance Title Soloist 2010, and the Anna Trefry Reach for the Stars Scholarship. At the age of thirteen she was chosen to perform in the 60th Anniversary Gala at the Banff Arts Centre and was chosen as one of thirteen dancers from Point Park University to perform in the Martha Graham University Partner’s showcase in New York City 2012.
Since graduating University, Brittney has taught at various dance schools in Dartmouth and Bedford, created numerous pieces of choreography and in 2016, Brittney founded Elevate Summer Dance Intensive. Alongside Janelle Warren-Konowal, Brittney has co-created and co-directed both the Pre-Professional and Junior Teacher Training Programs at Element and is currently the Director at Element Dance Studio.
Andrea Forrest
Studio Director/Instructor
Andrea was a competitive gymnast in her youth and taught gymnastics for 9 years before starting her family. Both of her daughters have a love and passion for dance. After watching them dance for years, she decided to take a dance class herself and fell in love with dance too. Assisting an acro class reminded Andrea how much she loves teaching and this started her new journey of combining her passion for gymnastics, teaching, and dance together.
Andrea has attended the Junior Acrobatique AcroDance Certification Course in Ottawa and is now in the process of wrapping up her certification. Andrea looks forward to sharing her passion for Acro Dance and helping her students reach their full potential in a safe and positive environment.
Haley Leppan
Instructor
Haley started dancing at the age 3 in Truro and began competing not long after at the age of 5 in Ottawa. Throughout her childhood and into high school, she was trained in a variety of styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, Acro, modern, contemporary and musical theatre. In addition to competing, Haley has also successfully completed ballet, jazz and tap exams following the CDTA and Society of Russian Ballet Syllabi.
At the age of 13 Haley began to assist classes at her studio in Bedford and began teaching recreational level classes when she was 16 in Hammonds Plains. After high school, she was a member of the Dal Dance Society during her first year of university and continued to share her passion and love for dance through teaching at various studios in HRM. Haley was the artistic director for the St. Margaret’s Dance program during the 2018-2019 season, when she choreographed and directed both the winter show and the year-end show.
Outside of dance, Haley has graduated from Mount saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is now completing her diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology at NSCC with plans to pursue a career in health care!
Laura Van-Herk NBS TTP (Dip.), RAD RTS, AISTD (NB)
Instructor
Laura is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program (diploma), a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and an associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (National Dance). Growing up in Nova Scotia, Laura trained under Micaela Archer-Shee, Nora Oakey and Diana Rutherford.
Laura recently returned to Nova Scotia after five years as the Head of Ballet at KV Dance Studio in Ottawa, Ontario, where she nurtured a well-rounded ballet program, including annual exams for grade primary to Advanced 2, and studio-wide full length ballet productions. Laura has been honoured to have her students accepted at internationally recognized professional ballet programs for both summer studies and full-time training, including Canada’s National Ballet School, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and Alberta Ballet School. During this time, Laura also worked with the competitive team, providing one on one artistic coaching and winning several awards for her choreography.
Laura believes in providing dancers with a strong foundation of classical technique and artistry, which is supported by an increased understanding of body awareness and mental training tools that will allow them to carry their confidence beyond the four walls of the studio.
Ainsley Forrest
Instructor/Creative Team
Ainsley started dancing at the age of 3 and has been at Element as a competitive dancer since the beginning. She has trained in a variety of styles including acro, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and contemporary. Ainsley was also amongst the first group of dancers selected to be apart of the Pre Professional Program at Element. She has completed CDTA, RAD, and ADAPT exams as well as attended Elevate Summer Dance Intensive to further her dance education.
Ainsley became a teacher’s assistant at the age of 11 and realized that she loved the teaching aspect of dance just as much as being a dancer herself. She completed her junior teacher training program at Element in 2019 and became a full junior teacher in 2020. To further her knowledge Ainsley completed the Acrobatic Arts Preschool course in and is now a certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts.
Ainsley is currently studying psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University. She plans to continue her education to work in the mental health research field.
Sarah Rogers
Instructor/Creative Team
Sarah began dancing at the age of 6, and progressed to competition and intensive training at the age of 13. She has trained in various styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, and more. At the age of 16, she began competing with Element’s competitive companies, eventually graduating from the senior intensive company and Pre-Professional Program. She has continued to train in various dance styles as a member of Dalhousie’s Black and Gold Dance Team.
Sarah became an assistant at the age of 13, aiding classes of various levels all the way from pre-school to junior competitive teams. At the age of 15, she began teaching her own classes and found her love for inspiring young dancers. To further her dance education, Sarah is in the process of completing her ADAPT Teacher Training Program as well as her Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology Personal Trainer Certification. She has also been a part of Element’s administrative team since September 2021.
Sarah is headed into her third year of kinesiology at Dalhousie University, where she plans to continue her education in physiotherapy. She hopes to become a sports physiotherapist and work with professional athletes in the future.
Nathan Dey
Guest Instructor/Choreographer
Element alumni, Nathan Dey began his dance career at Element Dance Studio. He grew up as a competitive dancer and took on a teaching role in his later student years. By the end of his time as a student, he discovered that his passion for dance had not burnt out.
After graduation, he took that passion and moved to Toronto where he spent two years working and training in the commercial and concert dance industries. He honed his commercial abilities at professional dance studios such as Millennium Dance Complex, Underground Dance Center, and Dancelife X, using this training to perform in music videos, industrial events, and promotional media. On the concert side of his journey, he has performed in various stage shows and artistic events using the skills he gained from training programs such as the Alias Dance Project, Aybrid Dance Intensive, and most notably the Gypsy Summer Session LA. This gave him the chance to work closely with world-renowned dancers and choreographers Erica Sobel, Medhi Walerski, Jermaine Spivey, and Adi Salant, who helped Nathan foster his distinct movement and choreography.
From film to stage, Nathan brings a unique mix of industry experience. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to share his knowledge with his students and works hard to cultivate a fun class environment that encourages artistic growth and individuality.
Outside of dance, Nathan is currently completing a bachelor of arts degree at Saint Mary’s University. After which, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in applied sociology and continue onward in that career realm.
Laura Wadden
Instructor
Laura began dancing at the age of 3 and started competitive dance at age 6 with Director/Instructor Janelle. She has been with Element Dance studio since it first began and has been with them for the last 10 years. Laura is experienced with many styles such as musical theatre, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and modern, along with the completion of ballet and jazz examinations. Laura was also selected to be a part of the Pre Professional Program at Element, in which she learned valuable lessons on choreographing routines.
As she grew as a dancer she realized how much she truly idolized her teachers and wanted to begin teaching herself. Laura began assisting classes at the age of 10 and continued until she began junior teaching in 2020. In the role of a junior teacher she strives to bring her love for performance and style to every lesson.
Growing up, musical theatre was always a big part of her life. At age 10 she was awarded a broadway bound scholarship and performed on the broadway stage. She was given many lessons on performance and how to precisely capture the audience’s attention. She continues to carry this theatrical experience in her teaching as well as her own performances.
Livia Barkhouse
Instructor
I began dancing at the age of 5 and I have been a competitive dancer with Element from the very beginning. I am trained in many styles such as hip hop, jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary and I participated in Elements Pre-Professional Program for 2 years.I became an assistant at Element when I was 11 and I knew then that I had a passion for teaching dance. In 2022 I completed my junior teacher training program and I immediately fell in love with teaching as much as being a dancer.Outside of dance, I am currently studying Psychology at Mount Saint Vincent University and I plan to continue my education to work with children in the field of mental health.
Stan Tonin
Guest Instructor/Choreographer
Stan began dancing at the age of seven and has been a competitive dancer ever since. He has been dancing with Element since the beginning, focusing on many styles including contemporary, hip hop, ballet, jazz, and acro along with a variety of others. In addition to his training at Element, he has had the honour of attending Canada’s National Ballet School, School of Alberta Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Elevate for their summer dance intensives.
Over the years, Stan has achieved a number of recognizable dance accomplishments some of which include; attending various world renowned dance competitions such as Hit The Floor Toronto, and Nuvo Dance Conventions in Boston, Toronto and Orlando. Here he placed in the top three and won Teen Male Breakout Artist; qualifying him to compete for Teen Male Best Dancer at The Dance Awards in Las Vegas. Through an audition process, Stan was one out of one hundred dancers invited throughout North America to attend The Protege Movement held in Alberta, an opportunity which allowed him to be mentored by prestigious dance choreographers such as Stacey Tookey.
Within his training he has successfully completed RAD, CDTA, and Cecchetti ballet exams as well as the ADAPT jazz exams. Stan has been lucky enough to be a Nova Scotia Talent Trust scholarship recipient for the past four consecutive years and has been awarded many other scholarships and special awards throughout his competitive career.
Stan has always aspired to one day become a professional dancer, choreographer and/or teacher. He started to fall in love with these aspects of dance even more once he was accepted into Element’s first Pre-Professional Program where he had the opportunity to choreograph a piece for other dancers. Stan began his teaching journey after successfully completing Elements Junior Teacher Trainee Program and later went on to start teaching at Element as a Junior Teacher. Stan dreams to one day pursue a career in dance after graduating highschool.
Cathy Blackwood
Office/Admin
Cathy is our Office Administrator and a long-time Element dance mom. You’ll likely see her around the office or hear her answering our phone.
Hawazen “Zee” AlOtiabi
Front Desk /Office Admin
Hawazen is our front desk and office administrator. You’ll see her around the office or hear her answering our phone.