Lorraine A. Blake
F.I.S.T.D. • R.A.D. RTS • I.S.T.D. Examiner
Lorraine is an experienced dance educator, examiner and adjudicator whose career has taken her from Vancouver Island to studios, festivals and examination centres around the world.
For more than three decades, Lorraine has taught and mentored dancers from their first steps through to advanced and professional training. Her students have gone on to study at institutions including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, Interlochen Arts Academy, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and UCLA, while Steps Ahead dancers have enjoyed performance opportunities and tours to destinations including Disneyland, London and New York City.
Lorraine began dancing at the age of three under the instruction of her mother, beginning a lifelong connection to dance education. She holds teaching qualifications with the Royal Academy of Dance and Progressive Ballet Technique and is a Fellow and international examiner with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. As an I.S.T.D. Examiner in Modern Theatre and Tap, she travels extensively examining dancers, and is also a sought-after adjudicator at dance festivals and competitions across Canada.
Alongside her work in dance education, Lorraine has a longstanding passion for musical theatre and has choreographed numerous school productions, with credits including West Side Story, The Addams Family, In the Heights, Mary Poppins and Spamalot.
Lorraine believes that dance is not simply about the destination, but about the journey — for both student and teacher. She continues to bring that philosophy to every dancer she teaches and mentors.
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Bryony Blake
A.I.S.T.D. Dip. • R.A.D. CBTS • Dance Educator
Coming from a family of dance teachers and performing artists, Bryony began dancing at the age of two and followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother in pursuing a career in dance.
Bryony holds an Associate Diploma with the I.S.T.D. Tap Faculty and a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance. Her training spans ballet, tap, modern, jazz, musical theatre and hip-hop, and she graduated from the acting program at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City in 2005.
Following her studies, Bryony spent a year performing in parades at Disneyland Resort in California. Since returning to Vancouver Island, she has performed and choreographed for numerous local theatrical productions, bringing her extensive performance experience into the classroom.
Alongside her work at Steps Ahead, Bryony works as an Education Assistant, giving her additional experience supporting children with a wide range of learning styles and individual needs. Her energetic, inclusive approach creates classes where dancers feel welcome, encouraged and free to be themselves.
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Candace Ammerman
Open Ballet • Pointe
Candace brings a wealth of professional ballet and modern dance experience to Steps Ahead. Her training includes study with distinguished artists including Alan Howard of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, Dimitri Romanoff of American Ballet Theatre, and modern dance mentors Cliff Keuter and Elina Mooney.
Candace joined the Steps Ahead faculty in 2025 and teaches our Open Ballet and Pointe class, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience with our senior dancers.
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Hanna Wheeler
PBT • Acrobatic Arts • Dance Educator
Modern • Jazz • Contemporary • Acro • PBT
Hanna discovered her love of dance shortly after moving to Vancouver Island at the age of five. Her training has included I.S.T.D. Modern, R.A.D. Ballet, contemporary and jazz, giving her a strong and versatile foundation across a range of dance styles. She is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) and Acrobatic Arts and is currently working toward her I.S.T.D. Associate teaching qualification.
Throughout her years as a dancer, Hanna performed and competed extensively across Vancouver Island, receiving numerous performance and dedication awards at local festivals. She has since developed broad teaching experience, working with dancers from preschool age through to adults.
Hanna brings enthusiasm, creativity and a strong attention to detail to her teaching and choreography. She is committed to creating a positive and supportive studio space where dancers are encouraged to develop their technique, confidence and individual potential.
We are delighted to welcome Hanna to the Steps Ahead faculty for the 2026–27 season, where she will be teaching Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro and PBT.
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Megan Rea
BFA Musical Theatre • R.A.D. • Dance Educator
Dance has been an integral part of Megan’s life from an early age. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and completed postgraduate studies with the Royal Academy of Dance, combining a strong background in performance with professional training in dance education.
Megan’s teaching career has taken her internationally, including work in both Switzerland and London, where she taught dancers of varied ages and backgrounds. Her experience in dance, theatre and performance brings a broad perspective to her classes at Steps Ahead.
Megan teaches Ballet, Jazz and Acro and brings warmth, creativity and thoughtful attention to each of her classes. She is committed to helping dancers build strong technique while developing confidence, artistry and a genuine enjoyment of dance.
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Jessica Langelier
BFA (Hons) • PBT • PCT • Acrobatic Arts • ADAPT
Ballet • Modern • Contemporary • Jazz • Tap • Acro
Jessica grew up on Vancouver Island and trained extensively in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip-hop before completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours at Simon Fraser University, where she received an elite entrance scholarship with distinction.
Her training has taken her across Canada and the United States, including programs with the School of Alberta Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Martha Graham School in New York. Jessica is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT), Progressive Contemporary Technique (PCT), Acrobatic Arts and ADAPT.
At Steps Ahead, Jessica teaches many genres bringing strong technical knowledge, creativity and extensive performance experience to her classes while encouraging each dancer to develop confidence and their own artistic voice.
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Colbie Hall
PBT • Acrobatic Arts • RAD Teacher Training
Pre-School • Primary • Ballet
Colbie is a graduate of Steps Ahead Dance who brings warmth, enthusiasm and a genuine love of teaching to the studio. Having grown up at Steps Ahead, she understands the importance of creating a positive first experience with dance for our youngest students.
Her extensive training includes ISTD examinations through Intermediate level and RAD Ballet through Grade 8. She is also trained in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) and Acrobatic Arts and is continuing her professional development through the Royal Academy of Dance teacher training program under the mentorship of Lorraine and Bryony Blake.
Colbie is passionate about creating a supportive and encouraging environment where young dancers can develop confidence, musicality and strong foundations in technique. We are especially proud to see one of our own dancers grow into the role of teacher and inspire the next generation at Steps Ahead.
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Julianna Cross
Guest Choreographer • Solos & Duos
Julianna grew up dancing at Steps Ahead, training in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary and Jazz and completing RAD Ballet through Grade 8 and ISTD Modern through Advanced 2. A graduate of Vancouver Island University’s Bachelor of Education program, Julianna now returns to her home studio as a guest choreographer, sharing her creativity and lifelong love of dance with the next generation of Steps Ahead dancers.
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Cat Newcombe
A.I.S.T.D. Dip. • Guest Choreographer • Solos
Cat began her dance training at Steps Ahead at age four, studying Ballet, Tap and Modern and progressing through advanced RAD and ISTD examinations. She went on to earn her ISTD Associate and Associate Diploma qualifications in Modern Theatre and is also Acrobatic Arts certified. A former Steps Ahead faculty member, Cat now returns as a guest choreographer, bringing her dynamic style, strong technical background and long connection to the studio to our dancers.
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Hayley Newcombe
A.I.S.T.D. • Guest Choreographer • Solos
Hayley grew up dancing at Steps Ahead, training extensively in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary and completing advanced RAD and ISTD examinations. She went on to earn her ISTD Associate qualification in Modern Theatre and is also Acrobatic Arts certified. A former Steps Ahead faculty member, Hayley now returns as a guest choreographer, bringing her innovative choreography, teaching experience and longstanding connection to the studio back to our dancers.