(905) 682-1037
Step Above Dance Academy Staff
Faculty
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Miss Lily Guignard
D.M.A Certified(Dance Masters of America), Acrobatic Arts Certified
Owner & Founder/Artistic Director
Ballet, Acrobatics, Musical Theatre & Competitive Instructor
Lily started ballet at the young age of 2, she then quickly added jazz, tap, acrobatics, flamenco, musical theater, lyrical, hip hop, and contemporary to her repertoire. Lily took her love of dance to a competitive level where she attended multiple competitions throughout Canada and the USA receiving many overalls, scholarships & special awards for her performances.
Lily completed her Intermediate Ballet Exam through Royal Academy of Dance in 2014, while also attending George Brown College for the Ballet Intensive Program and many workshops for Acrobatics Training. In 2019 she completed her module 1 training with Acrobatic Arts and is fully certified to enter students into acrobatic examinations up to Level 6.
Lily started her Dance Masters training in 2014 with Chapter 38’s Jr. Members program. After becoming of age she attended the University of Buffalo for 3 years of their Dance Masters Training Program where she successfully completed her Level III and received another of many teaching certificates. Once completing her training she took her Dance Master Exam enrolling her as a full member of the Canadian Dance Masters of America, Canadian Chapter 38.
Lily started her teaching career in 2014 receiving many overalls, special awards, scholarships and overall choreography awards for her competitive choreography throughout the years. Lily continues to inspire young dancers to strive to be the best they can be through structured, fun learning.
Teaching Staff
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Miss Jessica Crook
Jazz, Lyrical & Competitive Instructor
Jessica began dancing at the age of 11 and quickly fell in love with the art of dance. Training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, tap, pointe, and pom. She has trained and competed all over North and South Carolina and has been featured in the Columbia City Ballet Nutcracker.
She was a 4-year member of her high school dance team, where she attended Universal Dance Association summer dance camps, competed in local competitions, and was captain for her senior year. In 2018,
Jessica was a scholarship recipient for Limestone University Dance Team in South Carolina where she performed at all home football and basketball games. During her time, she also competed at the NDA College Nationals, in Daytona Beach, Florida where LUDT finished fourth in the nation in the DII hip hop category.
Jessica is excited to share her talents with the students of Step Above Dance Academy.
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Miss Lily Fusco
Tap, Hip Hop, Adult & Competitive Instructor
Lily started dancing at 5 years old recreationally and began dancing competitively at the age of 8! Her favourite styles are hip-hop and tap, however she loves and has trained in a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, and pointe. Lily has completed up to grade 4 of the Cecchetti Ballet exam syllabus and has had the privilege of dancing in Time Square with her studio in 2018. She has also taken many workshops in the past in various styles including having the opportunity to attend a weeklong workshop in Florida working with many well know choreographers.
Since entering Brock University for Community Recreation in 2021, Lily has had many opportunities to dance as she is currently dancing recreationally with Brock Dance, competitively with Edge Dance Team, a university varsity level competitive team for tap, and with the Niagara River Lions Dance Pak!
Dancing and choreographing has always been a huge passion of Lilys. The love she has for dance is unmatched and something that she feels she will never truly be able to describe. Lily is so excited to share her passion and love for dance with the students at Step Above Dance Academy!
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Miss Ella Caplan
Acrobatic Arts Pre School Certified
Pre Acro, Free Movement, Ballet, Level 1 Acro, Tap & Competitive Instructor
Ella has been dancing since the age of 5, falling in love with Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Ballet with all styles attributing to her love of dance as an art. Ella completed the Acrobatic Arts Pre-School Certification this past June and will be starting in the Nursing Program at Brock University this fall.
Ella joined the Step Above Dance Academy Competitive Team in 2023 and will be continuing to compete in 2024. Dance has been her outlet to express herself and release her emotions.
Ella has had past experience assiting Acrobatic classes at Step Above since 2022, she has also has experience babysitting children, helping in kindergarten classes and working with youth red cross programs.
Ella is so excited to start her dance teaching jourany this fall at Step Above.
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Miss Erin Morningstar
Mini Movers & Jr. Hip Hop, Jazz Instructor
Erin began dance at 13 years of age, she trained in Jazz and Hip Hop at a Janice Luey for 7 years until she attended Brock University for sociology. During her years at Brock University she was involved with the Junior Varsity Cheer Squad. After leaving Brock she continued her education at Niagara College in the Law Clerk program graduating in 2023.
She has danced for the Niagara Jackfish baseball team and is currently on the Ice Dogs Dance Team and has been with the team for the last 4 years. Erin has taken many master classes and continues to do so whenever she finds the time. She continues to teach sharing her love for dance with Step Above.
Assisting Staff
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Miss Makayla
Assistant Teacher
Meet Miss Makayla she has been dancing since the age four taking lessons in Acrobatics, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. Miss Makayla joined the Step Above Competitive Team in 2019 and furthered her acro training in 2023 by taking her Acrobatic Arts Level 1 Exam receiving an impressive score of 124 and finishing the exam off with an Excellent Rating. Miss Makayla has also won many overalls and special awards over her years of competiting.
Miss Makayla,s love of dance is apparent every time she steps foot into the studio! With her extensive experience babysitting and helping her brother, she was a welcome addition to the teacher assistant team in 2019. While she continues to assist classes, she is working towards becoming a dance teacher in the future, she completed her Step Above Acrobatics Spot Training last year and continues to upgrade every year. Miss Makayla is excited to continue sharing her love of dance with all the students.
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Miss Emily
Assistant Teacher
Miss Emily has been dancing for 8 years in many different styles such as; Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre & Acrobatics. In 2021 Miss Emily joined the Step Above Dance Academy Competitive Team where her performances have won her many Special Awards and Overalls.
In 2023 Miss Emily took her Acrobatic Arts Level 1 Exam passing with a high score of 140 receiving an award of Distinction, In 2024 she took her Acrobatic Arts Level 2 Exam also receiving a score of Distinction with a final score of 145. Presently she is working towards her Level 3 Exam which will take place in the spring of 2025
This is Miss Emily's second season assisting and she is working torward to one day becoming a teacher.
Miss Emily has a passion for dance and enjoys sharing her love and knowledge of dance with younger students.
Miss Evelyn
Assistant Teacher
Miss Evelyn has excelled in her short dance career she is a beautiful dancer with a great passion for Ballet and Acrobatics. This year she has added Lyrical, Jazz and Musical Theatre to her repertoire. She joined our competitive team in 2023 winning an overall for her ballet duet.
In 2024 Miss Evelyn took her Acrobatic Arts Level 2 Exam passing with a high score of 126 receiving an award of Excellence. She is currently studying for her Level 3 Exam to be taken in the early spring of 2025.
Miss Evelyn is pleased to announce that she completed her Step Above Acrobatics Spot Training and she will continue upgrading her assisting skills every year. She is a great roll model for our young dancers and continues to show her love of dance to all.
Miss Holland
Assistant Teacher
Miss Holland joined us after moving here from Alberta and has danced at Step Above Dance Academy for the past four years, she has taken training in Ballet, Tap and Acrobatics over the years and has recently added Lyrical, Jazz and Musical Theatre to her list. Miss Holland joined our competitive team in 2022 winning an overall last season for her ballet duet.
In 2024 Miss Holland took her Acrobatic Arts Level 2 Exam passing with a high score of 137 receiving an award of Distinction. She is currently studying for her Level 3 Exam which she will be taking in June 2025
Miss Holland is pleased to join our assisting team. She completed her Step Above Acrobatics Spot Training this summer. She loves to help the teachers and share her love for dance with everyone.
Miss Isabelle
Assistant Teacher
Miss Isabelle has been a dancer since 3 years of age. After moving to Thorold in 2022 she joined Step Above Dance Academy in acrobatic, soon after she added Ballet and Lyrical to her repertoire she looks forward to continued training in dance, expanding her knowledge and experience.
Miss Isabelle loves assisting teachers at school with the younger grades making sure the chlidren are safe at recess in the yard. She is also a great help at home for her mom and her new baby sister.
Her dream is to one day become a dance instructor.
She delighted to join our assisting team at Step Above Dance Academy this
season.
Miss Lily
Assistant Teacher
Miss Lily joined Step Above Dance Academy this past summer . She is ecstatic to carry on with her dance career and increase her knowledge of dance.
We welcome Miss Lily as she has also joined our competitive team at Step Above Dance Academy
Her goal is to motivate every student to share her enthusiasm and ambition for dance. She desires to support them in achieving their goals.
Miss Lily has volunteered countless hours helping with younger children at her church and is very excited about assisting at Step Above Dance Academy this up coming year. She has also she completed her Step Above Acrobatics Spot Training this past summer.
Office Staff
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Nathaly Jones
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Jones has danced since she was 2 years old she and continues to dance as a competitve tap dancer and heels dancing. She shows her love of dance through Step Above Dance Academy by assisting with social media, administrative work and is our studios make-up and hair stylist. The summer of 2023 Mrs. Jones completed a course through Discover Dance as an interest course.
What we are all about!
Our Mission
Here at Step Above Dance Academy we help develop everyone’s inner dancer, from kids to adults. We strive to build confidence and skills through supporting one another inside and outside of the studio. We believe everyone deserves a chance to express themselves with movement and be a part of the creative and beautiful world of dance. We have worked hard to make this studio a place to grow and learn in a positive, encouraging environment within our staff, as well as our students. Being founded and run by someone who started as a young student and has built their skills and passion throughout their entire life gives Step Above Dance Academy the advantage of firsthand experience and knowledge of the personal and professional rewards that can be achieved. We are about development and expression of one’s creative side no matter our strengths or weaknesses, we all deserve to share our passion.
Here at Step Above Dance Academy, we have a passion for the art of dance and for helping others discover their inner dancer. Are you ready to get up and move? Contact us today to learn more about our studio.
We offer programs in ballet, jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, musical theatre & hip hop. Our programs are available for all ages, from 2 to adult (18+).
Step Above Dance Academy staff teach proper technique and encourage fun and confidence in all programs. We offer many special events during the year, including, "Studio Movie Night", "Parent Viewing Weeks", various holiday classes for Halloween and Christmas and so much more.
Our location at 8 - 3250 Schmon Parkway features a studio, a reception area, and a washroom.
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