Kristy began dancing at the age of 5. She joined a competitive team shortly after that and competed in all styles of dance across North America for the next 10 years. At 17, she competed as a soloist at the IDO World Tap Dance Championships where she placed 2nd. She then attended the Dance Performance Foundations program at George Brown College and started her professional career. Kristy has performed as a company member of What’s On? Tap!, TDC Entertainment, aboard Carnival Cruise Lines, and at the Pan Am Games, Ontario Summer Games, Ffida, Deerhurst Resort, Breakfast Television, and the Chicago Human Rhythm Festival. She has extensive training in tap and has trained with Kim Chalovich, Lane Alexander, Jason Samuels Smith, Dianne Walker, Chloe Arnold, Ted Louis Levy, Brenda Bufalino, Bril Barrett, and Lisa La Touche among many others. Kristy has over 20 years’ experience in teaching dance and is a full member of BATD in tap and jazz. She has taught competitive teams at various dance studios across the GTA and is excited to join Protégé Dance Company and share her love for tap!

At the age of 3, Lexie started dancing better than she could walk, so much so that her competitive career had taken flight soon after the age of 7. She was known to be a well-rounded dancer immersing herself in all styles of dance inclusive of but not limited to Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Acro. Along with her passion for dance and spending most of her free time at the studio, Lexie used her acro technique to her advantage and became involved in gymnastics. During her competitive years, Lexie earned high titles along with scholarships through judge’s choice awards. Completing her competitive career at Protégé in 2012, Lexie has attained her B.A.T.D teaching examinations in acro, jazz, tap and ballet, has trained under the Cecchetti syllabus and is also a certified Acrobatic Arts (Module One) Instructor. Lexie continued her studies at Guelph University where she was a two-year member of the competitive hip-hop team: Atcha Crewand graduated with her Commerce Degree majoring in Economics and Finance. Over the years Lexie has performed in numerous galas and fundraisers including Starlight Children’s Wish Foundation Gala, Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Gala and United Way Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser. Continuing her performance experience in 2014, Lexie was chosen to be a member of the Argos Cheerleading team, where she performed in all CFL Argos home games and in Vancouver for the 102nd Grey Cup. The Argos' community further connected Lexie with additional opportunities with entertainment companies such as Magen Boys Entertainment and Cotton Candy Events. Lexie has also performed with TDC Entertainment and Wavestage Theatre Company. Lexie’s love for dance continues to grow each day. Not only does she enjoy performing but is very passionate in teaching others and watching them grow. Lexie's best known for developing strong and age-appropriate acro technique among her students, with many successfully attaining "Distinction" (the highest rank) in their Acrobatic Arts exams. Lexie's classroom is always guaranteed to push each student accordingly, encourage confidence, promote kindness and build great work ethic, all within a very positive and safe environment.

Katie’s dance career began at 5 years old in a dance studio located in Windsor, Ontario. Her need for a quick paced environment drove her towards the Jazz and Hip Hop world. During the studio years, Katie attended many conventions such as Tremaine, Jump, CDR (Coastal Dance Rage), and Nuvo, where she was able to take class and train with top choreographers in the dance world. Katie went on to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance from Wayne State University where she became the assistant director and choreographer to “Company One”. Her passion drove her to create her own contemporary syllabus called “Concepts in Contemporary”, which she shares with teachers and students through workshops. Highlights of Katie’s professional career include: choreographing for music artists (Marianas Trench, Simon Clow, Nickelback, and Marlae), working as the choreographer on a Hootsuite commercial, and creating the Shine Dance Festivals Top 10 intensives concept video. She has taught and choreographed for many intensives, such as: Team Canada, ACT student intensive, Brighton Dance Festival, Dance Attack, Dance Quest, Kiwanis Dance Festival, Source Dance Company, Wayne State University, BCDEA Dance Educators Conference, and most recently the BATD Toronto Region. Katie is certified with Alixa Flexibility (Module One & Two) and her work is currently featured on the world stage, represented by World Performers Canada. She prides herself in creating honest work and strives to help dancers discover their true potential. Katie is constantly creating and discovering new ways for her choreography to reach new heights, and loves nothing more than sharing her passion for dance with everyone around her. Katie is so excited to join Protégé Dance Company this season and share her passion of contemporary and dance with her students! She's looking forward to a wonderful season and experiencing growth amongst herself and her students.

Victoria Cicinelli is currently a full-time senior competitive dancer at Protégé Dance Company. She started dancing at 3 years old and has been competing since 10. Currently training in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary she has successfully completed Cecchetti Ballet Exams (Gr. 2 - 6 with Commended and Highly Commended Results). Victoria started assisting at Protégé at 11 years old and since then has found a love for teaching kids; not only watching them grow as dancers but as human beings too. This past year, Victoria began substitute teaching at the studio (Creative Combo classes) and in July, co-led Protégé's Creative Arts Summer Day Camp, as a Camp Leader. Victoria attends the Regional Arts & Media program (Dance) at All Saints C.S.S. (Whitby, ON), and in addition to joining many clubs including student council, has maintained honour roll in high school. Victoria is eager and excited to start teaching this coming season. She is passionate in setting out to be a good role model for the kids as well as continue learning and growing as a dancer from Protégé's talented faculty.

Holly started dancing at the age of three in the Durham region. She quickly began competing at the age of six and went on to win numerous special awards, scholarships and overall awards for her group and solo numbers. When Holly was fifteen years old, she became the creator, director and choreographer for the Pickering High School Dance Team which went on to win high scores at competitions such as Strive Dance Challenge and Attitude Dance Challenge. She then began her teaching career at the young age of sixteen. Holly has since graduated with a diploma in dance from the Centennial Dance Performance Program where she studied numerous genres and learned from some of Toronto's best including Lineen Duong, Leah Totten and Jamie-Lynn Harper. Since beginning her journey as a dance teacher, Holly has taken every opportunity she can to work with the best mentors in the industry. She has worked with well-known choreographers such as Mark Samuels, Kojo "Tuch" Mayne and Amanda-May Wilson. She also continues to attend international conventions and workshops like Buildabeast 2017 and Road to Buildabeast 2019 where she learned from amazing choreographers and dance moguls like Janelle Ginestra, Robert Green, Tricia Miranda, Nicole Kirkland and many more! Holly has continued to train and perform in the style of hip hop with her performance team "Keystone" which has achieved high titles including 3rd place at Prelude Dance Toronto 2019 as well as choreography and performance special awards. One of Holly's most recent accolades would be the year she spent in the Yukon teaching dance and immersing herself in the surprisingly large dance community, especially the breakdance community! Holly wishes to never stop learning as she believes all dance instructors should always remain students as well. She is very excited to be returning to Protége to work alongside some of her favourite mentors, fellow teachers and amazing dancers!

Chelsea Gibbs started her dance training at the young age of four at the Sandra Amodeo Dance Studio. At the age of six she started competing and won numerous special and overall awards for her performances. At age eleven, she was the youngest to audition and become a member of the semi-professional tap company “iTap Youth Company,” based in Hamilton, Ontario, under the direction of, the late, Kimberley Timlock. She also successfully completed her B.A.T.D. Tap and Jazz Exams, R.A.D. Ballet Exams and her P.A.E.C. Tap Exam. She is a fully certified teacher under Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (Tap and Jazz), Dance Masters of America, Chapter #38 (Tap and Acro), Acrobatic Arts (Module 1). She is a certified Acro Dance Adjudicator through the Acro Dance Teachers Association and a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Chelsea obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and her Master of Arts in Leadership degree from the University of Guelph. Chelsea’s performing highlights include: the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) in New York (own choreography), the Olympic Torch Relay Performance Team, the Canadian National Tap Team, Chicago Human Rhythms Project and Montreal Tap Fest. She had the opportunity to perform with professional tap companies such as Bringing Tap Back and What’s On? Tap!. In 2018, she was invited to perform with Andrew Prashad and Travis Knights at the Young People’s Theatre gala called, “Imaginarium: Jewel in the City.” She has also taken Master classes from tap enthusiasts such as Savion Glover, Jason Janas, Bril Barret, Starinah Dixon and Lisa La Touché. Chelsea’s mentors are Emmy award winner Ted Louis Levy, and sisters Chloe and Maud Arnold of the Syncopated Ladies. Over the years, Chelsea has appeared in numerous commercials and television shows such as “The Next Step”, “IIFA Awards”, “Breakfast Television”, “Motives and Murders” and “Voice of a Child” to name a few. To further her professional development, Chelsea has attended workshops and conventions such as The Dance Teacher Summit (Long Beach, CA), Broadway Dance Center’s Dance Teacher Workshop in (Manhattan, New York), Toronto Teacher Expo (Toronto, ON), Jump Start Intensive: Radar Techniques with Rebecca Davies, and Krista & Autumn Miller (Toronto, ON). Chelsea is thrilled to be returning to Protégé Dance Company for her fifth season and looking forward to a fantastic season with the students, families, and faculty!

Ms. Helm received her professional training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division, and Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program. She has Fellowship standing with the Cecchetti Society of Canada, and has an extensive background in music. Ms. Helm has worked as a ballet accompanist and teaches music for dancers and teachers. Her classes are considered to be technique-based and fast-paced, with a strong musical focus. Teaching credits include York University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto’s Hart House, Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program, the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and Metro Movement. Ms. Helm also regularly teaches children’s classes and is invited to adjudicate and guest teach across Canada. We are very honoured to have Ms. Helm join our faculty this year, as she is equally excited to join Protégé Dance Company.

Mia Macciocchi is currently a senior competitive dancer at Protégé Dance Company. She started dancing at the age of 5, and by the age of 6 she was invited onto the mini competitive dance team and has loved it ever since. Throughout the years, Mia has won many awards and scholarships, most recently being awarded with: Most Outstanding Senior Dancer 2023 (Bedazzled) and 1st Overall Solo 2023 (Bedazzled). Mia currently trains in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theatre, and has successfully completed Cecchetti Ballet Exams (Grades 1 to 3) as well as Acrobatic Arts Exams (Primary to Grade 7 with Distinction). At the age of 10, Mia started assisting classes at Protégé Dance Company. Mia loves helping the students and watching them grow and soon realized she had a great passion for working with kids. Mia has assisted many classes over the years: mini acro, junior ballet, itty bitty hip hop/musical monkeys and mini-junior hip-hop/musical theatre as well as numerous summer intensives. As a full-time competitive dancer, Mia maintains post-secondary honour roll status. In addition to her commitment to Protégé Dance Company, Mia has successfully earned herself international performance opportunities. Performance opportunities include: Five Star Dance Company at Barcelo Maya Beach Resort in Mexico (November 2022 & 2023), as well as World Performers Canada - Dance World Cup (Tap & Hip Hop Team) in Prague (July 2024). Mia is so happy to start her teaching journey by sharing her passion and knowledge to the younger dancers at Protégé Dance Company.

Lauren MacMillan is currently a senior competitive dancer at Protégé Dance Company. She started dancing at the age of 3, competing since the age of 7 and is a proud member of Protégé's award winning competitive team. Lauren currently trains in ballet, jazz, tap, pointe, lyrical, contemporary and hip-hop and has completed Cecchetti ballet exams (Grades 2 through 6 with Commended) and Acrobatic Arts (Primary to Grade 5 with Distinction). Lauren began assisting classes at Protégé Dance Company at the age of 11, where she discovered her love of teaching dance. Under Protégé mentorship, Lauren has taught two successful 6-week Mini Munchkin Sessions (Winter/Spring 2022), as Camp Leader co-led the Creative Arts Summer Day Camp (2023) and most recently taught two recreational Mini Munchkin classes (3-4yrs) and successfully choreographed and prepared her students for their year-end show production (2023). As a full-time competitive dancer, Lauren continues to maintain honour roll status at school and is presently entering her Grade 12 year. Lauren is excited to share her passion for dance with all the young children at Protégé Dance Company while continuing to learn from Protégé's amazing faculty.