OUR TEAM
Irene Booth
CO-DIRECTOR/CO-OWNER
Irene has spent over 30 years studying and teaching dance. Born and raised on Vancouver Island BC, where she initially received her dance training in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, modern/contemporary, modern stage and character dance. In 1991, Irene received a degree in Dance Teacher Training, a Diploma in Dance, an honorarium scholarship and graduated at the top of her class with Distinction from Grant MacEwan College.
Irene holds a certificate and Diploma in Dance as a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and is an acting certified mentor in which she continues to train dancers to become certified instructors. Irene is also a member of the Performing Arts Educators of Canada and the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association. Irene currently serves as a certified Ballet and Modern examiner with the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association BC Branch, and is serving on the Executive Board of the CDTA, BC Branch as the BC CDTA Modern Chairperson.
In 1993, Irene established Tempo Dance Academy in Nanaimo BC, and runs the school as the Owner/Founder and Artistic Director. In 2017, Irene and Lina Lewis (a former pupil), launched Elevate Dance Centre, and are excited to be taking dance to the next level on the Westshore!
Lina Lewis
CO-DIRECTOR/CO-OWNER
Dance has always been an enormous part of Lina’s life. Lina Lewis was born and raised on Vancouver Island, where she began dancing at a young age. She spent most of her childhood and adolescent years in a studio or on a stage where was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, musical theatre and lyrical. She attended the University of British Columbia where she studied Kinesiology, and later received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo. In 2003, Lina made the long journey to the North and planted her feet firmly in Yellowknife founding Bella Dance Academy, where she ran the studio and taught many styles of dance for over a decade.
Although Lina has recently followed her heart back to the west coast where she co-founded and co-directs Elevate Dance Centre, she is still very much invested in the North and is passionate about staying infused in the Northern culture and community, while also building bridges of connection for performers, dancers, and instructors across Canada.
Amberlee Allen
INSTRUCTOR
Amberlee Allen is a BFA graduate in Dance from Simon Fraser University. She is a well versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer who has studied with the best of the best within Graham, Cunningham, Limón techniques and Improvisation. Amberlee has spent lots of time in the studio but also on the NCAA court as SFU Athletics Dance Teams Captain for three years.
In addition to teaching and producing her own pieces Amberlee worked interdisciplinary with film, theatre, production and composers making her an asset in any theatre environment. She is a certified Dance Teacher with the CDTA in Modern and Ballet, and continuing her teacher training in Jazz and Tap. This is Miss Amber's 3rd season with EDC and we are thrilled to be dancing with her again!
Paige Cameron
INSTRUCTOR
Paige took her first ballet class at the age of 2 and her love for dance only grew from there. She went on to train in various styles such as jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, hip hop and tap. Early on Paige was introduced to the competitive dance world, where she competed several times a year and travelled often to train with well known choreographers. Teaching and working with competitive dance teams holds a special place in Paiges heart as she loves the drive and determination it instills in young dancers, along with the amazing performance opportunities competitions provide.
Paige is thrilled to be spending another season teaching at Elevate, alongside working towards her Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria. She cannot wait to jump in and see what this season holds!
Ally Curtis
INSTRUCTOR
Ally started her dance journey at Bella Dance Academy in Yellowknife, NT at a very young age. She walked into her first Ballet class, timid as can be, at the age of 4 and she quickly fell in love. In her early teenage years she found herself dancing and spending countless of hours at the studio. Ally most enjoyed Ballet growing up though she trained in many styles including Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip Hop. She also began her love of teaching at Bella Dance Academy. She taught all ages from 3-17 in different styles and often created choreography for her dance team!
Ally had many opportunities to dance and train around North America in cities such as Winnipeg, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York City. During high school, Ally also attended numerous competitions in BC, placing well alongside her teammates.
Her post-secondary studies have brought her here to the island and she is currently working towards a bachelors degree in Kinesiology at the University of Victoria. Ally is very excited to be joining the Elevate Dance Centre Team for her first season and can not wait to share her love of dance.
Daniel Knapp
INSTRUCTOR
Growing up immersed in the performing arts, Daniel started his dance training at Tempo Dance Academy in Nanaimo at the age of 4. He trained in various styles such as tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical jazz, modern/contemporary and hip hop. Upon completion of his training, Daniel attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts, graduating with his 2 year performing arts diploma in 2019.
Daniel is very excited to further pursue his love of dance in the years to come. He hopes to assist young dancers to follow their dreams and ignite their passion for dance.
Chelsea MacEwan
INSTRUCTOR
Chelsea is a local dance instructor/theatre artist from Sidney, BC. She danced for 15 years at Saanich dance studio, Allegro Performing Arts Centre, before graduating from The Canadian College of Performing Arts’ Company C program in 2020. It was at CCPA where she found her own artistic voice, which led her to write, direct and choreograph award-winning mini-musical “BRUNCH: The Musical”. She has worked and danced across BC, most notably in the Kootenays doing a historical can-can show with Rossland's Gold Fever Follies. Chelsea also has experience teaching Collaborative Theatre to kids ages 5-15.
Chelsea is passionate about encouraging young dancers to find their own artistic voice and gain life skills through their dance training. She is very excited for her first season with Elevate!
Lexy Young
INSTRUCTOR
Lexy is a performing arts veteran having started her dance training at the early age of two, right here on Vancouver Island. She loves to strut her stuff on stage, be it dancing, musical theatre, or singing. Lexy is also experienced in film and tv, and has been signed with a talent agency since the age of five.
As a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts, Lexy’s love of performing and traveling has taken her across the world to Italy where she had a contract teaching musical theatre. She has since happily returned back home and is excited to share her passion of performing with the next generation!