Our Team

Born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, Melissa Kelly-Lavoie began dancing at the age of five, and at the end of her training in Timmins, she obtained her teaching certificate with The Society of Russian Ballet.

In 2005, Melissa graduated from the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School, obtaining a mark of Distinction. The intense three year Teacher Training program allowed her to study in direct relation with professional dance artists. Dancers and teachers from all over the world attend this school and it produces only the finest dance educators in North America.  At NBS, she obtained her Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (I.S.T.D) certificate in National Dance and her Associate Diploma certification with Cecchetti Canada.  Melissa also trained with one of Toronto’s finest hip hop and tap artists, Shawn Byfield.

Due to her love of Latin dancing and in order to add diversity and expand her dance repertoire, Melissa trained extensively in Salsa, Merengue & Bachata during her time in Toronto.  Towards the end of her studies in Toronto, she also obtained her Full-Membership certification with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA).

Melissa also holds her full certification with the Acrobatic Arts and received her certificate for Progressive Ballet Technique.  She loves to stay current with the ever evolving dance industry, and has attended the Summer in L.A. program for 2 years hosted by Be Discovered as well as the Broadway Bound Program in New York City.

With over thirty years of dance training, Melissa is the proud owner/operator of the Melissa Kelly Dance Academy in Timmins, ON (established in 2005).  With the ever constant evolution in dance, Melissa and her artistic staff thrive to stay on top of what is new and fresh in the dance industry. She promises the highest quality of dance training to all who love to dance!

Julie Bouwman has been dancing since she is 4 years old.  After completing her college studies in 2005, she returned to Timmins and joined the Melissa Kelly Dance Academy as a faculty member.  Julie has been an experienced dance instructor and MKDA family member since the academy’s inaugural year. She holds her Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) certification as well as her Acrobatics Arts certification.  Julie has attended many dance conventions to stay on top of the changing dance industry.  She has attended the Dance Teacher’s Summit in New York as well as the Canadian Dance Expo in Toronto.  Julie is an award-winning competitive choreographer.  Her competitive choreographies have won many judges’ choice awards as well as choreography of the session awards. Being able to share her passion for dance with today’s youth brings so much joy to Julie.  Julie is also MKDA’s office administrator and helps to keep the studio running smoothly. When Julie is not in the studio dancing away or working as office administrator, she is at home spending quality time with her husband and son.

Stephanie brings over 15 years of dance experience and a wealth of expertise in Tap and Jazz. She has successfully completed her dance examinations through the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA), demonstrating her strong technical foundation and dedication to excellence in dance education.

Stephanie is also a graduate of the Ontario College of Teachers, bringing valuable teaching experience and educational knowledge to her work with dancers. In addition, she is Dance Cirque qualified and holds Level 1 Extensions training, as well as certifications in Ready Set Dance for preschool dancers and Building Future Ready Children Through Dance. These additional qualifications allow Stephanie to provide diverse, engaging, and age-appropriate training to dancers of all levels.

Committed to staying current with the ever-evolving dance industry, Stephanie regularly participates in professional development opportunities and has attended numerous dance teacher conferences, including the New York City Dance Teacher Summit, the Canadian Dance Teacher Expo, the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, and the En Avant Dance Teacher Conference. Her dedication to ongoing education ensures that she continues to bring fresh ideas, current teaching practices, and new inspiration into the studio.

For over 10 years, Stephanie has been a valued member of our teaching team, sharing her passion for dance and her dedication to helping students grow both technically and personally. Her experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to continued learning make her an integral part of our studio community. We are grateful for the knowledge, energy, and expertise she brings to our dancers each year and look forward to many more years of inspiring, empowering, and helping our students reach their full potential!

Carter Chalmers is a highly trained and passionate dancer, with extensive experience in Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Ballet. As a dedicated teacher and choreographer, Carter has earned numerous awards at our 2026 dance competitions, reflecting his creativity, talent, and commitment to his students.

Carter is entering his fourth year of teaching at MKDA and is excited to continue inspiring and developing his dancers through a combination of passion, discipline, and strong technical training.

Recently, Carter completed his first year at the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) Teacher Training School. He also expanded his knowledge and skills by earning several certificates at the 2026 Dance Teacher Expo in Toronto. Carter is thrilled to bring this fresh knowledge and continued professional development into the studio and looks forward to helping his students grow, challenge themselves, and reach their full potential this year!

Matthew Dubé is a former MKDA dancer with over 10 years of training, including six years as a competitive team member. Throughout his time at MKDA, Matthew trained in a wide range of styles including Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, and Ballet, with Hip Hop being his area of expertise. In his final season with MKDA in 2020, both his dancing and teaching were unexpectedly interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew has also studied and trained by attending numerous workshops and intensive programs over the years, including the Be Discovered Intensive in New York City, the Dance Teacher Summit in New York City, the Summer Intensive at The School of Dance in Ottawa, and the Surge Hip Hop Convention in Toronto, among others.

After completing four years of university and graduating with Honours with a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration, Matthew is ecstatic for the new dance season and he looks forward to sharing his passion for hip hop with his students this year!