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Our emphasis is on professionalism in the classroom in order to offer the student the highest level of technical training while nurturing the creative element. We offer a broad spectrum of dance styles – something for everyone. We welcome you to share with us your love of dance, and we promise to provide you with the very best in training.
The Shuswap Dance Center is dedicated to a professional classroom atmosphere that provides each student with the optimum opportunity to progress to his or her full potential. The faculty is comprised of skilled and highly motivated instructors, each of whom instills the highest standards of their given discipline and goals of the school.
Taylor Czepil began her dance training at Shuswap Dance Center, where she completed her ISTD examinations up to the Advanced 1 level. Since graduating, she has been accepted into several prestigious post-secondary dance programs and companies. Her diverse performance experience includes dancing with Rubberband Dance Group in Montreal, training at Dance in Art in the Netherlands, and guest performing for In Motion.
When she’s not teaching or working, Taylor continues her professional development by taking classes with Ballet Kelowna. She is currently working toward obtaining her ISTD Associate qualification in ballet.
Now back in Salmon Arm, we are thrilled to welcome Taylor to our faculty. She brings passion, experience, and energy to every class she teaches, including Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, and Pointe.
Miss Morgan is back with us for another exciting season! After graduating from Shuswap Dance Center, Morgan moved to Vancouver to further her training at Harbour Dance Centre’s ITP and Platform programs. It was there she discovered her love for hip hop and has since dedicated herself to ongoing training in hip hop history, technique, freestyle, and choreography at A3 District and Vibestreet Dance.
Morgan brings a thoughtful focus on mental health and dancer well-being—an invaluable asset to our studio community. Her choreography consistently earns high praise and awards at competitions.
We are thrilled to have Morgan back this season, teaching Hip Hop and creating competition choreography.
Esmee Austin began her dance journey at Shuswap Dance Center. From an early age, she discovered a passion for choreography. Since graduating, Esmee has become a sought-after choreographer both in the Interior and abroad. She has received numerous awards for her innovative and intentional work.
We are thrilled to welcome Esmee back to the studio this season, where she will be teaching Contemporary and creating competition choreography.
Paige Hughes began dancing at a young age and has since developed into a highly accomplished and dedicated performer. She has successfully completed her ISTD Ballet and Modern exams up to the Advanced 1 level. During her time training at Shuswap Dance Center, Paige has attended prestigious programs, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Summer Intensive and The National Ballet of Canada’s Summer Intensive.
Paige competes at the highest tier in dance competitions, consistently earning top marks in her solo performances and frequently placing in the top three among elite dancers. Since the age of 12, she has been assisting classes and is a beloved mentor to many of the younger students at the studio.
We are proud to have Paige as our Musical Theatre teacher and to have her in the Teacher-on-Call position. Her passion, experience, and positive energy make her an invaluable part of our dance family.
Raelynn began her dance training on Vancouver Island and continued her education at The Richmond Academy of Dance and The Goh Ballet School in Vancouver. She went on to train at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and completed her professional studies at The School of Alberta Ballet under the direction of Murray and Nancy Kilgour.
Throughout her performance career, Raelynn has danced in classical works such as Napoli, Paquita, Swan Lake, and portrayed Fritz in The Nutcracker with Alberta Ballet. She also performed in Arrietta by Crystal Pite during her time at Ballet BC’s Summer Dance Intensive Program. In 2008, she participated in the Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive’s Professional Division, performing Brian Macdonald’s A Little Brahms. At the Banff Centre’s Professional Summer Dance Program in 2011, she performed in Hold Me Close Neighbor in the Storm by Robert Stephen and Uprooted by Gioconda Barbuto.
Raelynn danced professionally with Ballet Kelowna for five seasons. Her repertoire with the company includes roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, as well as performances in Liebeslieder Waltzes, Bolero, Negotiating Shifts, Capture, Indigo Moods, Donizetti Dances, Stage Within, and In Stride. She was also featured in North Shore, Tangazzo, Allegro Per Tre, and portrayed Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet Appassionata.
In addition to her performance career, Raelynn has been a dedicated dance educator for over 20 years. She holds an Associate Degree with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and regularly prepares students for ballet examinations. Her choreography has received widespread recognition, earning her numerous overall choreography awards for its technical creativity, innovation, and professional execution.
Since 2021, Raelynn has proudly owned Shuswap Dance Center, where she shares her passion and expertise with the next generation of dancers. She currently teaches Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Conditioning at the studio.
Having attained her Advanced RAD & Cecchetti Exams as a student, Carolyn danced professionally for 8 years in Toronto, Ottawa & Calgary. During this time Carolyn also taught at Lindsay Walsh School of Dance/Alberta Ballet & Mount Royal College obtaining her teaching credentials in the ISTD Syllabus and entering students for exams. She headed the Ballet program at Freehouse Dance Plus for five years training 3 year olds to professional levels. Her marriage took her to Long Beach, California where she continued to teach all levels at Long Beach Ballet Arts for two seasons. The family then headed to Manzanillo, Mexico where she started a dance studio catering to children of all ages & giving master classes to the professional performing groups at the Karmina Palace & the Hotel Sierra.
Her love of the stage brought Carolyn to professional theatre in 1988 when she performed and toured with Arete Physical Mime Company and portrayed lead characters in several stage productions with Theatre 80 & LATA. Her lengthy list of choreography for musical theatre productions include Grease, Little Shop of Horrors & The Wizard of Oz.
Carolyn teaches Ballet from Primary to Advanced 2 at the studio.
Chelsey was born and raised in Vernon and began dancing at a local studio at the age of three. During her training, she was given the opportunity to assist with classes, which sparked her passion for teaching dance.
Throughout her dance career, Chelsey trained and competed extensively. She has completed her Intermediate Ballet, as well as Advanced Tap and Advanced Modern exams through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). She also holds her ISTD Modern Associate Teaching Qualification and is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor. Over the past three years, Chelsey has continued to expand her teaching skills through a variety of professional development courses.
At the studio, Chelsey teaches ISTD Modern, Acro, Preschool, Pre-Primary, Tap, and Lyrical/Jazz.
We are thrilled to welcome Chelsey back for another amazing season!