Faculty

Sarah Lockett, A.R.A.D., A.I.S.T.D.

Executive Director (1979)

The Director and founder of our school is Sarah Lockett, A.R.A.D. An Associate of the Royal Academy of Dancing and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Ms. Lockett trained in Canadian and British schools and performed professionally before founding OSB in 1979. Ms. Lockett is also the former Director of Ontario Ballet Theatre, a professional touring company, a position she held for 30 years.

Tara Roberts - Ballet

Managing Director (2006)

Tara is a graduate of the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies Program and is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. She is also a graduate of the George Brown Dance Performance Studies Program, receiving the Dean’s Award and the Professional Development Certificate upon graduation. Tara has worked with many prestigious choreographers and directors and as a dancer with Ontario Ballet Theatre. Tara has received high accolades for her competitive choreography and her students have received overall and special awards. This is Tara’s 6th year working for Ontario School of Ballet.

Shannon Whelan - Tap

Director, Trillium Dance Company | Tap (2005)

Shannon trained under the RAD and ADAPT Syllabi. She was a competitive team dancer at Can-Dance, American Dance Awards and Footloose Internationals in Chicago in 2001 and in Las Vegas in 2002. Shannon has been teaching and choreographing ADAPT Jazz and Tap syllabus and her students have continually excelled in their examinations. Shannon is a full member of ACTRA and continues to work as a professional performer.

Debbie Wilson - Ballet (2006)

Debbie Wilson began her career with the Cincinnati Ballet Company where she was promoted to soloist and rehearsal assistant. She has worked as dancer/rehearsal mistress for several companies throughout Canada and the US. Her rich background as dancer, teacher and rehearsal director reflects a lifetime of work with some of the greatest artists of our time, a lifetime reflected in her resonant choreographic voice.

Jami Lynne Harper - Jazz (2011)

With more than eighteen years of training and performance experience, Jami Lynne has studied numerous styles of dance including Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, HipHop, Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Burlesque, Acro and Jazz Funk. She has not only received Honours on both her Ballet & Tap C.D.T.A. examinations, but she has also won several awards at various competitions and festivals across Canada. Jami Lynne graduated from the OIP Dance Company intensive training and performance program of 2 years. Her television appearances include a feature in Torro Torro’s music video titled “Blue Blouse”, Season 1 of the new hit TV Series “Get Up & Dance!” on BPM Television, and as a competing member with LR Productions on the popular New.Music.Live’s “Much Music's Best Dance Crew” and promo commercial. Currently, Jami Lynne is a guest instructor for the Commercial Dance Studies program at George Brown College in association with Ballet Jorgen Canada. In the studio, Jami Lynne is shares her extensive knowledge and love of dance with her students and continues to inspire, create, and challenge.

Elisha Galotti, B.A., R.A.D., R.T.S. – Ballet (2002)

Elisha began her training at a young age in Ottawa under Linda Jamieson, then later also trained with the acclaimed RAD Vocational Examiner Ellen Andrews. She is a graduate of Ryerson University with a B.A. and has been a fully certified Royal Academy of Dance teacher since 2004. Since being awarded a mark of Distinction on her RAD Teaching Certificate Exam, many of Elisha’s students have received top marks on both graded and vocational examinations. Elisha has taught and choreographed at several studios throughout Ontario, and she also directed and choreographed the Junior Musical Theatre Company at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance. Many of Elisha’s students have won top awards at dance competitions, and her choreography has won recognition and Adjudicator Awards. Before joining the faculty of OSB in 2003, Elisha was the Director of Ballet at the Sheila Milne School of Dance. After a number of years at OSB, Elisha moved to New York and while there, worked as a guest teacher and choreographer at several dance studios. She is excited to be returning to the OSB faculty for the 2011-2012 season.

Dane Gulston – Hip Hop (2009)

Dane (a.k.a. Tallup) was born in Belmont, Trinidad & Tobago and had the makings of a true dancer even at a very early age. Dane has been in many contemporary music videos and film media including videos by Keisha Chante, Melanie Dura, Kardinal Offishall and many more. Determined. Talented. Creative. Dane’s abilities are as apparent as his stature. His innate sense of timing and drama along with his natural energy and skill make him a fantastic hip hop teacher! This is Dane’s second season with OSB.

Stefanie Poland - Acro (2009)

Stefanie is a graduate of the Regional Arts Program at Mayfield Secondary School and is in the Concurrent Education Program for Teachers at University of Toronto. Stefanie trained in gymnastics for 8 years and was a competitive dancer for 10 years at Performing Dance Arts. She is also a graduate of the ADAPT Teacher Training School and is qualified to teach in Jazz, Tap, Acro, Lyrical and Ballet. Stefanie won the regional title for her Acro solo and has received the Highest Academic Award in Dance for 2007 and 2008 at Mayfield. She specializes in Acrobatics and is looking forward to teaching Acro at Ontario School of Ballet this year.

Anya Willis - Ballet | Jazz (2008)

Anya attended the Northern Ballet School, Manchester UK where she trained in RAD, achieving Honours in Advanced, and ISTD, achieving Honors in Advanced Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Upon graduation, she joined the European Ballet where she danced the Blue Bird pas de deux in Sleeping Beauty, then toured with the English National Ballet in Derek Dean’s production of Swan Lake. She has also performed as Victoria (the White Cat) in Cats, was a dancer/singer in Broadway Boulevard, was a dancer in a famous illusion show Mystique and has worked for Celebrity Cruise Lines as an aerialist and dancer. Since moving to Canada in 2008 Anya has taught and choreographed for All that Dance and this is Anya’s third season with Ontario School of Ballet.

Serena Ali, BFA (Hons), RTS, RAD T.Dip., RAD T. Cert. - Ballet (2009)

Serena earned her BFA (Hons.) in Dance from York University, has extensive RAD teacher certification and BATD jazz training. Ms. Ali has been teaching ballet, jazz and modern dance across Canada since 1989. Many of her students have gone on to become successful dance professionals. She is excited to be joining the OSB teaching faculty as well as the administrative team for her second year.