Meet Our Dance Instructors
Dana Hanes Dance Company employs a team of elite Ottawa-based dance instructors with training in various disciplines. Learn more about our dance instructors below!
Dana Hanes
Founder and Artistic Director
Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Lyrical Instructor
Certifications: ADAPT Jazz/Tap
Dana has been competing in dance since the age of 7 giving her over 40 years of experience in the dance industry as a performer, teacher, choreographer, judge and mentor.
As a performer, she trained as a competitive dancer and was Dance Captain for the CFL Ottawa Rough Riders dance team for several years.
As an instructor, Dana has taught dance throughout the Ottawa region for over 30 years. Her extensive teaching background has allowed her to train many dancers and help them reach professional levels.
Her reputation and success in the industry are renowned, and she is frequently sought after as a leader/mentor in the Ottawa dance community.
Dana’s choreography has received many awards and accolades across North America. She has won numerous high scores and overall awards at both regional and national competitions, as well as several Diamond Choreography and Highest Adjudication awards. She choreographed and provided dancers for an episode of “The Next Step” a well-known TV show about dance.
Dana’s choreography has also been sought after for fundraisers and charity events including:
- The United Way Kick Off
- “Kaleidoscope of Hope” Mental Health Awareness
- NAC Gala for Paul Anka
- Roaring Twenties Purple Gala for Blood Cancer Fund
- Bollywood Gala for Blood Cancer Fund,
- Do It For Daron
- Dancers Give Back
She is especially proud to be part of the fundraising group called ‘Dancers Give Back’ since they began an Ottawa Chapter.
Each year, a group of studios perform at Algonquin College to raise funds for various charities supporting children, for example, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support, The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, or the Youth Services Bureau. Together they have raised over $300,000.
Her dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence make her a true visionary in the dance world. As Artistic Director of the Dana Hanes Dance Company, she continues inspiring her students and strives to encourage them to share her love & passion for dance!!
Cheryl Goodwin
Ballet Instructor
Certifications: B.A. (Honours), RADRTS, CDTA
Cheryl has been teaching dance in the Ottawa area for 40 years. During this time, she was the owner and Director of the Children’s Ballet Studio for 8 years.
She is a Registered Teacher and Full Member of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association. She also holds the Elementary Certificate in ISTD National Branch.
Cheryl has also successfully coached students in attaining their Solo Seal Award, the highest performing award of the Royal Academy of Dance.
She is fully bilingual and has attended many dance courses in Canada and the U.K. Under her tenure, students have been very successful in examinations and competitions. She is currently specializing in Graded and Vocational R.A.D. Ballet.
Mallory Hanes
Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Conditioning Instructor
Summer Camp Director
Certifications: ADAPT Jazz/Tap, Alixa Flexibility
Mallory started her journey in dance at the age of four and danced competitively in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary until the age of 18. Throughout those years, Mallory took on the role of a teacher’s assistant in several disciplines, where she discovered her love for teaching.
After graduating from Dana Hanes Dance Company, she followed in her mother’s footsteps and began her career as a dance teacher. Mallory is trained in the ADAPT Jazz and Tap syllabus, along with the RAD syllabus, with successful completion of exams in both syllabi.
She has continued her dance education by becoming a certified ADAPT Jazz and Tap Teacher. Mallory shows commitment, dedication, and passion for each of her students’ growth and accomplishments.
Sophie Lafontaine
Tiny Tots, Kinder, Acro, Hip Hop and Jazz Instructor
Certifications: ACROBATICS ART CERTIFIED
Cailyn Harris
Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Open and Tap
Instructor
Cailyn Harris has been devoted to dance since she was 4 years old. She has undergone dance training at a competitive level for 15 years and has been teaching and choreographing since 2020. She has completed ADAPT exams to the highest levels for jazz and tap, as well as RAD exams for ballet. Prior to teaching, Cailyn assisted in the instruction of competitive dance classes for 4 years.
Cailyn is currently a student at Queen’s University studying Life Sciences. She has taught recreational dance at Queens and is this year’s co-captain of the Queen’s Competitive Dance Team.
Ethan Burden
Hip Hop Instructor & Choreographer
With a dynamic presence in the Ottawa hip-hop scene, Ethan brings over a decade of experience as a competitive dancer and award-winning choreographer. Starting his journey at just 11 years old, Ethan has since performed in commercials, competed in national and international battles since 2019, and was proudly invited to represent Team Canada at the 2017 IDO World Hip-Hop Championships in Copenhagen.
His choreography has earned multiple awards throughout the 2024/25 season, and his solo performances have claimed numerous 1st overall titles on the competitive stage. A featured dancer on CBC Gem’s The Move 3, Ethan is known for his sharp musicality, bold creativity, and deep-rooted passion for the art of hip-hop; especially in the style of popping.
For the past three years, Ethan has been choreographing competitive hip-hop routines that push dancers beyond their limits while staying grounded in authentic street styles. His classes are high-energy, technique-focused, and built to inspire.
Ethan is currently studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa.
Brelene Laskoski
Ballet, Conditioning and Contemporary
Instructor
Certifications: PBT, Alixa Flexibility
Brelene Laskoski is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Ottawa who trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation, and Contemporary at Leeming Danceworks and Canterbury High School’s dance program.
After graduation, Brelene moved to Toronto where she continued her dance education. She had the opportunity to work with various artists such as Jasmyn Fyffe, Ryan Lee and many more. She studied Graham, Horton, Contemporary, Ballet, and Creative Process while in Toronto.
In 2018, she choreographed a 20-minute piece titled “Canary in a Coalmine” for Ryan Foley’s company, Signature Dance Inc alongside 5 other choreographers. Brelene has had her choreography featured in Fever After Dark, Choreographer’s Ball, Young Creators Challenge, and Let the Elephants Dance.
Brelene is level 1 certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and level 5 certified in Alixa Flexibility. She is passionate about teaching young dancers the knowledge that she has acquired.
Peyton Nault
Kinder Ballet and Tap Instructor
Peyton, a former competitive dancer and DHDC alumni, trained in multiple styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, and Hip Hop. While training with Dana, Peyton successfully passed all ADAPT Jazz and Tap exams, as well as all RAD Ballet exams up to and including Advanced 2. Throughout her dance training, Peyton was an assistant for numerous years in multiple styles of dance including Ballet, Tap, and Jazz.
After graduating high school, Peyton completed her Bachelor’s degree from Carleton University. During her time there, she served as Treasurer and Co-Captain of the Ravens Dance Pak competitive dance team for two years. Peyton continued her dance training at Queen’s University while completing her Masters of Science with the Queen’s Dance Club for the last two years, and is excited to be returning home to Ottawa.
Peyton is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive learning environment, aiming to motivate and inspire her students to achieve their full potential!
