Dawn Moss – SDTA
Celtic Ceilidh Director, Highland

Dawn founded Celtic Ceilidh and is our Principal Director. She has ample experience working with children of all ages through teaching dance and as a teacher in the public school system. Her love of dance began at the age of 3 with Highland and continued with training in Irish, Tap, Jazz and Ballet. She fosters a passion and appreciation of the Celtic World in each one of her students.

Instructors

Ashley Hardeman
Tap, Musical Theatre

Ashley began dancing in Edmonton at the young age of 3, training extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, lyrical and contemporary. Throughout her years of dance, she participated in travel groups, workshops and competitions in Florida, California, British Columbia and all around Alberta. She has trained with renowned teachers and choreographers and has performed in Disneyworld, Disneyland, and the Royal Caribbean Cruise line. She found a particular passion in tap, completing all Al Gilbert Tap Examinations and was chosen as a feature dancer in the Grade 8 instructional video. Currently Ashley still competes with an accelerated adult tap group that has won numerous prizes, trophies and medals throughout the years. Ashley is excited to share her love and passion for dance with the eager and talented students at Celtic Ceilidh.

Aurora Pachkowski
RAD Ballet

Bio Coming Soon!

Camille Ensminger
Jazz, Lyrical

Camille Ensminger has trained and performed for many years in ballet, jazz, tap, flamenco and contemporary dance. Camille is a company member of Synaethesis Dance Theatre, performing at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in Letters and Words (Sterling Award nominated for Outstanding Fringe production), Self(ish), Felix Checks Out and SWIPE (Sterling Award nominated) as well as other company productions including The Heliotrope. Other select performances include The Yellow Wallpaper (Chinook Series festival), The Soldier’s Tale, accompanied by members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (Edmonton Fringe) and Plain Jane Theatre’s Get Happy. She was most recently involved in dance projects including a live-streamed performance, Iterate (Mile Zero Dance) and a Canada-wide theatre collaboration with Catalyst Theatre, until the next breath. Camille teaches jazz classes at the U of A Orchesis Dance Program and contemporary, jazz, ballet, lyrical and dance conditioning classes throughout the city. She is a certified Xtend Barre instructor. Camille has a B.A. degree in Modern Languages from the University of Alberta.

Danielle Ganz
Irish, Tap, Ballet

Danielle has studied, competed and performed in dance for 20+ years, training and completing exams in RAD Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Highland, Musical Theater, piano and voice. Her teaching experience includes Tap, Ballet, Highland and Irish over the past 10 years. Danielle has trained with highly respected teachers and adjudicators in Dublin, Glasgow, the Edge in L.A, and across Canada. She has also performed with Natalie MacMaster, the McCuaigs, in the Alberta Tattoos, Disneyland and hundreds of other events.

Erin Madsen
RAD Ballet

Bio Coming Soon!

Janna MacIelland – SDTA
Highland

Janna has been a dancer at Celtic Ceilidh Dance Academy since the age of 3. She has trained and tested in both Ballet and Highland dance, with experience in many other disciplines. Janna has received many opportunities to travel and compete across the country, as well as in the United States, Scotland, and Ireland. She is also very grateful to have had the opportunity to perform in Disneyland 2016, Disney World 2013, and the Okanagan Military Tattoo 2019. Janna has been tested in several ballet ISTD examinations, and has completed her SDTA Highland Associates exam. Aside from dance, Janna is currently a student at the University of Alberta Campus Saint-Jean in Elementary Education, and is Alberta Child Care Certified. Janna strives to provide a creative and positive classroom environment! She is so excited to share her passion and love for dance with her students!

Jesie Laguitao
Kpop

Jesie is a kpop dancer who dances with the Edmonton dance group Mimyu. His group members are passionate about dancing to kpop music and creating dance cover videos that they post on social media. You can follow them on YouTube (Mimyu Dance), Instagram (@mimyudance), TikTok (@mimyudance) and Twitter (@mimyudance). Jesie has been dancing to Kpop since 2016 and participated in many Kpop competitions.  He has also performed Kpop at Animethon, Heritage Days and various dance showcases here in Edmonton. Jesie graduated in Early Child Care at MacEwan and is currently a full time preschool teacher at the Orange Hub.

Jeanette Puttick
Barre

Jeanette’s love for dance began at the age of three when her mom enrolled her in Highland Dancing and has continued throughout her life.  Shortly after the birth of her first child, joining fitness organized fitness classes sparked Jeanette to pursue certification as an AFLCA Group Fitness Instructor with designations in portable equipment, indoor cycling, pre and post-natal fitness, TRX, and NASM Personal Trainer among others. During her time as a fitness professional, Jeanette discovered Xtend Barre. From that moment she was hooked and knew she discovered what she was passionate about! Xtend Barre was the most innovative and comprehensive barre method she had experienced. Not only is it challenging, but safe, and the choreography is constantly changing. Jeanette loves that the workout is for every fitness ability and there are several class modalities to choose from. Jeanette is a proud mother of 3 beautiful sweethearts and also teaches Junior High in Sherwood Park.

Katherine Quirke – TCRG
Irish

Katherine was an Open Championship competitor for over 10 years, Western Canadian Champion 4 times winning and qualifying to represent Western Canada at the World Championship level for 10 years. She has had the experience of recalling at the World Championships level and placing at the All Irelands. As well, she placed top 10 at the North American Championships 2 years in a row and top 15 for 5 years in a row. During University, Katherine performed on dance tours in New Zealand and as a back-up dancer for a North American dance tour company based out of Chicago. She is a newly certified TCRG and is registered with the Irish Dancing Commission (CLRG), the Western Canadian Irish Dance Teachers Association (WCIDTA), and the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America (IDTANA).

Kerri Kendziora
Pilates

From the age of 5 activity and sports have been a staple in Kerri’s life. In 1991 Kerri became a member of Team Canada Volleyball and competed  until 1997. Highlights included the 1991 & 1995 Pam Am games and 1996 Olympic games.
Kerri holds her Balanced Body Pilates Certificate in both Mat and Reformer Pilates disciplines.  Her drive to become an instructor stemmed from her time playing Volleyball in Europe professionally and engaging in “extra work” off court for strength training.  It wasn’t until Kerri returned to Edmonton that she realized her “extra work” was really mat Pilates.
Kerri holds her Balanced Body Pilates Certificate in both Mat and Reformer disciplines.  Her classes reflect her positive energy and you will always find yourself among friends. Kerri’s goal is to help people enrich their lives as they gain or regain the quality of life she believes we all deserve.

Lea Payne – SDTA
Highland

Bio Coming Soon!

Lindsay Gray – SDTA
Highland

Lindsay’s love for dance began at Celtic Ceilidh when she was 4 years old. Since then she has trained in many styles including Highland, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Irish. Lindsay has completed exams in ISTD Ballet, Irish, as well as her SDTA Highland Members exam. Her years of dance have allowed her the opportunity to perform across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including performances at Disney World (2013), Disneyland (2016), and the Okanagan Military Tattoo (2019). She is also very grateful for the opportunities she’s had to train in programs such as Motives pre-professional group, and the UofA’s MOD contemporary group. Aside from dance, Lindsay is a certified first responder and currently completing her final year of Kinesiology at the University of Alberta. She has a passion for heath and fitness across all ages.

Melissa Bettley
Stretch & Strength

Melissas love of dance began at the age of three. She has trained in several forms of dance, including: tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, and hip hop. Through dance, she has been given the opportunity to participate in travel groups, competitions, workshops, various community productions, and perform on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Outside of dance, Melissa has enjoyed training in aerial silks and has a growing passion for health/wellness coaching. Melissa is excited to be part of the Celtic Ceilidh family!

Makayla Mills
Irish

Bio Coming Soon!

Morgan Johnson
Ballet

Bio Coming Soon!

Join Our Faculty

Teaching Opportunities

Our team at Celtic Ceilidh is always looking for experienced, qualified instructors who love the idea of a Celtic world of dance.  We are all about keeping the Scottish and Irish traditions and dance forms alive.

Click [here] to find out how to become part of our team.

Teaching Assistants

Amelia M.