Yvonne Kelly-Gunovski - Studio Director
Yvonne was born in Dublin, Ireland and after moving to Canada, started Irish dancing with the Bonnie School of Irish Dance. After a few years Yvonne moved to the world renowned Butler Academy, under the tutelage of Mae, Paddy & June Butler. Yvonne won many Canadian and North American championships and attained a silver medal at the World Championships. In 1980, Yvonne opened her first Irish dance class in Scarborough, and over the next decade expanded to London, Windsor, Detroit & Chicago. During this time her dancers attained titles at the Canadian and Mid-West US Championships in both solos and teams. At the World level Yvonne's dancers continually made finals, culminating in a top five finish. In 1994, Yvonne decided to make Irish dancing a "full time job" and opened a studio in Newmarket, expanding quickly to where the Irish Dance Studio is today. Having attained status as an Adjudicator, Yvonne has judged at competitions in Canada, the United States, and the World Championships in Ireland. Yvonne has also served on the Irish Dance Teachers Association of Eastern Canada as Recording Secretary, Treasurer and Regional Director. She has served as Vice President of An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha and continues to represent the Region, in Ireland, as Regional Director and a Representative of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America. And during all this Yvonne has found time to run a number of Canadian Championships and the 2007 North American Championships (Ottawa). As much as Yvonne loves Irish dancing and all it has to offer, in her spare time she enjoys watching her sons play hockey and lacrosse.
Yvonne's philosophy: Work hard - do the best you can - no one can ask more.
Favourite Song: LeeAnn Womack - I hope you dance....
Joanne Vanderloo – Studio Director
Joanne started her dance career at the age of six, and throughout her extensive training, studied many forms of dance; Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, National/Folk as well as traditional Irish Dancing.
As a competition dancer, Joanne achieved a “best overall dancer” award and earned numerous scholarships, trophies and medals for her work. In the field of Irish Dance, Joanne is a former Canadian Champion and a two-time silver medalist at the World Championships of Irish Dancing.
Professionally, Joanne performed with the Folk Ballet Theatre and the New Vic Theatre Company in Toronto, and has performed at various venues across the GTA including Molson Amphitheatre, Harbourfront, Hart House and the Canadian National Exhibition.
Joanne has been teaching dance since 1982 and opened her own studio in1986, after completing a three year dance teacher training program at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University). She is a member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association – Stage Division, as well as a member of the Irish Dance Teachers Association of Canada, the Irish Dance Teachers Association of North America and An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in Dublin Ireland. Throughout her teaching years, Joanne has been the recipient of many honours, from Teachers Choice Choreography Awards to the 2004 Top Teacher Award.
If she had any advice for her dancers, it would be this:
"If you get the chance to sit it out or dance.......I hope you dance."
"Always work hard. Love what you do. The dance window
of time is so short….enjoy every moment."
Lauren Tasker - Stage Division - Choreographer & Instructor
Lauren acquired her passion for the art of dance at a very young age participating in competitions around Ontario. She honed her dancing skills through post-secondary education at George Brown College, where she graduated with a Diploma in Performance Arts. She also performed for 5 years with the Toronto Argonauts Blue Thunder Cheerleaders. As a team captain, she choreographed on-field routines as well as dancing in front of thousands of fans. Being an Argos Cheerleader has also given her the opportunity to travel across Canada performing in Grey Cup half time shows with celebrities including Nelly Furtado, Black Eyed Peas, and Lenny Kravitz. She has also performed in the Rose Theatre's productions of Broadway Gold, Scrooge, Cabaret & Chorus Line, as well as at Dance Ontario with the Honey Kats. Lauren also enjoys teaching various styles of dance such as Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Acro and Musical Theatre. Over the past few years Lauren has had the pleasure of working with The Irish Dance Studio's talented staff and students and looks forward for the years to come.
Emily Babyn - Instructor & Choreographer
Emily began dancing with The Irish Dance Studio at an early age, quickly moving through the ranks of competition to become a championship dancer. Her passion is evident through the hours that she spends on perfecting technique and steps. Emily has won many awards on the Canadian and International Stages. A former North American Senior Belt Champion, Emily placed 4th at this year’s World Championships of Irish Dancing in Dublin, Ireland. She has performed in “Emerald Beat” at Busch Gardens; in the North American and Northern European tours of “Lord of the Dance”; and with Michael Flatley in “Feet of Flames” in Taiwan. In addition, Emily was a special guest performer with “Lord of the Dance” at the 2010 World Championships. The subject of a feature article on “Health & Technique”, she was also the “cover girl” for the July 2010 issue of Irish Dancing Magazine, published in the UK. Emily brings to the Irish Dance Studio a background in Kinesiology, knowledge which she imparts to her students about the importance of muscle strengthening & stretch for optimal performance.
Kim Babyn - Instructor & Choreographer
Kim began her Irish dance career at age 9. Winning numerous trophies and medals in competitions throughout Eastern Canada and New York State, she quickly moved through the ranks and attained the level of Open Championship. Kim has won many perpetual trophies, and has achieved multiple placements and world qualifications at the Canadian Championships and the North American Championships including a silver medal placement in Eastern Canada and a top 10 placement in North America. On the International stage, Kim is a World Championship medalist and has also received multiple medals from the All Ireland Dance Championships and the Great Britain Dance Championships. Kim has also participated in several award winning festival groups during her dance career, as well as performing at the Air Canada Centre, the Rogers Centre and on CFTO TV’s Canada AM. In the classroom, Kim focuses on bringing out the best in each and every student through her love of dance and choreography. She draws on her many years of solo and team dance experiences, to develop choreographies that have earned many Highest Overall Mark awards at festival.
Kellie Nuovo - Guest Teacher
Kellie studied Musical Theatre at Sheridan College and is a graduate of George Brown College’s Dance Performance Studies program, the recipient of the school’s Dean’s Medal and Ballet Jorgen’s Professional Development Accreditation. While a member of the contemporary jazz company, Combustion!, she performed at a variety of venues including the Betty Oliphant Theatre, The Kool Haus, and Harbourfront Centre’s Premiere Dance Theatre. She has choreographed for a number of projects including the short film Lovegirl (nominated for four Canadian Comedy Awards), Cabaret for Etobicoke Musical Productions, and The Blue Jays Junior Dance Pack. Performance credits include Ontario representative and Dance Captain for The Charlottetown Festival Young Company’s Les Feux Follets, Italpasta’s “Project Pasta” national commercial, FFIDA – The Fringe Festival, Junior Jay’s Saturday Emcee, and the Blue Jays J Force Dance Team. Kellie has been a performer with Holland America Lines since 2009, and is currently performing in the Mediterranean. She is a former student of Dance Unlimited and The Irish Dance Studio.
