Faculty
Kelly Blenner-Hassett | Owner/Operator
Kelly Blenner-Hassett grew up in Eston, Saskatchewan and was trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and musical theatre. Being the daughter of a dance teacher, Kelly was exposed to dance at a young age. She was avid in both exams and competitions during her dance career and placed highly in both.
At age eighteen Kelly had the opportunity to compete in a National Dance Competition in Las Vegas placing second overall against others from both Canada and the United States. In the years to follow she felt the need to dance but also to learn the skills in order to teach her art. Kelly has visited many different cities including Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, keeping herself current in the dance world. In Kelly’s years of teaching, her Mom, who stills owns a dance school after 40 years, is a huge inspiration. As owner and operator of her own dance school, Kelly brings with her over 18 years of teaching experience. She is a much sought after teacher, choreographer and adjudicator and has been a role model for students throughout her years of teaching.
Kelly’s students have performed in many venues and she has won numerous awards and accolades for her innovative and creative choreography. Kelly is a certified Member of the C.D.T.A – Saskatchewan and Alberta Branch – Stage Division –Tap & Ballet Division, and a certified teacher of the A.D.A.P.T. syllabus. She maintains a healthy desire for knowledge attending workshops and seminars to keep current in the dance world. Kelly is a positive, enthusiastic and upbeat teacher who continues to inspire students to love dance!
Andrea Skanderup | Instructor, Choreographer
Andrea Skanderup has been dancing since the tender age of 4 years old and has been trained in jazz, lyrical, ballet, and pointe in the CDTA and ADAPT syllabus. Andrea has been teaching for 9 years, offering classes in ballet technique, pointe, and lyrical dancing. She has had the privilege of being taught by a soloist from the National Ballet School of Canada for 2 years and has attended classes by Barbara Moore, the former Principal with the Alberta Ballet. Mrs. Skanderup has also had the wonderful experience of attending a teacher’s training seminar and taking classes with the National Ballet School of Canada. Other experiences include ballet classes taught by teachers of the National Ballet School of Poland and attending a creative dance workshop with Mia Michaels. Each year she continues to strive and expand her teaching experience through various dance classes, workshops and seminars. She is also working towards her Ballet membership with the CDTA Alberta Branch. As each school year begins, Andrea looks forward to sharing her passion of dance with her students.
Colleen Sleeking | Instructor, Choreographer
CONGRATULATIONS! Miss Colleen is celebrating 10 years of teaching success with HSD!
Colleen Sleeking has been immersed in the world of dance since she was 15 years old, beginning her training with Kelly at HSD. She is well-versed in ballet, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop and received her ADAPT dance teacher training through Bryan and Faye Foley. Colleen has been fortunate to participate in incredible workshops put on by Triple Threat, Street Groove, Coastal Dance Rage, Mia Michaels and Def Sol as well as to attend classes at Vancouver’s Harbour Dance Center. She’s received instruction by principal dancers for Janet Jackson, Brittany Spears and Justin Timberlake as well as from popular choreographers including Blake McGrath, Sonia, Twitch, Mary Murphy, Tyce Dioro and Bradley Raiper. Colleen’s talents have garnered her two choreography awards and numerous speciality awards for the group and solo numbers she has created. Mrs. Sleeking is motivated by the endless opportunities to foster creativity in her work with her students.
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