Instructor Biographies
Meet our Staff!
Caroleen Harding: ARAD – Studio Owner/ Director
Caroleen began dancing at the age of 10. During her years as a dancer, Caroleen trained in many styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Contemporary. During these years, Caroleen studied under the C.D.T.A, R.A.D, and A.D.A.P.T syllabi and completed several examinations, including R.A.D Advanced 2.
As a dancer, Caroleen achieved many awards at both Regional and National events, including overall high score placements, regional titles of Americas Dancer Of The Year and Miss CanDance, and she has also competed in the invitational Dance Canada Pageant. Caroleen has been successful as a choreographer, being awarded the “Young Choreographer” award on many occasions in both Regional and National events and was recently recognized with a 1st place award for “Young Choreographer” at Shine Nationals in 2019. Caroleen has attended several dance and teaching conventions which has allowed her to experience many different dance styles, as well as teaching styles. Over the years, Caroleen’s students have been very successful in their ballet exams as well as on stage at dance competitions winning many high score awards, overall placements and titles at both Regional and National events.
As a Dance Teacher, Caroleen feels that it is important for her students to feel confident, motivated and inspired at all times and that they are in an environment they feel comfortable in. Caroleen wants to see her students succeed, be proud of their accomplishments and enjoy all of the hard work and dedication they put into dance.
Meghan Oliver: ARAD, OCT Certified – Instructor (Recreational Programs and Office Manager)
Meaghan began dancing at the age of 7 and since that time has studied ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, lyrical and contemporary. She began competing at age 12 at both regional and national competitions. During her time as a competitive dancer she earned many overall scores as both a soloist and a group dancer. She has taken place in the Alberta Ballet Nutcracker, Dance Canada Pageants, and was awarded a regional title of Miss CanDance. Meaghan has trained under the R.A.D and A.D.A.P.T syllabi successfully completing numerous ballet, jazz, and tap exams, including her R.A.D. Advanced Two.
Meaghan’s love for education began at the age of 14 while assisting her first dance class. Since this time, she has taught both recreational and competitive dancers at four studios in the Ottawa area, and has worked as a Senior Counsellor leading the Dance Program at Five Star Camps. Her students have successfully completed exams with the R.A.D, and the B.A.T.D, and have won many overall scores and title positions at both regional and national competitions including positions.
Meaghan completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013, as well as her Bachelor of Education degree in 2017. She now works for the Ottawa Catholic School Board as a primary and junior teacher. Meaghan enjoys the passion and freedom which dance provides her with and she aims to share this passion with her students while helping them to grow in a comforting and encouraging environment.
Jade Ferguson- Instructor
Jade began dancing recreationally at the age of 3 and began dancing competitively at the age of 6. Jade has extensive training in a variety of disciplines including Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Contemporary. Jade has participated, completed and excelled in dance exams with both the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) and the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association (CDTA). Jade has completed her Associate Level Teacher’s Exam and is currently an Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association. Jade is always looking to continue to expand her skills for teaching dance by participating in ongoing workshops and instructional sessions.
Jade has taught at three studios within the Ottawa area within both the recreational and competitive programs. Jade also taught the dance portion of the physical education curriculum for grades 7-12 at Almonte and District High School for four years. Jade aims to create a learning environment that is positive, fun and exciting, while still working to improve each individual’s skill level. Jade loves to share her passion for dance with her students and wants to ensure that her students are always comfortable, encouraged and productively motivated.
Kim Chiarelli- A.D.A.P.T. certified OCT certified
Miss Kim has been dancing since the age of 2.5 and competed across Canada and the United States beginning at the age of 7 and has completed her ADAPT exam levels as a dancer in both Jazz & Tap. She has been teaching for the past 14 years both recreationally and competitively, and has recently sold her dance studio after 11 years. Miss Kim has also attended the TTS program completing her ADAPT teaching certification for both Jazz & Tap for beginner to advanced levels and has trained many students over the years in successfully completing their ADAPT exams, many of who have also received the medal of merit at various levels. Over the years, Miss Kim’s students have competed successfully at both the Regional and National levels. She is also a certified School teacher. Miss Kim is very passionate about dance and teaching. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with her students.
Kaitlyn Oliver- Instructor
Katie began dancing at the age of 4 and has studied in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro. Katie recently graduated from Dana Hanes Dance Company and is currently studying International Business at Carleton University. Over the years Katie has attended both regional and national competitions across North America as well as participated in many dance conventions such as Jump, Move, and NUVO. Katie has successfully completed her RAD Advanced 1 Exam as well as her ADAPT Intermediate 3 Jazz and Tap exams. Katie began assisting at the age of 13 and has been teaching since the age of 16. Katie loves sharing her passion for dance with her students and helping them reach their personal goals.
Ms. Deanna has completed certification through the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) Teachers Training School in Jazz and Tap and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS). She has entered students into both ADAPT Jazz and Tap and RAD Ballet exams with students receiving exceptional examination results. She is a mentor for teachers completing the RAD CBTS program and the Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA) program. She has also received her ADTA Acro certification, Benesh Movement Notation course (RAD), Silver Swans certification (RAD), Progressive Ballet Technique certification and Acro Dance Adjudication certification.
Megan Holliday- Instructor
Megan began dancing at the age of 3 years old, she has studied in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre. Megan danced competitively for 9 years competing across North America with her team, she also successfully completed multiple RAD and ADAPT exams in Jazz and ballet during this time. Megan graduated Canterbury High school in 2017 with a fine arts degree in dance. She is now in her final year of studying history at Carleton University and hopes to move on to teacher’s college in the future. Megan looks forward to bringing her love for dance and teaching to the studio this year.
Sabrina started dancing at the age of 5 and since then has studied in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical and tap. Sabrina danced competitively for 9 years, during this time she competed in many competitions across North America. She has also successfully completed many RAD and ADAPT exams in jazz, tap and ballet. Sabrina graduated from Canterbury High School in 2017 with a fine arts degree in dance and is now in her last year of studying psychology at Carleton University. She hopes to bring her passion for dance to all of her classes and looks forward to another season with Creative Edge.
Sydney Anderson: OCT Certified – Instructor
Sydney began dancing at the age of 3. Since then, she has extensively trained in several styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, musical theatre and hip hop. Sydney excelled in A.D.A.P.T Jazz and Tap exams, and all graded and vocational R.A.D. Ballet exams. During Sydney’s competitive dance career, she attended many regional and national dance competitions where she won several overall high score awards. Over the years, Sydney also explored dance opportunities outside of her home studio. This included choreographing and performing in a school musical for which she received a Canada’s Capital Cappie Award, and performing with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet in their productions of The Nutcracker.
Over the past five years, Sydney completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University. She is now certified with the Ontario College of Teachers and beginning her teaching career as an Occasional Teacher in Ottawa. Throughout university, Sydney continued dancing while connecting her passion for dance with community outreach. She was the co-chair of Queen’s Dancerama that benefits Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and she performed in annual charity shows benefitting the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
In 2009, Sydney began assisting dance classes and she started teaching dance in 2012. Sydney always aims to create an environment where dancers feel safe, valued, free to explore new things, and empowered to express themselves creatively. She is thrilled to share her love of dance with CEDA and work with her students to develop their technique, build their self-confidence, and encourage their artistic expression!
Kaitlyn Jorssen- Instructor (Acrobatic Arts M1 Certified)
Cameron Hunt- Instructor
Cameron began dancing recreationally at the age of 2 and started on a competitive dance team by the age of 6. Throughout her years of training she has studied a variety of styles including: ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, acro, musical theatre, jazz, tap and hip hop. Cameron is one of our 2020 graduates and is thrilled to continue to be a part of our team as an instructor. Cameron recently graduated with Honours from Canterbury High school where she was enrolled in the dance programme from grade 9-12. Throughout her years in the Canterbury Dance Program, Cameron studied both ballet and modern with various teachers and truly found her love for dance. Cameron was enrolled in the Company course at Canterbury where she learned about all aspects of producing a dance production and was given the opportunity to choreograph her own piece. Cameron began to assist classes at the age of 14 and has been teaching at Creative Edge since 2018. She has studied and been examined under the RAD and ADAPT syllabuses and has taken part in various competitions throughout Canada and the United States during her many years of competitive dance. Cameron is so grateful that she has the opportunity to share her love and passion for dance with others and she can’t wait to continue to do so throughout this season.
Jenna Heer- Instructor
Jenna has been dancing since the age of 3, starting her training in Jazz and Ballet. Over her years of dance training, Jenna gained a strong passion for Hip-Hop. Jenna has danced competitively locally, nationally, and internationally for 5 years and during these years, she had the opportunity to work with several of the industries top rated Hip-Hop choreographers in Ontario/Quebec, such as: CJ Destacamento, Leah Totten, Miambi Kassé, Patricia Lavares, Flow XS, Marilyne Caron-Proulx, Edith Collin-Marcoux, and Cassandra Mainville. Jenna has experienced many of the different Hop-Hop genres including: Locking, House, and Whacking. Jenna is currently a member of the Future Shock Ottawa Hip-Hop troupe, where they rehearse every week and perform locally and internationally. Jenna is very excited to join the Creative Edge staff and to help her students develop the same passion for dance that she has.
Angel Kirton- Instructor (Bio coming soon)
Morgan Ross- Instructor (Bio coming soon)