meet our team
KARIN HOBBY BSc MSc RAD TDip
Studio Director Karin Hobby teaches classes of all levels and is the dynamic leader of all events at the studio. Read more about Karin here.
JULIANNE HOBBY Julianne Hobby, has performed with major companies across Canada and the U.S., including The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Mirvish Productions, Opera Atelier, The National Ballet of Canada and the North American Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz, opening shows in Las Vegas and performing the leading role of Glinda at the Los Angeles Pantages Theatre. Julianne is a graduate of the Professional Ballet/Academic program at Canada’s National Ballet School and the Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College and has trained extensively with master teachers in New York City and London, England. A sought after teacher in Toronto, Julianne has enjoyed working with students at The Extension Room and in private coaching. Other professional credits include television shows Reign and Motives and Murders.
LAURA CLAUSI BKin Laura Clausi rejoins KHDANCE this year for her fourth year. Laura grew up training under and completing examinations with the Russian Society of Ballet. She also trained in both the BATD and ADAPT syllabi in jazz and tap, having completed examinations through the ADAPT syllabus. Laura completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Physical Education, through Wilfrid Laurier University and her Bachelor of Education, through Western University. Laura has experience both assisting and teaching dance at Classical Dance Arts in Timmins, ON and with the Dance Program offered through Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON. Laura is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and teaches with the London District Catholic School Board, in addition to teaching dance at KHDANCE!
KELLY MACKAY Kelly is excited to return to KHDNCE for her fifth year! Kelly received training in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre at Axis Dance Studio in Brampton, and danced competitively across Canada and the United States for over 12 years. She has completed ADAPT tap and jazz exams as well as numerous ballet exams, and holds her Advanced Foundation Ballet Certificate through the Royal Academy of Dance. Kelly completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences and Psychology and is currently a second year student in the Masters of Science - Occupational Therapy program at Western University. She is looking forward to another great year of teaching and dancing at KHDANCE!
KELSEY LEE Kelsey joined KHDANCE in 2018. She is from Vancouver, B.C and has trained in competitive ballet, lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop, attending competitions locally and in the United States. She has completed all of her RAD graded exams and RAD vocational exams up to, and including, Advanced II. Kelsey has also trained in the ISTD ballet stream, completing all exams up to, and including, Advanced I. She has attended many different dance conventions and performed in the 2010 Paralympic opening ceremonies, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Vancouver) and at the Vancouver Pacific National Exhibition fair. She recently finished a student exchange at Leeds University in the United Kingdom. One of her highlights was a visit to the historic Royal Opera House in London where she was able to take a behind scenes tour of the hall, including viewing past costumes used in famous productions. Overall, it was an amazing time and she is excited to be back and share her experiences with us. Kelsey is currently attending Western University completing her Honours Specialization Degree in Neuroscience with a Minor in Dance. She is looking forward to returning for another exciting dance season with KHDANCE!
MELODIE YEUNG Melodie joins us at KHDANCE this year. She started dancing at the age of 3, primarily focusing on the Vaganova method of ballet with the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, the Canadian Ballet Theatre, Toronto, then broadening her dancing to jazz and lyrical at the age of 8. Throughout her time there, she competed at YAGP and began teaching classes of various styles of dance. Melodie then joined the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 16, training in RAD ballet, and heavily focusing on Limon modern and contemporary dance. During this time, she toured around Ontario with the company, performing for schools and the public. She was a Juilliard finalist and was accepted into SUNY Purchase College in Purchase, New York for a Dance BFA. Due to Covid-19, Melodie had decided to stay in Canada and is now studying at Brescia University College in the Honours Specialization for Nutrition in Dietetics. She is super excited to start a successful year at KHDANCE! Welcome!
HANNAH PEARCE Hannah, a former dance student at KHDANCE, completed a co-op placement at KHDANCE and has since stayed on as our studio assistant. Her future plans include Social Work working with At-Risk Youth. For the past few years she has worked at Camp Kee-mo-kee as a one on one counsellor for children with special needs. She also volunteers at TVCC while balancing her year of final studies at Lucas Secondary School. In addition, she plays hockey currently with the Ingersoll Team. Our dancers and parents are greeted and screened at the door by Hannah when they arrive!
GUEST ARTISTS Each year we welcome guest artists from Ballet Jorgen, and other professional companies when opportunities arise.
Guest and Part Time Teachers and Associates
Miss Stephanie Brown, School Associate
Miss Tayte Bowron (Advanced 2 RAD Certfication)
Miss Crystal Clackett (Advanced 2 RAD Certfication)