Connie Parsons (AISTD., ACDTA., CSC-CICB)
Owner/Operator, Director
Connie Parsons has a passion for dance and business, and in 2000 was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Newfoundland & Labrador by BDC. In 2015, Connie was named Eastern Canada’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year by RBC & Women of Influence – micro business category. In 2016, Connie was named Visionary Entrepreneur of the Year by NLOWE.
Connie is the owner of CPSOD Ltd, EVOLVE dance (competitive dance team), Spectrum Movement Retail Store (The Dance Spectrum Inc.) & CRP Holdings Inc.
She studied child development and psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland with a primary interest in education. She pursued a career in dance becoming a fully qualified and professionally trained dance instructor, holding teaching qualifications with the ISTD, CDTA, and Cecchetti Society of Canada (classical ballet). Connie believes it takes the same vision, creativity, perseverance & passion to be an artist as it does to be a successful entrepreneur. Her main goal is to inspire and motivate young people, through dance. Connie stays up to date on the latest trends in dance in able to provide classes in current as well as classic styles. She believes strongly in continued learning and regularly attends courses to update class curriculum and inspire new ideas. She has trained with some of the top dance pedagogues from around the world and is always eager to learn more. Connie has taken classes at Broadway Dance Centre in New York City and attended the dance teacher/studio owner conference & convention in Las Vegas. Most recently she attended the Dance Teacher Expo in Toronto and attained courses in adjudicating dance competitions. Connie was thrilled to be on the judging panel in Whistler, BC last Spring for Wanna Dance Canada. She has attended the Broadway Dance Center’s Annual Teacher Workshop in New York City held in conjunction with The PULSE on Tour. This experience provided the opportunity to study Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, and Theatre Dance with Tony award winning Broadway stars, BDC teachers, and the faculty of the hit TV series “So You Think You Can Dance”. She has attended the Cecchetti Ballet National Conference (The National Ballet School in 2009 and RWB in 2005). She has also traveled to Europe to attend the ISTD Modern and Tap summer school hosted by The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London, England) Connie Parsons has enjoyed a fun-filled performance career which has included guest appearances dancing live in concert with Great Big Sea, and The Irish Descendants as well as performances in various local musicals including ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ (PMP 1996), Rock of Ages (principal dancer) with TADA events (2016) and We Will Rock You (dancer) with TADA (2019).
Connie is also a busy mother of 4
Dance Instructors
Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, EVOLVE choreographer
Stephanie Barron is a graduate of the Dance Performance Diploma Program (Honors) at George Brown College in Ontario. Stephanie received her early dance training in St. John’s, completing all Cecchetti Ballet examinations up to and including Advanced 1.
After high school, Stephanie attended the Dance Performance Diploma Program at George Brown College, in which she graduated in 2018 with honors. Once graduated, she accepted a full-time soloist position with Kittiwake Ballet in 2018. Since then, she has performed many roles with Kittiwake,such as, The Sugarplum Fairy, The Snow Queen and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, The White Witch in Narnia, Alice in Alice in other Wonderlands, and Queen of the Fairies in Peter Pan. Stephanie has worked with many well known choreogrpahers, such as, James Kudelka, Christopher House, Syreeta Hector and Yukichi Hattori. In 2019 and 2020, Stephanie was accepted to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the National Ballet School of Canada’s Take the Lead, a leadership workshop for women and has taught their Sharing Dance program in a local school, on behalf of Kittiwake. Stephanie has a passion for teaching and currently teaches many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. This is Stephanie’s 6th Season teaching at Connie Parsons School Of Dance. She also creates award winning choreography for Evolve Dance.
Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Body Conditioning, Adults, EVOLVE choreographer
Abby is a graduate of George Brown College’s Dance Performance Program and has been teaching at Connie Parsons School of Dance for the past six years. She teaches a wide range of styles including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, and Conditioning for Dancers. Abby has completed her Cecchetti Ballet examinations up to Advanced 1. She danced professionally with Kittiwake Ballet for four years and continues to work with the company as a Rehearsal Director and Choreographer. She was one of thier emerging choreographer in residence just a few years ago. Abby also creates new works for other local companies and independent projects, and is a full time choreographer for EVOLVE dance team.
Abby brings both discipline and creativity into the studio and is passionate about helping dancers grow their technique while encouraging confidence, artistry, and a love for movement. She feels grateful to share her love of dance with the next generation at Connie Parsons School of Dance.
Tap, Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, Discover Dance, Broadway, Children’s Work, Summer Camps,
EVOLVE Competition Choreography
Michaela Wells is a passionate dance educator that holds teaching qualifications/certifications with the
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Associate Tap, Artistic Dance Educators (ADE) Teacher
Jazz, Discover Dance, and Alixa Flexibility.
She began dancing at Connie Parsons School of Dance at the age of two and has trained in many styles
including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Pointe, and Broadway. She has successfully completed all
levels of ISTD Tap including her Advanced II and Associate examination. She has also completed up to
Intermediate ISTD Modern Theatre and Cecchetti Grade Six Ballet. Michaela was an award winning
member of CPSOD’s Senior Competition Team for many years.
Michaela is an award winning choreographer for EVOLVE Dance. Many of her pieces have won awards
for Choreography, Judges Choice and Overall placements. She works with all levels, styles, and ages in
solo, duo, trio, and group numbers. She is also a choreographer for the Lightning Elite Walt Disney World
performance team where she works with elite level scholarship winning dancers from across Canada and
the United States.
In August 2023, 2024, and 2025 Michaela travelled to the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo and completed
multiple micro certifications and seminars from organizations such as Acrobatic Arts, Performing Arts
Educators of Canada, ADAPT, Dance Masters of Canada, BATD, CDTA, The Comix Method, Discover
Dance, Artistic Dance Educators, Tap Roots, Youth Protection Association for Dance, Disney Performing
Arts and more.
As a dancer, Michaela has trained at conventions and intensives locally (iDance, Broadway Dreams, Rock
The Rhythm) across Canada (The Pulse TO, Ballet Jörgen, Raw Motion) and across the United States
(Broadway Dance Centre, Steps on Broadway, The Pulse FL & Vegas). Her love of dance has often been
seen on stage in local productions from TaDa! Events, Atlantic Light Theatre, and Theatre St. John’s.
Michaela’s greatest passion is teaching and instilling the love of dance in each and every student, she
cannot wait for another season living her dream teaching at CPSOD and EVOLVE!
– AISTD Tap (2023)
– ADE Jazz Teacher Certification (2024)
– Discover Dance Foundations Certification (2024)
– Toronto Dance Teacher Expo (2025, 2024, 2023)
– Disney Dance The World EVOLVE Teacher/Choreographer (2025)
– Radar Technique Teacher Workshop (2025)
– Alixa Flexibility Module 1 (2022)
– Lightning Elite Disney Scholarship (2019)
– HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Childhood Development Course (2019)
– iDance Scholarships (2018, 2017)
– Dance Quest Scholarship (2017)
– The Pulse Scholarships in Las Vegas & Orlando (2016, 2015)
– Disney Dance The World & Performing Arts (2016)
Children’s Work, Pre-Ballet, B/T/J, Summer Camps
Mackenzie Loveless has been dancing at CPSOD since the age of three, and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, pointe, and hip-hop. She has also been involved in the studio’s examination programs, successfully completing all Cecchetti Ballet examinations up to Intermediate, and all ISTD Modern Theatre exams up to and including Grade 6. She competed at local competitions for 6 years with CPSOD’S Intensive Dance Division and the Senior Competition Team. She has also attended local workshops and conventions to further her training. Mackenzie has traveled to Toronto for the Pulse on Tour (2014), Florida for the Pulse on Tour (2015), as well as Disney Dance The World and Performing Arts, Orlando (2016).
Mackenzie has been teaching dance at CPSOD for 8 years. She has taught children’s ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. She has also choreographed for EVOLVE competition teams.
Mackenzie completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2024, and is currently in her last year of her Primary/Elementary Education degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Pre-Ballet, Parent & Tot, Tap, Children’s Work, EVOLVE Competition Choreography
Emma began dancing at CPSOD at the age of 3 and her love of dance grew from there on. She has trained in various styles including: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and pointe. Besides the classes that she continues to take on a regular basis, Emma has attended countless workshops and has been introduced to multiple styles of dance and learning. Emma has been a part of ISTD tap examinations and successfully completed all levels up to and including Advanced II. She began as a teaching assistant in 2017 and it sparked her love for inspiring the growth of younger dancers. She has been teaching since 2018, and works largely with young children while also choreographing for the EVOLVE dance competition teams. Emma believes that nothing is as rewarding as sharing the joy of dancing with others!
Emma completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University in 2025 with a major in Behavioural Neuroscience and is currently a first year medical student at MUN.
Pre-Ballet, Tap for Tots
Emily’s love for dance began at the age of 3, when she took her first dance class at Connie Parsons School of Dance. Over the years Emily has danced and trained in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop and pointe and also danced competitively. Emily has completed years of Cecchetti Ballet and ISTD Modern examinations as well as completed all levels of ISTD tap up to Advanced II. Since 2020, Emily has been assisting pre-ballet and tap for tots classes where she shares her love of dance with the next generation of dancers. Emily feels privileged to be a part of the children’s first experiences with dance.
Emily is currently a student at Memorial University of Newfoundland where she studies Science.
Tap, Leaps & Turns, Technique, EVOLVE dance choreographer
Ashley began her dance training at Connie Parsons School of Dance (CPSOD) in 2001, studying ballet, tap, jazz, modern, pointe and hip hop. In 2007, she began assisting classes at CPSOD, where her enthusiasm for teaching quickly flourished. By 2009, Ashley was teaching her own classes and continued to advance her technique through the studio’s examination program in ballet and tap, successfully completing her Advanced II Tap exam in 2010.
Known for her charisma and energy, Ashley has a natural talent for working with children and inspiring young dancers. Her professional development includes attending the Broadway Dance Center’s Teacher Workshop in New York City (2009), The Pulse on Tour in Toronto (2011), and the Rock the Rhythm Dance Convention (2012), where she has trained with acclaimed choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Chris Judd and Tessandra Chavez. She also holds a HIGH FIVE certification – Canada’s leading quality assurance standard for children’s recreation programs.
Ashley’s commitment to child development led her to pursue formal education in the field. She earned a diploma in Early Childhood Education from the College of the North Atlantic in 2020, followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies (Honours) from the University of Guelph in 2022. She is now a Level IV Early Childhood Educator and works with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Ashley brings her extensive dance experience and early childhood expertise into every class she teaches, creating inclusive, engaging and developmentally supportive environments for children of all ages and abilities. She is thrilled to be part of another exciting season at CPSOD!
Adult Classes, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Senior Advanced
Tanya Lasby is a triple threat performer and teacher from Elmvale, Ontario. She began dance at the age of 4 and was a competive dancer from the age of 5-19yrs. She is graduate of the Musical Theatre Performance program (honours) from Sheridan College in Ontario. During college, she joined the tap dance company called Turn On The Tap, headed by Paula Skimin (her mentor). Life eventually brought Tanya and her family to St. John’s. She has been a part of the arts scene for 16yrs now! You may have seen her in local productions such as Caberet, Rocky Horror, Our Divas Do Christmas (TaDa!), Mary Poppins and Grease (Theatre St. John’s), Festival of New Dance (Neighbourhood Danceworks), Four Parts and Mayflies (Untellable) to name a few. Tanya also choreographed the musical Heathers and Second Shot (Best Kind). She is co-founder of East Coast Rhythm project and they just finished their 9th season of Tap Week. A week long intensive that brings all the studios from the province together with a shared love of tap dance. Tanya is excited to be teaching at CPSOD for her 9th season! She teaches tap and modern to the Senior (adult advanced) group and the Adult (beginner and experinced) groups.
Children’s Work, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Acro & EVOLVE choreographer
Kelsey Wakely joins us from Whitby Ontario, where she trained at Jennifer’s Arts in Motion since the age of 5. Kelsey competed and trained in Acro, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and jazz since age 9. She has won many awards, scholarships, and highest marks with her Acro solos, duos, and group routines. Kelsey continued her training at All Saints Secondary School of Arts and Media Program and has trained at several Acro intensives including Acro Alliance, Northern Movement, and Acrobatic Arts. Acro is Kelsey’s specialty, and she is very excited to have the opportunity to work with competitive dancers and help incorporate Acro skills into Movement. Bringing Acro into motion is our goal. Kelsey is currently a fourth-year student at Memorial University studying Primary/Elementary Education. In August 2024 Kelsey completed her Performing Arts Educators of Canada (PAEC) course at the Toronto Dance Teachers Expo. In June 2025 she also completed her Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) course. She is very excited to train with some top level Master Teachers and bring home her new knowledge to the young students at CPSOD.