MEET
THE
TEAM
Aidan Muth
Co-Director | Instructor
Photo: Artistic Creations
Aidan Muth is a versatile artist, performer, teacher, and choreographer from Edmonton, Alberta. Since 2009, he has trained extensively in Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Adagio. As a competitive dancer for ten years, Aidan was awarded multiple scholarships and top-scoring awards and has had the privilege of travelling to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Toronto, and Vancouver to further his diverse experience.
Aidan's formal ballet training allowed him to complete examinations in Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance syllabi with distinction (RAD) standing on his Intermediate exams. Currently, Aidan resides in Vancouver, BC where he trains weekly.
Aidan is diligent about taking every opportunity to take classes with industry leaders to further his professional career. He has gained ample TV and film experience and is featured in Netflix's "Julie and the Phantoms," directed by Kenney Ortega and Paul Becker, "Good Morning Mattress" commercial, and a variety of music videos from local YEG artists. Aidan has also danced in live productions such as The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree, Newsies, and Rock of Ages. In addition to Aidan's performance career, he is passionate about sharing his love of dance with his students in the community, which motivated him to co-launch The Dance Initiative in 2020.
Holding high value in education, Aidan is a graduate of Business Administration at The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. His educational background, blended with his robust dance and teaching experience, enables him to stand out in the industry because of his consistent professional development, which allows him to act as a business professional and leader within the dance industry.
Aidan belongs on a stage, and his dreams have become a reality in the entertainment industry. Aidan is grateful for the opportunities and experience that dance has provided, and he is excited to continue growing, moving, and creating with others throughout his artistic career.
Jennah Paron
ADAPT/PBT Certified, CanFit Pro FIS
Co-Director | Instructor
Jennah Paron's career in the dance industry has evolved into an abundant balance of performing opportunities, managerial roles, higher education, choreographing, and teaching. Jennah's love for dancing began in September 2012, and she has trained extensively in jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and jazz-funk. Jennah is honoured to have represented Team Canada West at the IDO World Championships for ballet, jazz, and modern, in Poland, in December of 2017. Now,
Jennah is thrilled to be on a professional contract with Motives Dance Company for the 2021/22 season.
Passionate about learning and teaching, Jennah began to participate in various professional development opportunities across Canada. Her credentials include ADAPT Dance Teacher's Certification, Progressing Ballet Technique Certification, and CanFit Pro Certified Group Fitness Instructor Specialist Certification. Her academic knowledge makes her stand out in the dance industry. Jennah is a fourth- year student at the University of Alberta, working towards her BARST Degree with a Sports Management minor. She believes her passion for sport, physical activity and dance thrives because of her post-secondary education. Her educational background includes an in-depth study of sport/recreation sociology, psychology, and kinesiology. Jennah's post-secondary education has allowed her to take courses such as: advanced topics in the profession of coaching, the study of dance for children, philosophy of leisure, adapted physical activity, and more!
With many years of dance industry-related administrative and teaching experience under her belt, and the ability to apply her scholarly knowledge, Jennah co-launched The Dance Initiative in 2020.
Jennah believes that dancing builds confidence, promotes creativity, and brings meaningful joy to others. She hopes to continue exploring the many aspects of the dance industry from an administrative, performance, and leadership standpoint.
Photo: Artistic Creations
McKayla Smith
Instructor
McKayla Smith began dancing at the age of four, and trained in Sherwood Park taking classes in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap and musical theatre. She fell in love with dance the very first time she stepped out on stage. “There’s something about performing for an audience that I am fully captivated by; the feeling that I get while doing so is something that I never want to lose.” McKayla trained with Vimy’s Dance program and was a part of Edmonton Contemporary Dancers (ECD). While at Vimy, McKayla strengthened her performance qualities, technique and choreographic voice. McKayla’s choreography credits include a self choreographed solo, a piece for ECD, and a piece performed for the 2019 Alberta School Board of Trustees Remembrance Day ceremony.
McKayla decided to continue to explore her passion for dance with Ryerson University's BFA Dance program. Throughout McKaylas dance career she has won multiple scholarships and awards including, Broadway Dance Centre Scholarship, Senior High Contemporary Dance Award (x2), Edmonton Public Schools District Award in Fine Arts and the Alberta Dance Educators Association Scholarship. McKayla has had the opportunity to train in Zürich, Switzerland, New York City, California and Toronto.
“Dance is a universal language that I would like to stay fluent in for the rest of my life.” - McKayla Smith
Photo: Artistic Creations
Kayleigh Oliver
Instructor
Kayleigh Oliver began dancing at the young age of two at a dance school in southeast Scotland and still remembers her first time ever stepping on stage and in front of an audience as a baby ballerina. Once she moved to Canada, Kayleigh trained extensively in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, acro, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre at Center Stage School of Dance in Mississauga, Ontario. Throughout her competitive dance career, Kayleigh had the honour of receiving many overall high score and best in style awards and was awarded multiple scholarships from both conventions and competitions with invitations to Los Angeles, New York City, and Orlando.
Kayleigh’s formal ballet training also allowed her to complete examinations in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabi with honours and highly commended results. Kayleigh is very proud to have represented Team Canada East at the International Dance Organization (IDO) World Championships for ballet, jazz, and modern dance, in Poland, in December 2015.
Kayleigh attended the Regional Arts Program at Cawthra Park Secondary School in Ontario for four years where she trained exclusively in ballet and modern dance, particularly the Limón and Graham techniques. During this time Kayleigh had the opportunity of being taught by dance professionals from The Julliard School, Joffrey Ballet School, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, and Toronto Dance Theatre.
Kayleigh then continued her passion for dance whilst achieving her Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree at McMaster University as a member of the Mac Dance Recreational Team. Kayleigh was also a choreographer for the Mac Dance Recreational Team for two years in both acro and hip hop styles.
Currently, Kayleigh is a Student Recruiter at the University of Alberta and takes weekly classes at Motives Dance and Fitness in Edmonton. She attributes many of her personal and professional successes in life to her upbringing in the dance world and is enthusiastic and passionate about welcoming dancers into the environment that allowed her to develop her personality, confidence, and determination.
Photo: Artistic Creations