Needham School of Dance

NEEDHAM SCHOOL OF DANCE - INSTRUCTORS
Wanda Needham-Dack Owner and Director	Wanda Needham-Dack, Owner and Director of Needham School of Dance has been teaching in Strathroy and area for more than 30 years. She founded Needham School of Dance 14 years ago and recently expanded the business to a new 5000 sq. ft. facility on High St. E. in Strathroy. She is an active member of The British Association of Teachers of Dancing and has served as Treasurer of the Western Ontario District for several years. Many of her students have gained success within the Association, currently teaching with her at the studio or pursuing successful dance careers. Wanda loves to continue teaching today and is especially thrilled to enroll the children of students she once taught. Time flies when you're having fun!!!
Angela Mota (MBATD)	Angela was born in Strathroy Ontario. Her love of dance and music was evident at an early age, so her mother enrolled her in dance lessons at the Strathroy Dance Club, under the instruction of Wanda Needham. Angela continued to dance and complimented her experience with becoming part of school plays and choirs during elementary school. During her years at St. Thomas Aquinas high school, her passion progressed and Angela became involved in as many performing arts opportunities as she could, school productions, vocal jazz ensemble, choir, and drama club. Show credits include: Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Grease, Jacob & Esau and Oliver. It was also during this time that she performed in two of the high school projects at London’s Grand Theatre: West Side Story, ‘97 and Guys and Dolls, ‘99 - playing the leading role of “Miss Adelaide.” Although, she continued to be busy within the theatre, her dancing still played an important role. Angela began teaching at the young age of 15, after assisting for two years. She danced competitively throughout south western Ontario and won various awards, including the “Ethel Merman award” for her song and dance solo. In her senior year of high school, she was chosen to attend OELC leadership drama camp in Orillia Ontario and was awarded two performing arts scholarships. Angela was accepted to Sheridan College in the Musical Theatre Performance Program, and studied briefly there. Currently, Angela is married and resides in Strathroy. She is a dance instructor and choreographer at Needham School of Dance and runs Youth Performing Arts, which is in it’s 4th season. She continues her performing in local theatre productions with Strathroy Community Players as well as Musical Theatre Productions in London, most recently in Little Shop of Horrors. Angela also is the resident choreographer at St. Thomas Aquinas high school, where she has choreographed: Anne of Green Gables, Once Upon A Mattress, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls and Footloose, which was nominated for a Brickenden Award for best High School Musical in London. She continues to study dance by attending various workshops throughout Ontario, Michigan and New York. She has studied at Broadway Dance Centre and Steps on Broadway in New York City. Her competitive choreography for Needham School of Dance has won various awards, including “Highest Mark Overall Musical Theatre” and “Best Emotional Execution” most recently for her work in Heart Behind These Hands. Angela is a Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing where she is a qualified dance instructor in Stage (tap and jazz), Ballet and Freestyle. Angela is always excited to share her love and expertise of the theatre with young children. And feels like it is a privilege to do so.
Brooke	Brooke has been dancing and performing for 17 years and is highly trained in jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, ballet, and pointe, and has received honors in many of her B.A.T.D examinations. She has competed regionally, nationally as well as internationally leading her to win first overall at the Canadian championships for her duet in 2003. That same year, she traveled to Reisa Germany representing her country as a member of the Canadian Showdance Team as well as the Canadian Tap Team. While competing at worlds she placed 6th in her showdance duet for the junior division, as well receiving the bronze medal for the showdance formation team, and the world championship title for the Jr. Tap small group division for 2003. Brooke has performed in several charity events over the years such as London's Children’s Festival, Detroit Shocks game, A Channel News, as well as the Canada games in 2000 to name a few. As a soloist she has won many special awards acknowledging her unique style and performance qualities, as well as winning many overall titles through out the years, her most recent being the 17 & Under Overall Soloist in 2006. In addition to her training Brooke has also been acknowledged for her outstanding teaching qualities and innovative choreography. Many of her students have gone on to win several special awards, overalls, and scholarships for their superb technique and performance abilities. Most recently Brooke was chosen as the recipient of the American Dance Awards young choreographer of the year for 2008. Brooke is also a certified jazz teacher under B.A.T.D as of 2006 and plans to continue taking workshops and master classes to further her knowledge as a dancer. She will be attending Fanshawe College and Western University to obtain her BScN in Nursing over a four year period in the fall. Brooke is very excited to be a member of the Needham School of Dance faculty and is eager to share her love for dance with her students.
Jodie	Jodie was born and raised in Strathroy, Ontario. At the age of 5 she was enrolled at the Strathroy Dance Club under the instruction of Wanda Needham. Over the years she has studied and competed in various disciplines including tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, ballet and gymnastics. Jodie began teaching at the age of 16 after assisting Wanda for 4 years. She is an associate member of the BATD and is a qualified instructor in Stage (tap and jazz). Jodie has also participated in various theatre productions throughout the years. Show credits include: 'Oliver', 'Peter Pan', 'Annie', 'Bye Bye Birdie' (Huron Country Playhouse) 'Bye Bye Birdie', 'The Diary of Anne Frank', 'Grease', 'Oliver', 'A Christmas Carol' (St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School) among others. Currently, Jodie resides in Strathroy with her husband and 3 sons. She is very excited to be teaching at Needham School of Dance and to be given the opportunity to share her love of dance with her students!
Maureen Grogan	Maureen began dancing at a young age at Strathroy Dance Club. She gained experience teaching as a volunteer at the YMCA in London, Ontario and assisting classes at Strathroy Dance Club. She took dance courses at the University of Western Ontario and Needham School of Dance and earned her Associate Membership with the BATD as an instructor in Stage (tap and jazz) in 2003. She has been teaching Dance Readiness and Tap at Needham’s School of Dance since 2007. Maureen enjoys introducing young students to dance with the hopes that it will be a lifelong passion for them as it has been for her.
Kelly Maxwell	Kelly Maxwell started dancing in Sault Ste. Marie more than 25 years ago. She has studied many dance styles over the years with a speciality in B.A.T.D. Ballet as she studied at the National Ballet School of Canada from 1986 -1988. Kelly has been in countless competitions in which she has won many trophies and scholorships, however, her biggest accomplishment came in 1990 when she won 1st Runner-Up at Miss Dance Canada. Miss Kelly began teaching in 1991 and became a certified teacher in 1995. Kelly joined the staff at Needham School of Dance in the Spring of 2010 to cover Miss Angela's classes while she was on maternity leave. "It was an honour to work with such a great group of dancers. I have been fortunate to have taught many dancers over the years, but none quite as talented as the students from Needham School of Dance." Miss Kelly looks forward to continuing on with the studio working closely with the dancers, teachers and families at Needham School of Dance for many years.
Nicole Alcaidinho	Bio Coming Soon

Needham School of Dance - Strathroy Ontario