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Meet The Team

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Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director

Lori Karges

Lori, co-founder and artistic director of the Davenport Dance Project, brings over 30 years of teaching experience fueled by her deep passion for dance. Committed to nurturing each dancer’s unique potential, she dedicates herself to developing technically skilled, confident performers at every level.

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Her students have gone on to careers with prestigious studios worldwide, performing in major stage productions, touring companies, and cruise ship performances. Many have become sought-after choreographers—a legacy she’s incredibly proud of. Lori is also an accomplished judge and workshop instructor with certification in ballet, tap, and jazz.

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Driven by her evolving passion for tap, Lori has built a strong tap program at DDP, encouraging every student to experience the rhythm, creativity, and challenge tap dancing offers.

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Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director

Sue MacDonald

Sue discovered her love of dance at age four, exploring various dance styles before developing a deep passion for tap. Her training under Beverly Fletcher in Niagara Falls, NY, ignited her desire to share dance with others, leading her to start teaching as a teenager.

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Though she pursued a career in fashion design after high school, Sue’s heart led her back to the studio. After earning accolades for her choreography and teaching at studios in Southwestern Ontario, she and Lori co-founded Davenport Dance Project.

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Since then, Sue’s award-winning choreography has taken her across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe. She is endlessly inspired by the passion, dedication, and talent of her students and their supportive families. Sue looks forward to many more years of success and joy for the entire DDP family—here’s to the next 20 years!

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Jazz & Lyrical Teacher

Stacey Schnarr

Coming Soon

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Office Staff

Amy Rosner

Amy’s dance journey began at age two, and by five, she was a proud member of the Davenport Dance Project’s competitive team, where she stayed through graduation. Her time at DDP created lasting memories filled with competitions, performances, and lifelong friendships.

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After graduating, Amy pursued Social Services at Mohawk College and is now enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Conestoga College. She’s thrilled to continue being part of the DDP family and looks forward to sharing her passion for dance with the next generation.

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Ballet & Acro Teacher 

Nadia Homback

Nadia’s passion for dance ignited at a young age, beginning formal training at age six. She has extensive experience in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics. As a competitive dancer, she earned numerous overall awards, scholarships, and special recognition across Ontario.

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In 2023, Nadia began her teaching career, excited to share her love of dance with the next generation. She’s dedicated to inspiring her students and helping them grow both as dancers and individuals.

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Acro & Jazz Teacher

Alyssa Serviss

Alyssa’s love of dance began at age three, fueling a 16-year competitive career with Encore Dance Studio and Davenport Dance Project. Her journey includes performing at the NFL Pro Bowl halftime show in Hawaii and appearing on So You Think You Can Dance Canada as a “small-town girl” with big dreams.

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Alyssa also shone in musical theatre, starring in Godspell, Footloose, and Jesus Christ Superstar with KWMP and RCMPi. Though offered cruise ship dance contracts, she chose to pursue her education at Brock University, where she danced and choreographed for the university’s competitive team, Brock Dance.

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After stepping away to focus on her career as an elementary teacher and raising her three daughters, Alyssa is excited to return to her dance roots. She’s thrilled to teach and choreograph at Davenport Dance Project, sharing her passion and inspiring the next generation of dancers.

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Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, & Lyrical Teacher

Tilly Pagett

Chantelle, affectionately known as Tilly, began dancing at just 2.5 years old, training in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop. By age five, she joined the competitive dance circuit, where she spent 13 successful years competing internationally, earning numerous titles, scholarships, and overall awards.

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Her passion for dance blossomed into a teaching career, working with both recreational and competitive students locally. She later founded and managed Technique Dance Centre in Elmira for over a decade before transitioning to new opportunities after the pandemic.

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Today, Tilly shares her expertise across several studios in the Waterloo region and serves as Backstage Manager for Dance Canada, where her upbeat energy keeps events running smoothly. She’s thrilled to join the Davenport Dance Project family and can’t wait to inspire and guide the next generation of dancers!

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Hip Hop & Contemporary Teacher

Sabrina Sinopoli

Sabrina specializes in contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop with a foundation in ballet, tap, and acro. Starting dance at age 2, she trained competitively at JoAnne Chapman School of Dance, earning top certifications and excelling in choreography during high school.

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She’s worked with renowned choreographers like Mandy Moore and Travis Wall, performed in Chad McCall’s debut show, and danced on The Next Step. Currently, Sabrina combines her dance expertise with academic achievements as a PhD student, sharing her passion for movement and creativity at Davenport Dance Project.

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Acro, Jazz & Lyrical Teacher

Jessica Potter

Jessica began dancing at age three in Kitchener-Waterloo, excelling in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, acro, and hip hop. With over 20 years of performing experience, she has worked alongside industry icons like Blake McGrath, Danny Lawn, and Jay T. Schramek as a dancer, educator, choreographer, and adjudicator.

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Her innovative and technical choreography has earned numerous overall and special awards, including international titles like Mr. & Mrs. World Dance. Jessica’s students have been featured in Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Now, and on TV shows like The Next Step. She’s also collaborated with Olympic skating coaches, enhancing skaters’ grace and technique.

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A proud member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance, Jessica continues to teach, choreograph, and adjudicate throughout Canada and the US. She’s passionate about inspiring dancers to unlock their full potential through excellence and creativity.

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Kids Program, Jazz & Tap Teacher

Angel Raposo 

Angel has been a part of the Davenport Dance Project family since the age of 6, growing her love for dance through years of training in tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop. Competing across Canada and the U.S. with her DDP team, Angel created countless unforgettable memories.

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One of her favourite experiences was assisting younger dancers in classes, helping them shine both in rehearsals and on stage. Now celebrating her 5th year of teaching, Angel is thrilled to continue her journey at DDP. She is passionate about creating a warm, positive, and inspiring environment where her students can thrive and share in the joy of dance.

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Ballet Teacher

Natalie O'Donnell

Natalie began her dance journey at age 5, cultivating a deep love for movement and teaching. A proud alumna of Davenport Dance Project, she has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics. Natalie has completed several prestigious examinations, including R.A.D Advanced 1, and spent four years with the National Ballet School of Canada, earning acceptance into their full-time student program.

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An accomplished performer, Natalie has received numerous awards at both regional and national competitions. With over a decade of teaching experience—three years of which have been with Davenport—she specializes in ballet, combining technical excellence with a nurturing and supportive approach.

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Natalie is passionate about inspiring confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love for dance in every student, creating a positive and empowering environment where dancers of all ages can thrive.

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Ballet Teacher

Nikolai Riabin

Nikolai Riabin, a distinguished graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia, brings a rich history of professional performance and artistic mastery to the world of dance. His impressive career includes dancing with acclaimed companies such as Choreographic Miniatures, Malyi Theatre, and the Eifman Ballet Company in Saint Petersburg, as well as the Dnipropetrovsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Ukraine.

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Since relocating to Canada, Nikolai has devoted his talents to teaching and choreography, inspiring the next generation of dancers across numerous schools in Ontario. Audiences continue to be captivated by his performances, including his celebrated role as Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker.

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Kids Programs, Jazz & Hip Hop Teacher

Sheena Gosse

Coming Soon

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Tap Teacher

Megan Knapp

Coming Soon

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Jazz Teacher

Jill Jutzi

Coming Soon

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Office Staff

Kelsie Schnarr

Coming Soon

Contact Us

620 Davenport Road, Unit #1
Waterloo, Ontario

519-747-4026

davenportdanceproject@bellnet.ca

Office Hours

September – June
Monday – Thursday: 5pm-8pm

July & August
Wednesdays: 4pm-8pm

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