Meet The Team

Lori, co-founder and artistic director of Davenport Dance Project, brings over 30 years of teaching experience fuelled 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.

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!

Kelsie has been the friendly face behind the desk at Davenport Dance Project since 2015. As the Office Manager, she expertly keeps the studio organized by managing student accounts and facilitating communication.

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Her passion for dance isn't just a job; it's a lifelong journey. Kelsie brings a wealth of experience from all corners of the dance community to her role. For nearly twenty years, she was a key part of the Rhythm Dance team as a Tabulator and Technical Assistant, giving her a deep, behind-the-scenes understanding of the competitive dance world. She has also shared her love for movement directly with students as an Instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Centre. This diverse background, combined with her professional experience as a Registered Early Childhood Educator, makes her uniquely equipped to support our studio families.

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Her ultimate goal is to leverage this experience to ensure a smooth, positive, and welcoming experience for all our dancers and their families.

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.

Stacey began her dance training at the renowned Joanne Chapman School of Dance in Toronto, where she trained and competed across Canada and the United States for over 12 years in various dance
disciplines. She successfully completed all Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) Ballet examinations through the Advanced level, earning commended, and holds British Association of Teachers of Dancing
(B.A.T.D.) teaching certifications in both Jazz and Tap.

With over 25 years of teaching experience, Stacey has dedicated herself to nurturing young dancers in competitive programs at several respected studios, including DDP, where she has been a valued faculty
member since the very beginning.

In addition to her work in the dance community, Stacey is a certified member of the Ontario College of Teachers and currently teaches secondary school courses in both Business and Dance.

Stacey also enjoys teaching workshops at studios throughout Ontario and serves as a dance competition adjudicator, where she enjoys sharing her expertise and passion for dance with the next generation of performers.

Sheena has been immersed in the world of dance since the young age of seven. With over a decade of competitive experience in all styles of dance, competing all over Canada and the US, she developed both skill and a deep love for dance. At just sixteen, she began sharing that passion through teaching and has continued to inspire dancers ever since.

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Sheena has been teaching at DDP for over 20 years, where she has dedicated herself to guiding students of all ages. Known for her fun and encouraging teaching style, Sheena loves helping kids build confidence, express themselves, and discover the joy of dance.

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Now also a proud dance Mom, she brings a unique perspective and heartfelt dedication to her role. For Sheena, dance has been more than just an activity - it’s been a lifelong passion, and she feels grateful to share it with the next generation of dancers.

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.

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.

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!

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 Jo-Anne 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.

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.

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.

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.

Meghan began her dance training in Waterloo, Ontario at the age of 3. Throughout her years as a recreational and competitive dancer, she trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and pointe. She continued her education while attending workshops and conventions throughout North America. 

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Now as a professional in the dance industry, Meghan continues to take classes to further her skills and in turn be able to provide her dancers with the best possible education. She takes her role as an instructor and mentor seriously while still providing a fun and positive learning environment for students of all ages and capabilities. 

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Meghan is happy to be a part of the Davenport Dance Project family and is looking forward to working with the team!

​Jill Jutzi brings twenty years of experience as a dance instructor and choreographer at Davenport Dance Project. Trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap and Ballet, Jill has taught dancers of all ages and skill levels, creating a supportive and motivating environment where students can grow in both technique and confidence. Jill’s teaching seamlessly blends strong technique with creativity and passion, whether she is introducing beginners to the joy of dance or guiding competitive dancers toward excellence. As a proud former DDP student herself, Jill brings a deep sense of loyalty and dedication to the Davenport Dance Project family.