Instructor Bios

Michelle McKernan B.F.A., B.Ed., O.C.T.

Michelle is recognized for her versatility as a dancer, high energy performer, and dedicated teacher.  With over 20 years of dance training, Michelle holds an honours B.F.A. in Dance from York University and a B.Ed. from the University of Ottawa with a specialization in Intermediate/Senior Drama, Biology, and Dance.  She is also a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers.

Michelle’s extensive dance and education background includes work in Classical Ballet, African Dance, Modern Dance, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Dance and Irish Folkloric Dance.  Michelle has trained and performed in Toronto, New York City, Montreal, Las Vegas, Germany, Switzerland, and Ottawa. She has studied under Felicity Foote, Bella Kovarsky, Donna Krasnow, Ana Marie Forsythe, Zab Maboungo, and Sylvie Desrosiers.

She has performed with The Impressions in Jazz Orchestra, Samba-Axe, Canada Dance Festival, Dancing in the Streets, The American Youth Ballet, and The Grasshopper Dance Exchange.

Michelle has choreographed for The Cappies Awards Gala, Canterbury High School, Woodroffe High School, St. Paul’s High School, Hopewell Avenue Public School, Arch Street Public School, Sir Winston Churchill Public School, Makin’ Moves, and Akhi Dance Company.

In 2010 Michelle received the Marjorie Loughrey Award for artists in residence at Arch Street Public School.  At Arch Street Michelle co- created a 5-day dance workshop entitled The Fantasy Flight to New York, collaborating with acclaimed bgirl Julia Gutsik.  

In 2003, Michelle was awarded a Heritage Canada Scholarship to study African Dance and Drumming with Danse Compagnie Nyata-Nyata in Montreal, QC.

Michelle has also worked as a stage manager for Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre and The York Ensemble. 

In 2008, Michelle began traveling to a small rural community in the Ottawa valley to teach classical ballet.  She founded the Ottawa Valley Conservatory of Dance and continues to teach and create choreography for the children and adults in this area. 

Michelle brings a unique perspective to dance instruction, believing that dance transforms and brings great joy to all those who experience it.  She hopes to continue to nurture the joy of movement in all those who walk through the doors of Makin’ Moves Dance Studio.

Yves Soglo a.k.a. Bboy ShatterStar, B.Com.
Yves Soglo is a talented dancer, teacher and choreographer who has worked with Canadian Floor Masters, Blue Print For Life, BBoyizm, and Luv2Groove.  He has been performing and teaching for over 10 years. He is recognized in the Hip Hop community for his powerful energy and ability to inspire people of all ages. 
Yves teaches and performs with Blue Print for Life, an Ottawa based company that does social work with native communities in the Arctic, bringing Hip Hop culture to the far north. 
Yves also works a film maker/video editor and graphic designer for many companies. He received his Bachelor in Communications from St. Paul University.
Yves has been teaching at Makin’ Moves since 2009.

Courtney Holmes B.A., B.Ed.

Courtney has been sharing her love of music, dance and yoga for over 10 years.  She is a certified Radiant Child Yoga Instructor, Prenatal Yoga Instructor and holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa. Courtney is passionate about helping people of all ages connect to their bodies and celebrate life through music, movement and yoga.

Nancy Leblanc
Nancy has been dancing since the age of four and has been extensively trained for over fifteen years in jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet and hip hop. She has competed all over North America in various dance competitions and has been a member of dance and cheerleading teams in Ottawa, such as the Ottawa 67’s Dance Team. Currently in university, Nancy loves sharing her passion for dance through teaching all ages at Makin’ Moves!