Motion Dance Centre
Meet the Team!
Sara Corkum, MBA, CPA, CMA, BATD
Artistic Director
Director – CTP Program
Ever since she began dancing at age 3, dance has been an integral part of Miss Sara’s life. She has studied and competed in a wide variety of styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre. She completed her Associates level exam with the British Association of Teachers of Dance in 2008 and is in her final year with the ADAPT Teacher Training School. Miss Sara is also in the process of completing her Intellidance certification. Almost all students between the ages of 2-7 are taught by Miss Sara; she believes that the most junior dancers deserve the most senior teachers to ensure a solid dance foundation from a young age.
Miss Sara attending Saint Mary’s University, where she received her Bachelor of Commerce, her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and her Certified Managerial Accounting (CMA) designation. She taught dance at many schools in the Maritimes throughout her studies, and was a member and choreographer of the award-winning Halifax based FUNKtion Dance Company, where Miss Sara won her first choreographer’s award for her jazz piece.
Miss Sara has also had the opportunity to dance with So You Think You Can Dance’s Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Steve Bolton of the Blueprint Cru, Brian and Faye Foley, Moises Parra, Lex Ishimoti, Erica Klein, Teddy Forance and many local Halifax dance greats. Miss Sara believes that a teacher should never stop learning and tries to take classes in different styles to stay current in industry trends.
Opening a dance school has been a dream of Miss Sara’s for many years. After becoming a mom in 2014, she decided it was time to live out her dream so that she could one day show her daughter that if you work hard enough, you can make your dreams come true. Miss Sara’s goal is to share the physical, mental and emotional benefits of dance, provide her students a space to express themselves authentically, and to inspire her students to never give up on their dream.
Arielle Comeau
Left Hand Woman
Director – Tap Program
Miss Arielle found her passion for dance at a very young age. She began dancing with Anne-Marie Comeau’s School of Dance at the age of 3 and trained in a variety of styles such as tap, jazz, step, lyrical, song and dance and ballet. At the age of 12 she was recruited to be part of the dance troupe La Baie en Joie with whom she danced and competed until she was 18. While in troupe, she had the opportunity to perform in France, Germany, The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and various shows throughout Canada including an exclusive performance for the Queen.
Miss Arielle started teaching dance as an assistant in 2008 and then progressed to a teacher in 2011. Miss Arielle is now taking her ADAPT Teacher Training Certification.
In addition to her dance training, Miss Arielle has studied psychology. She truly believes that harnessing the full capacity of the brain in areas such as motivation, dedication, confidence and facing your fears plays an integral role in developing better dancers and better people.
Miss Arielle cannot wait to share her experiences and everything she has learned with the dancers at Motion Dance Centre. She is committed to helping them nurture their passion and their dreams.
When not teaching, Miss Arielle loves to spend her time with her daughter, and her soon-to-be-born son!
Serena Ryan
Right Hand Woman
Director – Acro Program
Miss Serena has spent 7 years studying and competing in different styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop and acro at competitions all over the Maritimes She has received multiple high place awards both as a soloist and with her dance team. She trained under the ADAPT syllabus and completed many exams with Highly Commended marks and received the ADAPT medal of merit in 2014 for her Highly Commended Plus mark in her junior exams. Over the years Miss Serena has worked with many choreographers and dance industry professionals including Miles Faber, Jordan Clark, Trevor Tordjman , Moises Parra, Teddy Forance, Brian and Faye Foley and more.
Currently, Miss Serena is about to complete her ADAPT Teacher Training Program, and her Junior Level Acrobatique Certification. Miss Serena’s true passion lies in teaching acro, and jazz and tap technique. She is also in the middle of her Yoga teacher training program, and is excited to offer several yoga options to our students in the coming year!
Miss Serena has always known she wanted to share her passion for dance with children and dreamed of having the opportunity to teach. Her dance dream came true in 2016 when she began teaching with Motion Dance Centre. She has grown from an Instructor, to program director, choreographer extraordinaire, social media guru, exam prep queen, and general right hand to Miss Sara when it comes to planning events and recitals. Miss Serena has a strong passion for dance and education and is excited to be working with Motion Dance Centre to help children achieve their very own dance dreams.
When she is not dancing, Miss Serena enjoys spending time with her furbaby Tink!
Grace Leblanc
Instructor
Ranna Mirsaeidghazi
Director – Fun!!
Instructor
Miss Ranna has been taking dance classes since the age of 3, and has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop. She has competed annually in competitions throughout the Maritimes with an award winning troupe. She is so happy to be able to share her love of both dance, and children with the dancers at Motion Dance Centre. Her students are some of her favorite people, and she loves watching them create new dance moves!
Miss Ranna loves to plan theme weeks, and events to make sure that every dancer is enjoying equal amounts of structure and fun!
When not dancing, Ranna is passionate about spending time with her family and teaching her 5 year old niece everything she knows. Ranna is currently a Grade 12 student who is studying hard and hopes to one day become a pediatrician.
Olivia Murphy
Fitness, Stretch and Strength
Instructor
Olivia started dancing at a young age, and spent 8 years training at local studios such as Fall River School of Performing Arts and Dance Zone, and Motion Dance Centre! Olivia has trained in hip hop, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, tap, jazz, and acro.
Olivia taught dance programs for the Sackville Sports Stadium, and often helps out with assisting, or substitute teaching at Motion. You’ll also see her backstage at recitals helping to keep everything running smoothly.
Olivia is currently in her second year of the Nutrition Program at Mount Saint Vincent University, and has a passion for health and fitness, When she is not in the dance studio, she is working on her own personal fitness goals, and can’t wait to help our students and families reach THEIR fitness goals!
Faith Billard
Instructor
Samantha Wentzell
Communications Coordinator
Samantha brings 13 years of administrative experience with her to her role at Motion Dance Centre, and currently works as a Buyer/Purchaser for an Aerospace company.
Samantha is so excited to be working with Motion Dance Centre, her goal is to support Artistic Director, Sara Corkum and the families that are a part of the studio to the best of her ability.
Lorena Forrest
Administrative Coordinator
Lorena is a PROUD dance mom to little Sofia. She was born in Guatemala, Central America but has called Nova Scotia home for the last 29 years!
Lorena has a love of the arts, especially dance, and so when her daughter fell in love with dance 3 yrs ago, she knew this would be a special journey! She is so excited to now be growing in her own way within the dance story of their family, and feels blessed to have the opportunity to facilitate assistance to everyone who comes to Motion. Lorena loves kids and having the privilege to see them rise up with dance makes her heart flutter.
A fun fact about Lorena is she was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and had had her license to fly before her license to drive!
IN CLASS ASSISTANTS
Abby Faulkner
Kailey Stoddart
Cleo-Marie Powell
Anna Smith