Elisabet White, RAD RTS

Elisabet has been teaching dance for over 10 years and dancing for more than 25 years. Born and raised in Ottawa, Elisabet danced locally where she successfully completed her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet and ADAPT Advanced Jazz examinations while attending Canterbury High School - Performing Arts – Dance program. In 2012 Elisabet went on to attend the prestigious Ailey School Professional Division, NYC where she received a Certificate of Dance with Honours. After graduating she pursued a certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She has also trained at Alonzo King LINES, San Francisco, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Summer Professional Programs. During her dance training she had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as: Alonzo King, Sidra Bell, Matthew Rushing, Darrell Moultrie, Amy Hall, Ray Mercer, and Carlos Dos Santos.

While studying dance at The Ailey School, Elisabet had the privilege of teaching children in The Ailey School First Steps Program, and travel to Florida as a guest teacher. These opportunities ignited her passion for teaching dance. After graduating from The Ailey School, she went on to expand her teaching skills in Halifax, NS and the surrounding area, teaching various methods of ballet, and jazz styles of dance, to children and adults, and choreograph for national competitions and local performances. While in Halifax she also volunteered at local schools to engage students in dance activities.

Over the years, Elisabet has had the opportunity to perform in the Tri-State area of New York, Canada and Mexico.

Elisabet has now returned home to Ottawa and in pursuing her passion for dance and vision to explore dance with children, she opened the doors to Common Ground Dance Academy in 2020.

Her passion for teaching children the art of dance is evident in her guidance and support for her students.

As Elisabet continues to pursue her passion for dance and to teach the art of dance, she now sees her vision to offer her love for dance to children of all ages and opened the doors to Common Ground Dance Academy to pass on her passion to the community.

“No matter where you come from or who you are, when we’re in the studio, we’re all on common ground” is the founding vision of Common Ground Dance Academy.

Saffi Petersen Ndiaye

As a graduate of Common Ground, Saffi is excited to continue her dance journey as a teacher and create a positive environment for her students, whether that be in class, at competitions, or onstage. 

Saffi began dancing with a focus on ballet and modern, but was introduced to other styles such as jazz, contemporary, and lyrical early on in her dance education. She has completed many A.D.A.P.T and R.A.D exams, notably her Advanced 2, where she received distinction this past year and will now begin preparing for the R.A.D Solo Seal award. Saffi received additional professional training at Ballet Jorgen's Summer Intensive, where she was taught by a wide variety of artists and applied the knowledge she learned to her students. Saffi was previously a gymnastics coach and has also taught ballet, jazz, and contemporary classes in Ottawa. She recently graduated from Canterbury High School in the visual arts program.

Saffi will work on artistry and technique with her students, focusing on each dancer's abilities, while understanding and appreciating the fact that everybody is different. In her classes, it's a judgment free zone and what's most important is enjoyment and improvement.

Lisa Alli

Lisa began dancing at the age of 5 in the Niagara region at the Dunnville Dance Centre. She has always had a passion for dance, teaching dance, and creating choreography. Lisa has received all of her tap exam certificates with the C.D.T.A., receiving Honours at the Advanced level. Lisa has trained in tap dance in Niagara, Toronto and Montreal and is thrilled to share her passion of tap and rhythm with the team at CGDA.

In Lisa’s classes, students will be given a safe, inclusive, and positive environment where they are free to express themselves. It will be a space to learn and grow for new or returning dancers (of all ages!). The classes will emphasize technique, musicality and expression while also including an introduction to improvisation and highlighting tap history.

Alison Van Kessel

Alison began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained and competed in various dance styles including; Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Acro, and Musical Theatre. Alison has trained up to Advanced 1 in RAD Ballet and Intermediate 3 in ADAPT Jazz. She has had the pleasure of dancing in Walt Disney World and performing at the NAC with the Royal Winning Ballet.

Alison has graduated from the ADAPT Teacher’s Training School with a gold seal. She is now certified in teaching all levels of the ADAPT Jazz and Tap syllabus. Alison is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College. She is passionate about combining her knowledge of dance and education to lead exciting and inclusive dance classes.

Kiana Lawrence

It's clear that dance is a significant part of Kiana Lawrence's life and passion. Starting at a young age and progressing through various styles, Kiana's dedication to dance is evident. From beginning with recreational ballet and transitioning to competitive dance, her journey showcases a commitment to honing her skills and pushing her boundaries.Kiana's experience isn't just limited to being a dancer; she has also taken on the role of a dance teacher. Teaching jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre highlights her diverse expertise and ability to communicate her knowledge to others. This experience likely helped her grow as a dancer and instructor, as teaching requires a deep understanding of the art form and the ability to convey its nuances effectively.

Notably, Kiana was a part of Carleton University's competitive dance team during her first year of university. This involvement demonstrates her desire to continue her dance journey even while pursuing higher education. Being a part of a competitive team adds a layer of discipline and teamwork to her skill set, which can be valuable both in dance and other aspects of life.Her teaching experience also extends across different regions, having taught in both the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa. This suggests that Kiana's influence as a dance teacher has been felt in multiple communities, and she likely brings a unique blend of styles and approaches to her teaching methods.

Overall, Kiana Lawrence's journey in dance, from a young age to her university years, and her role as both a dancer and teacher, showcases her dedication, versatility, and passion for the art form. With her background and experience, she is well-prepared to continue making a positive impact as a dance instructor, sharing her love for dance with others and contributing to the dance community.

Kateri Jacobs

Kateri grew up in the National Capital region where she has completed most of her dance training in ballet, jazz and contemporary. After many years in the competitive dance world, she trained at The School of Dance in their post-secondary Contemporary Dance Program. After completing her bachelor's degree at STFX university, she returned to The School of Dance to complete their ballet teacher training programme and obtained her certification as an Associate of the Cecchetti Society of Canada. Kateri has a passion for teaching all ages, from 2yr olds to adult beginner classes, and believes everyone deserves a spot on the dance floor. 

Kateri is also a mother of two and a Chartered Professional Accountant. In her spare time she volunteers as the Treasurer for the Ottawa Dance Directive, a local professional contemporary dance company and centre for professional dance. 

Christine Macmillan

Christine received her dance training at the Halton Hills School of Dance, where she discovered a lifelong passion for the art of movement. She trained extensively in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern, and successfully completed graded and vocational examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance. She received additional professional training at the Quinte Ballet School's summer intensive program and is a graduate of Mayfield Secondary School's Regional Arts Dance Program. 

Christine has enjoyed the opportunity to teach and choreograph at studios across Orangeville, Halton and London, Ontario. Her gifts lie in her natural musicality and musical interpretation, which are integral to who she is as both a teacher and choreographer. Outside of dance, Christine is a licensed Physiotherapist with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and her specialized knowledge of the human body is central in her teaching methods. She helps her students develop an understanding of the mechanics of movement from an early age, so that they can explore the art of movement on a more profound level. Christine believes that above all else, dance is about artistry and self-expression, and she strives to help her students find their own voices through the art of dance.