DADX Dance Academy Instructors

Diego Arvelo - Artistic Director

Born in the Dominican Republic, Diego Arvelo started ballet at nine years of age. With his father's influence and training, he became the youngest dancer in the Ballet of Santo Domingo, joining the company at 16. While the company toured through South America (Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Cuba), Mr Arvelo had the opportunity to appear in such productions as; Stravinsky's Firebird and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. At the age of 25 he turned his focus to choreography and became the producer of the Show Time Review, a weekly performance at the Holiday Inn Resort in Puerto Plata, DR.

Even though he had moved from performer to choreographer, Mr. Arvelo continued his dance education, studying the techniques of such greats as Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins and Martha Graham. Once coming to Canada he furthered that training by studying RAD ballet and CDTA jazz and ballet, as well as Vaganova ballet technique. In May of 1998 he became a certified instructor for the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD).

Mr. Arvelo has spent most of the last 20 years teaching ballet, jazz and lyrical jazz technique throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Canada and in March of 2002 he opened the doors of D.A.D.X. Dance Academy, where he is currently the artistic director. With his vast experience in dance training and choreography, he offers an exceptional level of knowledge and teaching ability to his students.

Mr. Arvelo has performed with Ballet Extra of Ottawa in such productions as “The Messiah” and in June of 1998 he produced his first original ballet, “Cry for the Damned”. In May of 2001 he produced a second ballet, “Reflexion” which was performed at the Brockville Art Center. He has also judged at many regional and national competitions and enjoys having the opportunity to provide young dancers with constructive comments and advice.

In 2004 Mr. Arvelo began another creative endeavour with the opening of the Brockville Youth Stage and Dance Company. His productions to date (Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, West Side Story, Oliver and Grease) have received outstanding reviews. Recently, he choreographed for the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in their production of “Much Ado About Nothing”.

Sharon Harris - Executive Director

Sharon has been working with children in many different venues for the past 26 years. She has also worked many years with both children and adults with developmental disabilities. Sharon also has previous business
experience, as she was the owner of the popular children's clothing store "Mommy & Me" for many years.

She is the proud mother of 3 children - 2 daughters and a son - it was her daughters who got her involved in and taught her to love the art of dance and her son keeps her up on basically every sport going.

Sharon enjoys meeting and getting to know both the students and parents who become a part of the DADX dance academy family and shares in their pride when the children perform.

Anastasia Smith - Teacher (Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Acro)

Annastacia has 25 years of pre-professional and graduate level training. She holds a BFA honours in dance from York University , as well as her level one certificate in gymnastics. She has performed professionally for many stage companies, including MYT, and Mirvish productions. She began her training in Toronto , where she excelled in ballet, tap, and jazz. She was accepted into many summer intensives, including Quinte, and NBS.

At age 13 she was accepted to Cawthra Parks School of the Arts, where she majored in dance, and minored in theatre. She began training in acro, modern, and hip hop, under such teachers as Sharon Wong (Alvin Ailey Dance Company), and Coralee McClaren (Toronto Dance Theatre) She worked in film, and danced competitively throughout her 5 years there, until she received a scholarship to join the dance program at York University . During her time at York , she trained under such staff as Darcy Callison (Toronto Dance Theatre) Donna Krasnov, (Daniel Lewis Repertory Dance Company) and Karen Bowes-Sewell (NBS.)

She has recently completed her PSW from St. Lawrence college, and received the Health faculty award, and school merit award, to work with people with special needs. Annastacia¢s goal is to give all her students the highest quality of training, regardless of age or ability, and impart her passion for dance to her students.

Touwanna-Shell Francois - Teacher (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern)

A senior student of DADX, Touwanna is now entering her final year of high-school, with plans to move to a university based dance program once she is finished.

Touwanna has been training in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, and Tap, since the age of 8 and has recently acheived her elementary standing in Ballet with BATD. She has also trained in Acro, Pointe, HipHop and Modern.

Touwanna has attended numerous workshops in the disciplines of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Acro, Lyrical, Breakdance, Musical Theater as well as taking Teachers' Training. She has been training with such teachers as Ramona Braganza, Maryanne Marsh, Kim Engle, Bengt Jorgen, Annie Wood, Jacque Monfisten, Monique Rose-Romasco, and Robin Calvert. She also represented D.A.D.X in BATD Ballet Scholarship audition and workshop.

Erin Tackaberry - Teacher (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern)

Erin has been training in dance for 13 years in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern. She was recently accepted into the Dance Program at York University but will continue teaching for DADX on a part-time basis.

Erin has recieved her Elementary standing with BATD in the discipline of ballet and will be pursuing her teachers certificate over the next few years.

She has attended various workshops over the last 5 years that have been offered by DADX and these have helped to further her training and allowed her to move onto a university level program.

Erin has danced and taught within the community of Brockville appearing in many local shows and charity events.

Krista Duncan - Teacher (Ballet, Jazz and Acro)

With 12 years in dance Krista is trained in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Acro. She has recently been accepted into the Dance Program at George Brown College in Toronto but will continue teaching for DADX on a part-time basis.

Krista has followed the BATD program from Grade 1 to Elementary in Ballet, recieving honors on all of her exams. She is also a certified gymnastics coach (Level Two NCCP) and Trampoline coach (Level One NCCP).

During her years of training she has made sure to take as many workshops as she could find, wanting to improve her technique and training level. Krista has been an active member in the community as well dancing for many local shows and charity events.

Rachel Ball - Teacher (Ballet, Jazz, Acro and Modern)

Rachel is trained in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, and Acro and has studied under the RAD, CDTA and BATD syllabus, receiving her elementary level ballet in BATD ballet with honors.She also has her level 1 technical and theory courses from Gymnastics Ontario.

Rachel has been dancing with DADX since its opening in 2001 preforming, training and competing with the DADX competitive team.

She has also attended many workshops over this time period, including the Pulse Dance Convention in New York City where she studied with such teachers as Chris Judd, Mia Micheals, Wade Robson, Brian Freidman, Shane Sparks, and Laurianne Gibson.

Katie Ball - Teacher (Modern Contemporary)

A graduate of DADX's training program Katie has been training in dance since the age of 3. She has a background in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern. After leaving DADX, Katie trained in the contemporary program at Concordia University where she studied contact dance, modern, improve, art, and learned to understand movment and dance as not just jumps and turns but presence and understanding of yourself.

Katie's first piece of choreography recieved great praise from competitions in both Ottawa and Montreal where it was awarded an outstanding choreography award.

Katie has taken workshops in both Canada and the United States learning from such professionals as Brian Freidman, Shane Sparks Chris Judd, Mia Micheals, and Wade Robson.