A Professional Dance & Music Academy Come be part of the best..

Owner / Head of DANCE & THEATRE Dept.

Danielle Castle - Owner/Managing Director, Entertainment Industry Management, Professional Dancer

ISTD & RAD Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Tech Foundations, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern..

Danielle trained and graduated at the ‘Laine’s Theatre Arts College’ in London, England.

Upon completing her training in a vast array of styles, including qualifications in ISTD and RAD..

Danielle found a real focus in Musical Theatre, Commercial and Contemporary styles.

Immediately upon Graduating and receiving her 3 Year Diploma training, Danielle landed the Role of ‘Joule’ in the

Original UK Tour of ‘Starlight Express’, which she was apart of for four years.

Danielle has been a Professional Dancer / Choreographer for 17 years, and her passion for all forms of dance, has allowed her a plethora of opportunities.

Danielle recently completed one year of touring the Original UK production of

‘We Will Rock You’, Queen’s West End Smash Hit Show, throughout Ireland, Scotland and England.

As well, experiencing such jobs as; a Music Video with Madonna, Presenting and Choreographing a Pop Music Video for ‘Sony BMG’ and appearing in the

Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen. She has also been fortunate enough to take part in Professional Commercial Dancing and Top-End Fashion Modeling at major events in New York, Paris and all over London.

Danielle has also enjoyed 17 truly pleasurable years as a Dance Teacher all over, and at the biggest chain Stage and Dance School in England, ‘Stagecoach’.

This involved teaching all styles of Dance including; Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre to kids ages 3-19.

She has also been teaching / choreographing her own Free-Style, Commercial and Hip-Hop / Street Funk classes to age’s 10-Adults and would then perform for various Events anod Shows around London.

She was also lucky enough to have taught many Commercial Workshops and classes at the famous,, “Pineapple Studios” in London, England.

Danielle has enjoyed the experience and opportunity of being a member of the teaching faculty at the Canadian College Of Performing Arts for 3 Years. Danielle has also taught at numerous Studios in Victoria B.C, such as “Boston Dance Studio”, “Zenith Studios”, “BDHQ” and “Lululemon Athletica”.

Danielle teaches “MTV Jazz” at Vancouver Island University and is part of the faculty with “Spotlight Academy”.

Danielle has taught at several Studios here in Nanaimo, leading students and dancers to Award-Winning Success, in numerous Competitions and Festivals here on the island, and continues to do so here at her own Dance Academy, UKmovez..

She still continues to teach multiple styles of Dance Workshops and Master-Classes in Victoria and Nanaimo.

Danielle most recently landed a partnership with “Hallmark Movies”, where she is the Dance Consultant for the Island...

The possibilities are endless here at UKmovez!!🌟

I love to Dance, Teach, Choreograph, but most of all,

I LOVE, to leave my students feeling inspired!

I am truly grateful that my Husband and Partner Simon, is from Beautiful British Columbia..

I am so grateful I left England and chose to make a life for our-selves here, with our beautiful little daughter Jasmine.

So that now..

I get to Share my ❤️ for the Arts!!

I am so very excited to share my years of Professional experiences and passion, through our one of a kind, growing Studio..

UKmovez Dance Academy!!

Faculty- DANCE & THEATRE Dept.

Miss Kelly Barnum

Miss Chiara Ackerman

Miss Charlotte Gower

Drama, Theatre, Musical Theatre..

With a BFA and an MA in Theatre,
Kelly has spent the last twenty years teaching high school performing arts in Nanaimo.
Currently at Nanaimo District Secondary School, she has worked hard to develop a dance program that inspires her students to reach their fullest potential while creating a space that feels like home.

Thanks to her partnership with our very own Miss Sarah, Kelly has created numerous award winning dance productions and performances.

Highlights from her career include directing productions of “Urinetown: the musical” and “Waiting for the Parade” at Cedar Secondary, NDSS’ productions of “Terezin” and “It Haunts Me” winning Best Original Script at the Vancouver Island one Act Festival, and, most recently, creating “Missing,” a collaboration with her school’s Indigenous Education department.

When not working with youth, Kelly spends much of her free time participating in theatre productions in the community.

As a home grown Island girl, she has worked as a stage manager, director, actor, and educator for numerous companies including B2B, ECHO Players, VIU’s Malaspina Theatre, and Courtney’s CYMC.

Kelly is thrilled to be joining the UKmovez family and thanks Miss Sarah for introducing her to this community.

Miss Charlotte Gower

Miss Chiara Ackerman

Miss Charlotte Gower

Lyrical..

Charlotte trained and graduated from ‘Stella Mann Performing Arts College, London, England.

Charlotte graduated with a Diploma in Professional Theatre Dance.
Immediately after graduation, Charlotte accepted a job as a dancer working for Princess Cruises.

During this time she continued developing her skills while performing 2/3 shows a night of high pace and demanding shows.

Charlotte spent 4 years working in LA and cursing around the world sharing her talent, passion and love for dance on the Stage.
She has worked with some incredible choreographers over the years including Danny Teeson and Stephen Swartz who is the producer and choreographer for musicals like Wicked and Pipin to name a few.

Between contracts Charlotte spent time choreographing and performing at Corporate events around the UK, working along side Coca Cola, Redbull and a few football teams arranging and performing different styles of shows like Vegas Showgirls, Musical Theatre. Alongside performing Charlotte spent time teaching at EliTe Studios in England helping younger students with techniques, choreography and a variety of styles like Commercial, Lyrical, Jazz, Acro, Musical Theatre and many more.
Charlotte loves sharing her passion and seeing the younger generation develop skills and find their love for Dance.

After meeting her Husband on Cruise ships Charlotte moved to Canada to start a new adventure and chapter in her life.

Charlotte is very excited to get back into a Studio dancing and teaching the next generation of Dancers here, at UKmovez!

Miss Chiara Ackerman

RAD Ballet..

Chiara Ackerman began her training as a dancer from the age of 4 at the Pat Cummings School of Dance (Port Alberni) . She did Ballet , Tap, Jazz and Modern Stage. She was also a member of the youth dance company - “Dancestreams”.
At age 19, Chiara moved to Toronto by herself to attend the National Ballet School where she achieved a teaching diploma and two associate teaching certificates for Ballet and Ethnic Dancing .
She spent some time performing in the Xing Dance Theatre company and trained with the Montreal Choreographer , Robert Desrosiers.
Chiara’s qualifications have allowed her to combine her love of travel and dance .
She lived and worked in Norway , Australia and Bermuda . She attained another teaching qualification with the Royal Academy of Dance in London.
In 2008, Chiara and her husband decided to move to Nanaimo where they’re settled now with 2 daughters and 2 pets .
Currently, She’s on faculty at Tempo Dance Academy , Parks and Recreation, Artists in the School Program .
Chiara’s intentions have always been to integrate Dance throughout the community because it’s a spirit lifting Art form for all ages .
She’s looking forward to sharing her passion and knowledge with the UKMovez family !

Miss Sarah Kielly

Miss Amelia Muirhead

Miss Chiara Ackerman

Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary..

Sarah is a dancer choreographer from Nanaimo British Columbia.

Sarah has trained in all styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre.
Sarah found her passion for choreography at a young age.

After winning choreography awards at festivals in Victoria, Nanaimo, and the Comox Valley Sarah chose to pursue her passion and since then hasn't stopped working with dancers and theatre companies all across the island.
Sarah is an active member of the theatre scene and has choreographed a multitude of shows including, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast, and Shrek the musical.

Sarah’s love for dance shines through in her teaching and she cannot wait to share her love for dance and rhythm with everyone.

Miss Talia Boughton

Miss Amelia Muirhead

RAD Ballet, ACRODance..

Talia started dancing at the age of 3 where her love and passion for dance grew from there.
She danced competitively for 15 years.
She loves lyrical, ballet and jazz.

Talia’s background focuses on technique, choreography and structure..

As well as training in AcroDance.

Her goal is to provide the space and care for the kids how to be free and unhinged in a class where it is a safe and judgement free zone all while teaching discipline and technique that will align the child’s body and ground them.
Having been brought up doing lyrical, jazz, ballet and modern dancing, she is well versed in many styles and techniques and can adapt to the many challenges that may come her way.
When you step into her class, you can expect a welcoming, caring, and loving atmosphere.
Talia is always moving in and out of the studio from yoga, to fitness classes and dancing salsa.
She looks forward to meeting and dancing with you at UKmovez!

Miss Amelia Muirhead

Hip Hop, Hip Hop Groove, Hip Hop Pop..

Amelia found her passion for dance at age three in her first ballet class.

She has trained in multiple styles of dance including hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet and contemporary over the past 15 years.

Amelia has been fortunate to compete within British Columbia with studios both in Nanaimo and Victoria.

When she came to Nanaimo in 2019, Amelia was able to dance under the talented Miss Kelly and Miss Sarah through the NDSS dance program and team. This is where Amelia had an outlet to choreograph and inspired her to continue dance after high school. Amelia is excited to teach hip hop at UKmovez and to share her love of dance with others!