Owner / Head of DANCE & THEATRE Dept.
Danielle Castle - Owner/Managing Director, Entertainment Industry Management, Professional Dancer
Teaching: ISTD & RAD Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Musical Theatre, Strength/Condioning & Heels
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.
Chiara Ackerman
Chiara Ackerman
Chiara Ackerman
Teaching: RAD Ballet Syllabus & Pointe Tech
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 !
Karyn McConnell
Chiara Ackerman
Chiara Ackerman
Karyn began her early dance training at the age of five with the talented staff of the Parksville Ballet School. Trained in Cecchetti Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, National and Musical Theatre she has a versatile performance background.
Tap quickly became her forte, though she was honoured to be chosen as a provincial representative several times for ballet as well as the stage categories at the North Island Festival of Performing Arts and the Mid Island Performing Arts Festival.
Trained in ISTD tap and very successfully completing all her exams including her Tap Associate Teaching exam in 1994, she began teaching tap classes before graduation. Also a member of Dancestreams Youth Dance Company for many years, Karyn was honoured to have worked with many renowned instructors and choreographers such as Joe Laughlin, Beverely Aitchison, Artemis Gordon, Linda Klassen, Suzanne Ouelette, Donna Wilkins, Bengt Jorgen, Judith Marcuse, and so many others.
While attending Emily Carr Art College of Art and Design and Vancouver Film School, Karyn was also on staff as a tap teacher for Arts Umbrella while pursuing a career in classical animation.
After working on multiple animated productions for Atomic Cartoons and Mercury Filmworks, the dance scene called her back home to the island and she spent several years teaching tap, jazz and musical theatre for KIDCO Dance Centre, Dance Unlimited and Victoria Dance Connection. Working alongside her sister Tanya Dean, Karyn also enjoyed being a part of Nanaimo’s Arts Alive Jr Musical Theatre Summer School productions for many years.
After acquiring her Stott Pilates certification and running many pilates classes for advanced dancers she became a Co Director with Tanya Dean creating 'Groundworks Tap Co." With Groundworks she spent two amazing years touring, performing, attending workshops taught by incredible performers like Jason Samuels Smith and Jason Janas, and exploring the boundaries of the art form with some of Nanaimo's finest young tap talent, before focusing solely on raising her family here in Nanaimo. Karyn is extremely excited to be dusting off her tap shoes after a very long hiatus, to offer an Intermediate/Advanced tap class this year at UK Movez!
Jillian Norman
Chiara Ackerman
Jillian Norman
Teaching: RAD Ballet, ISTD Ballet & Jazz..
Jillian began her early training at the Goh Ballet, Arts Umbrella and Pacific Dance Arts.
She toured with dance companies and theatre companies throughout the lower mainland which ignited her passion for performing at a young age.
She attended Capilano College for Opera and Musical Theatre, and finished at the University of British Columbia in Women and Gender studies.
More recently, as a returning adult, she has studied at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Ballet Lounge and Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
Jillian is a 500hr certified yoga teacher from Prana Yoga College.
She has completed teacher training in Progressing Ballet Technique.
Jillian loves sharing the joy of dance with people of all ages and abilities.
She is passionate about adult dancers learning pointe. Her classes are informative, educational, and most of all fun!
Come find the joy of dancing again at UKmovez Academy!
Kelly Barnum
Miranda Murphy
Jillian Norman
Teaching: Theatre & Production Co.
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.
Miranda Murphy
Miranda Murphy
Miranda Murphy
Teaching: Musical Theatre
Miranda Murphy is a graduate of the Sheridan College Music Theatre Performance program in Toronto, Ontario where she was one of 40 applicants, chosen from over 400 to attend the program.
Since returning to Vancouver Island she has been choreographing for local theatre groups as well as teaching musical theatre and she couldn’t be happier. She has been heavily involved onstage and off with many local theatre groups such as Bard to Broadway, Schmooze Productions and Nanaimo Theatre Group.
Her favourite choreography credits include: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (B2B), The Little Mermaid (Schmooze), Hair: the Tribal Musical (Schmooze) and Chicago (Schmooze).
She has also been involved for several years with Teen Musical Theatre, a summer education program in Qualicum Beach which puts together a fully fledged musical in only 3 weeks.
Some of their past shows include Willy Wonka, Beauty and the Beast, and Guys and Dolls.
Miranda has also taught Musical Theatre at other local dance studios like Innovate Dance Arts and Tempo Dance Academy and she can't wait to bring her love of theatre to the students at UKmovez Academy.
Sarah Kielly
Miranda Murphy
Miranda Murphy
Teaching: Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet & Musical Theatre
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.
Amelia Muirhead
Amelia Muirhead
Amelia Muirhead
Teaching: Hip Hop, Tap & Pre-Primary Ballet
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!