(M.A., A.I.S.T.D. (dip.)) Ms. Mendes has obtained her Advanced II certificates in both the Imperial Ballet and the National work as well as trained in other various styles of dance. She was one of two dancers chosen to perform in a piece by Paul Andre Segal from Paris and has trained in company class with the Limon
Company in New York. Ms. Mendes was awarded the Orchesis modern dance scholarship from the University of Alberta and the Mavador scholarship for excellence in ballet instruction from London England. Ms. Mendes graduated out of University with a Masters of Arts in physical education with a specialization in dance and earned a teaching diploma from the Imperial Society of Teachers Dancing. Ms. Mendes taught for the Vimy Ridge Professional dance program for eight years and instructed a teacher’s modern course in hopes of inspiring teachers to reach their potential both technically as well as creatively. She has adjudicated the World Track and Field auditions in 2000 as well as across Western Canada. Currently, Ms. Mendes is the Artistic Director/Co-Owner of SGSDance, a faculty member at MacEwan University teaching a variety of dance disciplines and an examiner for the international progressions and junior grades ballet syllabus. Ms. Mendes is consistently training. She holds her level 3 Alixa Flexibility certification as well as trains in the U.S. to stay current in the latest contemporary trends with top industry professionals.

ARAD, RAD RTS Kylee was born and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta. She began dancing at the age of six, with most of her formal ballet training at the Grande Prairie Dancer’s Academy under the direction of Nancy-Marie Rigler. She completed all of her RAD vocational exams including her Advanced 2 with distinction.
Upon graduating high school, Kylee moved to Vancouver to join the Goh Ballet Youth Company before signing a contract as company dancer with Ballet Edmonton in 2014. Kylee has performed new creations by Wen Wei Wang, Alysa Pires, Josh Beamish, Gioconda Barbuto and many others. She has also been a guest artist with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers as the Sugar Plum Fairy in their version of The Nutcracker. In April 2017, she choreographed her debut professional work, a piece entitled FIVE.
In May 2019, Kylee retired from the company as a full-time artist to pursue a career in teaching and explore other choreographic opportunities and is now a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Kylee’s pilates certification allows her to have a deep understanding of the mechanics of the human body which compliments her teaching methods. She is passionate about continuing education and believes that the things you can learn as a teacher are endless.

With over 20 years of training in tap, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre, and 15 years of teaching, Sherri has enjoyed much success as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator. Sherri, who now resides in Calgary, Alberta, has traveled across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe with her dance career. Sherri has enjoyed watching many of her students grow into outstanding professional dancers who could be found at the National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company, working at one of the many cruise lines, in professional dance companies, Las Vegas shows and for Disney. 

Mikki Koehler was born and raised in the Edmonton area and spent most her dance training under the tutelage and mentorship of SGSD Founder, Sandra Gray. Disciplined in jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, and musical theatre, Mikki travelled extensively as a young dancer, performing in such places as Austria, Italy, Germany, Thailand, and Hong Kong. After graduating in 2003, Mikki has enjoyed many professional dance and choreography opportunities working with the Viva and Amresorts companies across North and South America from 2003-2006. Since returning home and joining the SGSD faculty in 2006, Mikki has taught and inspired hundreds of dancers through her positive and motivational teaching style. She has choreographed numerous award-winning dances, including the routine awarded top mark in Canada for the 2015 competitive season. Now a working professional and proud mom of two, Mikki remains committed to the growth and development of her dancers by encouraging hard work, accountability, perseverance, and authenticity. She is thrilled to be in her 14^th season as a dance educator and choreographer at SGSDance and looks forward to everything this season has to offer. 

Abby has been dancing since the age of three; winning her first scholarship at age 5. Abby has trained in many disciplines including jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and ballet. She has spent many years being an assistant to teachers at Sandra Gray School of Dancing. Abby has traveled to places within Alberta and British Columbia; also Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas to compete and further her dance training. She has trained under the direction of choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Stacey Tookey, Sonya Tayeh, Blake McGrath, Benji Schwimmer, Sarah Dolan, Sabrina Phillip, Kelly Konno and many more.

ADCSC-CICB, RAD MRT, NBS Grad TTP (Dip.), AISTDMs Kristin is a graduate of The National Ballet School of Canada’s 3 year Teacher Training Program, and brings to SGSDance over 25 years of teaching expertise in Vagaonova, Cecchetti and RAD Ballet. She holds teaching qualifications with the ISTD National Branch, The Cecchetti Society of Canada, The Royal Academy of Dance, and has trained and entered hundreds of students into successful examinations from Primary through Advanced 2 levels. Past students include scholarship recipients to such prestigious schools as The National Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School,  School of Alberta Ballet, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, Goh Ballet School, among others. She was honoured to be recently invited by the Royal Academy of Dance, to work as a mentor to teachers enrolled in the CBTS Teacher Training Program. Ms Kristin is excited to bring her ballet expertise to the SGSDancers this year.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Sam has been apart of the SGSD family since the age of 3. She has been a faculty member since 2004 and was mentored under Wendi Danbrook. As an SGSD student, Sam was afforded many opportunities to train and compete all over the world; including Thailand, China, Russia, and the United States. After graduation, Sam performed with Carnival Cruise Lines as a dance cast member, eventually becoming a lead soloist before deciding to return home. While attending university and teaching at SGSD, Sam was also a member of the Edmonton Eskimos Dance Team for 3 seasons. She remained with the Eskimos organization for another 3 seasons as a guest choreographer. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Honors Standing, she now works as a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room at the Grey Nuns Hospital. Continuing to teach in the Competitive Jazz and Lyrical Program at SGSD, Sam works to instill positive self-image, creativity, teamwork and resiliency in her students. She also hopes to serve as an example to her graduates that it is possible to pursue a profession in dance while aspiring to obtain a post-secondary education and to continue to share their love of dance during academic studies and post-graduation career. 

McKayla began dancing at the age of six. At ten years old she joined  SGSDance and the studio quickly became her second home. She spent many years as a teacher’s assistant before joining the faculty in 2017. She has trained in many disciplines including jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, modern, open, musical theatre and hip hop. Over her years as a competitive dancer she has trained with choreographers such as Sarah Dolan, Lukas McFarlane, Danny Lawn, Michelle Dawley, and Sabrina Phillip. McKayla has won numerous awards and scholarships including runner up Miss CanDance 2018 and Dancer of the Year at SGSDance in 2018. She is always excited to teach and motivate her dancers. Her top priority has always been to share her love for dance and encourage her students to be hard workers, in and out of the studio.

Lauren has been dancing at SGSDance since the age of four. Over her years of competition experience she has won many special awards, scholarships and titles. She won triple threat intermediate soloist at dance power competition, top teen soloist and top teen powerhouse soloist at Fever International Dance Championships as well as top 15 and 16 year old soloist at Peak Invitational. In the summer of 2018 Lauren went to USC for two weeks where she trained at Complexions dance intensive. Lauren has recently been a Pure Dance Convention Ambassador and iDance convention assistant. She has been a member of SGSDance Tour Co since 2017 where she has travelled throughout North America to take class and compete at Jump and Nuvo dance conventions. She received an almost perfect score at Jump dance convention for her self choreographed solo. In addition, she has competed for Best Dancer at the Dance Awards for the past four years. Lauren has performed dances choreographed by Mandy Moore, Teddy Forance, Michelle Dawley, Allen Lupien, Sabrina Phillips, Lukas McFarllen, Danny Lawn and Nick Lazzarini. Her choreography has won awards throughout the open, contemporary and jazz categories.

Miss Sophia has grown up at SGSDance.  Locally, she has won titles such as: Intermediate triple threat soloist as well as 1^st and runner-up intermediate soloist at Dance Power. She has also been awarded top fourteen-year-old soloist and has been the runner up Powerhouse soloist in both 2018 and 2019. She has also won senior duet in which her and her partner self-choreographed. Sophia is an original member of SGSDance Tour Co and has competed for the Best Dancer at The Dance Awards in Las Vegas for the past four seasons. Sophia has been in choreography by Mandy Moore, Nick Lazzarini, Michelle Dawley, and Cora Kozaris as well as taken classes from top industry leaders such as Travis Wall, Twitch, Tyce Diorio, and Teddy Forance.  She has won numerous dance scholarships and has been in the televised half time show with the Edmonton Eskimos.  Miss Sophia is excited to join the SGSDance team and inspire the next generation of young dancers.

Natalia has been dancing since the age of three and has competitively trained in the styles of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and contemporary. She has received multiple outstanding achievement awards in tap, jazz, and contemporary. Natalia has been fortunate to have the opportunity to train with many choreographers including Brock Jellison, Danny Nielsen, Julio Fuentes, Sarah Dolan, Brian Mueca, Joey Matt, and Travis Knights. She has also worked in Jenna Werhun’s professional show For the Arms That Have Held Me as a part of the contemporary ensemble. Natalia has trained with the Al Gilbert tap syllabus since the age of five and has achieved the highest grades in all her Al Gilbert tap exams. Natalia shares her love of dance with her students and strives for them to have the skills to achieve excellence inside and outside of the dance studio.

RAD RTS, ISTD Nat., TTP Dip. (NBS), Acrobatic Arts Certified, Alixa Flexibility

Tianna Stephen started dance at the age of 3 and has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, musical theater and contemporary.

Tianna graduated from the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School where she won the coveted Carole Chadwick award and scholarship for demonstrating significant potential over her teacher training in June of 2018. During her time at the National, she graduated with her Royal Academy of Dance, Registered Teacher Status as well as her Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in National (Folk) dance. Soon after she received her teaching certificate in the Acrobatic Arts syllabus as well as Alixa Flexibility.

For 16 years, Emily has been training in multiple different art forms under the Hip-Hop umbrella. She has trained and competed in many different places such as Los Angeles (World of Dance), Singapore (Asia Tour with Lia Cole), Hawaii (World of Dance – 1st Place), Dallas (Monsters of Hip-Hop), Vancouver, Montreal (Hip-Hop International – 1st Place) and many more. Wanting to share her knowledge to the Edmonton dance community, she began teaching 8 years ago. Recently, Emily has partnered with West Edmonton Mall and directed three different dance videos/commercials in the World Water Park. Years later in her dance career, Emily’s biggest accomplishment is starting her very own Talent Agency called Essence Talent Management! She has also performed for artists such as Nelly, Jay Sean, Lia Cole, and Halcyon Gray. Emily believes that training is important in order to give her students the best so she continuously travels to LA to learn the best knowledge and skills.

Avery began dancing at five, discovering Acro at eleven. Avery has trained in Acro, Contortion, Jazz, lyrical, Modern,and Ballet. 

Certified in Acrobatic arts; module one and aerial and back handsprings, she is currently working towards her pre-professional 2 exam. In 2020 she was chosen as a Alixa Flexibility ambassador demonstrating for educational courses and training privately with Alixa Slobodyan.In 2021 she was awarded overall  1st place senior soloist at dance jam and has received awards in Acro and Modern. She performs with Firefly circus company as a contortionist and is a member of the Mod contemporary dance movement. She is passionate about dance education and is excited to create a safe space for students to learn!

Trinity Beattie has been dancing since the age of 3 in many styles such as jazz, ballet, contemporary, modern, and lyrical. However, the one she is most passionate for is Hip-Hop. She has trained from well known choreographers like Tony Tzar, Denzel chisolm, Lyle Beniga, Fefe Burgos, Dexter Carr, Ysabelle Capitule, Julian Deguzman, Bailey Sok, Kenny Wormald, Natalie Bebko, Brian Nicholson, Kolani Marks and many more. Trinity has competed in different places around North America including Los Angeles, California (Kaos Aftermath Hip-Hop Competition), Montreal, Canada (Hip-Hop International Championships), and Santa Clara, California (Monster’s Dance Hip-Hop Competition). Finally, she has also worked on many commercials and modeled for West Edmonton Mall at the World Water Park, Drive Go Karting, and Ed’s Bowling. Trinity is very excited to join the SGS team as a Hip-Hop Instructor and share her knowledge in dance to her students.