Workshops

Beginner Heels Dance Class

An introduction to heels fundamentals: walks, turns, and musicality + choreography. Tap into your feminine energy, strut your stuff, and celebrate 2026 with this empowering dance class!

For beginner to intermediate dancers:
This class is for you if...

It’s your first time dancing in a heel
It’s your first time back in dance class in a few years
You want to try something new
You love to dance and want to get in the studio!

Note: Not suitable for absolute beginners. Some previous dance training recommended.

Heels highly recommended, but not required! Dancers can also participate in a comfortable sneaker if a heel is not accessible.

Click here to be redirected to the enrollment form.
$20.00 per dancer
Location: Rivertown Dance Academy
258 Sandwich Street South, Amherstburg, ON N9V 2A6
Date & Time: Sunday, January 4th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Carmen Leardi
Carmen is a dance and theatre professional from Amherstburg, Ontario, currently based in Toronto. Her stage credits include dancing alongside artists like 'Weird' Al Yancovik, and Stacey Kay, as well as performing high-energy Brazilian samba routines with Bravo’s Entertainment for parties and events in the GTA. On screen, Carmen has appeared on CBC national television in her self-produced dance short, "Season of Seven Loves", and has choreographed music videos for indie artists Mike Hargreaves (Windsor), Janel Rae (Toronto), and Dante Scott (Windsor). Carmen is a graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
Carmen is the proud owner of West End Performing Arts Company.
Rachel Jones
Rachel is a creative, versatile and passionate artist who is driven and pushes boundaries to seek artistic excellence. She continuously strives for a new challenge in every opportunity as a performer, choreographer and teacher. Rachel is determined, dedicated and committed to all styles of dance and is trained in Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Hiphop, Ballroom and Acrobatics. Her innovative nature and ability to excel and adapt in fast-paced environments define her as a rising talent. As a graduate from Centennial College in the Dance Performance Diploma Program, Rachel is excited to share her talent worldwide and inspire others through the performing arts.
Consider your comfort in heels, including balance. Typical heel height for dance is anywhere between 1 and 4 inches. If you’re new to dancing in heels, a thicker 1-3 inch heel is a good place to start. Ensure your heel provides ankle and foot support: open toes, closed back, and lace-up or ankle strap.
It is also important to ask, do I have any injuries or other movement issues that might be uncomfortable for my body to dance in a heel? Have awareness and opt to take class in a sneaker at any point.
Additional resources:
- Dance Heels for Beginner Heels Dancers: Quick Dos & Don’ts Checklist
- What Kind of Heels Do I Wear To a Heels Class?

Past Workshops

Vocal Health & Wellness for Singers

This double feature masterclass provides essential information for vocal students of all levels, choral singers and conductors, music teachers, and other singing professionals.

Yoga for Singers covers practical tips for improving vocal performance through warm-ups, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practice.

The Healthy Voice: Strategies for Fatigue, Illness, and Longevity, is an interactive, science-informed workshop designed to help performers understand, protect, and manage their voices under fatigue, or illness. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and practical tools, participants learn how to sustain and manage their vocal load to support their longevity as performers, adapt safely when their voice is compromised, and recover effectively after illness.

Note: Participants should bring notetaking materials (journal and pen), a water bottle, and wear clothes that allow for movement. Socks or bare feet recommended, no marking shoes allowed.

Click here to be redirected to the enrollment form.
$149.00
Location: The Centre for Indigenous Theatre
Suite 209 (2nd floor) - 180 Shaw Street, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
Date & Time: Sunday, November 23rd, 10:00am - 3:00pm
Jacqueline Sadler
In a career spanning 25 years, Jacqueline has performed across Canada, from multiple seasons with The Charlottetown Festival to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and everywhere in between. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Voice Performance. Very selected credits include: Rachel in Two Pianos, Four Hands, educator and choral conductor (including a spin at Carnegie Hall with DCINY), composer of two musicals, an oratorio, and numerous choral selections which can be found on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus. Jacqueline is an avid distance runner and Registered Yoga Teacher, and she combines all her passions in Yoga for Singers, a workshop for vocal health and mindfulness. Jacqueline lives on a farm in Eastern Ontario, where she raises chickens, milks cows, makes cheese, and sings to make her gardens grow.
Rachel Anne Hunt
Rachel Anne Hunt (she/her) is a performer, director, and certified voice teacher based in Toronto, Ontario.
She holds a Master’s degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a diploma from Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Rachel is currently in the final year of her certification with the Institute for Vocal Advancement, where she continues to deepen her expertise in vocal function and pedagogy.
Combining her academic training with professional performance experience, Rachel works with singers across all vocal styles to cultivate vocal stamina, longevity, and artistry. Her teaching is grounded in evidence-based vocal techniques and personalized to each singer's goals—whether they’re strengthening their mix-belt, tackling a golden age piece, or mastering riffs and runs with precision and ease.
Rachel is known for creating a learning environment that is technically rigorous while also supportive, collaborative, and joyful. She believes that voice work is not only a craft, but a deeply personal and empowering process.