Meet the Team

Owner, Regular Instructor
Jamie Matthews
I'm Jamie and I started dancing at an early age and quickly decided that I wanted to pursue dance as a career.
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I danced competitively with Elite Dance Studio in Kanata and after High School, I studied Modern Dance at SUNY Potsdam. I graduated from there in 2005 with a BA in Dance with a Minor in Visual Arts.
In 2014 I had the opportunity to take over ownership of Boldt Dance Studio and have loved owning my own studio! I am certified in Aerial Arts and have my level 1 and 2 certification for Acrobatic Arts as well as my Preschool Acrobatic Arts Certification.
I have been teaching and choreographing recreational and competitive dancers for over 15 years. I also work with several local community agencies to help those with various levels of abilities have access to dance.
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My favourite part of dance is watching dancers of all ages and backgrounds enjoy the art of dance.

Owner, Office Manager
Joanna Perkins
My name is Joanna and I'm one of the Owners of Boldt Dance Studio.
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I am a Registered Social Worker and a Clinical Director with Children's Mental Health in Brockville.
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My step-daughter's love of dance brought me into this partnership in 2018. We enjoyed being a part of the studio and I felt that I had the skills to help it grow - and we are so proud of the growth that we have experienced over the last several years!
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Even though my main work at Boldt is the accounting and office management, I love watching the children grow in their love of dance and their team spirit! Boldt Dance Studio is about being a part of a family!

Owner, Competitive Core Instructor
Ben Perkins
My name is Ben and I'm one of the owners of Boldt Dance Studio.
I am a Recreation Therapist at the Brockville Mental Health Centre where I spend my days helping clients become physically active in the community. I also coached hockey in the Brockville and Prescott area for 15 years.
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My daughter's love of dance brought me into this partnership in 2018.
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I bring my passion and knowledge of fitness and training to the Competitive Core class where I teach the Competitive Dancers how to increase their strength, flexibility and stamina.

Regular Instructor
Abbey Palmer
Hi, I'm Abbey and I started dancing when I was 3 years old and graduated from Boldt when I left for University.
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I have always enjoyed Jazz and Tap classes however I'm grateful that my mother encouraged met to pursue Ballet and other styles including Lyrical, Modern, Acro and Hip Hop.
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While spending most of my free time at a dance studio, I somehow managed to take part in school musicals which sparked my interest in Musical Theatre.
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I have completed a Bachelor's of Science degree as well as a Bachelor's of Education degree and I spend my days teaching in Elementary School and my evenings teaching dance at Boldt. I have been teaching with Boldt since 2018.
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Some people ask me how I manage to do both jobs and I just remind them of the quote "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life".

Covering Instructor
Alexis Brown
Hi, I’m Alexis! I started dancing when I was 8 and have loved it ever since!
My favourite styles of dance are Acro and Aerials. I also love to do Contemporary, Modern, Ballet, and Jazz.
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I have worked my way through Boldt's Assistant Teacher Program and completed certification as an Assistant Teacher through Acrobatic Arts. I've been teaching my own classes since 2019 and I love it!
Dancing makes me so happy and it lets me express myself in different ways!

Regular Instructor
Allison Reid
I’m Allison and I started taking dance classes when I was 3 years old. I began competing when I was 7 years old and was part of the Boldt competitive dance program from 2007-2014. I left the studio when I graduated High School but had the opportunity to come back as a teacher in 2015. I taught the competitive team up until 2018 when I left for university and returned to teaching here in 2021.
I have completed multiple CDTA exams in Tap and Jazz and have experience in Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro. My dance experience gave me the opportunity to choreograph some dances for the St. Mary musicals Grease, Mary Poppins, Footloose, Mamma Mia and School of Rock.
I graduated from St. Lawrence College in Brockville from their business program in 2016 and my BA in Communications at the University of Ottawa in 2021
Dancing is something that I have always loved and I am happy to be back at the studio!

Regular Instructor
Melodie Rancourt
Hi, I'm Melo! I started dancing at Boldt when I was 3 years old and have fallen in love with it ever since.
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My favourite styles are Tap and Contemporary. I also love performing Musical Theatre.
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I have assisted with Boldt for many years, working through their assistant teacher program until I began teaching my own classes. I have worked with many age groups such as Creative Movement, Junior, Novice and Intermediate.
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Dance helps me express myself and lets me do something that I enjoy. To me, dance is an art and I love sharing that with kids who are interested.

Regular Instructor
Isabelle Rancourt
Hi, I'm Izzy! I started dancing at Boldt when I was 4 and have absolutely loved it ever since!
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My favourite styles are Hip-Hop and Acro. I also love Modern, Aerials and Jazz.
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For the past few years I have worked my way through Boldt's Assistant Teaching Program, and completed certification as an Assistant Teacher through Acrobatic Arts. I have been an assistant teacher for many years and I have been teaching my own classes since 2022.
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Dancing makes me so happy and is an amazing way to express myself. I love being able to share my passion for dance with others and see how happy it makes them!

Regular Instructor
Britt Catalano
Hi, I'm Brittiny! I have been dancing since the age of two and competing since four. I trained in Jazz, Tap, RAD Ballet, Pointe, Character, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. As a competitive dancer, I have won several awards, scholarships, titles, Most Potential Dancer and overall high marking performances.
As a teacher and choreographer, I have worked with students of all ages and ability to help them reach their full potential. I am fully ADAPT certified for Jazz and Tap, Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA) KinderAcro, Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced/Master Certified, and am a certified ADTA Acro adjudicator. I have completed Respect in Sport training and am certified in Coaching Kids of All Abilities through Jumpstart. My students have competed regionally and nationally, winning overalls, scholarships and special awards including being chosen to participate on elite teams to compete on the Disney Stage in Florida. Other credits include choreography awards, teaching for the City of Toronto, teaching ballet to competitive gymnasts as well as being a guest choreographer for Ivivva/LuluLemon. I am thrilled to be part of the Boldt Family!

Regular Instructor
Hailey Perkins
Hi, I'm Hailey! I started dancing when I was 4 and started competing when I was 7 at Boldt. I have absolutely loved it ever since!
My favourite styles of dance are Conteporary and Jazz. I also enjoy Acro, Modern, Ballet and Tap.
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I have worked my way through the Boldt Assistant program and also completed and became certified as an Assistant Teacher through Acrobatic Arts.
Dance makes me happy and I feel like I can be myself without being judged and getting to move my body in different ways. I really enjoy working with kids - it makes me happy to see they're happy and having fun. I also love watching and helping them achieve the skills they want to be able to do!

Regular Instructor
Avery Pope
​Hi I’m Avery! I started dancing when I was 9 and before that, did gymnastics. My first year at Boldt was in 2013 and I joined the competitive team - I loved it! I have been part of the Boldt Competitive Team Family for 11 years, minus 2 years during COVID.
I have been trained and competed in Hip Hop, Acro, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Ballet, and Aerials. Being a part of Boldt over the years, I have made more than friendships. Boldt has become Family! The relationships I have gained, the many people who have had my back, cheered me on, taught me, looked up
to me, and share the same passion as I do.
I have had so many amazing mentors over the years at Boldt and am humbled to now be in a position to mentor others. 
My dream of being a dance teacher has come true! In 2016, I began assisting Junior classes: Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Acro. I was also so grateful to  be able to help teach my sister, Sophie. As the years went on, I continued assisting in intermediate classes focusing on
Acro and Hip Hop.
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I have a level one certificate in Acrobatic Arts. Even though I technically graduated two years ago, I have continued to dance competitively. I am now prepared to begin a new chapter in my dance career and forever being indebted to Boldt for believing in me to become a teacher.

Regular Instructor
Shanna Hietalahti
My name is Shanna and I have been dancing since the age of 4. My passion for dance began with tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical at a studio up north in Timmins, Ontario. The dance studio became my second home and by the time I was 16 years old I was there 6 days a week and teaching my own classes. The year I graduated high school, my dance teacher gave me a tap solo that I danced with a live big band. It was an amazing experience and one I will unlikely ever forget!
At the age of 21, my love for dance became my career and I began teaching at a ballroom and Latin dance studio in Ottawa. Through the years I have brought my students to many competitions and have successfully choreographed numerous award winning routines for both professionals and amateurs. At this studio, I met and fell in love with my husband and we now currently teach Latin and ballroom at Boldt.
Being able to express myself through dance has always been necessary for my soul and I can’t wait to share my love for dance. Thank you Boldt for giving me this opportunity!
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Office Staff
Sylvie Charland
I'm Sylvie, dance mom, high school french teacher and a Boldt staff member! My children have been dancing at Boldt for 15 years. At one point, all 4 of them were taking classes and competing.
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I'm proud to be part of the Boldt family, who have always been there for me and my kids. When the opportunity presented itself to start working at a place that I spent so much time at and care about, I was excited and grateful. I've done retail and office work in the past and have always enjoyed helping people.
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Dance has always been a part of my life. It's about expressing yourself, having fun, and enjoying every moment.
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