Faculty

Sandy Sundborg - Artistic Director

Miss Sandy is an R.A.D. and C.D.T.A. certified instructor with over 46 years experience teaching and performing in the dance industry. Originally from Montreal, QC Sandy was the artistic director of the Keeping Time School of Dance for 24 years which operated both in Montreal and Barrie, ON.

During her career she has adjudicated throughout Canada and the United States, taught electives and workshops, given lectures, performed in the opening ceremonies of the 1976 Olympic Games, and represented Canada at the F.I.S.A. Games.

While living in Ontario, Sandy was the lead ballet instructor in the off-ice training program at the elite Mariposa skating club in Barrie, ON. While on staff at Mariposa, Sandy coached ice dancers Mitchell Islam and Alexandra Paul who represented Canada in the Sochi Olympics as well as pairs skaters Annabelle Langlois and Cody Hay who represented Canada at the Vancouver Olympics.

Miss Sandy's strong commitment to technique and stage presence has enabled her students to attain high standards in examinations and competitions (in Canada as well as the U.S.). Several have successfully auditioned for the Etobicoke School of the Arts, Hoctors Dance Caravan, (a U.S. Touring group), The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. Sandy's students can be seen performing on stages around the world including Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Broadway, LA and NYC Carnival, Disneyland, Disney World and more.

Kasha Panov - Artistic Director

Kasha Panov is a passionate educator, choreographer, and performer whose career spans professional theatre, dance, film, and television. She trained in the prestigious Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College as well as the Commercial Dance Studies program at George Brown College, receiving extensive training in dance, voice, acting, and performance.

Kasha’s performing career has taken her to stages across North America, including New York City, Las Vegas, Walt Disney World, Toronto, and more. As a certified C.D.T.A. instructor and the director of Lightning Elite, she teaches dancers from across North America and creates extraordinary performance and training opportunities for youth performers. Through Lightning Elite, she has set choreography for performances at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and will be choreographing for an upcoming Walt Disney World parade. Beyond the stage, she also works in the film and television industry, bringing a wealth of real-world creative experience into the studio.

Kasha is proud of the success of her students, many of whom have earned major overall awards, numerous choreography awards, and have represented Team Canada at the Dance World Cup, bringing home both gold and bronze medals. She deeply values continued artistic growth and actively pursues professional development and training opportunities whenever possible.

Kasha is thrilled to be back at Wainwright Dance Academy, sharing her expertise, creativity, and love of performance with the next generation of dancers.

Miss Mack - Tap

This season marks Miss Mack’s 16th year as an instructor with Wainwright Dance Academy, following two years as an assistant teacher and an incredible 26 years as a member of the Academy community. She is a proud graduate of the University of Alberta, earning her Elementary Education degree with Honours and Distinction.

Miss Mack holds her C.D.T.A. Tap Teacher’s Associate certification, allowing her to prepare and enter WDA tap students for CDTA examinations. She is currently working toward her CDTA Member Exam, which will enable her to enter students of all tap grades. She is also certified in Intellidance Babies and is continuing to expand her training toward full Intellidance Method certification.

Throughout her career, Miss Mack has pursued extensive professional development, training in workshops and intensives across multiple disciplines with renowned instructors and choreographers. Highlights include training with Mia Michaels, Benji Schwimmer, Justin Jackson, and Kevin MyIrea, as well as participating in ADEA summer workshops, Coastal Dance Rage, 5,6,7,8 Showtime in Saskatoon, and performance opportunities at Walt Disney World.

Miss Mack is also an accomplished performer. She earned 1st place in her category and qualified for Dance World Cup 2014, later competing again in Whistler, BC, where she proudly received the Bronze Medal in the Professional Category for her tap solo.

Today, Miss Mack is a proud mom of two little girls and is grateful for the opportunity to share her love of tap and dance education with the next generation of dancers in her hometown of Wainwright.

Mr Valerii - Acro

Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Valerii has built an international career as a gymnast, dancer, acrobat, stunt performer, and actor. He began gymnastics at age 6, competing nationally, and later expanded his training into ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, hip hop, swing, street jazz, and contact improvisation. Valerii has taught dancers and acrobats of all ages, served as an adjudicator for dance and aerial competitions, and most recently taught parkour and acrobatics at The Monkey Vault in Toronto.

Valerii’s performance career has taken him around the world, including over 550 performances on the North American tour of Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal, where he was an original cast member and pendular poles flyer in Cirque’s first-ever production combining ice and acrobatics. His credits also include international touring with Foresight Dance Theatre, two Ukrainian tours with “Pole Art Show,” and performing in the opening act for Rihanna at Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.

On screen, Valerii has appeared in numerous film, television, commercial, and video game projects, including Apple Watch, Sprite, Warpath, Boxing Combat, and motion capture for 4A Games. In addition to his artistic training, Valerii is trained in Taboada Balintawak and has achieved his Level 6 C.O.A.

Mr Kit - Hip Hop

Mr. Kit has studied many forms of dance, including tap, street jazz, contemporary jazz, cheer, and various styles of hip hop such as breaking, popping, locking, animation, krump, waacking, and house. His energetic, bouncy style is rooted in foundational old-school hip hop moves.

He has competed for many years, earning championship titles in the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kota Kinabalu, Mexico, and Canada. Kit shares his expertise in Hip Hop and Breaking internationally and has served as a guest instructor at Athletes in Action Sports Camp in Zurich, Switzerland, and at Project Dance in Hong Kong and Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Kit is passionate about teaching children the art of free movement and helping them discover their own unique expression. His classes are always fun, encouraging, and engaging.

Miss Alexa

Miss Alexa Becher grew up in Wainwright, Alberta, and has been part of the Wainwright Dance Academy family since she first stepped into the studio at the age of three. Dance quickly became her greatest passion, and over the years she has trained extensively in a variety of styles, with a particular love for tap, contemporary, and musical theatre.

A 2023 graduate of both high school and WDA, Alexa also began her post-secondary journey at Grant MacEwan University, where she competed with the university’s dance team, gaining new experiences and connections within the wider dance community. She now works at Denwood Motors while saving to pursue her future career goal of becoming a dental hygienist in Ottawa.

Throughout her competitive dance career, Alexa earned multiple scholarships that took her to opportunities around the world, as well as standout awards including Senior Soloist of the Year (2022) and Teen Soloist of the Year (2021), in addition to numerous first and second runner-up placements. These achievements reflect her dedication, artistry, and resilience as a dancer.

Miss Alexa is excited to share her knowledge and passion with the next generation of dancers. She looks forward to mentoring her students and inspiring them to discover the same joy in dance that has shaped her own journey.

Miss Taylor

Miss Taylor has been a part of the Wainwright Dance Academy for over 11 years, training in nearly every style offered—including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, musical theatre/variety, and hip hop. She has successfully completed CDTA examinations in both ballet and jazz and is now working toward becoming a certified CDTA instructor to help younger dancers prepare for their own exams.

Her dance journey has been filled with exciting opportunities, from performing at Walt Disney World to learning from professional dancers across North America. As a competitive dancer, she earned multiple awards and developed the discipline and artistry that continue to inspire her teaching today.

Even beyond the studio, dance has remained central to Taylor’s life. She has contributed her talents to both Wanna Dance Canada and WDA’s annual Nutcracker production, ensuring she stays closely connected to the dance community.

Now living on a farm outside Lloydminster, Taylor runs her own business and is also a certified instructor in yoga, spin, and resistance strength training. With her combined passion for dance, fitness, and helping others feel their best, Miss Taylor is thrilled to return to the studio and share her love of movement with the next generation of dancers.

Miss Mya

Miss Mya has been dancing since the age of six and has developed a strong passion for sharing her love of dance with others. Over the past four years, she has gained valuable experience as a class assistant, building the skills and confidence needed to step into the role of instructor.

A recent high school graduate, Miss Mya has trained extensively in a variety of styles, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary. Her diverse background allows her to bring creativity, versatility, and a well-rounded approach to her classes.

Dedicated, enthusiastic, and inspiring, Miss Mya is thrilled to begin this new chapter in her teaching journey and looks forward to guiding her students through an exciting and rewarding dance season.