Penny Stauth
Director
A competitive dancer throughout high school performing in Canada and the United States and then transitioned to teaching at Gloria Bondy Dance Studios which later became Steppin Up Dance Co.
A proud wife and mom, if she is not spending time at the studio or with her family, she is learning new skills to offer the best quality dance education to her students and faculty. A certified ADAPT teacher with Gold Seal recognition, member of the Acro Dance Teachers Association, and certificates with Progressive Ballet technique and Alixa Flexibility and over 25 years teaching experience she has a love of teaching and dance that has continued to grow each year.
Erinn Innes
Instructor
Originally from Sarnia, Erin Innes is a graduate of St. Lawrence College’s musical theatre program. She has since been in several different productions Including Cabaret, Heathers, and a few local films.
As a performer, Erin has always had a passion for dance, participating in numerous different performances. She took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons from the age of three, and participated in competitive dance from age 13 to 17 with Steppin’ Up Dance Co.
Erin has dedicated herself to learning and growing as a teacher so her students can have the best experience they can possibly have.
Sarah Helps
Instructor
Sarah Helps started dancing at 3 years old in Sarnia, Ontario at the Shirley Schram School of Dance. There she realized her love for dance and started competing with the Bluewater Dance Troupe travelling to competitions around the world at the age of 6, all the way until graduating high school. The team won many high score places and special awards during their competitive dance career in styles such as Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical.
Sarah then continued her education at George Brown College with a certificate from the two-year Dance Performance Study program. While attending school in Toronto, she had the privilege of being able to work alongside many talented Artists such as Malgorzata Nowaka, Hanna Kiel, Derek Sangster, Dana Bondy, Francisco Carrera and many others. As part of her second year dancing at George Brown, she joined a pre-professional dance company named “Company B” where they toured around Toronto performing at local events associated with the city. During her second year of being a part of “Company B”, she was offered an apprenticeship to work with the professional dance company, The Chimera Project, run by Malgorzata Nowaka. She has had plenty of experience with performing and the hard work that goes into training professionally.
She then continued on to teach and has also choreographed at the competitive level and has received outstanding choreography awards for her work. She is a certified ballet instructor in the Cecchetti syllabus and is certified to teach Acrobatics by the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus.
Sarah is excited to be joining the Steppin Up Dance team and looks forward to working with everyone this coming year!
Rachel Harrison
Instructor
Rachel is a Dance Teacher with a background of over 25 years of instruction. She is a graduate of Ryerson University as a Dance Major in Theatre Performing Arts and is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Rachel is also a certified mindfulness coach and yoga instructor. She is so happy to be back teaching at Steppin’ Up and looks forward to an awesome year!
