Amanda Stepheson (she/her)

Amanda is thoughtful and her heart is pure and kind. She is a powerful mover and her love of dance comes through in every class she teaches. She will make you believe you can do it. She is articulate and precise in her teaching with the desire to create challenging and supported classes. She will welcome you with open arms, she will believe in you. You will leave feeling confident and strong.

Bri Montelpare (she/her)

Mover, maker, and lifelong learner currently living in beautiful Canmore, Alberta on Treaty 7 Territory. I grew up in the Toronto area, surrounded by a vibrant mix of cultures and dance styles, and that blend of rhythm, curiosity, and community has shaped who I am as both a dancer and an educator. When I’m not teaching, you’ll probably find me hiking mountain trails, skiing, or dancing anywhere there’s music.

My dance background is woven into everything we’ll do in class. We’ll groove through class to all kinds of music, and explore movement in a way that feels expressive, grounded, and fun. I’m all about creating a space where people feel safe to try, play, sweat, and surprise themselves.

Brit Burr (she/her)

Brit is a seasoned barre instructor with over eight years of experience teaching right here in Canmore. A former dancer, she loves a good combo, fresh choreography, and creating classes
that keep you moving and entertained. Wellness has always been a central part of her life, and she’s passionate about helping others find joy in movement.

Known for her fun, cardio-driven classes, Brit brings energy, creativity, and an upbeat playlist to every session. In addition to teaching barre, she also teaches mat Pilates here in town.

Raised in Canmore, Brit is proud to call this community home. When she’s not in the studio, she runs a marketing agency.

Brook Meaney (she/her) 

Brook has been teaching barre since 2019. If you've been to one of Brook's classes you know one thing: she loves burpees. Brook's two goals in class are to get your heart rate up and make you sweat.

Outside of the studio you can find Brook biking, running, or hiking
the trails, living her next adventure.

Jillian McKenzie (she/her)

Motivating, Energizing, Inspiring.

It is a privilege to take class from someone as passionate and inspiring as Jillian. Her knowledge and dedication to her students and the Ballet Beats program makes her classes consistently challenging, creative and supportive. She will make you push harder, dream bigger and sweat more. You can't help but smile every time you dance with this beauty.

Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Jillian trained extensively and competitively in the areas of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for 15 years. She successfully completed her majors in RAD and attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s summer program where she was given the opportunity to further advance her dance technique.
Jillian’s passion for dance inspired her to begin her teaching journey. She started teaching at Ballet Beats in September of 2012 and has been an integral part of Ballet Beats journey!

Jillian and her wonderful husband, Tom and little ballerina daughter spend their weekends in Canmore.

Lauren Quarles (she/her)

Based in the mountain town of Canmore, Lauren lives for movement, whether it’s on the trails, skiing, or in the studio. She teaches foundational Ballet Beats® classes that blend cardio, mat work, and ballet-inspired strength for a full-body burn you’ll feel (and love).

Mandy Utton (she/her)

Mandy grew up as a classically-trained competitive dancer and has studied many styles of dance including; ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, lyrical, Irish dance, belly dance, hip hop, various ballroom/latin, reggaeton, heels, chair dance, and pole dance. In her early years, she completed level 3 Exams in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz with the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association.

As an adult, Mandy returned to performing in a variety of events and shows, including 2 seasons with Momentum Dance Toronto (2015-2016) as a Company member and choreographer/teacher. Most recently her performance accolades include playing Alice in Q-Movement’s production of Alice in Wonderland, understudy of Frenchy/ensemble in the Cayman Drama Society’s production of Grease, and various private events at the Ritz Carleton and Kimpton Resorts in the Cayman Islands. Post-covid, Mandy finds herself staying active in the mountains, running long distances with her dog and attending/teaching barre classes.

Molly Matheson (She/Her)

My first Yoga class was in high school, and since then, yoga has been a steady companion through every stage of life, helping me discover not only new layers of myself, but also a deeper connection to the world around me.

I completed my 200-hour YTT in India, training in both Ashtanga and Hatha traditions. In Canada, I’ve continued to grow my practice with certificates in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Trauma informed Yoga. I love nothing more than learning and expanding my practice: I will always consider myself a student first. My classes are moderately paced, with lots of options and modifications offered. I put a lot of thought and intention into the music I play, each song carefully chosen to support flow and evoke emotion. I love weaving in pieces of yogic philosophy and honouring the South Asian roots of this tradition, creating space for both movement and reflection.

Outside of yoga, I spend as much time as possible in nature: snowboarding, hiking, and canoeing. I also officiate weddings and play a handful of musical instruments, all of which bring balance, creativity, and joy into my life.

Sierra Tanner

Sierra is an instructor with Ballet Beats, bringing a background as a professional circus performer to her teaching. She believes in movement with intention and purpose and enjoys working with people in a supportive, active environment. Born in Banff, Sierra spent many years away before returning to the Bow Valley and settling in Canmore. With roots in aerial acrobatics, she brings a unique perspective to grounded training, emphasizing control, stability, and functional strength to help students move with confidence both in and out of the studio.

Tanis Williams (she/her)

Tanis is a barre instructor, travel and hiking enthusiast. She’s lived in Canmore for 15 years and loves spending time in the mountains with her family. As a former competitive figure skater, she loves sharing fun, energetic, easy to follow barre classes that everyone can enjoy!

Tanya Pacholok (she/her)

Originally from Edmonton, AB, Tanya grew up dancing Ukrainian dance and ballet from the age of four, including seven years with the renowned Shumka Dancers.
Now based in Canmore, she balances her love of movement with her work in environmental and community-focused spaces.

Tanya’s relationship to dance is rooted in joy, rhythm, and reconnection. After stepping away from formal dance for a time, she found her way back through ballet barre and movement practices that prioritize feeling over perfection. She loves moving her body in rhythm with others and believes dance can be a powerful way to ground ourselves, express who we are, and build connection.

Drawn to Ballet Beats for its inclusivity and heart-forward approach, Tanya teaches to support people in reclaiming joy in movement and reconnecting with their bodies in a safe, expressive, and welcoming space.
Her classes invite curiosity, presence, and celebration of all bodies... exactly as we are! See you at the barre!

Kalyn Swihart(she/her)

See our founder’s full bio HERE