Meet Our Instructors

  • Owner | Artistic Director

    A graduate of the professional training program at DancEast Dance Centre de Danse, a featured artist of DancEast & Friends’ “The Nutcracker”, and a soloist with the DancEast Young Company, Kashena Collins is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She was also an essential contributor to the DancEast Young Company for ten years. Kashena joined the faculty of DancEast in 2001 and studied at the University of Moncton in Leisure, Sports, and Tourism. She received her diploma from the University of Moncton in May of 2009 while continuing to be a part of DancEast’s ongoing development. Her tremendous passion for dance has led her to perform extensively in Canada and to have appeared to rave reviews at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

    She has also trained with noted dance authorities such as Debra Brown (choreographer at Cirque du Soleil), Margie Gillis (choreographer and independent soloist), André Lucas (Les Grands Ballets Canadiens), Trish Armstrong (Danny Grossman Dance Company), Dina Leitsch (ballet mistress), Charmaine Headley and BaKari E. Lindsay (founders of COBA, Collective Of Black Artists), Annie Wood (founder of DanceFuzion), along with several others throughout the past thirty plus years. She has taught dance to thousands of dancers as well as to numerous gymnasts, synchronized swimmers, baton twirlers, and various other athletes. In 2001 she competed in the finals of the dance category of Les Jeux de la Francophonie in Ottawa. She has been invited to participate in such opportunities as guest teacher for the dance program at the University of Moncton.

    Kashena worked in collaboration with vocalist Kathy Hayden-Maillet for Hospice Greater Moncton. In April of 2009 she choreographed a piece which was performed during the 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship. During the summer of 2009 she felt privileged to be assistant choreographer for the 2009 Canada Games. In the fall of 2009 she opened a new dance school on Prince Edward Island, Dance Virtuosa, and has been the sole owner and operator ever since. Furthermore, she has organized an intensive summer dance program since the school has been founded, which has brought in instructors from across Canada and the United States, as well as students from both countries. Also, she performed as a featured soloist at the Atlantic Dance Festival in Moncton in 2011. During the summer of 2011, she choreographed and performed an opening number for a Neverest concert in Summerside, followed by choreographing a piece which was showcased during a Victoria Duffield concert in Charlottetown in 2013. Ms. Collins was lead the choreographer for the Island Storm pro basketball team’s dance team, the Storm Chasers. In recent years, she has developed two performance based companies who have performed extensively on and off Prince Edward Island, as well as having represented the island on an international scale. Her passion and devotion to her art has also translated into her volunteer work with Hospice PEI’s Dancing With The Stars.

    Her truly innovative skills, which have driven her to multiple creative successes, provide her with a genuinely imaginative new light on dance.

  • She now calls Charlottetown PEI home after relocating from Moncton NB in 2013. Ashlyn has been dancing for over 15 years. During her journey she has loved spending her time demonstrating and assisting classes and instructing several styles and levels of dance. She has performed as a member of the DancEast Young Company, and has graduated from the Dance Virtuosa Young Company Program. Ashlyn has performed in the Nutcracker production for several years and also as a performance highlight,  she performed at the “Dance The World” Showcase at Walt Disney. Ashlyn looks forward to sharing her love and passion for dance through both instruction and performance.

  • Susan is an Honours graduate of George Brown School of Dance, and Applied Arts and Technology (dance program); she was born and raised in Ontario. She began dance training at the age of three after watching the National Ballet of Canada’s performance of “Giselle” and being awed by the experience. She received her classical dance training at many of the top dance schools in Canada including: the National Ballet School of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and the Banff School of Fine Arts, studying R.A.D.,  Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Bournoville methods. She studied with leading dance teachers: Betty Oliphant, Lois Smith, Gladys Forrester, Peggy Baker, David Adams, & Earl Kraul.  Susan is a former performing member and choreographer with The Dance Company of Ontario, Ottawa Dance Theatre, and Gladys Forrester’s Dancers.

    In 1983, after retiring due to a back injury, Susan moved to the Island where she met her husband, settled in the eastern end of the Island, and began teaching dance in Charlottetown and Souris. She opened Hammond-Bruce Studios, later becoming the Artistic Director of the former ‘Les Souris Qui Dansent’, a children’s dance company in Souris, P.E.I.  Susan retired from teaching to raise her children but continued directing, co-directing, and choreographing theatre productions for many of the local schools, communities, and churches. She often uses her basic art and sewing training to design and make costumes, backdrops, sets, props, and posters for her productions. In recent years, Susan has added playwright to her list of titles; writing and directing a number of works for the former Eastern Kings Consolidated School, and more recently, successfully writing and directing play productions for Don’t Ye Know Theatre. Susan is the Artistic Advisor and Director of DYKT. She is also working with the Kings Playhouse, Georgetown, staging productions.

    Although Susan enjoys the many forms and aspects of the performing arts, dance is her love and forte. She is very happy to be returning to the role of dance teacher. Over the years Susan has performed, choreographed, and taught Classical/Lyrical Ballet, Point, Jazz, Modern, Pas de Deux, and Stage Presence.

  • Hailing from Saint John, New Brunswick, Megan grew up in the competitive dance circuit, providing many travel opportunities and fueling her passion to continue her dance education. She moved to the island in 2012 where she became part of the first graduating class of the Dance Performance Program at Holland College. Megan promptly sought out a place to share her knowledge and love of dance. After an immediate connection with studio owner, Kashena Collins, Megan began teaching several classes and a broad range of styles at her new found home, Dance Virtuosa. Whilst continuing to pursue a performance career, Megan's goal as an instructor is to share the joy of performing to live audiences with her students.  In addition to her college training, Megan has completed the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks where she was immersed in the roots of jazz dance and music. She says it has transformed the way she approaches not only jazz dance, but all styles as the roots of dance are historically linked- knowledge she enjoys sharing with her students. Some of her favourite performance avenues have included becoming a member of Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers(2017), Charlottetown Burlesque(2019), and the Charlottetown Festival's Young Company (2013 & 2022). She's been a featured performer in productions by Oshun Dance, under the direction of Reequal Smith, as well as performances by Craig Fair Productions, under the direction of Craig, and featured choreographer Ryan Wilson. Other performance highlights include local charity event "Hospice PEI's Dancing with the Stars." She was partnered with her fiance, Lawrence Maxwell in 2022, and with her long time dance student and friend Cameron Gordon in 2021. Her and Cameron's performance became a viral video with over 70 million views worldwide. This acclaim led Megan and Cameron to the performance memory of their lifetime on season 3 of Canada's Got Talent. Her and Cameron's audition continues to have global reach, inspiring many to follow their hearts. In the fall of 2024, Megan will celebrate her 10th year with Dance Virtuosa. Sharing a national stage with one of her first dance students, and now very dear friend, has been the perfect way to celebrate her 10 years of teaching and performing professionally. 

  • Megan Broome was born and raised in PEI and grew up doing figure skating. She always had a passion for dance and took any opportunity she had to dance. She started with a hip hop class, created an after school dance club and made her friends perform in the school talent shows. At 16, she decided that dance is what she truly wanted to pursue and moved to Alberta to join the dance academy at Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts where she graduated in 2014. After that she returned to the island to attend the Holland College SOPA Dance Performance program and graduated in 2017. Since then, she has been performing with Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers, Charlottetown Burlesque, Craig Fair Productions and has been featured in shows at The Confederation Centre of the Arts (Aladdin, Robin Hood), The Guild (Shop around the corner, Raised on TV), The Harbourfront Theatre (A Concert in December, The Starlings Choir & Guests) and music videos (such as https://youtu.be/2e8wCXzWwVU?si=yCePxHdrlE3wchls).

    She enjoys learning as much as she does teaching and still holds a special place for figure skating as she goes into her 4th season on PEI’s only open level synchronized skating team, Velocity.

  • lexi Durant has been dancing for 20 years. She’s danced in community and paid theatre gigs, in countless recitals, and even a brief stint in theatre school before deciding she really preferred it as a hobby. She’s choreographed for students aged 5 to adult, and loves to continue learning new skills herself!

  • Meghan’s love for dance began before she could even walk—her passion sparked at a remarkably young age and only grew stronger with time. She quickly realized that dance wasn’t just a fun activity; it was her path, her purpose, and her identity. At four years old, Meghan began her formal training in Hip Hop; It was Hip Hop’s music, culture, and movement that truly resonated with her and ignited a lifelong love for dance and the arts. She started dancing in Southern Ontario, attending various studios before moving to PEI in her early teens.  At first she took classes at Danspirations dance studio, taking solely modern jazz classes, until she found Dance Virtuosa! 

    Over her 23 years of dance, Meghan has trained extensively in a variety of styles alongside Hip Hop and Street Dance, including Contemporary, Jazz, Character, Ballet, Acro, Salsa, and the one closest to her heart—Belly Dance. Meghan is an instructor at Dance Virtuosa, where she teaches Hip Hop and Belly Dance, to students of all ages. Meghan has performed for many years, including as a long-time member of Dance Virtuosa’s Young Company, at Walt Disney World's Dance The World Festival in 2019 and 2023, and as a dancer for the Island Storm Basketball team. She has professionally trained, taking extensive classes and workshops, of various styles of belly dance; Including an intensive taught by international Egyptian dancer, Zara. She currently performs across the island with PEI’s Xclusiv Crew, and performs locally as a Belly Dancer. With a deep love for both performance and education, Meghan continues to inspire through her artistry, energy, and dedication to the ever-evolving world of dance.Her versatility as a dancer is matched by her passion for sharing the art form with others.

  • Brianna Smith is a born-and-raised Islander who has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She is trained in a wide range of styles—including Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, and Character.

    In 2019, Brianna joined the Dance Virtuosa Junior Company and later advanced to the Young Company, where she remains an active member today. Alongside performing, she shares her love of dance through teaching, currently leading Introduction to Dance classes and Junior Ballet. She has assisted in choreography for the Junior Company and is thrilled to return this year as a solo choreographer. Brianna also serves as Director of Public Relations for Dance Virtuosa, managing the studio’s social media presence and helping coordinate company performance opportunities.

    Brianna has appeared with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen in "Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet" as a local participant, performed at the "Dance the World festival" in Walt Disney World, and has performed across the Island and Maritimes. In 2023, she received the Judges’ Choice Award at Hospice PEI’s Dancing With The Stars and continues to participate each year. This year, she will perform in the Island Fringe Festival, appearing in the production of She Is Me.

  • Born and raised in PEI, Morgan Coffin is a versatile dancer with extensive training in hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, pointe, character, and tap. In 2018, she became a part of Dance Virtuosa’s Junior Company and spent the years following as a member of the Young Company.

    Morgan has performed around the Maritimes and additionally at the “Dance the World” festival in Walt Disney World. In 2023-24, she held the role of Dance Captain in the musical "The Addams Family" at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Currently, she teaches Intro to Hip Hop/Jazz and Youth Tap!

  • Born and raised on PEI, Cloe has been trained in multiple dance styles such as contemporary, ballet, jazz, and hip hop while also participating in competitive gymnastics since the age of three. She has since switched studios multiply times before falling in love with Dance Virtuosa, where she now specializes in contemporary and demonstrates for numerous introduction and junior classes. After five years of teaching and spotting gymnastics at camps and gyms across PEI, Cloe is excited to combine her two loves by bringing acrobatic classes to Dance Virtuosa!