2006-2007 Faculty

Director Wendy Leard is the director and owner of the Wendy Leard School of Dance. She started dancing at the tender age of 13 and discovered the "magic of theatre" ten years later! After moving to Toronto, she danced on T.V. shows such as The Pig and Whistle, Miss Teen Canada, and The Bobby Vinton Show, performing with such talents as Rita Moreno, Anne Murray, Jaye P. Morgan, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis. She was also the General Manager of Roland and Romaine School of Dance in Toronto for five years before opening her own studio in Niagara Falls in 1980. Her love of theatre led her to directing and choreographing for theatres such as Niagara Falls Firehall Theatre; Garden City Productions; Muskoka Festival; Orillia Opera House; Stage West in Edmonton, Alberta; and Kingsbridge Theatre. Wendy continues to perform every year in Showcase with her students, and also with the wonderful singing/dancing group Rich Blend, who travel throughout the United States and Canada performing in such venues as dinner theatre productions and concert stage shows to banquets and cruise ships.

Assistant Director Laura Speck has been dancing at the Wendy Leard School of Dance since 1984. She also studied drama and voice at the studio with Maggi Payne and Charles Berasi. In 1994 she went to the District of Niagara School for the Arts at Niagara District Secondary School where she majored in dance, and also studied drama. Laura performed in many DNA Arts productions, chamber concerts, galas, and OAC Dance concerts. In 1999, she choreographed her own OAC Dance concert. Upon graduation, she received the OAC Dance award. She has taken master classes with Patrick Parson, founder of Ballet Creole; William Orlowski, director of the National Tap Dance Company of Canada; Danny Grossman of the Danny Grossman Dance Company, and Kimberley Timlock of iTap Productions. Laura appeared in the Danny Grossman Dance Company production "The Choreography Project" in 1997, and has performed with Garden City Productions, Niagara Symphony, Caldicot Male Choir and Shaw Festival. She also performed in the French/Mahaffy Benefit, numerous other charity and volunteer functions, and has competed in the Niagara region, and Western New York. In 2002 she was awarded the Dorothy Phoebe Leard Teachers Scholarship. She is also a part of the Chain Re-Action Dance Theatre, performing throughout the region.

Discipline Directors

	Modern Director Erin Amadio has a love and passion for the arts. She has studied several types of dance, drama and voice at Wendy Leard School of Dance from 1983 - 1998. She began teaching dance and drama at Wendy Leard School of Dance in the fall of 1994 and continued teaching until 1998. During high school she was an active member of the St. Paul High School Drama Club and choir. She was also involved with the Niagara Falls Summer Players for several seasons. In 1998, she left the studio to attend York University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Theatre Studies. In the fall of 2002, Erin returned to the studio and has resumed her studies in dance with Wendy. She continues to take classes and is currently teaching a modern dance class and a drama class at the studio. Erin initiated a weekly drum circle for the community in the fall of 2002 and continues to facilitate drum circles through out the Niagara region. She is a member of Rainbow Beats a local drumming group that performs for weddings, school groups and conferences. She was awarded with the Dorothy Phoebe Leard Teachers Scholarship in 2003. She is currently working with the Learning Through the Arts programme in the Niagara Peninsula as a dance and drama artist for the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2003, Erin founded the Chain Re-Action Dance Theatre, which performs at local community events and festivals. Chain Re-Action Dance Theatre performed in the Showcase of Niagara's Talents Series in Queenston Heights Park in August 2004. Recently Erin organized, choreographed and performed in Artificial Red a fundraising gala for the performing arts in the Niagara Region. She is also a member of Artists Protecting the Earth with teaches about local and global environmental issues through various art forms. Erin has decided to pursue a career in teaching and will be studying in the Teachers Pre-Service program at Brock University.
	HipHop Director Stephanie Martino began dancing with the Wendy Leard School of dance in 1992. She has danced with Wendy for 13 years and has been teaching for the past 6 years. In 1997 she became a member of the Dance Company and since then she has had the opportunity to be a part of various performances and Showcases. Some of her accomplishmentsinclude, Dancing with the Niagara Symphony at Shaw Festival, Travelling to Ottawa to perform at the Upper Canada Playhouse with the Joanne Whittaker School of Dance, as well performing at various charities and volunteer functions in the Community. The group also had the rewarding experience of attending many competitions across the Niagara Region. Aside from dancing within the studio, she has also performed with Garden City Productions in the production "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" and attended a Dance Workshop held by Darrin Henson, Choreographer for several groups such as NSYNC, and Britney Spears, and OTown. Hip Hop being Stephanie's favourite class, she is often referred to as "The Hip Hop Queen" due to the numerous Hip Hop classes which she teaches. Stephanie's passion for dance has allowed her to put forth much dedication and creativity towards making each show a memorable one for ALL as she hopes to continue dancing for many years to come!
	Jazz Co-Director Jen Mallett has been dancing at the studio since 1988. She began assisting classes at the early age of 10 and began teaching at the age of 14. Some of the performances that Jen has appeared ininclude the Shaw Festival, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Garden City Productions, French/Mahoffy Benefit, and many local performances as well. She has also competed in numerous competitions in the Niagara Region, Western New York, and Toronto with production, group, and solo performances. Although Jen currently lives in Toronto studying Interior Design, she still manages to come to the studio every week to teach and take classes. Some people think she's crazy, but Jen just wants to dance.
	Jazz Co-Director Mary Martin found her home away from home in 1988 at Wendy Leard School of Dance. She quickly became a member of Kid Khorus (now known as Junior Company). Mary participated in performances throughout the Niagara region, and took part in the Niagara Falls Firehall Summer Theatre appearing in Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Colors in the Dark and Babes in Arms, among others. Theatre experience led Mary to the sets of five Barbie commercials, as a hand model. This also opened Mary up to modelling, where she was a Miss Teen Niagara contestant and also participated in local pageants. In 1992 She began as a teacher's assistant, which led to her becoming one of Wendy's youngest teachers in 1994. Today she is one of the oldest. Mary became involved in the performing arts programme at Niagara District Secondary School in grade nine. This gave her the opportunity to dance alongside Danny Grossman's company, and star in the school production of Fame. Mary also performed with the Niagara Symphony, and appeared at the Misty Awards, the Mayor's picnic, Canada Day Celebrations, and the Terry Fox Run. There were also the yearly debuts at the Winter Festival of Lights and each summer at Twilight Tuesday. In the summer of 1996, the Dance Company performed weekly at the Niagara Gateway. Mary has danced consecutively for 17 years in a row in Showcase, from 1988 to present. Mary is thankful for her home away from home, it made her a part of the dancer and person she is today.
	Ballet Director Donna McAnulty has been teaching ballet for Wendy Leard School of Dance since 2000 and has been teaching ballet throughout southern Ontario for over twenty years. She is a graduate of the National Ballet School's Teachers Training Course and earned her Associates Teaching Qualifications from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Cecchetti Branch. Before entering the National Ballet School's Teahers programme, Donna trained professionally at George Brown College under the guidance of Lois Smith (Canada's first prima ballerina), David Adams, Earl Kraul, and Angela Leigh who were also principal dancers of the National Ballet of Canada, and Studio 103 with Richard Sugarman. She has studied modern at the Toronto Dance Theatre, Pavlychenko Studio, and taken classes with some of Canada's most exciting choreographers such as: Robert Desroisier, Christopher House, and Danny Grossman. Donna performed with a small modern company from Kitchener Ont., and in numerous choreographic workshops in Toronto with various independent choreographers. She has attended the summer schools of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, George Brown College and the National Ballet School. She still tries to head to Toronto and continue her training with her favourite teachers.

	Stage Manager Mario Fabiano has been involved with the Wendy Leard School of Dance since 1992. He danced at the studio for 10 years as well as taught at the studio for 4 years, and was also the Assistant Director of the studio for 2 years. Most recently he has concentrated his energy on the technical and organizational aspects of the studio, and is currently the stage/showcase manager at the studio. During the year you will see him pop in and out, and in April up until Showcase, he is around full-time. Some of Mario's accomplishmentsinclude working with the Niagara Symphony and Shaw Festival, Garden City Productions, French/Mahaffy Benefit, teaching drama for the City of St. Catharines, Competing in Toronto, Ottawa, and the Niagara Region. Mario also recently graduated from the University of Guelph, with a degree in Economics. Now that he is done school we may see him around here more often!
	Lisa Lombardi has been dancing at the studio since 1990. She became a teacher ten years later and taught jazz, but eventually moved on to teach tap as well. She worked with Garden City Productions in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. She has also been a part of various performances and competitions throughout the Niagara region. Lisa attends Brock University in the field of social science. She loves to perform and hopes to continue her love for dance.
	Lauren Fisher has been dancing since the age of 3. She has been dancing at the Wendy Leard School of Dance since 1995. Lauren has been a member of staff for the past 4 years, teaching tap and Hip Hop. Lauren has attended workshops within the Niagara Region, Toronto, Buffalo and New York City. She has traveled to Ottawa to participate in the Joanne Whittaker School of Dance Showcase since 2000. Being a member of Garden City Productions, she has been involved in their productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicoulored Dreamcoat in 2000 and Crazy For You in 2005 directed by Jim White. Also a past member of the St. Paul Players, she participated in the musical West Side Story.
	Shannon Perugino has been teaching at the studio since 2004. She has been dancing at the studio since 1997, and she loves to perform. Shannon has taken part in productions at the Queenston Heights Dinner Theatre, and yearly productions at St. Paul High School. Just this year, she has competed in many regional competitions, bringing home gold.

	Desiree Barber-Bredin has been dancing since the tender age of four. She has been assisting tap and jazz classes since she was ten. Recently Desiree has taken on the role of teaching the 6-7 year old Jazz class on Friday evenings. She and the other girls took their 'Happy Joyous and Free' jazz number to competitions in Southern Ontario and placed high in each one. Desiree has also had the chance to perform in many community events such as the Santa Claus Parade, the Lions Club Dinner held at Club Italia and at Retirement Homes, and the Optimist Canada Day event. Outside of the studio, Desiree has been able to take her drama and dance skills and put them in motion at the Fire Hall Theatre performing in its 'Tempest Tossed' production as one of the fairies. At Prince Philip Elementary School, she participated in the 'School House Rock' production. When Desiree began high school she participated and competed on the Saint Paul High School's junior cheerleading squad. Currently, Desiree spends six days a week at the studio but remains a full time student. Her favourite discipline is Jazz, and is the recipient of the 2005-06 Jazz Scholarship.
	Michelle Bickell is the youngest member of the staff. She began dancing in 1991 at the age of four. She went from Joy Of Dance, to being a part of the Junior Company, to Senior Company, and now a teacher. She has performed in Christmas shows at senior citizens homes, and Club Italia, performing in Christmas/ Festival of Lights parades in 2006, performing at the Grand Opening of New YMCA in Niagara Falls, performing at Optimist on Canada Day, and many others. She was lucky enough to be the first member of her Company to receive the Diane McQuade in 2002, at eleven years old. Since then she has been assisting and teaching classes, and at the same time still taking many classes. She looks forward to spending many more years teaching, taking classes and performing with the Wendy Leard School of Dance!
	Amanda Leo has been an active dancer at the Wendy Leard School of Dance since the age of four. She began as a teachers assistant however she is now teaching her own dance classes. Although Amanda has always been open to new choreography and styles of dance, hip hop remains one of her main interests. She is currently a student at St. Paul Highschool and is also part of the senior cheerleading squad. The best way for Amanda to express herself is through dancing, and this is what keeps her love for the sport so strong.
	Kayla Iannone

Alumni

Nicole Moscato has been dancing since 1996. She has participated in many drama and dance productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with Garden City Productions, and Shaw Festival. Nicole is also a gymnastics coach, and competes around the province. Her background in gymnastics brought Wendy Leard School of Dance our first ever acrobatic jazz class.

Holly Fabiano has been dancing with Wendy since 1990 and has been a part of the staff since 2000. She danced in the Garden City Productions’ presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 2000, and has been in many performances and competitions in the region. Holly was also the choreographer for Sea Side Café presented by Stamford Collegiate High School in Niagara Falls, and the McMaster Dance Club in Hamilton.