Who are we?

The Joanne Chapman School of Dance (JCSOD) is an independently owned and operated dance school for students looking to explore a passion for dance or take their training to the next level. With over four decades of professional dance experience, our studio offers students in Brampton and surrounding areas outstanding dance instruction and choreography. Taught by fully qualified dance educators, many JCSOD students have gone on to showcase their talents in the community and around the world.

We don’t just teach dance skills. We build physical and mental strength.

Our training does more than teach your child how to excel in dance. It also gives them regular exercise and a love of movement that enhances their physical and mental fitness. Whether it’s through mastering the classical technique of ballet, the contemporary steps of jazz or hip hop, or the strenuous moves of acrobatics, dance builds the strength and character that helps your child shine both inside and outside the studio.

Self Confidence:

When your child showcases their skills in front of an audience, they build self-confidence, develop self-awareness, and gain a sense of accomplishment. Even shy and reserved dancers learn to feel comfortable in their own skin.

Musicality:

By learning to dance, your child gains a basic understanding of the moods and rhythms of music. This helps them build creativity, express themselves artistically, and develop their emotional skills.

Physical Coordination:

In dance, your child conquers the challenge of learning how to move their hands, arms, and legs in coordination. They also build teamwork and cooperation skills as they practice synchronizing these movements with classmates.

Health:

A highly physical activity, dance improves your child’s fitness level by enhancing their stamina, strength, and range of motion. It also boosts their balance, posture, and muscle tone no matter which genre of dance they enjoy.

Our Faculty

Our highly experienced and passionate instructors are trained to help your child reach their full potential.

Joanne Chapman

Joanne has owned and operated the Joanne Chapman School of Dance since 1974. She holds a fellowship from the British Association of the Teachers of Dancing and is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance, Dance Masters of America, and Performing Arts Educators of Canada. Known for her outstanding reputation, dedication, and standards, Joanne is frequently sought after to teach workshops across Canada and the United States, judge competitions, and serve as an ambassador at the Dance Teachers Summit. Her students have gone on to become highly regarded teachers at other studios or their own dance schools. Many have also performed professionally on and off Broadway. As a teacher, Joanne strives to instill a passion for dance in her students while helping them develop into knowledgeable and experienced dancers.

Jessie Chapman-Carroll

Jessie started dancing at the JCSOD at the age of 2 and hasn’t stopped since. She has obtained her full teaching certificate in stage and acrobatics from the British Association of the Teachers of Dancing and is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance. An outstanding teacher who has won many international dance awards, Jessie is loved by her students.

Dana Chapman-Carroll

Dana grew up at the JCSOD after beginning to dance at the age of 2. With training in all areas of dance and the circus arts, Dana holds full teaching certificates in stage and acrobatics from the British Association of the Teachers of Dancing and Dance Masters of America. She is also a member of the Royal Academy of Dance. Her extensive experience and strong skills in jazz, contemporary, and acrobatics have allowed her and her students to secure many Canadian and US awards, including choreography and best dancer awards.

Nathan Espejo

Nathan has been a student at the JCSOD since the age of 7. Passionate about dance and hip hop in particular, he holds a teaching certificate in stage from the British Association of the Teachers of Dancing and is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance. Based on his extensive dance experience and abilities, Nathan has earned opportunities to showcase his skills on YTV and Consumer Product Goods and in a variety of music videos, TV shows, and live performances. His choreography and students have earned top awards at several regional and national dance competitions in Canada and the United States.

Ida Gerasolo

Ida Gerasolo is a professional ballerina, ballet instructor and owner of I.D.A. International Dance Academy. At a young age, Ida was active and participated in anything she could make time for. Most of all she loved dancing, and it was a ballet that she had chosen in which to make her future.

Ida Gerasolo danced and trained at Christina Pora’s Classical Ballet School, Hamilton City Ballet, Quinte Ballet School, and The National Ballet School of Canada. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from York University and her Associate Teaching Qualification from the Cecchetti Society and The Royal Academy of Dance. As a graduate from Canada's National Ballet School's Teacher Training Program, Ida instills in her students strong technical training, as well as a healthy approach to dance mentally and physically.

Martha Hart

Martha Hart began dancing at age 14 her love for ballet began after a trip to Winnipeg to watch her aunt Evelyn Hart dance three performances as the principal role in Anna Karenina. She instantly fell in love with the perfect balance of physicality and musicality. Six months later, she was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School

Upon graduation from NBS, Martha moved to Germany, Martha was asked to join the Dresden Semperoper Ballet as an apprentice and performed many classical roles from ballets such as The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Taming of the Shrew, Diamonds (Balanchine) and Valse Fantasie (Balanchine). In 2010, she returned to Canada and has since worked with many dance companies She is dedicated to helping young dancers find a balance of confidence, passion and determination in their work

Julie Gabrile

Julie has been teaching dance across the GTA for over 15 years on a competitive level. She has been in high demand as a guest choreographer and workshop teacher at studios throughout the region and her choreography has won her much acclaim by competitions across Canada and the US. Her students have received scholarships and have been title winners. A part from teaching dance, Julie Gabriele is the founder and co producer of Be Dance Competition for the last 10 successful years. Presently, Be Dance is one of the largest growing dance competitions in Southern Ontario, where many come to celebrate dance. Although running a dance competition has currently been a primary focus for Julie, she has never strayed away from her love of teaching. Julie teaches with great passion and enthusiasm to dancers of all levels, and is very excited to continue to share her knowledge and experience with the students at Joanne Chapman School of Dance.

Alex Woodwark

Alex began dancing at the studio at the age of four. She has completed her BA from Ryerson University. Alex has studied all forms of dance and competed both regionally and nationally in Canada and the United States. She holds her teaching certificate in stage and acro with the B.A.T.D, and she is also a member of the RAD. Alex brings a passion for dance to the classroom that shines through in her students.

Dayne Hamilton

Dayne Hamilton is no stranger to dance she began her training at age two. Her passion for dance is undeniable whether on stage or in the capacity of a student or teacher. Her work ethic reflects her determination and love for dance. Dayne has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, hip hop, contemporary and acrobatics. In 2014, Dayne graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts, Performance Dance. Dayne has had several opportunities to perform with modern dance companies in Toronto since her graduation. In 2014 Dayne was welcomed as a full time teacher at the JCSOD faculty sharing her knowledge and love for dance in all disciplines. She will continue this year inspiring her students to their full capacity, as she encourages their growth and passion as dancers.

Emmerly Tinglin

I am Emmerly Tinglin, I am a dedicated and driven performer who loves being on stage. I am 21 years old, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. I am a dancer, actor, model and teacher. I graduated from Mayfield Secondary School as a dance major. I trained at Joanne Chapman School of Dance, under the direction of Joanne Chapman herself as well as Dana and Jessie Chapman-Carroll.

I train in various styles of dance such as Acrobatics, Hip-hop, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, and Modern.

I am always excited to keep growing not only as a dancer but as a person. My career highlights include have 1,000+ subscribers on Youtube, being apart of the Team Canada for dance in 2014 to compete in Prague, Czech Republic and Joining the NBA Raptors Dance Team for the 2018-2019 season and the current 2019-2020 season. Watch for me as “Kenzie”, a series lead in season six and seven of Family Channel’s the Next Step. As well as a dancer in the up and coming Zombies 2.

Stephanie Sturino

Stephanie is an outstanding teacher, choreographer, adjudicator and educator who has been sharing her love and passion with the dance world for over twenty years. She has extensive training in tap, jazz, ballet, acro, contemporary, and hip hop, and has trained under some of the most influential mentors in the industry, including Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Travis Wall, and Mandy Moore.

Stephanie holds memberships with the British Association of Teachers of Dance and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She is a member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance (PAA), and has been actively adjudicating across Canada for the past five years. In addition, Stephanie is also a graduate of Brock’s Concurrent Education Program, with a major in Theatre Arts, and she currently teaches with the Peel Secondary School Board.

Stephanie’s main focus when teaching is that every student in the room feels welcomed, safe, included and free to be the dancer they want to be. She hopes her passion and dedication will inspire and motivate her students to work hard to achieve their goals while making the best life-lasting memories.

Danielle Denichaud

A native to Toronto, Danielle graduated from the Professional Program of the National Ballet of Canada in 2002. After her studies, Danielle spent two years working with Robert Desrosiers followed by three seasons with Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, giving her the opportunity to perform premier works by Aszure Barton, Rodrigo Pedeneiras and Crystal Pite.

In addition to her dance career Danielle is an honours graduate from Concordia University where she completed a BA in Child Studies. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Teacher Trainer of the Aeküus Functional Movement technique.

Linda Garneau

Choreographer, educator, movement coach and PhD candidate in Dance Studies at York U. Linda is the artistic director of the Helix Dance Project, whose works include The Waiting Room, Rain, Unearth, and Integration. Theatre credits include five seasons with The Shaw Festival, as well as productions for Mirvish, Canadian Stage, Charlottetown Festival, Citadel Theatre, National Theatre Centre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and Sheridan Theatre. Other credits include choreography for Stars on Ice, skating exhibition programs, and music videos. Linda continues to enjoy freelance choreography, teaching both at home and abroad, and discovering new facets of this wonderfully moving craft.