Michelle Navratil, Owner and Principal Instructor, has been teaching for over 18 years. She is originally from Calgary, AB, where she started dancing at the age of three. Dancing every day of the week, she received top marks in examinations taken in Ballet (R.A.D., B.A.T.D. and D.E.S.) and Jazz and Tap (A.D.A.P.T. and Al Gilbert). She enjoyed taking part of annual competitions and received several awards for most promising and outstanding dancer.

Throughout her dance training, Michelle had the opportunity to travel with a local performing troupe and in 1988 performed at the opening ceremonies for the Calgary Olympics. Being extremely ambitious, she received her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teaching certificate at a young age and has successfully entered hundreds of students for Graded and Vocational RAD examinations. In 2004, Michelle moved to Invermere, B.C., where she opened Aspire Dance Academy. In just a few short years, her studio grew to 185 students. In 2006, she married and moved to Cranbrook to be with her husband. Shortly after, she opened a second location in her new home town, Cranbrook, B.C.

Believing that diversity is the key to a well-rounded educator, Michelle continues to attend workshops and seminars throughout Canada and the US including the Edge Performing Arts Centre (LA), Broadway Dance Centre (New York), Harbour Dance Centre (Vancouver), The National Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and most recently, Rhee Gold's "Project Motivate" (Phoenix). She has also examined, adjudicated and guest taught throughout Western Canada.

Miss Michelle is an enthusiastic teacher and enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students. She inspires her dancers with her energy and passion and believes everyone can dance at any age!