Aspire Dance Academy
Seek, Dream, Pursue...DANCE!
Miss Michelle is the Director of Aspire Dance Academy and has been teaching for over 20 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 new location in her new home town, Cranbrook.
Believing that diversity is the key to a well-rounded educator, Michelle continues to attend workshops and seminars throughout Canada and the US and is always excited to share all her new and exciting ideas with her students!
Miss Michelle Navratil-Director
Miss Chloe Van Hesteren - Instructor
Miss Chloe has been dancing since the age of 4 years old and has been a part of the Aspire Dance team for several years. She has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop and acro.
Miss Chloe was on the Aspire competitive team winning several awards and has been taking her Acrobatic Arts examinations. Over the past several years, Miss Chloe was in our S.T.E.P. program (Student Teacher Education Program) and has a true passion for teaching. She loves working with children of all ages. She is kind and enthusiastic and eager to start teaching for our 2021-2022 season.
Mr Nathan Thorn - Instructor
Mr Nathan started dancing at the age of 11 years old proving that it is never too late to start dance! He trained in hip hop, jazz, tap, contemporary and musical theatre. His true love is hip hop of course and he is exceptionally talented. He has won several high scoring awards and scholarships throughout the years. His dance career has taken him to both Calgary, Vancouver and Las Vegas.
This will be Mr Nathan's second year teaching at Aspire Dance. He looks forward to seeing all his returning students and hoping to meet some new ones! He is excited to share his love of hip hop.
Miss Taryn Van Hoek - Instructor
Miss Taryn has been dancing since the age of 4 years old. She trains in ballet, jazz, tap, acro, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre. She has a true passion for dance and has attended the 'To The Pointe" summer dance intensive programs in Calgary. She has taken her RAD Intermediate ballet exam and is now training in RAD Advanced Foundation. She has been an assistant teacher for several years and looks forward to having her own classes this season!
Miss Lara Van Wyk - Assistant Teacher
Miss Lara has been dancing at Aspire Dance Academy since the age of 3 years old and has been a part of the competitive team since she was 6. She has trained in musical theatre, jazz, tap, acro, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet. Miss Lara has passed her RAD Intermediate ballet exam and is preparing for RAD Advanced Foundation. She has been an assistant teacher for several years and is thrilled to assist again this season!
Miss Kensi Graham - Assistant Teacher
Miss Kensi has been dancing since the age of 3 years old. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and musical theatre. She danced with Aspire Dance for several years before she moved to Edmonton. She continued her dance career there for a few years but realized her heart was back home in the East Kootenays. She has decided to return to Cranbrook for her Grade 11 and 12 school year and will be back at Aspire Dance. We are thrilled to have her back dancing and assisting classes!