Our Team

Artistic Director & Senior Ballet Instructor

Galina Chapovalova

Galina Chapovalova is a distinguished ballet instructor and choreographer with decades of experience in classical and character dance. Originally trained in Russia, Galina’s foundation is rooted in the rigorous Vaganova method, which she mastered during her formative years. Her early career was spent performing with several regional ballet companies, where she developed a deep appreciation for the expressive potential of traditional character dance, an element she would later bring to her teaching practice with passion and precision.

After an extensive performance career, Galina turned her focus to pedagogy, becoming a highly respected educator known for her disciplined yet nurturing approach. She has taught at numerous ballet academies across Europe and North America, eventually making her home at Bayview School of Ballet. There, she has become a cornerstone of the school’s training program, particularly revered for her work in character dance.

Galina’s classes blend historical authenticity with expressive artistry, offering students a unique opportunity to develop their technical versatility and cultural understanding of ballet's global roots.

Galina is also a choreographer whose works have been featured in school productions, competitions, and community performances. Her choreography reflects a deep respect for tradition while embracing the individuality of each dancer. Committed to mentoring the next generation of artists, Galina continues to inspire students with her knowledge, elegance, and deep love for the art form. Her influence can be seen in the confident, expressive dancers who emerge from her classes, carrying forward her legacy of excellence.

Senior Ballet Instructor

Elena Lobsanova

Elena Lobsanova is our Senior Ballet Instructor, bringing an extraordinary professional ballet career, exceptional artistic depth, and world-class expertise to Bayview School of Ballet. A former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada and Miami City Ballet, Elena has performed many of the most celebrated roles in the classical repertoire, including Sugar Plum Fairy, Juliet, Giselle, Alice, Princess Aurora, and Ophelia. Her distinguished repertoire also includes leading works by renowned choreographers such as Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Rudolf Nureyev, Sir Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, and James Kudelka.

In addition to her distinguished stage career, Elena is a highly experienced ballet educator, coach, repetiteur, mentor, and choreographer. She has taught Vaganova, RAD, and ABT-based ballet classes to children, pre-professional students, adults, and senior-level dancers. She has also prepared students for competitions, RAD examinations, YAGP Junior competition, WBAC, and IBCABC, bringing a refined and comprehensive understanding of classical ballet training to every student she teaches.

Elena is recognized for her refined artistry, technical precision, and deep understanding of classical ballet at the highest level. Her exceptional career includes the Rolex Dancers First Award, First Prize Female Dancer at The Erik Bruhn Prize, and recognition in numerous major publications for her work as one of Canada’s leading ballerinas. As our Senior Ballet Instructor, Elena brings discipline, elegance, mentorship, and inspiration to her students, guiding dancers with the knowledge, professionalism, and artistry of a truly accomplished international ballet artist.

Eleanor Van Veen

Jazz & Contemporary Instructor

Eleanor Van Veen

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Eleanor van Veen is a Toronto-based contemporary dance artist and educator known for her expressive and dynamic style. Trained at The Conteur Academy under Eryn Waltman, she has worked with choreographers and companies such as Alysa Pires, Hanna Kiel’s Human Body Expression, The Chimera Project, ProArteDanza, and Nostos Collectives. Her performances have appeared at major events including the Capezio ACE Awards, Toronto Fringe Festival, and Dance Ontario DanceWeekend, with a 2020 Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination recognizing her ensemble work.

In addition to performing, Eleanor is a dedicated dance educator. She teaches contemporary, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, acro, and Pilates. Her inclusive teaching approach supports diverse learning styles and body types, fostering a supportive environment for all dancers.

Eleanor strives to cultivate a supportive environment where students feel empowered to explore their individuality, artistry, and creativity, reflecting her philosophy that movement is both personal and universal.

As an artistic collaborator, Eleanor actively engages in creation processes alongside choreographers and collectives. Notably, she is involved in new works with Hanna Kiel for Human Body Expression and performed in Nostos Collectives’ “let’s get physical” and “Sycamore” productions. Film and theatre archives list her most recent roles, including participation in the 2023 ballet The Royal We, choreographed by Jake Poloz. Recognized as a board member of CADA/East (the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists – East), Eleanor contributes to the broader dance community in Toronto. Her vibrant career as performer, teacher, and collaborator underscores her dedication to advancing contemporary dance in Canada.

Ballet Instructor

Emma Courish

Emma Courish is a Ballet Instructor at Bayview School of Ballet, bringing a strong classical background, professional performance experience, and a thoughtful approach to dance education. She is currently a Company Apprentice with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen for the 2025/26 season, where she has performed repertoire from Sleeping Beauty. Prior to this, she was a member of Canada’s Ballet Jörgen’s Junior Company, performing works from Swan Lake, Bach Concerto, Anastasia, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Emma received her professional training at internationally respected institutions, including the English National Ballet School’s Professional Trainee Program, Canada’s National Ballet School, The Harid Conservatory, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.

In addition to her professional performance experience, Emma has worked with students across a wide range of ages and levels. She has served as a Teaching Assistant at West London School of Dance for ballet classes with students ages 4–12, and as a Ballet Teacher at Angela Grant School of Dance, teaching ballet classes for students ages 3–17. Her strong technical foundation, refined artistry, and experience within professional ballet environments allow her to guide students with discipline, care, and inspiration.

Emma’s performance experience includes leading roles at Sadler’s Wells and The Wallace Collection, as well as featured repertoire from Carnival of the Animals, Reminiscence, Arise, Raymonda, Harlequinade, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Peter Pan. She was also awarded the Odette and Odile Scholarship at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, recognizing her dedication and promise as a young artist. Emma is known for her professionalism, elegance, and thoughtful approach to teaching, creating a supportive and inspiring classroom environment where students are encouraged to develop confidence, musicality, strength, artistry, and a genuine love for ballet.

Children's Ballet & Dance Fusion Instructor

Natacha Aaron

Natacha Aaron is our Children’s Ballet and Dance Fusion Instructor, bringing an international background in performance, choreography, and dance education to Bayview School of Ballet. A Toronto-based choreographer, performer, and educator, Natacha holds a Master’s Degree in Performance Dance from the University of Chichester in the United Kingdom, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from York University, where she graduated as a Dean’s Honour Roll recipient.

Natacha has toured across England with Mapdance, performing a diverse contemporary repertoire and further developing her artistic practice through professional performance, training, and creative collaboration. Her experience includes work with leading contemporary choreographers and exposure to a wide range of movement styles, performance approaches, and choreographic processes. This international experience has shaped her thoughtful and versatile approach as both an artist and educator.

As our Children’s Ballet and Dance Fusion Instructor, Natacha brings professionalism, creativity, and a refined artistic perspective to the studio.

As our Children’s Ballet and Dance Fusion Instructor, Natacha brings professionalism, creativity, and a refined artistic perspective to the studio. Her teaching supports the development of technique, alignment, coordination, musicality, strength, flexibility, performance quality, and expressive movement. Through ballet and dance fusion, students are encouraged to build strong foundations, explore rhythm and dynamics, improve movement clarity, and develop confidence in both technical execution and artistic presentation. Her classes provide young dancers with the opportunity to expand their movement vocabulary, strengthen body awareness, refine their use of space and energy, and approach each class with focus, discipline, and creative engagement.

Children's Ballet Instructor

Julia Chin

Julia Chin serves as a ballet instructor at Bayview School of Ballet, where she brings dedication, discipline, and a strong performance background to nurturing young dancers. Beginning her dance training at the age of five, Julia has developed proficiency across ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, and character dance. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her distinguished competition history, artistic versatility, and continued growth as both a dancer and educator.

Julia has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including first place overall at the Candance 2024 Competition for her ballet solo, where she also received the Special Award for Pointe Perfection. She is recognized as the Top Ottawa Nationals Novice Champion and proudly represented Bayview School of Ballet and the local community at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. Most recently, Julia received outstanding recognition at the Elite Dance Challenge, earning multiple top honours across ballet, contemporary, group, and character divisions, including the Special Award for Power + Poise, Platinum and Diamond awards, first-place division placements, Overall Senior Soloist First Place, Overall Novice Group First Place, and additional special awards including WOWZA.

In 2021, Julia was the recipient of the prestigious Bella Kovarsky Scholarship, awarded in recognition of her artistic promise, technical skill, and dedication to classical ballet. A graduate of Bayview School of Ballet’s Teacher’s Training Program, Julia has refined her teaching skills and deepened her understanding of ballet instruction, classroom leadership, and student development. Her strong performance experience, thoughtful teaching approach, professionalism, and passion for dance make her a valuable member of the Bayview School of Ballet faculty and an inspiring role model for young dancers.

Children's Ballet Instructor

Joanna Zhao

Joanna Zhao is a dedicated Children’s Creative Movement instructor at Bayview School of Ballet, recognized for her nurturing approach and ability to inspire imagination and joy through dance. With a deep appreciation for expressive movement and a strong sense of discipline, Joanna brings warmth and creativity to every class, making her especially skilled at guiding young dancers through their first steps in ballet.

She is a proud graduate of Bayview School of Ballet’s Teacher’s Training Program, where she received comprehensive instruction in classical ballet technique, creative movement, and early childhood development. Her training focused on age-appropriate methods for introducing musicality, coordination, and body awareness to young children.

As an instructor, Joanna creates a joyful and supportive environment where children can explore movement, rhythm, and storytelling through dance. Her classes build the foundation for future ballet training while also encouraging confidence, imagination, and a love for learning. Joanna is passionate about introducing children to the magic of dance and helping each student take their first steps into the world of ballet with joy and confidence.

Adminsitive Assistant

Lexi Pace

Lexi Pace is a passionate instructor specializing in Children's Ballet within our Recreational Division at Bayview School of Ballet. She brings fresh energy, kindness, and enthusiasm to every class, helping young dancers discover the joy of movement and the discipline of classical technique. Lexi began her own dance journey at the age of three, training primarily in ballet, and later expanding her repertoire to include jazz and contemporary dance. Her diverse background gives her a dynamic and expressive teaching style that resonates with children of all ages.

Lexi is a proud graduate of Bayview School of Ballet’s esteemed Teacher’s Training Program, where she received in-depth instruction in ballet pedagogy, classroom management, and the Vaganova method. Her training instilled in her a strong foundation in classical technique, which she now passes on to her students with care and precision.

In addition to her dance education at Bayview School of Ballet, Lexi also graduated from Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts’ renowned dance program, where she refined her skills in performance, choreography, and creative expression.

With her combined academic and artistic training, Lexi is uniquely equipped to inspire and guide the next generation of dancers. Her classes are joyful, structured, and thoughtfully designed to support each child’s development. Lexi’s love for teaching is matched by her commitment to sharing the art of dance in a way that builds confidence, discipline, and creativity in every student she teaches.

Administrative Manager

Niusha Zamanipour

Niusha Zamanipour began her ballet journey at the young age of six and has since developed a strong foundation in classical dance. She is a proud graduate of Bayview School of Ballet’s Teacher’s Training Program, where she honed both her technical skills and her understanding of ballet instruction. Today, Niusha applies her discipline and passion for the arts in her role as Administrative Manager at Bayview School of Ballet, supporting the school’s operations and helping to create a positive environment for dancers and staff alike.

In addition to her dance background, Niusha recently graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Design, Fashion, earning a double concentration in Fashion Communication and Design Leadership. This unique combination of creative and managerial expertise allows her to contribute innovative ideas and effective leadership to the Bayview School of Ballet community.

Niusha’s blend of artistic training, academic achievement, and organizational skills make her an invaluable member of the Bayview School of Ballet team. She is committed to supporting the school’s mission and fostering a thriving environment where dancers and instructors can excel.