Leisa Whalen - Fellow of B.A.T.D. Director/Owner
Leisa is a Kingstonian and a graduate of Regiopolis - Notre Dame High School. Her creative talents led her to study Fine Arts at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College. Throughout her childhood and teenage years she studied at Dezell’s Dance Academy; these successful years prepared and inspired her to teach as an accredited and accomplished dance instructor.
Leisa is a Fellow of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. She has been teaching dance for more than 35 years, and has owned and operated her studio since 1986. She continues to study dance and upgrade her knowledge and skills. As a dance educator she provides opportunities for students to grow through classes, workshops, examinations, community events, and year end recitals.
She exhibits all the qualities parents and students look for in a teacher: she is patient, inventive, diligent, and understanding, but also firm in establishing and insisting upon high standards of performance among her students. She willingly and effectively accommodates individual differences and learning styles so that every dancer feels accomplished and successful. Evidence of this is the fact that her students love her, and work hard to meet her standards as well as setting their own personal goals. Leisa’s dancers continually achieve impressive results in their dance exams, but in addition take pride in their accomplishments!
Susan Del-Mei
M. of B.A.T.D.
Susan started dancing with Leisa at the age of three and has never stopped! As a senior student she volunteered with younger classes and at Summer Dance Camps and it sparked her love for teaching dance. She has been teaching at Leisa’s School of Dance since 2006, and is a Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (Tap and Jazz), with her Associate certificate in Ballet as well. She also teaches Lyrical/Contemporary and Hip Hop classes where she loves to stretch her students artistry and flex her choreography muscles.
Susan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University in 2012, and is an accomplished actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer. She has performed in and choreographed a long list of productions in Kingston and surrounding area.
Susan shares Leisa’s beliefs and work ethic, and delivers high quality service to the students in her care. She is proud to share her knowledge with her students, and hopes to inspire them with her love for dance and the performing arts.
Allison Beahen
M. of B.A.T.D.
Allison started dancing with Leisa at the age of three, following in the footsteps of her two older sisters. After receiving her B.A.T.D. Associate certificate in 2006, Allison studied dance at George Brown College for two years. Leisa and her students are happy that Allison returned to Kingston, where she has been teaching at Leisa’s School of Dance since 2008. Allison is a Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing.
Allison enjoys working with her students, and consistently exhibits a high level of enthusiasm and energy that inspires her students to do the same.
Sydney Cobham
A. of B.A.T.D.
Sydney started dancing with Leisa at the age of 4 and grew up in the studio, training until she graduated high school and took her teacher’s exams. She is an Associate in Jazz, Ballet and Tap with the B.A.T.D.
A graduate of York University’s dance program, in the choreography and performance stream, Sydney returned to teach at Leisa’s for the 2022/2023 dance season after briefly joining the teaching staff during the pandemic in 2020.
Sydney brings her creativity and love of dance to all of her classes and instills the joy of dance in all of her students.