FACULTY | Next Gen Dance Co

McKinlee Phillips

RAD RTS, TTP Dip (Canada's National Ballet School),
BFA Honours Dance (York University), AISTD (National Dance), PAA, CDTA (Member), First Aid/CPR Certified, VSC

Owner, Director, Lead Instructor

Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Tiny Toes, Small Steps

McKinlee Phillips is a highly trained dancer, teacher, and choreographer; specializing in Ballet and Jazz. McKinlee grew up in all aspects of the arts, taking part in acting, singing, and dancing as a child. McKinlee was represented by Colin McMurray and Associates in Toronto, where she was able to land multiple acting roles including cartoon voice-overs, commercials, and a movie. McKinlee also attended the Canadian Model and Talent convention at a young age, where she received awards for her dancing and acting out of hundreds of entries. As she grew older, McKinlee turned her focus away from acting and began to focus more on her dancing; training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre. At the young age of 13, she decided she wanted to open a dance studio and offer the best possible training for young dancers wishing to make dance into a career. Throughout her high school years, McKinlee worked to take master classes with as many choreographers and teachers as possible at multiple studios in Toronto. McKinlee also took multiple acting and modeling workshops, ensuring to keep her connections in the industry strong in the hopes of helping her future students.

McKinlee began her post-secondary dance journey at York University in Toronto, where she was accepted into the Dance Program. Through York University, McKinlee discovered her love for ballet, and decided to work towards being accepted into Canada's National Ballet School. McKinlee was accepted into the Teacher Training Program at Canada's National Ballet School in June of 2019, and began her training there full-time in September 2019. Through her time at Canada’s National Ballet School, McKinlee was training in three different methodologies of ballet, including Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti Ballet, and NBS Curriculum. McKinlee also took various classes in Ballet Pedagogy, Music, and Basic Anatomy for Dancers. McKinlee was also an assistant in various Certificate Level classes, helping to teach dancers at the school. Toward the end of her time at the NBS, McKinlee was given the opportunity to teach Adult Ballet classes through the school as well.

McKinlee has since completed her studies at York University in Toronto to obtain her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Specialized Honors in Dance. Here she focused on Modern and Contemporary dance training, along with choreography, performance based opportunities, and basic Dance Kinesiology to better equip her to deal with dance related injuries. She has also achieved her Diploma from Canada’s National Ballet School’s world renowned Teacher Training Program in which she graduated from in 2022. McKinlee has achieved her Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as her Associates Diploma with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; Specializing in National Dance. McKinlee is also a member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.

McKinlee has experience teaching children from two to eighteen years old, as well as experience working as an Early Childhood Educator for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years. She uses her knowledge of Early Childhood Education in all of her preschool aged programs; including Tiny Toes and Small Steps. McKinlee has also taken courses learning how to work with older adults and adults with Parkinson’s through Canada’s National Ballet School, and aims to complete courses to assist her in learning how to more confidently work with Dancers with Special Needs. McKinlee also regularly attends safeguarding workshops through the Royal Academy of Dance, ensuring that safety is a top priority in the studio.

McKinlee is constantly learning and growing; taking multiple teaching workshops each year to ensure she is always staying on-top of her craft. Her most recent workshops include “Working with Preschool Dancers” offered by the Dance Studio Owners Association, as well as her ongoing training with “Progressing Ballet Technique”, with a goal to obtain her PBT certification in 2025. McKinlee has also been taking various workshops with the Acro Dance Teachers Association, in the hopes to one day obtain her ADTA Teaching Status. McKinlee is also First Aid/CPR certified and ensures to keep her certification up to date.

Since beginning NGDC in 2021, McKinlee has received numerous Choreography Awards, Judges Choice Awards, and Top Studio Awards from an array of competitions. Her students have also successfully taken home multiple overall awards, scholarships, and special judge’s awards for their performance, technique, and overall dance ability. McKinlee's goal for Next Generation Dance Company is to provide the best possible dance training for her students; both recreational and competitive. McKinlee’s connections within the industry help her to ensure all of her dancers are given countless opportunities for growth, development, and success, so that they can follow in her footsteps and take their dance careers with them after high school if they so choose.

Kendra Perry

ARAD, AAC, AF, PBT, ADTA , PAA, NASM-CPT, First Aid/CPR Certified

Lead Acro

Kendra has had a love of dance for over 27 years. Her experience in teaching and assisting students, in dance, began in 2002. Kendra has won many awards at competitions in Ontario and the USA. She has studied with many choreographers over the years, including Shannon Mather, Blake McGrath and Mia Michaels. She has been commended for her choreography around Barrie and the GTA receiving overall, special and choreography awards for her routines at competitions, as well as being the choreographer for productions such as “Dear Edwina” and “Alice in Wonderland” by Kempenfelt Community Players.

Upon graduation in June 2009, she received two scholarships; one for her excellent contribution in dance and the other for the highest mark in dance. Kendra is a Level 2 NCCP Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Coach and a Level 1 NCCP Trained Trampoline Coach. She is also Acrobatic Arts (Module 2), Alixa Flexibility (Module 2), Progressing Ballet Technique and Premiere Master ADTA Certified and has been teaching students ages 2-19 for over 13 years. Kendra has also completed her Advanced 2 RAD Ballet exam and was granted ARAD status.

Tina Lytle-Bird

BEd. York University, BFA, Theatre Performance: Dance (TMU), TTP Dip. (Canada's National Ballet School), ARAD RTS, AISTD (National), ADCC-CICB

Ballet

Kendra is a highly sought after dancer, performing for Weddings, Bravado, Pink Floyd ‘The Wall’ Tribute Concert, and at Pearson International Airport for International Dance Day. She has enjoyed training students at Simcoe Dance Academy, Barrie Parks and Recreation, Northern Stars Gymnastics and Moving Art Centre for the Performing Arts. Kendra is looking forward to bringing her knowledge and passion for dance to the Next Generation Dance Company family!

Born in rural Alberta, Ms. Lytle began her dance journey at the age of two. After relocating to Toronto twenty years ago, she has thrived as a student, professional dancer, competitive choreographer, Ballet Director, and a highly sought-after guest artist, adjudicator and educator.

Her deep passion for the arts drives her commitment to the importance of arts education for the mental and physical well-being of her students. Ms. Lytle is known for fostering a fun, positive, and nurturing learning environment, tailored to

meet the needs of each student while celebrating their personal successes. Many of her students have continued to make their mark in the dance community, with achievements including opening their own studios, advancing their dance education, and performing professionally on national and international stages including dancing on the hit series, The Next Step as well as with the National Ballet of Canada, Joffrey Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Notably, she currently has former students dancing professionally across four continents!

Ms. Lytle is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program (2007), where she earned her R.A.D., Cecchetti, and National Dance teaching certifications. She also holds a BFA in Theatre Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University (2009) and a BEd from York University. More recently, she enjoyed a decade teaching ballet and dance at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. Ms. Lytle is thrilled to join the dance community in Peterborough and looks forward to bringing her positive attitude, extensive knowledge, and love for ballet to the students at Next Generation Dance Company.

Mackenzie Everson

BEd. Trent University, Bachelor of Arts Trent University, VSC

Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz

Mackenzie Everson has been a part of the dance community for 14 years. She grew up dancing at local studios, and during her time as a student, Mackenzie learned various dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, lyrical, open, jazz, and hip-hop. She started teaching dance at 16 in recreational and competitive classes and has continued teaching since. She has been a part of the Next Generation Dance Company staff for four years and is excited to continue working alongside the other excellent staff and students at Next Gen. She graduated High School in 2018 in the Dance Program at Thomas. A Stewart Secondary School, where she furthered her dance knowledge as a dancer and choreographer for five years. Since graduating, she has spent extra time working alongside Susie Clarke, the TAS dance teacher, to collaborate on dances for their semester shows.

More recently, Mackenzie completed a Degree at Trent University in 2023, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and specializing in the Teacher Education Stream. She has also obtained her Bachelor of Education program from Trent University and plans to begin her career as a teacher this year. During her time at Trent, she devoted much of her time to the Trent Dance Team. She has been a part of the Trent Dance Team for five years. Four of those years as a team choreographer, three as a team captain, and in her final year, she has took on the role of the team president.

Mackenzie has choreographed and danced in multiple award winning pieces, and has won countless special awards and judges awards for her pieces created here at Next Generation. Mackenzie brings a unique and powerful choreographic dynamic to Next Generation dancers, allowing them to dance outside of their comfort zones and pushing confidence and strength in all of her pieces.

Mackenzie always loved and been passionate about dance and teaching in general. She has over 14 years of experience in dance and over 4 years of experience teaching children ages 3 to 24. She is excited to continue sharing her love of dance for this coming season at Next Generation Dance Company!

Rachael Froggatt

BEd. in Progress

Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop
Co-Lead Musical Theatre

Dance has been Rachael's favourite thing for as long as she remembers. Stories of her as a young girl putting on performances, and asking every stranger she came across if they wanted to see her dance led her parents to sign her up for dance classes at age 3. She danced recreationally for years and her love for dance only continued to grow with time. When Rachael was 7, she took the next step in her dance journey and began dancing on the competitive team. Throughout her time as a competitive dancer she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and most notably; musical theatre.

Rachael completed several B.A.T.D certifications in ballet, jazz, and tap throughout her time as a competitive dancer. Rachael also grew up as a member of Peterborough's theatre community, and was involved in several productions with a local theatre company, and over the years was able to hold the role of assistant choreographer. Rachael attended Thomas A Stewart for their integrated arts program, and it was here that she was able to really dive into her creativity and was provided with several opportunities to choreograph pieces for and with her fellow classmates. By her graduating year, she was presented with an award for her choreography.

Rachael has had the chance to go to New York City where she has taken workshop classes at Alvin Ailey, Broadway Dance Centre and Steps on Broadway. At 17, she had her first opportunity to teach dance to children between the ages of 6-14 locally. Over the years her love for teaching has continued to grow, and she plans to obtain her bachelor of education in the near future.

Rachael has been a member of the Trent University Dance Team for 3 years, and is currently in her second year with a role as a choreographer on the team. It is Rachael's second season with NGDC and she is dedicated to providing a fun and safe environment that fosters growth as dancers and as individuals for all of her students.

Joslyn Luciani

BFA in Progress, Acrobatic Arts Module 1 in Progress

Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop

Joslyn's love for dance began at a very young age. At just one year old, she was enrolled in her first dance class, which sparked her passion and a desire to pursue a future in dance. By age four, Joslyn was already training competitively, immersing herself in a wide range of dance styles, including Hip-hop, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, and Pointe. She Successfully completed RAD Ballet Examinations throughout her competitive journey. Her early start and relentless dedication set the foundation for a remarkable dance journey that continues to inspire those around her.

Joslyn's passion for dance naturally extended to teaching. She began mentoring younger dancers at her home studio at just 11 years old, developing a teaching style that emphasizes creativity, self-expression, and personal growth. Her goal as a teacher is to create a warm, welcoming environment where students feel encouraged to explore their potential, challenge themselves, and find joy in dance. Joslyn's classes are known for their supportive and fun atmosphere, where dancers of all ages feel inspired to push their boundaries and express their authentic selves.

In addition to her dance career, Joslyn is committed to her academic growth. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Trent University, with the intention of earning her Bachelor of Education degree. Her commitment to learning extends beyond the classroom; she is also working toward her Acrobatic Arts Certification, further enhancing her skills and knowledge as a dance instructor. Joslyn's journey is a reflection of her talent, dedication, and love for dance. She continues to inspire dancers of all ages to pursue their dreams with passion, perseverance, and a sense of fun. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that with hard work and dedication, one can turn their passion into a lifelong journey of arowth and fulfillment.

Maddy Gaskell

Social Media Manager, Administrative Assistant, Co-Lead Musical Theatre

Maddy has been a part of Next Generation since day one. Beginning as a dancer in Next Generation's first ever competitive team, to ending her dance career as an award winning Musical Theatre soloist at multiple competitions across Ontario; Maddy understands the culture and expectations of Next Generation more than anyone.

Maddy began dancing competitively at age 8, and moved to Next Generation to further her dance training at the age of 14. Maddy studied under McKinlee and Mackenzie and took various classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Open, and Musical Theatre. She was a part of the first ever award winning group in Season 1, and is known to many as an "OG" dancer at Next Gen. Throughout her years at Next Generation, Maddy assisted various classes in multiple different styles alongside owner McKinlee. Through her assisting, she was able to learn first-hand how to conduct a proper class, command the attention of her students, and lead with a warm and fun approach. Maddy is able to continue to use all of these skills today to teach her students.

Although Maddy enjoys many styles of dance, it was during her last 2 years at Next Generation where she found a true passion for Musical Theatre, and decided that pursuing theatre was the right path for her. Maddy is currently studying at the University of Guelph with the goal of becoming a teacher with teachable's in English and Drama.

Maddy still assists McKinlee in multiple classes when she is home from school, as well as assists with choreography for many pieces throughout the summer. Maddy has recently begun choreographing her own Musical Theatre pieces and has even been awarded a "Young Choreographer Award" for a previous solo. Maddy's goal is to continue to lead and inspire the dancers at Next Generation, focussing on those who have a passion for Musical Theatre just as she does. Maddy hopes to continue to train in teacher training courses to continue to expand her knowledge of dance teaching even further.