Quality Dance Instruction Done Right

You're child deserves nothing but the best when it comes to instructors. Our goal is to always provide students the best possible dance training. We make sure all our faculty at RDC are highly qualified in terms of not only their dance experience but their training as a teacher as well. Our instructors also take time to connect and guide both students and parents though their dance experience at Royal Dance Conservatory. We are happy to have such a dedicated, passionate, and talented team who are thrilled to pass on their knowledge to our dancers.

Nicole Gornik

CEO, Owner, and Artistic Director

​Royal Dance Conservatory celebrates over 40 years of dance excellence in Winnipeg. Throughout that time there have only been two changes in ownership. The studio passes from owner to long time instructor to maintain a constant focus that emphasizes the ongoing relationship between staff and students as a family.

Nicole Gornik is the newest owner at the dance studio of Royal Dance Conservatory. However, she is not new to RDC. Nicole began dancing at RDC at the age of 5 and has developed from student to instructor to director.

A successful dance studio needs not only talent but effective management and administration. Nicole has known from an early age that she wanted and needed to put her imprint upon this studio. Owning, operating, and directing two dance studios requires a degree of business administration. Before moving to manager Nicole attended RRC in Business Administration. She graduated with Honours in the course and then took over RDC.

Nicole not only manages RDC she is involved in every aspect of the curriculum and teaching. She has been trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Most recently she has completed all ten levels of the Acrobatic Arts Teacher Certification in Toronto. She is fully certified after completing her exams in Modules 1 and 2. Over the last year she has also become CLI Studio certified and has committed to ongoing training in both business, dance, and teaching.

Nicole as a student has travelled across North America performing and competing learning from world renowned choreographers such as Travis Wall and Mia Micheals. She has performed with the Great Russian Ballet in 2009 and 2011, placed second for her Pointe Solo in Dance World Cup (Montreal), performed in Disney World for Dance the World, and won highest point for her Ballet Solo at Ovation Dance Challenge (Fargo).

Most recently she and her competitive team were placed as a Top Studio Finalist in Toronto at the Kick It Up Dance Competition. Nicole looks forward on bringing new life to the RDC dance studios. Be sure to watch what's on the horizon for Nicole Gornik and Royal Dance Conservatory.
Marli Sakiyama

Marli Sakiyama

Marli Sakiyama has been dancing since she was two and teaching since 18. She graduated with a Masters in City Planning and is currently at home with her two young children. She now has over 20 years of teaching experience!

She believes life is too short so it better be filled with dance! She completed her RAD graded examinations in her youth, but continues to expand her dance knowledge with training and classes. Along with teaching ballet, pointe and lyrical classes she has taught choreography for competitive students. 

Marli is excited to return to teaching ballet and pointe to the RDC ballet students. She can't wait to see what the year will bring! 
Jenna Voth

Jenna (Voth) Leclair

Jenna was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has shared her love for dance across Canada as well as in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Jenna is a 2019 graduate of the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers and has been teaching for over 6 years.
Some of her past projects within the professional dance community include: 40 Dancer Project (New Blue Festival, Toronto), Stream of Dance Festival 2018 (New Dance Horizons), Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra – Mars (Odette Heyn-Projects), Paula Blair Projects, Stephanie Ballard: Landscape Dancing: Human Rights Museum, Landscape Dancing (Stephanie Ballard and Dancers), LIVE Dance (BOSS Dance Crew Winnipeg), Creando lazos a través de La Danza – Mexico 2019 (“Creating ties through Dance”) in collaboration with the School of Contemporary Dancers, Roberto Mosqueda, and Ilse Torres, Winnipeg Women Dancing Performances (Stephanie Ballard).
Jenna joined our RDC teaching staff back in 2015. Her passion is working with students, building their confidence, and challenging them to grow in their technique and artistry.
Ari Quijada

Ari Quijada

Ari was born in Caracas, Venezuela and began dancing at the Nina Novak Ballet Academy at the age of two. She graduated as a principal dancer certified by the Vaganova School of Dance. She trained and performed with the National Venezuelan Ballet Company, The Opera of Paris Ballet Company, and the American Ballet Theater, as well as competed at the 2011 YAGP, and the 2015 World Ballet Competition.
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Ari has also trained in Jazz, Tap, Acro, and is currently enrolled in her fourth year of The Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers. Ari is very excited to work with the RDC students and can’t wait to see what the year will bring!
Taylor Wiens

Taylor Wiens

At age five Taylor began her dance journey.  She has trained in various styles of dance, including: Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Acro, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. In 2015 Taylor moved to Winnipeg where she joined RDC to continue training at to compete on their competitive team. Over the years she has had the opportunity to be choreographed by the renowned So You Think You Can Dance alumni Moses Layco. She has also learned from choreographers such as Josh Assor, Jon Ole Ostad, and Samantha Grist. She has attended competitions such as Canadian National Dance Championships, MOVE Dance Competition, Dance Canada, KickIt (Toronto), and CanDance (Alberta).

Prior to beginning her teaching career at RDC she participated in a one year training course with RDC’s owner, Nicole Gornik and instructor Tracy Tomchuck. Over the last year she has also committed her time to complete her CLI Studio teacher training certification. Currently she is entering her third year of study as she works towards becoming a physiotherapist.

Taylor is beyond excited to continue teaching at RDC and cannot wait to see what the future brings.
Kaeleigh Ayre

Kaeleigh Ayre

Bio coming soon
Nicole Wightman

Nicole Wightman

​Bio coming soon
Join Our Faculty
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Interested in teaching for us? We’re always on the lookout for passionate, energetic and experienced teachers to join our rock star faculty. We’d also love to hear from you why you’d like to join our inspiring team of teachers. We look forward to hearing from you!