About the Director
Maurie Giella
Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, shaping who I am both as a performer and as a human. With over 30 years of training and experience, I’ve developed a deep love for sharing dance and movement.
I have proudly called the Okanagan home for the past 10 years, where I live with my two daughters and their loving father. Outside of the studio, I work full-time as a dental assistant and am a dedicated yoga practitioner, both of which influence my approach to teaching through mindfulness, balance, and body awareness.
This studio is truly a passion project of mine. It reflects not only my love for dance, but my belief in creating a space where dancers feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow, not just as dancers, but as confident people.
Faculty
Keisha Mclean
Keisha began her belly dance journey in 2004, and since then has trained with top-level instructors from around the world and performed throughout BC, Europe, and Mexico.
Her teachers include some of the most respected names in the art form — Dina Talat, Cameila, Hanny Morgan, Dr. George Sawa, Khairiya Maazin, Mohamad Salah, Rahel, Yasmina Ramzy, Sharadaz, Hadia, and more.
In 2019, Keisha made the trip of a lifetime to Egypt, where she immersed herself in the culture and received lessons from master belly dancers and musicians.
She is known for her enticing stage presence and informed teaching style, and is respected for her ethics and commitment to providing accurate, trustworthy information to her clients and students — but above all is her never-ending joy for the dance.
Emerson Morgan
Emerson has been dancing since she was 2 years old. Ever since she can remember, she has wanted to be a dance teacher so she can share her love and passion for the art with as many children as she can! She loves every style of dance, but her favs are definately tap, hip hop, lyrical, jazz, and heels. Emerson has had so many great experiences because of dance. She has travelled to New York and taken classes at Alvin Ailey, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. As well as California where she took classes in LA at Millennium Dance Complex, and danced on the Disneyland stage, and took classes from Disney’s choreographers. She has learned from the ALDC’s head choreographer Gianna Martello, Stacey Tookie, Travis wall, Anthony Morigerato, and so many more at conventions such as Nuvo, Jump, Groove Street, and private online masterclasses. Emerson is also a full time hairstylist. Whenever she is not dancing in a studio, you will find her dancing behind the chair at the salon. Emerson is so passionate about dance, and she is beyond excited to be a part of SODA’s first season!