Mallory Zwicker

Artistic Director,  Teacher

Mallory is a dance educator from the South Shore who has a huge passion for the arts. At age 14 she began her formal dance training at a number of dance studios and companies in Nova Scotia, and by age 15 was dancing 7 days a week in a plethora of genres. Mallory has taken master classes in New York City and Calgary and has trained at multiple local studios over the years including Precision Dance Company under the direction of  Sidney McIlroy. For two years Mallory was a member of Synergy Dance Society, a touring Modern/Contemporary/Jazz company, until their final season in 2014. For 18 years, Mallory was a member of the Dynamo Gym Club where she developed a lifelong love of gymnastics that has transitioned into her love of teaching Acro dance.

Mallory has been teaching since she was 16 years old and quickly realized it was what she was meant to do.  Mallory has taught at a number of dance schools including the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and was the Artistic Director of Nova Dance Studio for the 2016-17 season, just to name a few.  In May of 2017, Mallory opened Plan A Dance Centre in Bridgewater NS, and by 2018 opened a second studio in Liverpool. Mallory’s love for technical teaching and choreography is continuously growing and her pieces have been performed and recognized across North America. Some of Mallory’s local accomplishments include: Spotlight Choreography Award(s), Excellence in Acro Teaching Award, she has produced numerous title winning dances and has had dancers graduate and go off to performing arts institutions to begin their careers in the fine arts.

Mallory is a graduate of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts’ Teacher Training Program where she trained for 3 years with an amazing faculty of highly acclaimed dance professionals under the direction of Barbara Dearborn. Zwicker is now a certified Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Acrobatics teacher through the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and has her Progressive Ballet Technique teaching certification. All of Mallory’s exam students have passed with flying colors thus far. Mallory believes that knowledge is power and is also enrolled in the Business Program at NSCC and has recently received her certificate from the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre. Mallory plans to keep growing and learning so that she can continue to educate and engage all of her students at PADC!

Mariah Kelley

Assistant to the Director, Teacher

Mariah is a passionate teacher that has always had a love for recreational activities and the arts. Mariah has 9 years of experience in coaching, mentoring, and teaching children in a variety of activities including gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, and of course dance. She has developed strong leadership skills and a love for working with children throughout her wide involvement in community activities and sports. She is able to use her skills and knowledge to help dancers achieve their personal goals and have fun in the studio. Mariah was a successful athlete herself and earned high achievements in competitive gymnastics, dance, swimming and more. Mariah began teaching with Nova Dance in 2016 and has continued to inspire her many students from toddlers to teens at PADC to this day!

Mariah is currently a full time student at Saint Mary’s University working towards a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting. She previously earned a Diploma in Business Administration from NSCC. Mariah had the opportunity of dancing at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts for a semester, under many amazing faculty, growing her dance knowledge in genres such as ballet, jazz, and modern. Mariah is a certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor and uses this knowledge when teaching PADC’s tumbling classes. Mariah’s choreography has received a number of special judges mentions, including adjudicators choice awards at “Candance” in 2021 and “Taking Steps To Fly” in 2017. Mariah has also earned several high mark awards as a dancer in the professional division.

Mariah enjoys taking opportunities to learn from different instructors, including master classes taken in Toronto in 2018. Mariah will continue to learn and grow as an instructor to always be able to offer her best to her students, and she is looking forward to another season at PADC

Sierra Wentzell

Teacher

Sierra started dancing when she was 3 years old at Nova Dance Studio, and has danced competitively for 12 years- most of those years with PADC. It was in her teen years that she started to add on more classes and different styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, and contemporary, until she was taking every single class offered for her age at the studio. Aside from training with Miss Mallory, Sierra has been assisting Miss Mariah’s classes for years and is a well known substitute teacher amongst our students. Outside of the studio, Sierra is a graduate of the Veterinary Technology program at Dalhousie Agricultural College and is currently working at Metro Animal Emergency Clinic. She is really looking forward to Season 6, and transitioning from PADC dancer to PADC staff!

Jordyn Duffney

Teacher

Jordyn has had a love for both movement and music since she was very young. Trying her skills in such sports as figure skating and competitive gymnastics until 2014, the next logical step for Jordyn was to start dance classes with Mallory at Nova Dance Studio in 2015. She joined the competitive Acro program and since then, she has been hooked. Jordyn has been a student at PADC since it opened, and enjoys taking several classes such as Acro, Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary, as well as learning choreography for solos. Over the years, Jordyn has earned many awards during her time as a gymnast, dancer, competitive swimmer, pianist and vocalist, but her passion and true love has always been dance. She enjoys sharing her passion with younger students and has a great deal of experience with coaching gymnastics, assisting with the swim team and teaching piano lessons. Jordyn has worked alongside Mallory at PADC in Liverpool since it opened and has been an exemplary role model for all of her students. Upon high school graduation, Jordyn will be attending Acadia University, where she will be working towards a Bachelor of Kinesiology. Jordyn is looking forward to continuing to teach dance classes this year, and she can’t wait for Season 5 at Plan A!