The faculty of talented dance instructors include Monique Roy-Keller, Kristen Yuel, Mandy Newman, Kelsey Keilback, Tamara Hicks. Many senior students help as class assistants.
Studio Receptionist: Marie Roy

The instructors at Steppin' Time are accredited in the art of dance and have a mission to create a positive environment where all ages will become aware of their enormous potential, enabling them to receive the training that allows talent to be discovered, explored, and enjoyed.

Owner/Director - Monique Roy-Keller

Tap, Jazz, Pre-Ballet, Lyrical, Certified in the Al Gilbert and the ADAPT Dance Syllabus

Nominated for the 2005 Manitoba Business Woman of the Year Award, Monique has been a dancer since she began to walk. Monique started Steppin' Time Dance Studio in the Fall of 1995 and has fostered the growth of the studio to the largest in Brandon with more than 400+ active students. Her students receive professional instruction from accredited teachers in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, stage dance, and hip hop. Her students compete locally, provincially and nationally with great success. Her love of the art, talent as a teacher, and caring nature have created the warm, knowledgeable, and professional environment within which students of Steppin' Time Dance Studio thrive. Monique continually attends dance workshops and teacher training sessions around North America, bringing cutting-edge dance technique and fresh new ideas to her students, building her extensive knowledge of the art form she loves. In July 2006, Monique completed an intensive three-year teacher training program in the ADAPT dance syllabus. Proudly, Steppin' Time Dance Studio is now certified to offer the ADAPT dance syllabus to their students, the only studio in Brandon to achieve such certification.  Monique has also completed ALL levels of the Al Gilbert Syllabus in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. 

Monique's contribution to the city's arts community doesn't end at her studio doors. As graduate of Neelin High School , she returned to choreograph their major productions for several years including Oklahoma , The King and I , Annie , Camelot , Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. She is a teacher, choreographer and adjudicator throughout our region. Monique has generously shared her talents as a teacher and choreographer with more than a decade of Neelin High School, and Mecca Productions musical productions. Many young performers have developed their talent and confidence under Monique's guidance. Monique's unique, nurturing approach allows performers of all ages and levels of experience to discover the love of dance, to develop confidence in their abilities and to shine on stage! It is her role as mother to Ruby and Rhodes, and wife to Richard, that brings her most joy and of which she is most proud. With their much-loved dogs, they are happy to continue building a life in Brandon, and enjoy being an active part of a vital, arts-loving community.

Joined by the members of her staff, including Tamara Hicks, Kristen Yuel, Mandy Newman and Kelsey Keilback, dance instruction at Steppin' Time creates a well-rounded, student-centered program in the study of the art of dance. The talented members of the faculty offer classes to new and returning students in Jazz, Hip Hop, Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, (Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti), Pointe and Tap.

Kristen Yuel

"Tap, Pre-Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical Instructor" Certified Instructor in the Al Gilbert Syllabus, Bachelor of Education

Kristen Yuel is a certified dance instructor and she holds a Bachelors Degree in Education and a Business Administration Diploma. She is currently employed by the Brandon School Division as a substitute teacher. However, Kristen’s true love lies with dance. She was a dancer herself at a very early age and continued to peruse many forms of dance throughout her childhood. She became certified in the Al Gilbert Syllabus for tap and jazz completing her Grade 8 Tap and Grade 4 Jazz. Kristen began instructing dance classes in 1997 at Steppin Time Dance Studio in Brandon. In 2002 she took over as the sole instructor of the Virden Dance Club. Kristen is the choreographer for Mecca’s Pride of Westman and Charisma performance groups, and for Neelin High School’s annual major productions. She has adjudicating experience with Rolling River, Deloraine Border, and the Virden Festival of the Arts. Kristen is married to her husband Dave, and they  have two youngsters Willem and Mila. Kristen’s love of dance and children makes her an incredible dance teacher. Her energy and commitment to her students and the studio is remarkable. Steppin’ Time is  fortunate to have her on staff! 

Tamara Topsnik Hicks

Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical Instructor, R.A.D.R.T.S (Royal Academy of Dance Certified Instructor

Tamara Topsnik Hicks R.A.D.R.T.S. moved to Brandon in 1993 after teaching for four years in British Columbia at her own school, Marpole Studio of Dance. She is a graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet professional Division. Tamara Topsnik Hicks performed with the Royal Winnipeg in their productions of Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Giselle in 1988. She toured with the R.W.B. to Japan. In 1989 she danced in Germany in the “Nick Haberstich Ballet Company”. Mrs. Hicks is a registered Royal Academy of Dance teacher and is qualified to enter students in R.A.D. exams. She has been an adjudicator with A.M.A.F. since 1995 and has loved every opportunity of sharing her knowledge with others.

Mandy Newman

Jazz, Lyrical and Hip Hop Instructor Certified Instructor in the ADAPT Syllabus, Early Learning Degree

Mandy was born December 31st 1984 in Winnipeg Manitoba where she began dancing at the age of 3 at the Royal Dance Conservatory in Winnipeg. At the age of 6 she moved to Thompson Manitoba where she began studying ballet and jazz and then eventually later on hip hop and tap.  Mandy studied the R.A.D  ballet syllabus completing  exams up to grade 6 and  she studied the A.D.A.P.T jazz and tap syllabus completing exams up to Intermediate 3 jazz and Pre-intermediate 1 tap.  Mandy also completed and received her A.D.A.P.T teacher’s certification in Jazz and Tap.  In September of 2004 Mandy moved to Brandon Manitoba where she received her Early Childhood Education diploma at A.C.C and began instructing dance at Steppin’ Time. She is currently directing the Y/New Era Early Learning Center and instructing hip hop, jazz and lyrical jazz at Steppin’ Time. Mandy is also a Zumba certified instructor and will be adding this fun way to work out to the Steppin' Time schedule. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their dog Buddy! Mandy feels that dance is such a unique and special way for children to express themselves through movement and music.
“ Great Dancer’s are not great because of their technique. They are great because of their passion.”  - Unknown

Kelsey Keilback

Jazz, Tap, Pre-Ballet, Hip hop Certified instructor in the Al Gilbert Syllabus and current university student

Kelsey Keilback is a certified teacher for tap in the Al Gilbert Syllabus. Kelsey is a graduate from Vincent Massey high school in Brandon and is currently enrolled at Brandon University in her second year of Physical Education and Business Studies as well as working on completing Dance Teacher Education at the University of Regina. This will be Kelsey's fourth year teaching at both Steppin' Time and Mid-West School of Dance in Hamiota.  Kelsey has spent the past couple years teaching for the Reston Dance Club, Carberry Arts Council, Brandon University Specialty Dance Camp, and for the City of Brandon's Children's summer day camps.  Kelsey has completed five ballet exams from the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus including both Graded exams as well as two major Vocational exams; Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate levels. She has also completed obtained her grade eight in tap and grade two in jazz of the Al Gilbert Dance Syllabus. Kelsey is also currently certified in Emergency First Aid/CPR (First Aider 1) through St.John Ambulance and also Lifesaving Emergency and Standard First Aid through the Naional Lifesaving Society of Canada. Kelsey has competed and taken part in many different dance competitions, workshops and conventions all over Canada and the United States.  

Gail Nykoliation

Toning/Core Fitness for Adults and Company Dancers

Gail Nykoliation embraced physical activity ~15 years ago as a way to manage weight and feel better. 12 years ago, Gail trained and mentored under some of Brandon's best fitness instructors. Gail is a Certified Fitness Instructor Specialist and Certified Personal Training Specialist with CanFitPro [Canadian Fitness Professionals] (nationally recognized certification). Gail teaches Boot Camp, Step, Aerobics, Toning, Intervals, Core, Yoga, and Power Walking. I'm an avid runner having completed several half marathons in many different cities.  

Katey Rogowsky

Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Pre-Ballet, Instructor
Certified in the Al Gilbert Dance Syllabus

Katey has been dancing since the age of 4. In the past 11 years she has studied tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, pointe and hip hop, and has been a company dancer since 2004. Katey also recently completed her grade 8 tap exam and is now a certified tap instructor in the Al Gilbert syllabus. She has successfully completed her graded ballet exams with the Royal Academy of Dance, and in 2010 she received her Advanced Foundation in the RAD syllabus. Katey has a passion for dance, a love for teaching, and is excited to share it with her students!  

Niki Nelson

Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Pre-Ballet, Instructor
Certified in the Al Gilbert Dance Syllabus

An honor student at vincent massey highschool and a life long lover of dance. Niki has been dancing at steppin' time dance studio since she has been three years old. Niki has completed her grade 7 tap exam and will strive to complete grade 8 this year. Overall niki loves to dance wether tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, niki' passion for dance and commitment to her own ongoing development and the development of younger dancers makes her an excellent role model for young dancers to follow. She recognizes that dance is for everyone and aspires to pass her passion for dance onto others.

Assistants

3rd Row: L to R - Jayden Case, Mary Lacerte, Kyrra Rauch, Courtney White, Rylie Basaraba, Morgan Nichols

2nd Row: L to R - Katey Rogowsky, Courtney Morgan, Niki Nelson, Brooke Webber, Bailey Pelletier, Taylor Orchard, Taylor Wirch, Jalene Moman, Hailey Roach, Paige Anderson, Parker Simard, Katie Brooks

1st Row: L to R - Laura Bullee, Shannon Wiebe, Aliane Medwid, Kyra Lavoie, Rachel Hyrsak, Ashton English, Camryn Anderson, Bailey Forster
(missing: Nikki Weerts, Kaitlin Loewen)

All of Steppin' Time assistants are currently enrolled in all disciplines of dance and are either exam students or company dancers. Thier love of dance shines through when assisting in class. Depending on the number of students enrolled there is always one teacher and two assistants which allows individual attention for all dancers!