Meet Our Staff

Margo Hartley

Margo Hartley is the owner and director of Bojangles Art of Dance. Bojangles reputation for producing excellence in the art of dance is known throughout North America.

Margo’s students have launched successful professional careers spanning from New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Europe, and Japan, in the dance, video, television, broadway, and theatre industries. Most recently her students have appeared in the movies “Music Man” and “Chicago” and the broadway shows “Lion King” and “Mama Mia”. Margo’s flair for choreography has won many awards and recognition in the dance world and has enabled her to further her career in the commercial and industrial markets. She has worked for B.F. Goodrich, New York Villages, Dance Masters of America, Today’s Bride Magazine as well as numerous videos, pageants and television productions. Margo’s teaching can only be described as electric, as she teaches with great enthusiasm across Canada and the U.S.A., which produces a style unique to her own. Having been involved in theatre since the wee age of eighteen months old, it’s no wonder she feels that “all the world’s a stage”.

 Nikki Giroux

 Nikki Giroux is an accomplished performer, teacher and choreographer who brings to her work a passion to share and express the art of dance. After growing up in Sudbury, Ontario where she studied all forms of dance, Nikki moved to Chicago to continue her training at the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Center. She has also attended the Western University of Kentucky achieving certificates in Ballet Arts and Musical Theatre Arts. Nikki has served as a guest performer and choreographer for “La Troupe” with Laurentian University and assistant choreographer to the live televised “Oktoberfest Pageant.” Nikki is proud of all of her students who have gone on to professional careers in dance, video and broadway and enjoys tremendous success at Bojangles Art of Dance. Working with students as young as two years old, transcending her love for the art of dance, her classes are positive, encouraging and enthusiastic as Nikki believes that there is a part of everyone that was born to dance.

Melanie Hill

 Melanie Hill started dancing at the age of 5 and has been working ever since. Melanie is trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Her career has taken her across Canada, the USA and the Caribbean. Dance credits include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Toronto Blue Jays dance team captain, Toronto Phantoms (AFL), Arena Bowl (All Star dancer), Kevin and Caruso New Wave Magic, Hamilton Bull Dogs, Smirnoff Experience, Mercedes, Volvo and Music video’s. Commercials include: Target, Eatons, Winners, and Zellers stores. Blockbuster, Pladium, Clarica and Ford. Plus the “The Townies” TV series. Other credites include: Kaufman Footwear, Cardinal Meats, The Bay, Sears, Walmart. Bojangles is excited to have Melanie on our team. She brings enthusiasm and knowledge to the art of dance.

Andrea Burns

Andrea Burns began her dance training at the age of 3 with Lynn Morrison in Brampton where she excelled in RAD, BATD and CTDA examination.After moving to Kitchener Andrea performed at the Stratford Festival in the production of Carousel for 9 months.She continued her training at various schools obtaining both her Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance Advanced examinations.Andrea has received numerous scholarships to future her ballet career from educations institutions such as Quinte Ballet school andChildren’s Theatre of Dance.  She has attended many prestigious ballet schools such as the Royal English Ballet in Tring, England, the Arts Education School in Banff, Alberta and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.  Andrea then went on to study at the University of Waterloo where she obtained her BA in Sociology.She also received her teaching certificate from the Royal Academy of Dance and has been helping students pursue their dance dreams ever since.Andrea brings her passion for ballet to her classroom and is looking to inspire her students one plies at a time!

Alyssa “Lou” Smith

Alyssa “Lou” Smith is a recent graduate of the Triple Threat College Program at the Randolph Academy. She now adds two years of education in musical theatre/acting performance to herextensive training in jazz, tap, ballet, and hip hop at Bojangles Dance Arts. Alyssa has had the pleasure of performing at the Air Canada Centre as a member of the NBA Raptors Dance Pak and was specially selected to perform in the NBA European Live Tour in Italy and Spain.  Her other credits include back-up dancing for recording artist Aleesia, MTV’s “Holi-Do’s and Don’ts” with Dan Levy and numerous industrials including McDonalds, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Sears. In addition to commercial dancing, Alyssa has acted the lead character in Timothy Findley’s play Can You See Me Yet? (Annex Theatre) and was the dance captain for the musical Little Women (Bathurst Street Theatre).

Having grown up in the dance studio, teaching is Alyssa’s first love and her students and choreography have garnered numerous outstanding awards for entertainment. She has assisted prominent choreographers Tyce Diorio, Kelly Kono, Jason Winters and Derrick Yanford who in turn have influenced her own style and passion for teaching as a faculty member of Fresh Dance Intensive. As a Top Ten VIP at Jump Dance Convention Alyssa has had the opportunity to perform in works by choreographers Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore, Dan Karaty and Tabitha and Napoleon at prominent venues in NYC such Radio City Music Hall. She has also had the pleasure of dancing at the prestigious Roy Thompson Hall in a movement re-enactment for the MCC Christmas Eve Service. Having lived in Los Angeles training at the Edge and Millennium studios, Alyssa is inspired to expand and establish a career that will broaden her talents not only in the dance world but also in the realm of acting and singing.

Vanessa Toncic

Vanessa Toncic has been dancing since the age of four. Vanessa started dancing competitively at the age of nine and began dancing at Bojangles at the age of 13, to join the best competitive dance team to enhance her training. Vanessa graduated from Wildfrid Laurier University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion and Culture Studies. She has chosen to continue her education at Conestoga College to obtain a diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services. Teachers College is next in the near future so she can continue her passion in teaching others. Vanessa has danced in Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations and has also instructed adults for different events. Most recently Vanessa has started a free dance workshop for YWCA Cambridge to share her love of dance with all. Vanessa’s love for others and passion for dance keeps her coming back to pass on her knowledge onto other dancers who share the same interests, love and passion. With her love for the students and the dance atmosphere, the students cannot help but fall in love with her right back.