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YOUTH GENERAL PROGRAM FACULTY
Who We Are
Robyn Thomson Kacki
She/Her
General Program Coordinator
Teacher
Our General Program Coordinator, Robyn, was born in Winnipeg and some of her oldest and fondest memories are of SCD. She began dancing in the General Program at the age of 3, and went on to graduate from the Junior and Senior Professional Programs. Since graduating, Robyn has enjoyed a career as a professional dancer, working with many wonderful choreographers and companies, performing nationally and internationally.
In addition to her love of performing, Robyn has a passion for teaching. She is a certified ADAPT (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers) Jazz teacher and teaches a variety of ages, levels, and forms. Robyn teaches and choreographs in the Youth and Adult General Programs, as well as the Junior and Senior Professional Programs. She is a mother to two wonderful children and feels fortunate to share the love of dance with them and to be a part of this very special community at SCD.
Melanie Stewart
She/Her
General Program Administrator
Teacher
Born and raised here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Melanie is a recent graduate of The Senior Professional Program and a graduate of The Junior Professional Program. Melanie has had the chance to travel nationally and internationally for dance performance and training in Toronto, Montreal, Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Vancouver.
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She has completed her RAD ballet examinations with High Merit and Distinction up until Advanced 1
​She is currently dancing with NAfro Dance Productions as a student dancer and hopes to continue in a career of dancing and teaching.
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Melanie is passionate about sharing her love of dance and making dance accessible to all.
Ellice Kynman
She/Her
Teacher
Ellice Kynman is an independent contemporary dance artist who has worked and performed nationally and internationally.
Ellice has been attending the School of contemporary dancers since she was three years old. She went through the General Program and Junior Program, where she also obtained her RAD Advanced One through the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations.
Ellice graduated from The School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program in affiliation with The University of Winnipeg, receiving her BA Honours in Dance. She is looking forward to another year of teaching and choreographing.
Brooke Hess
She/Her
Teacher
Brooke Hess (she/her), based in Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been immersed in the dance world from a young age, starting with a small troupe under Paula Blair’s direction.
This experience inspired her to pursue a career in dance, leading to her graduation from the School of Contemporary Dancers in 2021. Professionally, she has danced in works by Stephanie Ballard, Hilary James, and Paula Blair, and has been an artist in residence with New Dance Horizons, mentored by Robin Poitras and Edward Poitras.
Brooke has also choreographed for various institutions, including the School of Contemporary Dancers, Brandon School of Dance, and Botany in Motion. She recently choreographed the musical Annie in Flin Flon, MB, in 2025. She has been teaching dance since 2017, including creating her own ‘Discover and Dance’ program that she tours to daycares and classrooms. She is dedicated to fostering creativity and self-expression in children through dance and movement.
Jayde Lytle
She/Her
Teacher
​Jayde Lytle is a dancer/choreographer from Winnipeg, Manitoba who has been dancing for over 17 years. Competing for 10 years and gaining knowledge from various dance schools around Winnipeg.
She has trained and competed in multiple different styles being most profound in lyrical, contemporary, jazz and hip hop. Teaching young dancers is a passion Jayde has and is determined to teach the next generation of dancers self confidence, perseverance and teamwork.
Most importantly Jayde wants to provide a space for dancers of all levels a healthy environment to learn creative expression through movement. She can’t wait to dance with you and is thrilled to continue with The School of Contemporary Dancers.
Adrienne Ramos
She/Her
Teacher
Adrienne Ramos is a trained dancer, teacher, and choreographer with over 15 years of experience in a variety of styles, including Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Modern Contemporary dance. She began her dance journey training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and later continued her studies in the Senior Professional Program at the School of Contemporary Dancers.
In 2015, Adrienne was awarded the Assistant Teaching Scholarship from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and in 2018, she completed the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) Training Program in Toronto, further deepening her expertise in dance pedagogy.
Since 2016, Adrienne has been on faculty at the School of Contemporary Dancers, where she teaches in both the General and Junior Professional Programs. Her classes combine dynamic technical training with creative exploration, helping students build confidence and artistry in their movement.
Outside the studio, Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutritional Sciences from the University of Manitoba and works as a licensed Registered Dietitian. Her combined expertise in health and movement informs her holistic approach to teaching and supports dancers’ long-term wellness.
Elena Povoledo
She/Her
Teacher
Elena Povoledo has been dancing since the age of eight and has a passion for sharing her love of dance with others. She is a graduate of the Junior Professional Program, a member of the Senior Professional Program, and has served as a General Program Assistant in various classes for the past four years.
Elena is dedicated to creating a space where students can feel safe expressing themselves through dance and can develop their skills with confidence.