MEET OUR EDMONTON INSTRUCTORS
.jpeg)
Meet Miss Lisa
​
Lisa Van Mechelen has been sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with students of various ages and levels for 20 years and been with Puddle of Mud since 2020!
At the age of four, Lisa found her passion for dance at the Sandra Gray School of Dance in Edmonton and has never looked back. Her dance training includes Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre. Lisa has had the pleasure of performing in The Canadian Finals Rodeo, The 2001 World Games Opening Ceremonies, Tanzommer Dance Festival in Austria, Broadway Melodies Dinner Theatre and Magical Moments from Disneyland during Klondike days.
She began her dance teaching career as an assistant teacher at the Sandra Gray School of Dance and then went on to teaching at Dance Dynamics in Edmonton. Lisa taught at her own dance studio from 2006 until its closure in 2020.
Lisa obtained her BFA in Technical Theatre at the University of Alberta in 2005 and her certification in the PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) program in July 2020. Lisa is also a proud member of the Alberta Dance Educators Association.
This fall Miss Lisa is teaching Monday nights at Orchards and Tuesday nights at Chappelle.
Meet Miss Rachel
​
Miss Rachel has been doing dance and gymnastics since she could walk and has been teaching with Puddle of Mud since 2020.
She is an Edmonton based actor, recently graduated from the Macewan Theatre Arts program. She loves to incorporate movement into all of her roles.
​
When not in dance class, Rachel is either working with kids, or in school. She works part-time as a Respite Worker for kids with Autism, and loves every second of it!
​
Rachel is so excited to have two of her favourite things in one job: kids AND dance!
Miss Rachel currently teaches Friday nights at Castle Downs YMCA.
Meet Miss Miranda
​
Miss Miranda has been sharing her passion for dance for the last 11 years and teaching with POM since 2024. Originally from Grande Prarire, Miss Miranda moved to Edmonton in 2022 when she joined Motives Dance Company for their 7th season. She joined Puddle Mud in 2024.
Miranda developed a love for dance at the age of 3. The first time she stepped on stage to perform she knew it was her happy place and had not stopped dancing since! She still takes classes weekly at Motives Dance and Fitness. Her dance training includes Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, Modern and more.
​
Miss Miranda currently teaches Sunday's at William Lutsky YMCA as well as our preschool daytime programming.
Meet Miss Ashtyn
​
Miss Ashtyn (she/they) is a theatre artist and educator based in Edmonton. Her love for performing started with sock puppet shows at 6 years old, and she hasn't stopped creating since! Ashtyn completed a degree in Drama at Concordia University of Edmonton with courses specifying in acting, movement, vocal studies, and education. Since graduating, Ashtyn has worked with Kompany Family Theatre touring Alberta with workshops and shows tailored to young audiences and families.
​
Exploring different performance styles such as dance, improv, and musical theatre, Ashtyn has been able to expand on their creative repertoire. She is beyond excited to teach a new generation of creative minds!
​
Miss Ashtyn currently teaches Sunday mornings at Jamie Platz and Monday evenings at Chappelle Gardens
Meet Miss Leah
​
Miss Leah began dancing at just two years old and has since trained extensively in ballet, pointe, tap, acro, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre. She has been teaching dance since 2017 at studios throughout the Edmonton area, sharing her love of movement with dancers of all ages. In June 2025, she graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.
Miss Leah is certified with Acrobatic Arts, holding both the Preschool and Module 1 Certifications. She has also completed Level 1 Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Teacher Training, Level 1 Alixa Flexibility, and Level 1 Dance Teacher & Practitioner Training, giving her a toolbox of fun, creative methods to help dancers level up their technique. Committed to ongoing growth, Miss Leah has taken part in numerous in-person and online teacher training programs and conventions, learning from inspiring instructors from around the world. Miss Leah joined the Puddle of Mud team in 2025.
Miss Leah teaches Wednesday nights at William Lutsky YMCA.
Meet Miss Daelyn
​
Miss Daelyn has been dancing since the age of three and began teaching ballet when she was 14 years old. She has always had a passion for movement as she grew up competitively dancing across Canada and the United States in multiple styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and her favourite musical theatre.
When she began teaching her first class, she discovered she had a new passion, working with kids and seeing them grow as artists and performers.
​
Miss Daelyn has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Drama and minoring in Early Childhood Education. Through her schooling, she has gotten to work on many projects as a movement coach and choreographer. As a lifelong learner, she is always on the lookout for opportunities to add to her credentials as a dance instructor. She is already little warriors and yoga teaching certified and is currently on her journey to become a certified Expressive Movement Facilitator through ISMETA.
​
Miss Daelyn currently teaches Tuesday evenings at Summerside and Thursday evenings at the Orchards!
Meet Miss Bridgette
​
Bridgette Boyko is an actress, singer, dancer and teacher dedicated to the art of storytelling. She graduated from Vancouver Film School’s Acting for Film & Television program as Valedictorian in 2021. Not only does Bridgette's education aid in her performances, but so does her drive for fun and imagination which allows her inner-child to shine through and creates positive experiences for all. Bridgette has had experience working with Trickster Theatre, The Edmonton International Fringe Festival, and Glass Slipper Entertainment (just to name a few!). Her heart keeps her onstage but she continues to expand her range. Bridgette is known for her vibrant personality, dedication, and her ability to spread a little magic wherever she goes.
Meet Miss Victoria
​
Miss Victoria is an Edmonton based performer and a graduate of the Theatre Arts program at Macewan University who has been with Puddle of Mud since 2021. She grew up taking theatre classes as a child, which is where her love for performing began.
Victoria has performed on many stages across Alberta and Western Canada in various shows, some favorites being Sister Act, Love and Information, and City of Angels (Macewan University), Urinetown (Grindstone Theatre) and The Robber Bridegroom (Chimera Theatre).
​
Victoria loves working with children and sharing her passions for the arts with them. She also has her Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification and has spent years working in the ECE field. Victoria is thrilled to combine her love of working with children with her passion for theatre arts while teaching with Puddle of Mud!
​
Meet Miss Madi
​
Miss Madi started her dance journey when she was three years old at Edmonton Dance Factory! She has toured children’s theatre with Kompany Family Theatre bringing performances, songs and dances to children all over Edmonton and beyond! She has studied playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada and has performed on stages all over Edmonton and Montreal. She always looks forward to shaking her tail feathers!
​
Meet Miss Kiley
​
Miss Kiley’s dance journey began at the age of two in a mommy and me class. Since then she has trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, musical theatre, hip hop, contemporary, acrobatic arts, and stretch and technique classes. She was lucky to experience dancing in Disney World, New York, and on a cruise ship! Miss Kiley assistant taught in numerous classes from 2016-2023. She is very excited to create a fun, upbeat, and nurturing environment for dancers to thrive in. From a young age she was always inspired by her own dance teachers and is thrilled to have the opportunity to encourage the next generation of dancers to be the best that they can be.