Meet the Teachers
Meet the passionate and talented team behind Sol Dance! With their unwavering commitment to nurturing creativity and fostering a love for dance, our instructors inspire students of all ages to discover their rhythm and express themselves through the art of movement.
Jacklin Buckley RAD-RTS
Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre
Mrs. Buckley has called the Okanagan home since moving from
Calgary at the age of 10. She met her husband in Toronto while attending the Teacher’s Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School. Upon graduating from the program where she trained in both the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and Cecchetti styles of classical ballet, promptly moved back to Penticton. She and her husband are enjoying the best adventure of their lives to date, raising their four children! Spontaneous dance parties are a frequent occurrence in the Buckley household and when Mrs Buckley isn’t dancing at home she loves to share her joy of dance with others in the studio. She can’t wait to meet all the new (and returning) dancers in the studio this season!!
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Jaicee Payette
Tap, Contemporary, Tech
Jaicee grew-up dancing in nearby Westbank, training in a number of genres including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and modern. During her training years, Jaicee completed numerous levels of RAD ballet exams, ADAPT jazz and tap exams, and was afforded the opportunity to perform in the States and Mexico with a touring dance group. Following the end of her training years, Jaicee taught and choreographed for high-level competitive students in Lake Country for nearly 8 years, with her choreography receiving recognition and associated awards in the competitive circuit. Teaching dance has been something Jaicee has always loved to do, and she genuinely enjoys imparting her dance knowledge to the younger generations. Jaicee can't wait to welcome you to her class!
Lucie Landriault
Jazz, Hip Hop
Lucie Landriault began her training in Ottawa as a provincial-level gymnast before transitioning into dance, studying for many years at a private studio. She went on to compete at numerous dance competitions throughout Ontario and across the border. For over two decades, Lucie led the full-time dance program at Fleetwood Park Secondary in the Surrey School District, where she also served as an adjudicator for the district’s dance festival. Her areas of expertise include ballet, jazz, tap, and street styles. While teaching in Surrey, she also expanded her knowledge of cultural dance forms—particularly Bhangra and Bollywood—through meaningful exposure to the region’s vibrant South Asian community. Lucie is passionate about inspiring young dancers and continues to bring her extensive experience and warm, encouraging presence to every stage and studio she enters.
Kailyn Beaudoin
Early Childhood Dance
Hi! I am Kailyn Beaudoin, better known as Miss Kailyn. I have been around this dance studio since before I was born. As soon as I was 3 years old I started dancing and never looked back. I started teaching in 2017 and it turned into my passion. I love teaching all the young little dancers and seeing them have fun and develop many skills. My pre-school classes will always hold a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to continue to teach this year and to welcome back all my little dancers and to meet many new smiling faces. When I’m not dancing I can be found playing slopitch, volleyball, or curling with my mom and my sister. Outside of always being moving I am in Nursing School at UBC Okanagan.
Sophia Ferlizza
Acro, Jazz, Musical Theatre
Sophia Ferlizza, or just Miss Sophie, is a lifelong resident of Summerland, British Columbia. She has embraced the art of dance with unwavering dedication and since her earliest memories, dance has been an integral part of her life. At the age of 10, she began her journey as a competitive dancer. Sophia's ardent love for dance has shone brightly through her performances, resulting in multiple awards and recognition, including an esteemed Bronze Medal Certificate from the Canadian Dance Teachers Association Acrobatic Exams. Dance has consistently been Sophia's true passion, serving as a constant source of joy and fulfillment. With enthusiasm, she eagerly looks forward to imparting her dance expertise to her students, aspiring to inspire them to pursue their own passions with the same level of commitment and enthusiasm that she embodies for dance.
Fun fact: Her last name rhymes with pizza. (yum!)
Maurie Giella
Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tech, Hip Hop
With nearly three decades of dance experience and close to a decade as a beloved instructor, Miss Maurie brings energy, heart, and a whole lot of sparkle to the Sol faculty. A passionate performer and teacher, she blends her love of dance, singing, and acting into a dynamic style that lights up every room she walks into.
As a competitive dancer, Miss Maurie earned numerous awards and scholarships for her technical skill and radiant stage presence. Today, she’s known for nurturing that same confidence and joy in her students—creating a supportive space where dancers are encouraged to grow as artists and as people.
Maliyah Azam
Hip Hop, Musical Theatre
Hi, I am Maliyah Azam! I have been dancing at Even Dance since I can remember. I know that I have always been drawn to HipHop since the day I realized what it was and what genre of music comes along with it. I hope that all students can find the type or types of dances that make them their happiest version of themselves, just as I did with HipHop. Dance has been an outlet for me throughout the years and it has taught me what it means to have fun as well as work hard if you want to be better at the things you love. I love to dance but I also love living in Summerland! In Summerland I enjoy hiking, running and spending time with my loved ones (especially my dog). You can also find me eating sushi, watching marvel movies, playing video games or studying psychology at Okanagan College. Sometimes it may be hard to find me in the crowd of students at Even Dance. This is because most of them are taller than me! I am proud to say that I love each and every student even if they slightly tower over me! I enjoy watching my students grow as people and as dancers, throughout each season, it is always so special to see the progress made within just one year of dancing. Speaking of each season, I can’t wait for this season to start and to share new memories and experiences with everyone at what is now Sol Dance! See you soon!
Dana Chapman
Tap, Jazz, Ballet
Miss Dana grew up in Saskatchewan and started dancing at the age of 4. She took classes and exams in ADAPT tap and jazz, RAD Ballet, CDTA tap, jazz, and ballet as well as SDTA for highland. After moving to Alberta she started a dance studio at a young age and owned and taught at a competitive studio for 14 years. Miss Dana loves the performance and artistic side of dance but also appreciates that through dance children can learn to work as a team, build their confidence and self-esteem and learn a challenging skill through their own dedication and hard work.
When she’s not at the studio Dana, is a busy mom to 2 awesome children and is the Family Navigator for the Southern Interior YMCA working with young families.
She looks forward what this year brings and hopes to create a safe and positive space for students to learn and grow through dance.
Justine Fraser RAD-RTS, AAB, PBT
Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre
Miss Justine's Fab Bio Coming Soon!
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Palak Aulakh
Bhangra
Check back for more on Palak!
Casey Mitchell
Student Teacher
A dedicated student teacher at Sol, Miss Casey brings kindness, creativity, and a love of dance into every class she supports and teaches. Her bright energy and thoughtful leadership make her a role model for younger dancers—and a joy to learn from!
Autumn Lafferty
Ballet
A familiar face at Sol, Miss Autumn grew up dancing in our studio and now shares her love of movement as both a dance and swim instructor. Currently studying Indigenous Studies, she brings warmth, care, and a strong sense of community to everything she does.