Founder/Teacher

Originally from Victoria, B.C., Kylie Jensen is the Co-Owner/Director and teacher at Alignment Dance Arts. Since moving to the island in 2016, she has taught for the School of Performing Arts at Holland College, The Confederation Centre of the Arts, and Co-Founded Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers- Charlottetown’s Premier Contemporary Company.

She received her early training in Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz at the Victoria School of Contemporary Dance and the Victoria Academy of Ballet. She moved to Toronto for post- secondary studies in dance at York University and is a graduate of the Performance Studies program at George Brown College. Kylie holds a Certificate of Professionalism from Canada’s Ballet Jörgen, and has experience in voice, acting and music (RCM). She has a strong base in movement improvisation and Dance for Camera work, and has taught and danced professionally across Canada. The opportunity to work with and train under some of the industry’s most exciting professionals has instilled within her a passion for creating and a love of teaching to one’s highest potential.

Founder/Instructor

Taryn Kristalovich is the co-owner of Alignment Dance Arts, the Co-Director of Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers, an accomplished choreographer and dance instructor, and a registered yoga instructor. As a teacher, Taryn has a fun, inspiring style that supports students’ artistic, technical, and personal growth.

Taryn originates from Penticton, BC, where she trained with Okanagan Dance Studios in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and tap, before completing her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance – Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). She trained with prestigious ballet and contemporary dance programs including the Banff Centre of the Performing Arts, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, and Toronto Dance Theatre. As a dancer, she performed at California Disney Land, as well as in shows in Japan, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Banff and Kelowna. As co-founder and Co-Director for Charlottetown Contemporary Dancers, Taryn proudly has presented incredible works including The Ocean Threw Us and Inner Urban Ecosystem.

Taryn taught ballet, pointe, jazz and contemporary in Vancouver before relocating to PEI. She spent 9 years as an Instructor for the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Holland College’s School of Performing Arts, and Dance Umbrella. Taryn choreographed numerous Confederation Centre productions and was the Assistant Choreographer for the Confederation Centre’s Young Company in 2015.

In 2013, Taryn travelled to Costa Rica to complete her yoga instructor training (RYT 200). She taught yoga at Infrared Fitness and physical fitness at the Reach Foundation.

Taryn is also a mom of two awesome kids and believes in creating a family-friendly environment where dancers of all ages can explore their art.

Kristen Pottle is a sought after performer and teacher in the Canadian Musical Theatre Industry. Gaining a reputation as a true triple threat performer, work has taken her across Canada and the United States. She trained at The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts where she received the Triple Threat Award upon graduating. She has been seen on the North American Tour and Mirvish Production of The Wizard of Oz (swing and Wicked Witch U/S), six seasons at The Charlottetown Festival (Performer/Associate Choreographer/swing/Dance Captain), West Side Story with The Banff/Citadel Professional Development Program and Vancouver Opera, Red Rock Diner, Jack and the Beanstalk (Drayton Entertainment), Joseph, The Producers, Happy Days, All Shook Up (Stage West) Crazy for You and Robin Hood (Capitol Theatre). While performing Kristen developed a true love of teaching and has loaned her talents to various workshops and studios across Canada. She added yoga teaching to her skillset in 2015 and now runs Blossoming Heart Yoga specializing in pre and postnatal classes. Kristen loves sharing her passion for storytelling and love of theatre with the next generation of artists. She is currently a part of the 2022 Charlottetown Festival Company and resides in Kensington with her husband and son Clark.

Juliette is a step dancing instructor from Prince Edward Island. She is a graduate of the Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto, where she studied Musical Theatre, and is certified by the British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD). 

She has been dancing competitively in highland and step dancing since the age of 5 and has trained in various other styles of dance. Juliette has been an integral part in the choreography and production of, as well as performed in, many shows across the Maritimes. Juliette’s most recent dance adventure has been forming a new step dancing troupe, Encore, with four other talented Island performers. The group recently held their launch show to huge acclaim, and will be dancing their way through Small Halls this June and other locations and festivals throughout the summer. They have performed with 6hearts, Barra MacNeils, and Heather Rankin.

Juliette founded Roberts Academy of Dance (RAD) in 2016 as both a recreational and competitive studio in step, jazz, acro, hip hop and highland dancing. During the last eight years, RAD won various overall awards, top marks, special awards and even took home top routine of the weekend at a 2023 competition in Halifax. 

Juliette’s goal as an instructor is to create a space where students feel motivated to work hard, want to show up for one another and themselves and want to work as a team. Juliette is so excited to grow the step dancing program at Alignment and to keep step dancing very much alive! 

Sam is a dancer from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She began her dance career with training in ballet, and later began to train in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, tap, musical theatre. 

Sam danced competitively for over 10 years, and has been teaching for over 8! During Sam’s competitive career she was awarded top overall results at several of Canada’s best dance competitions, as well as being invited to the SDF Dance Tours, and other incredible dance opportunities. 

Sam co-directed her own competitive team, Studio 7, from 2019-2021, which was awarded many special awards, top marks, and choreography awards at over 7 Canadian Dance competitions. 

She believes in creating a safe space for dancers to be creative and fostering a love for dance and performing! She is so excited to share the joy of dance with the dancers of Alignment Dance Arts!

Dawn developed a love for teaching many years ago and specializes in numerous styles including Tap, HipHop, African Dance, Afro Jazz, Musical Theatre, Caribbean Movement, and Contemporary. She trained with the Bahamas Dance Theatre where she developed her love for the stage. She’s an alumnus of both the Theatre Performance and Dance Performance programs at Holland College, and studied Theatre Production, English Literature and Sociology at Acadia University. Dawn has also completed levels 1-8 with The Royal Conservatory of Music. She has obtained certification in African Dance and Education, Stage and Drag Makeup Artistry, and Acrobatics.

Dawn has shared the stage with many artists such as Popcaan, Destra Garcia, Cardi B, and has featured in multiple stage productions in the last two decades.  

 Within her first year in PEI, she founded the Hurricanes Dance Team at Holland College, whom she coached for 7 years. After moving permanently to PEI in 2018 with her husband and daughter, she has cemented herself as a key figure in the Charlottetown arts landscape.  

Dawn has directed and performed in many shows on the Island such as Kings and Queens with The Island Fringe Festival and Street Fusion, Munschables, Island Vibe, Anne of Green Gables The Musical and The Play That Goes Wrong with The Confederation Centre of the Arts; where she currently holds the title of Associate Artistic Director. Dawn is currently preparing for her role as Choreographer for Jersey Boys The Musical and Co-Choreograher of Island Stepsin The Amphitheatre for the 2024 Charlottetown Festival. 

She is also the Co-Creative Director of black owned dance company, Xclusiv Crew, alongside her husband, Joe Dames. They both recently had the opportunity to choreograph and perform for the 2023 Canada Games and have been recruiting diverse adult dancers ever since. 

She remains dedicated to elevating and diversifying the styles she teaches, practices, and performs on Prince Edward Island, to break stereotypes, and pave the way for young black artists like herself.