About the Owner

 Elizabeth Marshall loves being able to share her passion for dance with other people through teaching and dancing! Elizabeth has a genuine love for ballet and believes that having a large focus on technique will provide dancers a strong base in all other styles of dance. Along with ballet, Elizabeth has loved many other styles of dance including tap, lyrical, jazz, modern and acro. Elizabeth is a recent graduate of the highly accredited Acrobatic Arts Program and is excited to share this expertise with The Woodstock School of Dance & Yoga. .  
 At the age of three, she fell in love with ballet and completed Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams from Pre-Primary all the way up to Advanced Foundations as well as studying Advanced 1. During this time, Elizabeth studied at Dara-Jane Jewer School of Dance (Woodstock), Dance Aarts Academy (Stratford), and Oxford School of Dance (Ingersoll).  
 At the age of 11, Elizabeth attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School's Professional Division Program.  Along with her own training, Elizabeth started assisting ballet and tap classes at age 10 and teaching at age 15.  Over the past year, she has enjoyed teaching ballet and pointe at Danscene in Tillsonburg and is very excited to teach in the community where she first fell in love with dance. 
 When Elizabeth isn't dancing, she is busy as the Camp Director at Camp Connect in Thamesford. She is also busy creating programs and events for kids and youth at her church. She enjoys walks with her dog, spending time outdoors and is a recent graduate of Westervelt College. 
 Elizabeth is also thrilled to teach tap classes at the Woodstock School of Dance & Yoga! Tap is a great style of dance for people who enjoy more upbeat dancing, moving and rhythm. She is so excited to meet you in September!  

 Anna Defent, born in Ontario, Canada, began her dance training at the early age of three at Judith Coleman's Oxford School of Dance. Her passion for dance grew as she did, and she embarked on a variety of dance opportunities including many local festivals, dance shows, and summer schools at both the Quinte Ballet School and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Having limited training in a small town, Defent made the ambitious decision to attend the School of Alberta Ballet at 15, and she graduated in 2013. Studying under Nancy and Murray Kilgour, she was able to perform a great deal and gain much knowledge and strength. In her high school graduating year, Defent was accept to the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Within the three year program, she volunteered her time generously assisting in the “Young Dancer’s Program”, and being the Assistant Stage Manager for multiple student run productions. In 2016, Defent graduated college with a certificate in contemporary dance where she then travelled becoming a freelance dance artist in the United Kingdom and Europe. Defent has toured and danced with multiple contemporary artists, performing in various shows. While in the UK, she joined an organization based in New York City called “MindLeaps” and has been teaching street youth dance in West Africa ages 9-21, being able to spend a great deal of time in Guinea and Mauritania. Defent is very passionate about sharing her knowledge of dance and has happily been teaching in London, England with The Little Dance Academy and Central School of Ballet for the past 4 years. She is excited to be back in Canada and teach at The Woodstock School of Dance and Yoga! 

Theresa was born and raised in Woodstock ON. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother. Theresa has a passion for fitness and the best possible quality of life for all. 

Theresa moved to Mitchell ON in 2006 and lived there for two years. While there, she developed her own program for older participants.

Shortly after returning to Woodstock in 2008, she became a volunteer instructor at South Gate 50+ Recreational Centre. Since being at South Gate, she has been given many opportunities for both professional and personal growth. It is also where she started taking yoga classes. In 2010, she began taking classes at the instructor’s private studio, participating, and taking yoga study workshops with various teachers that were guests there over the years.

Theresa took the CCAA (Senior Fitness Instructor Certification (SFIC) course at the Canadian Centre for Activities and Aging (CCAA) at Western University and has taken numerous continuing education courses on exercise and aging with the organization.

She became “Bone Fit” Trained through the Osteoporosis Society of Canada in November 2014. Theresa then received her Yoga teacher training certification (RYT) through “Little Mango Tree, Yoga for Life” and the “Canadian Yoga Alliance” in August 2020.

Theresa brought her training as a fitness instructor, Bone Fit trained instructor and her knowledge of yoga together to present a safe and comfortable class for all ages and levels of ability. She enjoys incorporating all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit connection to her classes.

Through her daily yoga and meditation practices, she maintains a well-balanced life for herself and her family.

To help motivate others, Theresa composes and sends inspirations via Facebook and e-mail three times per week. Check out her Facebook page “Be Inspired with Theresa”!
Theresa teaches all year round at The Woodstock School of Dance & Yoga and is one of the main Classical (Hatha) Yoga instructors at the school. 

 Aaron was born and raised in Woodstock, ON. He holds a Bachelor of Arts & Science Degree from the University of Guelph, where he met his wife, and Artistic Director of the school, Allison Drost. 

Aaron is a proud faculty member of TWSDY and also an accredited yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. Having completed his RYT 200 HR at Coach House Wellness in Lucan, ON, Aaron comes to the TWSDY team with a unique perspective and wealth of knowledge on Kundalini Yoga. 

This type of yoga relies on movement, the chanting of mantras & breathing techniques to calm the mind and energize the body. The average class is made up of 50 percent exercise, 20 percent breath work, 20 percent meditation & 10 percent relaxation. For a more spiritual and connective practice, Kundalini is a great fit for someone searching for more meaning and a general release from the daily grind. 

On top of Aaron's Yoga Teaching responsibilities, you can find Aaron around the studio completing most of the maintenance work of which there is A LOT!

Along with Co-Owning the school with his wife, Aaron is truly passionate about the school's mission to bring inclusive and positive yoga and dance programs to the community. 

Aaron is also passionate about bringing one of the only Kundalini Yoga Programs in Woodstock to Oxford County. We are grateful to have his expertise on the team. 

We are thrilled to introduce Pam Genge (500 E-RYT) to our Registered Yoga Faculty. Pam will be running the specialized "Prenatal Yoga" & "Mommy & Me Yoga" classes this upcoming season in the Fall of 2022. Pam is a recognized teacher with Yoga Alliance.

Pam comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge having completed her E-RYT 500 Hour for experienced registered yoga teachers. Pam is also an experienced pilates and personal fitness trainer on top of certifying in prenatal and postnatal specialties. She cannot wait to work with all of our momma's to be and our momma's already this upcoming season. 

Please help us in giving her a warm welcome to the TWSDY Faculty!

Mary has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years.  She started practicing as a stress management tool.  She quickly noticed the physical and psychological benefits and it became a cornerstone in her life.  Mary embarked on the journey of becoming a yoga teacher as she prepared to retire from a 35+ year healthcare career. She has taught yoga at various facilities in Woodstock since 2017 and is excited to join & Yoga Faculty this year. & .