Melanie Botelho-Urbanski, Director & Founder of Bend Academy

Melanie’s journey in acrobatics began at four years old. Since then Melanie has studied various styles of dance, artistic gymnastics, contortion, aerial acrobatics, cheerleading, hand balancing, and Pilates. She has competed and trained in dance and gymnastics across Canada and the United States.

Melanie enjoys teaching all ages and levels. She is a fully certified Acrobatic Arts teacher having completed her Module 1 & 2 courses. She is also Aerial Arts certified in Aerial Silks and Aerial Hoop having completed both the theory and practical courses for both. Melanie is also fully certified in Alixa Flexibility (Modules 1-5) and N.C.C.P Level 1 certified in Artistic Gymnastics. Melanie has also completed her Artistic Dance Educators Jazz Teacher Training. In addition, Melanie is a graduate of the University of Manitoba having attained a Bachelors’ Degree in Recreation and Community Development (B.R.M.C.D.)

One of Melanie’s greatest passions is acrobatics. She enjoys creating choreography that blends dance and acrobatics seamlessly. Her pieces are often crowd favourites and have won multiple judges choice, all around high score, and audience choice awards. Melanie is passionate about teaching and loves sharing her knowledge and skill & helping her students realize their potential.

Arden Barter

From a very young age, the thrill of dance has been a driving force in Arden’s life. She has trained in a variety of dance forms such as hiphop, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, heels, musical theatre, and continues to seek opportunities to learn more. She has danced with the Winnipeg Sea Bears Cheer Team of the CEBL since their inaugural season in 2023 and previously with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Gold Team.  

Arden has been a proud member of the Bend Academy faculty since the beginning.  She is also a full time student at the University of Manitoba, working toward her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Arden is tremendously grateful for all of her dance mentors she has had throughout her life, and strives to inspire her students to fall in love with dance just like she did. 

Christine Croswell

Christine has amazed audiences with her enchanting dancing skills since 1993. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Christine attended dance at the age of 3 and continued until her early 20’s. She won the Gold medal for Canada at the World’s Tap Competition at the age of 16, studying ballet and contemporary, Christine experimented with various dance styles like Jazz, Hip Hop, Pointe, Lyrical and Street Dance.

Backed with a passion for travel, Christine took her tap shoes and moved to Prague, Czech Republic. She studied Sam Weiss tap technique and became a professional performing acrobat in the aerial arts. Performing in various theatres and festivals around Europe, annually, such as Czech Cabaret Show, Miss CZ, European Tattoo Convention and Erofest with over 10 000 spectators. She worked throughout the world, offering workshops around Europe, all the way to Vietnam. She competed in European and World competitions such as; IPSF and European championships This past fall she starred in the talent show Cesko-Slovensko has talent and has been called to audition for Canada’s Got Talent.

Not only is she astounding on the dance floor, her passion for the aerial arts extends to several apparatuses, Aerial Hoop, Aerial Chains, Aerial Cube, and Aerial Loops/Straps, But her true love is for the Aerial Silks.

Paige Derksen

Paige started dancing at the age of 4 and never looked back. Whether it was training in the studio or performing on stage, she always felt the most like herself while dancing. Paige started competing at age 7 and trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre and acro. When COVID-19 hit, her dance career came to a sad and unexpected end. Since then, Paige had always felt like something was missing. Returning to the dance world to teach has given Paige the opportunity to continue her passion for dance and she could not be more grateful. Paige taught and assisted throughout her competitive dance days and always loved it. Seeing kids build the same beautiful connection to dance as she did and knowing she had an impact on that, is the most amazing feeling for Paige. She hopes to guide dancers to reach their full potential and discover who they are through dance.

April Gorman

April began her dance journey at the age of 4 and spent a lot of her time growing up at the dance studio. Over the years she has trained in many styles including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, acro and contemporary. Ms. April has completed ADAPT tap and jazz exams as well as Cecchetti ballet exams. She has competed at numerous dance competitions throughout Canada and the United States receiving many awards. After her competitive dance days ended she started teaching a variety of classes and ages. Ms. April feels so lucky to be able to share her love of dance with so many tiny dancers!

Anika Heidinger

Anika’s passion for movement ignited after years of competitive gymnastics. A career-ending injury in 2016 led her to discover the world of dance, where she quickly found her true calling. A summer intensive at École National du Cirque in Montreal solidified her love for acro and performance. The following year, Anika competed in various styles, including jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and acro. Her first and only solo, choreographed by Melanie, earned choreography awards and top-ten placements at competitions in Canada and the USA. Anika made a tough decision to say good bye to the studio and hello to the gym as she began her journey as a gymnastics coach. This led her to meeting Olympic gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles who reinforced the importance of fun, self-expression, and dedication in any endeavor.

While pursuing a career in criminal justice, Anika made a return to the studio in 2022, Anika focused on teaching and choreographing acro. In 2024, while photographing Bend Academy’s recital, she realized her deep connection to children, teaching, and dance. Anika is thrilled to join the Bend Academy team and share her knowledge and enthusiasm with the next generation of dancers.

Korinne Hewitt

Korinne Hewitt has been teaching dance since 1986 and has obtained her Advance 1 Ballet Cecchetti exam, Cecchetti Associate Diploma (A.I.S.T.D. dip (CSB), A.D.A.P.T Advance Tap and Jazz exams, her Accreditation in A.D.A.P.T. Tap and Jazz, Progressive Ballet Technique Certification, and has also trained in the Royal Academy of Dance and Russian Ballet Syllabus. She has completed a variety of courses, workshops and exams in many dance disciplines, in addition to owning and running a dance school. She has also taken students to participate in local and national dance conventions, competitions and festivals.

Korinne has been the recipient of many scholarships and awards throughout Manitoba and North America. She also has credits in modelling, film and television (shows & commercials), Ballet in the Park, Grey Cup, Pam Am Games, Rainbow Stage, Manitoba Opera, and Dean Gunnarson productions to name a few. As well as working various other events in the city she has worked and toured worldwide with numerous magicians and hypnotists and had the privilege of working with local casting directors as a talent agent for film and television.

Korinne has worked with many junior high and high schools in Winnipeg helping to coordinate their dance programs as well as teach for them. She is a graduate of the RWB Professional Division Teachers Course and taught in the professional and general divisions. She has taught various workshops and classes throughout the province and North America as well as adjudicating dance festivals and competitions across Canada. Korinne sat on the Board of Directors for Dance Manitoba for many years holding the positions of board member, Vice President, President and Past President.

Katelynn Howells

Katelynn started dance at the age of 3 and has been a competitive dancer since she was 5 years old . She trained and competed in all styles such as; ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, acro, and tap. 

Katelynn trained for many hours a week up to 15+. She competed and participated in conventions for 13 years across Canada and the United States. Throughout this time, she has won many awards such as first places or overalls and judge’s choice awards. Katelynn also received scholarships through competitions and conventions throughout these years. 

Katelynn started to share her skills and love of dance with students when she was 14. She began assisting and substituting for many different classes.  Since then her joy for teaching has grown and she is excited to share her knowledge with younger dancers. 

Katelynn is excited to start teaching with Bend Academy while she is furthering her education at the University of Manitoba working towards an undergraduate degree.