Shawna Halikas

Born and raised in Ottawa, Shawna has trained in multiple dance styles for over 25 years.
A dedicated educator and award-winning choreographer, she has over a decade of experience inspiring students.

Shawna attended Toronto Metropolitan University’s Graphic Communications Management program, where she held a leadership role on the school’s dance team and coached the team post-graduation. She joined The Studio faculty as a teacher in 2014 and quickly found it to be her second home, connecting with and creating for students of all ages.

She spent four years with the all-female tap company What’s On? TAP!, directed by Kim Chalovich, and joined the Tap Dance Centre’s community, where she drew inspiration from and studied with leading tap dance artists, including Travis Knights (a Brampton native!). Performance highlights include Tapperfest, the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference’s TAP!, and representing Dianne Montgomery’s choreography at Toffan Rhythm Projects’ (Allison Toffan and Juliana Kelly) Toronto Rhythm Initiative Explores the Music of Miles Davis (2019), and Dianne’s 2019 commission in Fall for Dance North. 

She is a current a member of the Ottawa Rhythm Initiative Ensemble, and took part in the 2023/24 Sankofa: A Rooted Jazz Dance Professional Development Study as part of her commitment to understanding the African American roots and history of tap dance. Shawna continues to educate herself in the nuanced roots of tap dance and extend her comprehension of musicality, and rhythm.

Shawna loves to explore and share her passion with dancers of all ages and levels, and aims to inspire her students to reach their unique potential.