Meet The Team

Marissa Lauren

Owner/Instructor

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Marissa Lauren is a Canadian based dancer and choreographer. With her extensive years of training, Marissa has performed, instructed, and choreographed throughout Ontario, Canada including Hamilton, Niagara, Mississauga, and Toronto/North York.

At the young age of 23, Marissa began her journey owning Our Haven Dance Studios and Havens Heels Company in downtown Burlington. She has now expanded that from Oakville across to Stoney Creek and everywhere in between. Marissa has been able to broaden her repertoire as she was hired as the head choreographer for many different Burlesque/Cabaret Shows across Ontario. She is passionate and empowers her students in finding their confidence to truly express themselves in a judgement free environment.

Marissa enjoys helping others navigate through life with a positive mindset and choosing joy every dance step of the way. Using her love and technique of dance, combined with her infectious laughter, Marissa finds happiness in motivating & inspiring others to become the best versions of themselves.

Kelly Anastasopoulos

Instructor

Kelly will help you unleash the potential you didn’t know you had. She will challenge you to test your limits and to grow, and she’ll be the first one to hold your hand along the way ( — or your body up as you try something crazy on the pole 😛 ).

She loves to share her passion with others, and is energized by helping her students succeed. She is sensitive, understanding & passionate, and will guide you to greatness if you dare to reach for it. She finds joy in empowering her students, and helping them humbly embrace where they are at while working hard for their goals!

Coral Olesen

Instructor

Coral loves to engage her students in sensual movement; encouraging her students to harness their sexuality as she guides them through slow and slinky transitions, learning to love every part of your body and use what feels best for you in your flow. Displaying that all parts of the body can be used to enhance your performance and your technique.

Coral demonstrates that with enough passion and devotion you can see anything through. You don’t need to be confident or strong to take your first class but I can promise you’ll take away a little bit of both of those things every time you leave the space.

Kathleen Daviau

Instructor

Kathleen is a Havens Heels teacher and is excited to share her passion with others. In her class you with build technique, strength and confidence. With Kathleen’s kindness and caring nature, she is here to help you reach your goals. She encourages everyone who attends to be in the moment with their body, their sexuality and their emotions. Havens Heels is a safe space and she wants that to be known.

Kathleen does enjoy slow and sexy, but will throw in a mix of everything. She hopes that you will come try a class so that you can see what the community is all about.

Kathleen teaches Heels (Beginner & Advanced Beginner), Candlelight Heels and Jazz Funk

Chris Thompson

Instructor

Chris creates a space to allow her students to feel confident and empowered. She will invite you to fly in the face of your hardest goal and push you through, while also having a super fun time (of course)! She will be there for you mentally and physically, literally holding you up on the pole or pushing you through a spin combo. Chris loves to get stronger through dance and loves sharing her passion for it with her students. She is your biggest cheerleader and is there when you need her most.

She will not only cheer your on while you reach for your holy grail but she will also help you understand how special and great you are just where you’re at. She loves to watch her students amplify their talents in dance and life, and she just wants to them to succeed while having the best and most memorable time!

Kelsey Amanda

Instructor

Kelsey is a teacher with Haven’s Heels Company, teaching beginner and advanced beginner classes. She’s been teaching heels dance for 5 years, and loves any chance to shake her booty. Kelsey enjoys being active and any class with her will get you a workout along with choreography. Kelsey is passionate about empowering her students to feel confident and SEXY!!! Classes with Kelsey are often in the style of hip-hop, twerk, or slow and sexy. She would love to have you come and check-out a class, share some laughs, and connect with others in the incredible Haven community!

Kelsey teaches Heels (Advanced Beginner).

Melissa Terepora

Instructor

Melissa brings energy, confidence, a contagious smile and her joy of dance to a room. As a classically trained dancer, technique is at the forefront of her teaching, giving you the skill to be a better dancer. Her choreography is dynamic, sensual and expressive.

As someone that has been a dancer all of her life she continues to show others that age, ability or size should never stop you from tearing up the floor and following your passion!

Melissa teaches Heels (Advanced Beginner).

Alexa Pandolfi

Alexa is a dancer who has trained in various styles including Heels, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap and Jazz. She grew up dancing as a member of the Windsor Competitive Dance Company and competing across Canada and the United States. She went on to compete with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Dance Team before moving to Hamilton, ON and getting involved at Our Haven Studios. She is a technically trained dancer and performer at heart who loves to infuse her dancing with dynamics and musicality while always working on the basics. Her classes are great for any level!

Dana Hamstra

Instructor

Dana’s love for dance began at the age of 4 when she took her first ballet class. Since then her passion for dance has only grown and she can’t wait to share that passion with you. She wants everyone who steps into her classes to feel excited about moving their body and to leave feeling proud of what they accomplished. She will encourage you, push you (gently!) and celebrate every win with you, big or small. With over 15 years of training in different dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and contemporary, plus over 5 years of pole training, Dana is excited to bring her knowledge and love for dance to her students. She will help you crush your pole goals and bring out the most confident, badass version of yourself. Dana wants to help make the studio a safe space where you can laugh, cry, dance it out, express yourself and feel at home 🙂