Kailey Thiessen:
Owner -
Barre, Tap & Ballet Instructor
Known For: Getting hyped up, stumbling over her words & pushing you to the max.
Favourite Move: 2nd Position Pliés
Originally from Saskatchewan, Kailey moved to her husband’s hometown - Winkler - in 2016. Kailey has a background in various dance disciplines, including Ballet (following the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) curriculum), Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Pointe, teaching Ballet at KiDDance Physical Arts dance studio in Carman for three years, and several years as a barre instructor.
In July of 2019, Kailey Thiessen took over The Carman Barre (started by Michelle Carrillo (Kidd) in 2017) and turned it into what it is today - Aura Studio. She is a fully certified barre instructor through the International Barre Fitness Association (IBBFA), Merrithew Total Barre, Barre Above, and Barre Intensity. She is also trained in IBBFA’s Ballerobica and in Pre/Postnatal barre through the IBBFA and Barre Intensity. She is now a Barre Fitness Alliance-recognized instructor (the 2nd in Canada)!
In the summer of 2021, Kailey welcomed a beautiful baby girl that promoted her to a mom! You may see her little mini-me with her in class from time to time.
Kailey is currently working on her Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist training.
Amanda Zacharias: Director - Pilates, Jazz & Primary Hip-Hop Instructor
Known For: Working for Disney and being from California.
Favourite Move: Frog Stretch
Amanda was born and raised in Southern California. She began dancing at the age of 3 and continued her passion at a competitive studio for the next 16 years. In high school, she made the cheer and dance program and kept at it for the next 4 years. In 2005 she began teaching jazz and contemporary for a few local studios and schools in the area. 3 years later, Amanda started working at Disneyland as a parade dancer. She worked for the company until 2011, after finishing her contract with the Disney Cruise Line.
Amanda began teaching competitive dance in Orange County from 2011-2014 while auditioning in Los Angeles through her agency. In 2015 she started coaching a high school cheer and dance program in Northern California until her son, Orin, was born in 2018.
4 years ago, Amanda moved to Manitoba to be closer to her husband, Matthew’s family. With her background in jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary, she is thrilled to get back to sharing her love of dance with Winkler!
Abby Cornelson: Spin & Barre Instructor
Known For: Saying “that’s it that’s all” and “second half better half”.
Favourite Move: Hovers & Pony Flips
Abby began her fitness journey in Winnipeg. The city offered her many opportunities to try different classes, such as Boxing, Rowing, TRX, Yoga, Hot Barre, Bootcamp and of course Spin. She became hooked on the feeling she got right after an amazing workout. That is when she discovered her newfound motivation to reignite her own path through teaching fitness.
Her Spin training in Winnipeg was very intense, but she loved every second of learning how to cultivate a class with good energy. Spin is something she is very passionate about and loves getting the opportunity to teach in Winkler. “Nothing excites me more than choreo lining up with an epic beat drop, and my riders pushing themselves harder than they thought they could!”
She now lives back in her hometown, Altona with her husband Luke and her rescue sled dog Koda.
Madison McCarthy: Tiny Tots & Hip-Hop Instructor
Known For: Finding abandoned places and being obsessed with colour meanings.
Favourite Move: Dougie
Originally from Selkirk, Madison moved to Winkler in December 2021 and has been very involved with dance from age 7 (primarily in Hop Hop). She danced with the Selkirk Dance Association for 11 years with two competitions under her belt. She also taught Hip Hop at Danceworks in Morden during the 2021/2022 season.
In August 2020, Madison began training with HopsKotch Dance Crew in Winnipeg and expanded her skill set across multiple dance styles.
Madison is looking forward to helping dance grow in the Pembina Valley, and providing a space for individuals to continue pursuing their passion in a safe and inclusive environment.
SarahJoy Derksen: Dance Fusion Instructor
Known For: Fixing physical ailments that her massage clients love and hate, including the Winkler Flyers Junior Hockey Team.
She is also known for making you sweat to the beats in Dance Fusion with a grin on her face.
Favourite Move: The Reggaeton 2 Step Bounce.
Growing up playing competitive sports, Sarah Joy developed a deep appreciation for how the body works. This led her to a full-time career as a Registered Massage Therapist.
Finding joy in a fun cardio-heavy workout, Zumba was the perfect blend that also spoke to her love of music. While recovering from an injury in 2021, Sarah Joy completed her Zumba instructor training to further her passion for the class.
Valerie Froese: Spin Instructor
Known For: Taking on anything and putting in 100%.
Favourite Move: 4 Corners
Valerie’s spin journey began back in 2018, when she would make weekly trips to Winnipeg to indulge in heart-pumping spin classes. Little did she know that this new love would propel her into the exhilarating world of triathlons! The following year in 2019, she took her passion to new heights by undergoing spin instructor training in Calgary, while simultaneously conquering 4 triathlons.
When the pandemic hit, Valerie completed spin in front of a screen, but like many activities it just wasn’t the same. She delved into power-lifting, immersing herself in large movements such as the dead-lifting, achieving a personal record of 315 lbs.
In December of 2022, she decided to reignite her joy for spin, and that's when she found Aura Studio right in her hometown. Now, Valerie has the incredible opportunity to lead classes as an instructor. Her approach to these rides is simple and powerful. “I want every rider to focus on themselves beyond their physical abilities. It's all about you! Together, we'll sweat it out, get that heart rate soaring, and have a blast with energizing playlists and straightforward movements.”
Her ultimate goal as a spin instructor is to create an inclusive and welcoming space where everyone can thrive. Whether you're a seasoned spinner or a total beginner, Valerie is there to support you on your fitness journey. Helping you discover the joy and benefits of moving your body in every aspect of life.