Our Team
At The Ballet Company, each of our faculty members brings experience and expertise from their individual training backgrounds. Our team is small and powerful so that every dancer’s goals are consistently focused on throughout all of their weekly classes with different staff members.
Artistic Director
Leah Schwarzli CC-CICB, AISTD, NBS Dip., PBT
Leah has an extensive background in classical ballet training and education. She grew up as a competitive dancer in her formative years. This time in the competitive stream taught her how consistency and a strong work ethic produces exceptional results- something Leah instills in her dancers.
Leah’s comprehensive training in the Cecchetti Method has also strongly shaped her approach to teaching. She continues to implement the Cecchetti syllabus as the focus at The Ballet Company because of this system’s ability to develop technically strong dancers with control, poise, and a high level of artistry. After completing her vocational Cecchetti examinations (Intermediate, Advanced I and Advanced II), she trained in RAD and Vaganova to broaden her scope of what she could offer her dancers. She also completed her vocational level examinations under the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in National Dance to even further her expertise in the studio.
She is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program, where she earned her Teaching Diploma, Associate Diploma with the Cecchetti Society of Canada, and Associate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Leah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University, specializing in dance education. Her academic work focused on the science of ballet training, including an in-depth study of anatomy and a structured approach to preparing dancers for Cecchetti examinations.
Her teaching is grounded in the belief that strong, capable dancers are developed through consistent training and a clear understanding of how their own body works. By integrating principles of anatomy, kinesiology and the science of muscle memory into her classes, Leah guides dancers to dance with purpose, precision, and awareness.
As a choreographer, Leah’s work has received recognition at competitions across Canada, with dancers known for their clarity, confidence, and attention to detail.
At the core of her work is a commitment to developing not only technically strong dancers, but individuals who approach their training with discipline, knowledge, and intention.
Casey Davey
Recreational and Competitive Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary
Casey grew up in Calgary Alberta, and trained at Alive Danceworks from ages 10-17. She performed and competed in many prestigious events, including Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Parks, and Dance Excellence. In her final year, she won top overall soloist at Showtime Dance Promotions Nationals with her self-choreographed solo. During her time at Alive Danceworks, Casey spent 2 years in the mentorship program, which allowed her to develop her teaching and choreography skills. She also completed the International Dance Teaching Standards Dance Teacher Certification (IDTS).
After she graduated high school in 2019, Casey decided to move to Vancouver and trained with ITP at Harbour Dance Centre. This program focused intensely on training for the commercial world and provided numerous performance opportunities, including WE Day at the Rogers Arena. Due to the effects of Covid-19, Casey decided to spend a second year in Vancouver training with ATP at Harbour Dance Centre. This program focused on peer choreography and is where Casey developed her passion for teaching and creating. During this year, she taught weekly ballet and hip-hop classes at the Arbutus Club.
In 2021 Casey moved to Kelowna and graduated in 2025 with a major in English at the University of British Columbia. During her years in school she taught at Kelowna dance and fitness, and Mahogany Dance Arts, choreographing multiple recreational and competitive pieces.
Casey is currently a student at the University of Calgary taking her Bachelors of Education.
Growing up in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Olivia began dancing competitively at just three years old and quickly developed a deep passion for the art of dance. Training in a wide variety of styles such as ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, acro, character, and body conditioning throughout her childhood, she built a strong technical foundation while gaining extensive performance and competition experience. Her love for ballet eventually inspired her to move to Calgary to pursue professional training at the Alberta Ballet School, where she continues to train with the goal of becoming a professional ballerina.
In addition to her own training, Olivia has discovered a true passion for teaching and choreography. She loves working with young dancers and creating a positive, encouraging environment where students can grow in both confidence and technique. Her experience as both a competitive dancer and professional ballet student allows her to bring discipline, artistry, and versatility into every class she teaches. She is especially passionate about helping dancers develop strong fundamentals while also encouraging creativity, musicality, and a genuine love for dance.
During her time at the Alberta Ballet School, Olivia has trained extensively in a variety of classical ballet methodologies, including Vaganova and RAD, while specializing in the Cecchetti method. Her diverse training has allowed her to develop strong technical precision, artistry, musicality, and adaptability as both a dancer and instructor, while gaining a well-rounded understanding of classical ballet technique and performance.
Olivia strives to create a positive and inspiring classroom environment where every student feels supported and motivated to grow. She believes dance is not only about discipline and technique, but also about self-expression, musicality, perseverance, and building confidence that extends beyond the studio. Through her teaching and choreography, she hopes to inspire young dancers to work hard, believe in themselves, and find joy in the process of learning and performing.
Olivia Avinou
Primary Ballet, Recreational and Competitive Junior Level Ballet.
Sophia Frenette
Primary Ballet, Recreational Jazz and Ballet.
Sophia is an emerging dance performer, teacher, and choreographer from Abbotsford, British Columbia, now based in Calgary, Alberta. She began her dance training as a child at Creative Edge School of Arts focusing on RAD ballet, lyrical, jazz, and musical theatre. Sophia recently graduated from The University of Calgary with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in dance. As a student, she had the opportunity to perform in productions, such as Dance@Noon, Dance@Night, Mainstage, TransFoRM and Alchemy Festival. She has also done choreography for Dance@Noon 2023 and Dance@Night 2025. One of Sophia’s biggest accomplishments as a student was being invited to perform in a popping piece choreographed by Jacksun Fryer for TransFoRM 2024. She is excited to share her knowledge from both her competition studio and university dance program experience with the next generation. Sophia’s philosophy as a teacher is to always keep dancers physically, mentally, and emotionally safe, while also prioritizing the strive for excellence in technique.