Mijka Hooper,
RAD RTS
Co-Owner/Director
Instructor for Ballet, Jazz and Acro

Mijka began her training at the age of 5 in gymnastics. She competed at the Provincial level, and was the "Tyro C" Overall Provincial Champion in 1986. Her dance training began at the old age of 16, when she attended The Ballet Jorgen Summer School in Toronto. She continued in Dance at Ryerson University, where she graduated with honors in 1994. During this time, Mijka worked with renowned dancers/teachers/choreographers such as Nadia Potts, Stelio Calagias, Yuri Ng, Timothy Spain, and Danny Grossman, to name a few. Mijka was awarded the Raymond Clarke Scholarship for a post-grad year, where she completed the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certification with Distinction. She also holds the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Diploma, which includes Anatomy and History. She is the only RAD teacher with these qualifications in the Grey-Bruce area. Mijka also holds her NCCP Level 2  Gymnastics Certification, Level 1 Trampoline, Risk Management & holds a current first Aid & CPR.

Some of Mijka's former students have attended dance & theatre programs at Ryerson University, York University, The National Ballet of Canada, Randolph Academy of Performing Arts, and Quinte Ballet School. Mijka was awarded The Sun Times Business Woman of the year title in 2004. Her dancers have competed in Italy in 2003 and 2011 earning 2 firsts and 2 third place awards. Dancemakers students have also travelled to New York City (twice) to attend classes at Steps on Broadway and New York City Ballet.

Bob Hooper
Co-Owner, Fitness Consulting

Bob began competing and coaching running in high school. At age 14, he placed 2nd at the US National Cross Country Championships in Pittsburgh. Throughout his high school years he used his spare time to teach phys. ed. to the developmentally challenged program at OSCVI and won the National Principal's Award for his efforts. Later he attended the University of Toronto graduating with an honors Physical and Health Education degree with an English Specialist. During this time he competed nationally as a member of the University of Toronto Varsity Team where he was a two time All Canadian. Later with the Reebok World Team and The Toronto Olympic Club he competed across North America. Bob then graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Western Sydney, Australia. While in Australia, Bob was the head of technical support and consulting for the New Balance shoe company. From there he went on to manage a chain of sporting goods stores in Sydney. Upon returning home to Owen Sound he helped establish DanceMakers with his wife Mijka. Later he developed a private training institute called SportMakers. A short time after that he and Mijka built SportMakers Fitness and Training Centre where pro athletes and everyday fitness enthusiasts train side by side. Some of Bob's athletes include NHL hockey players, two world champions, numerous provincial and NCAA champions, as well as recreational athletes that are training hard for their next personal best.

With the expansion of their facility into gymnastics, Bob has now expanded his coaching credentials to include Level 1 NCCP gymnastics certification to help out the little guys whenever needed as well as assisting the seniors. Most recently Bob has been the guest speaker at numerous functions in the sporting and business world.

Petra Ballantyne

Head Coach – Gymnastics Program 

Petra began her training at the age of 5 in gymnastics, where she trained and competed as a provincial gymnast. She has coached extensively for over 20 years, from recreational to competitive gymnasts in Owen Sound and Kitchener-Waterloo. Before moving to KW , Petra successfully coached the young provincial gymnasts in Owen Sound, highlighted with a provincial bar champion.

Petra is a certified NCCP Level 2 Gymnastics Coach, and a  Level 1 NCCP Trampoline Coach. She is Risk Management Certified through Gymnastics Ontario, and has current First-Aid and CPR certifications.
Petra is also a Business Administration Marketing Graduate from Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario. She has managed retail stores in Kitchener, was the primary administrator for a collection agency in Kitchener, and an independent consultant for Pampered Chef & Silpada.

Petra is Mijka's sister, and has returned to the area with her husband and two children. As Head Coach of DanceMakers Gymnastics, her goal is to create a positive environment to promote the learning of gymnastics skills, personal growth of the athlete, and enhance a love for the sport and all it encompasses.

Niki Churchill
Pre-Comp Gymnastics Coach

Niki has been involved in gymnastics for most of her life. Niki was a Provincial All Around Champion, and Provincial Champion on the floor exercise. She began coaching as a teenager in Owen Sound, and continued to coach in Windsor and Australia. She has taught general gymnastics, trampoline, kindergym, mens and woman's artistic programs as well as acro for several dance studios in Australia.

Niki is a certified Level 2 artistic womans coach, level 1 trampoline and Risk Management cetified. As well, she holds a B.A. Honours Psychology degree and is currently working on her masters of psychology. After travelling out west and eventually moving to Australia, she worked as a Youth Worker until having a family. Niki managed a small rural gymnastics club in Autralia with help from volunteers, and attended ongoing club management and coaching training from international speakers at the High Performance Centre in Melbourne for eight years. Upon her return to Canada, she has enjoyed bringing her knowledge and experience to DanceMakers.

Elly Van Grootel - Ward
Gymnastics Coach

Elly hails from Southampton, but currently resides in Hepworth with her husband Trevor and newborn Hunter. She began her gymnastics training 19 years ago and has been involved in the sport ever since. She has over 16 years of coaching experience and 6 years of dance experience. Elly is a NCCP Certified Level 2 Gymnastics Coach, NCCP Level 1 Trampoline Coach, and has also completed her NCCP Level 3 Theory. She has completed Risk Management through Gymnastics Ontario, and has First-Aid and CPR.

Elly also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology form the University of Waterloo, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Niagara College, and a Certificate in Esthetics's from the Spa Institute. DanceMakers welcomes Elly's passion for the sport to our programs.

Ashley Hamilton
Acro & Gymnastics Coach 

Ashley moved back to Owen Sound in 2009 after completing her post-secondary education. She graduated with Honours from the University of Guelph in 2008 with a B.A.Sc degree in Child, Youth and Family Studies. She then continued her education at Brock University and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Education Degree at the Primary/Junior level. Ashley is an Ontario Certified Teacher and she is also a registered ECE. She is currently on staff at St.Basil's school in the kindergarten room.

Ashley has been with DanceMakers since they first opened their doors in 1994. She has over 18 years of dance experience in Jazz and Ballet with Mijka Hooper. Ashley is a NCCP Level 1 Artistic Gymnastics Coach and a NCCP Level 1 Trampoline Coach. She has also completed Risk Management through Gymnastics Ontario. Ashley's goal is to provide a positive, structured and fun gymnastics environment for children and youth, and to encourage a genuine love of the sport.

Bill Bayley
Gymnastics Coach

Bill has been instrumental in the Owen Sound area for over 30 years in fostering a love of gymnastics in others and building of the sport. Bill has coached from advanced recreational to provincial athletes, and has been directly involved with the coaching of several provincial champions from the area in the past. He is level 1 certified, level 1 trampoline and level 2 woman's artistic. Today you can still find Bill bringing his love of gymnastics that he built in both of his daughters (Mijka & Petra), to the next generation of gymnasts as he is still very much present in the gym today in many different roles.

Bill is a retired college professor from Georgian College and a Graphic Artist. Many of his contributions to Dancemakers can be seen around the studio, on stage and in the gym. Thank you "Mr. B".