Meet our Faculty
Our Directors
At DanceRoots, our faculty consists of passionate and experienced dance instructors dedicated to nurturing each student’s talent and Love for Dance.
Sarah Nolan RAD, RTS
Owner and Artistic Director
Sarah Nolan, a distinguished graduate of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet Professional Division, is a classically trained ballet artist with a passion for nurturing the next generation of dancers. She performed professionally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for three impactful years, showcasing her talent in iconic roles such as Giselle, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. Her performances also featured notable works like Les Sylphides, Concerto Barrocco, Les Patineurs, Seventh Symphony, and Deuce Coupe. In 1996, Sarah honed her craft further at the prestigious Professional Ballet Program at the Banff Festival of the Arts in Alberta.
Transitioning from dancer to educator, Sarah settled in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where she earned her professional teacher’s certification from the Royal Academy of Dance in London. During her time in the prairies, she founded the Saskatchewan Contemporary Ballet and contributed to the artistic vision of Dare to Dance, shaping the landscape of dance in the Saskatchewan community.
After relocating to Ottawa 18 years ago, Sarah embraced a new challenge by opening a dance studio to give back to the community. DanceRoots has since become home to thousands of young artists, providing them with a solid foundation in the art of dance. Now, as she prepares to celebrate DanceRoots’ 17th season, Sarah is excited to share her extensive experience and unwavering passion for dance, inspiring her students to reach their fullest potential in this beloved art form.
Rhonda Bignucolo (A) B.A.T.D.
Competitive Director
Rhonda Bignucolo brings over 15 years of personal dance training and competitive experience across all dance disciplines. In 1997, she became a qualified instructor with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (B.A.T.D.) in Ballet and Jazz. Since then, Rhonda has been dedicated to instructing children and adults in ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre at both competitive and recreational levels. Throughout her teaching career, she has received numerous awards for her unique choreography.
As the Co-Director of OnStage Productions Dance Competition, established in 2008, Rhonda combines her passion for dance with her leadership skills. With 9 years of corporate human resources experience at Cognos and IBM, along with a Small Business Management Diploma and Event Planning Certification, she possesses a strong foundation in business management.
Rhonda's enthusiasm for teaching dance fuels her commitment to developing young dancers, guiding them to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
Our Staff
