The Baton & Dance Company

MISS ELLE (a.k.a. Loranne Meek) is the founder, owner/director and head choreographer of The Baton & Dance Company. During her athletic career she was the 1983 and 1985 Grand National 2-Baton Champion and was a member of the 1986 World Silver Medalist Batons West Team.
 
Miss Elle has coached many National Champions and Teams over the years: Carolyn Day, Kirsten Mack, Jordan Madley, Corry Topp, Lindsay Pylychaty, Vicki-Ann Jean, Brianne Jensen, Candace Zwarich, Sherri Clark, Margaret Williams, Kendra Masters, Megan Enns, Cory Archer, Jessica Parnell, Caitlyn & Tianna Tedford, Delaney Sarro, Nikki Blackmore, Cassandra Frank, Hayley Dunmire, Alisa Rozan, Hannah Curwen, Britney Denroche, Rachel James, Hayley Hegland, Kali Toohey, Jayde Plett, Bella Evans, The A Team, Move, Five, Co. Swings, Co Supreme, Intergalactic Co., Joi, Dive, Scream, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Drag Race, Balkan Beat, Grand National Dance Twirl Team “Jump”, Getting in the Mood, Saturday Night, Back Street's Back, Feel This Moment and No Diggity. In 2000, Miss Elle trained The “A” Team” who represented Canada at the World Championships in Den Bosch, Holland. In 2004 Loranne had the opportunity to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland to teach athletes on the Swiss National Team. At the 25th World Baton Twirling Championships in Osaka, Japan she taught a record number (300) children in the International Athletes’ Clinic! In 2005 Loranne accompanied her student Cory Archer to the World Championships in St. Paul, MN where he won a bronze medal. In 2006 Cory reached another lifetime goal – winning the Gold Medal in the Senior 3-Baton Event in Rome, Italy. In 2007 Cory and his pair partner Jenna Jemieff won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Hamilton, Ontario! Miss Elle has collaborated on many International Cup Teams including “Music in Me”, “Mirror”, “Journey”, “Let It Go”, “Trance” and “Someone Like You.” Most recently, Loranne was a guest instructor at the Pan Pacific Athlete’s Clinic teaching 2-Baton to international athletes.
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Loranne is a CBTF Level 3 Certified Coach, NCCP II Certified Coach, certified in the FMS - Community Leader (Multi-Sport Module), a Module 1, 2, 3, CBTF Certified Judge. One of the highlights of Loranne’s career was being appointed the Competition Director for the 3rd Annual WBTF International Cup which was held in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007. Loranne is certified to the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus and is also a Certified Acrobatic Arts Examiner. 
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Loranne’s professional dance career has taken her on many adventures. She was the co-owner/director of the professional dance troupe “DANCE TECH” from 1998-2002. She performed and choreographed for the Western Premier’s Conference, the Noel “O” Concert, the Alumni Concert, the Calgary Women’s and Bridal Show, the 1997 Annual Aids Benefit, The Artistid Director for the 1998 Black Achievement Awards, Latitude and Jacob Fashion Shows, the Maestro Fresh Wes Concert, the Reel to Real Concert, three music videos – Jason McKoy, Dive and Exsanguis, Josie D’Ambola’s CD Release Party, and the Love Inc., ATC and Underground Project Concerts.

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MISS LINDSAYstarted her athletic and artistic journey at the age of 3 under the coaching of Miss Elle, right here at the Baton & Dance Company. She dedicated many years to baton and became a National Solo, 2 baton and Freestyle Champion by the age of 9. After dedicating 10 years to the sport, she was sadly moved to small town in Saskatchewan where Baton did not exist but her passion for the sport remained. She continued her competitive dance journey up until 2002, when she started teaching professionally after moving back to Calgary, AB in 1999. Later she went on to open Dare 2 Dream Art Centre of Alberta, which stood strong for 5 years in NW Calgary, welcoming all artistic beings and providing them with a safe, all inclusive space to immerse themselves in the world of art be it, Dance, Music, Theatre, Acrobatics and Fine Arts.

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Miss Lindsay has studied and taught across Canada and around the globe in many places, such as, Hong Kong, The Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City, Goa and Mumbai, India, LA, The Broadway Dance Centre and many more. Over the years she has trained many athletes who have gone on to work with Dance & Theater companies in Vancouver, London, Toronto and New York. Miss Lindsay and many of her students have been awarded for their ability to pair unique choreography & technical training together to create visual works of art and have been asked to dance and choreograph for performances at Disney Land, Disney World, the Canadian Premier of the Hannah Montana Movie, the Stampede parade and many more fun events!

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For the past 32 years Miss Lindsay has dedicated her life to the art of dance and holds teaching certifications for Ballet, Jazz and Tap with the CDTA as well as having been through her RAD and Checcetti examinations for Ballet and Pointe. Teaching everything from Bollywood to Contemporary to Musical Theatre and everything in between, Miss Lindsay combines her love of dance with her passion for working with children to provide them with the very best training in a comfortable, healthy and positive environment. She is so very excited to be back in the gym and to have been given the opportunity to return home, beside Miss Elle, to help train these amazing twirlers!

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MISS CAROLYN  

Carolyn (Day) participated in baton twirling for 18 years. Hard work and dedication brought her numerous North American and international titles and recognition.

During her athletic career, she achieved: Canadian Grand National Championship titles in 2-Baton (1987, 1988), Medley (1988), Solo Dance (1989); CBTF Sr. Women's Athlete of the Year (1990, 1991); representing Canada at the WBTF World Championships from 1986-1991: 1986 Batons West Team Silver Medal (with Miss Elle), 1989 Sr. Women's Silver medalist, 1991 Sr. Women's Bronze medalist, and 1990 Sr. Women's Gold medal and World Championship title in San Antonio, TX.  

Carolyn was honoured to work with a coaching team that included Annette Odello (Concord, CA) and Loranne Meek.

Outside of baton, Carolyn is a marketing and communications professional with an affinity for fitness and a certified group fitness instructor (Alberta Fitness).

Since the beginning, Carolyn has been friends with, coached by, and twirled alongside Miss Elle and is excited to contribute her creativity, experience, and passion to the Baton and Dance Company. 

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MISS EMILY

Hello! My name is Emily Leakos and I am originally from Saskatoon, where I twirled with the Optimist Twirling Connection. I was lucky enough to represent my country at four different International Competitions, the last of which was France 2019.

 

As well as competing, I worked as a coach for the studio. My main areas of teaching were Acrobatics and Baton. I’m in Calgary pursuing my masters degree in physical therapy and am entering my second year of the program.

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MISS MORGAN

Morgan grew up dancing at DanScott studio in the northwest area of Calgary from the age of two. Dancing all through high school on a competitive team, Morgan went on to have many achievements in competitions and conventions. She won 1st overall score at Millennium Dance Competition and, having the opportunity to travel to Europe and dance with an international dance group. She has also had multiple teaching opportunities throughout her athletic career at her studio in Calgary. Morgan has always been an Acro and Jazz fanatic; her passion translating to determination in the classroom resulting in always excelling at both in competitions. She understands the best skills are created by hard work in practice.

Outside of dance, Morgan is a student at Mount Royal University and is currently studying Business. Following the completion of her business degree, Morgan looks forward to continuing her education by obtaining her masters in psychology. In her free time, Morgan plans on pursuing her love for travel. Having recently spent 3 months backpacking Europe, she aspires to do much more traveling in the future. Morgan hopes to see all the world has and learn from the many different cultures and places around the world.

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MISS HAYLEY

I started twirling when I was 8 after seeing a flyer at my brother’s hockey camp. I was hooked after my very first class, I started twirling with Southside but it was taken over by Miss L after two years, and she quickly became a second mom to me. 

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I have competed at both national and international competitions and have placed in the top 10 at all 3 international competitions I competed in, and placed first at nationals twice in my career. 

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I have met some of my best friends because of this sport and it has truly made me who I am today. After 15 years I decided it was time to retire and move on, but I never stayed too far away, and I am so excited to coach and be a part of someone else's baton journey!