Natalie began dancing at the age of three, taking her very first dance classes with her mom as her instructor at Sue Bottrill Dance Studio right here in Cambridge. After her family relocated to Burlington, she continued her training at the Oakville School of Dancing and Vlad’s Dance Company, where she developed a strong technical foundation in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and acrobatics.
Throughout her dance journey, Natalie has always been drawn to the joy of performance. Dance has provided her with a creative outlet where she can express herself with confidence while bringing characters and stories to life on stage.
Natalie’s performance experience includes serving as an understudy in Ryan Foley’s tap company, The Next Step, as well as performing with and assisting in cleaning choreography for her sister Linda Garneau’s company, Helix Dance Project. To this day, one of her favourite parts of the rehearsal process is refining and polishing choreography.
Natalie began teaching at just 17 years old and has been sharing her love of dance with students ever since. She remains committed to her own growth as both a dancer and educator, never passing up the opportunity to take class herself whenever she can. She believes that age is just a number and that with dedication and a positive mindset, anything is possible. In fact, one of her personal goals is to still be doing the splits at 80 years old!
Natalie has completed her Module One Certification through Acrobatic Arts, as well as the Tap Roots Teacher Certification, and is passionate about continuing her education within the dance industry.
She brings enthusiasm, positivity, and genuine care into every classroom, and is passionate about helping each student build confidence, develop strong technique, and discover the joy that dance can bring. Element Dance Arts has become a true home away from home, and she feels incredibly grateful to be part of such a wonderful dance family.