Meet The Team

Before starting M. Funk Dance Productions, Meagan worked as a professional dancer throughout Toronto: in various small dance companies, where she performed at weddings, corporate events, galas, and fundraisers; and at the Greg Frewin Theatre in Niagara Falls as a dancer/magician’s assistant. In the latter role, Meagan performed nightly in an extravagant show featuring live animals such as lions, tigers, and exotic birds and grand levitation and sawing illusions. With the magic show, she seized the opportunity to perform as the headliner at the World Magic Conference in Blackpool, England.

Meagan moved back to Winnipeg in 2014 with the plan of starting her own dance business. She began teaching women upbeat Burlesque Fusion dance classes that aimed to inspire confidence and positivity, and with that, Prairie Diva was born. Soon after she started a professional dance company of local dancers that could be hired for performances at special events in Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Both companies have grown tremendously over the years. M. Funk Dance Productions currently has 11 professional dancers on their roster. Meagan produces showcases out of the Park Theatre and Basement Speakeasy in Winnipeg and has choreographed for many special events and wedding dances. 

Six years later, Amanda went back to the studio to start training again. She gained some more experience on stage, behind the camera in concept videos and in music videos. Discouraged at first coming back to dance, nine months later she auditioned and signed her first professional dancing contract with M. Funk Dance Productions. She has been with the company since September 2018 and continues to strengthen her skills in the studio despite her scoliosis.

During her time competing for her studio, Annika won many awards and attended multiple workshops/conventions, learning from some of the most talented and well known dancers/choreographers in the business. Some of her awards include: Junior Modern Scholarship 2015, Paris/Barcelona Dance Tour Scholarship 2018 & Duo/Trio of the Year Award 2019. 

Annika also kicked-off her choreography skills by developing pieces that were used in these competitions, and successfully placed in the overall top 3 with all of her routines!

Through it all, Annika has experienced the hardships of having injuries, and what it takes to come back from them. She took a step back from dance for 4 years, however she started her training back up in 2023. Her time away from dance was a healing and profound time, that ultimately led her back to her first love, dance. 

Annika’s mental fortitude has helped her so much over the years. Now she is as confident as ever, and overjoyed to be a part of the M. Funk team! 

Dance is not her only goal however, Annika plans on acquiring her diploma in dental hygiene, and plans to pursue her dreams of becoming a circus/rave performer using props/apparatuses.

She began with ballet through the RWB Satellite program, then quickly became obsessed with wanting to grow and learn more styles of dance. Averie joined the competitive program at Evolution Dance Company, competing in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop for 4 years. After moving on from competing, Averie joined M. Funk Dance Productions in the fall of 2018. Currently, Averie is still doing dance training at Drop in Dance, performing in gigs with M. Funk, and is running a dance program in her hometown.

She also spent 2 years studying and performing with the Professional Training Program at the renowned company and studio Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Most recently, she created and performed a full length dance theatre production “Pull Yourself Together” in the 2019 and 2023 Winnipeg Fringe Festivals. Other performance credits include the Ignite! Festival of Emerging Artists, Alberta Dance Festival, Skylines Dance & Film Festival (2017, 2018, and 2023), Fluid Festival’s Physical Therapy Cabaret, Rainbow Trout Music Festival, Nuit Blanche, and several productions with M Funk Dance.

Lavender began her dance training focusing on ballet, and has travelled across North America for her professional training in various dance styles, both classic and commercial, which she uses to create works of all styles and genres, ranging from hip-hop to classic burlesque and almost everything in between!  Also a company member of M Funk Dance Productions, you can find her performing and choreographing regularly for Prairie Diva showcases, doing burlesque, musical theatre works, and other dance routines with her fellow company members. Her classes encourage students to grow not only their technical abilities at their own pace, but also explore musicality, stage presence, and developing an artistic voice.

She graduated from the Stoney Brook Dance Company in 2019 and after a 4-year break from dance, realized that she couldn’t live without it and joined M Funk dance in 2023. She also established her burlesque persona “Meringue”, and plans to continue doing what she loves: creating art through movement. 

Alongside dance, Maya also has a passion for mathematics. She is currently working on achieving her bachelor of science at the University of Manitoba, majoring in Statistics and minoring in Philosophy. All in all, what Maya loves most is learning new things, be it mathematical formulas or dance steps.

It's no secret that Victoria is crafty and creative. She designs and creates all of her own costumes as well as frequently repairs and pins the costumes of her fellow company members backstage! Victoria is a self-taught seamstress and talented burlesque costumer. She shares her passion for sewing and costuming with Prairie Diva students in her "Become a Showgirl" and Costume-Making classes. She teaches Prairie Diva students how to make their own well-made and elaborate costumes with simple techniques and accessible materials. Giving them confidence to design and create their own burlesque costumes well after the class costume is complete.