Emily Peat

Emily started dancing at 25 with the University of Waterloo Mambo Club — and instantly fell in love with salsa and bachata.

She took one to two community classes every night of the week. Less than two years later, she left a promising engineering career to pursue her dream of dancing all day. By the end of that year she was teaching 17 classes a week, hosting monthly social dances, had competed, and had Waterloo's highest rated business listing as a dance instructor for adults.

Since founding the studio in 2020, Emily has helped launch multiple dance careers, supported independent studios started by former students and instructors, and taught thousands of adult beginners through systems designed to help people learn safely, confidently and effectively.

Alongside running The Underdog full-time, she continues to compete, train internationally and pursue advanced certifications in judging, instruction and technical education.

She wants you to know that it's never too late to do what you love — and hopes to see you on the dance floor soon.