Meet The Owner

Briana Starr Phillips 

Briana Starr Phillips is an accomplished professional dancer, certified fitness trainer, advocate, and the owner of Starrz Dance and Fitness. 

Briana grew up in a unique lifestyle. She started her dance career at four years old and grew a passion for performing. By age nine she had appeared in music videos, performed solo for many Ontario cultural shows and festivals, and danced back up for various artists. Exemplifying leadership she was often leading dance teams to competitions, lead in choir and band performances all while usually being looked at organizing school events (black history, artistic girls group, special education student leader etc) by age fourteen. 

In addition to her dance and plenty of leadership opportunities, Briana began working at her mothers (Jamaican-born, award-winning singer Jade Faith) restaurant and music lounge, where she learned most about her Jamaican heritage as a first-generation Canadian. Aiming for growth in her professionalism she began to work in customer service at the age of fourteen, ultimately becoming a retail store manager. During her time, she began to manage dance studios and became a mental health advocate for youth while recovering from her car accident at age eighteen. 

As part of  Briana's resilience, she began her weight loss journey losing over 60lbs. Gaining back her confidence she founded the class “Afro-Fit” where she worked to become an accredited personal fitness trainer. Throughout the year 2024, her dance career took a turning point when she did over 15 different performances focusing on her African American culture and condemning her instructing opportunities including teaching at the Etobicoke Olympium: Olympic Artistic Swim Camp, teaching at various sectors of schools, being a mentor and role model for youth. Hosting her own events in partnership with the Kitchener public library “A Dancehall Delight”.  Through perseverance Briana opened  her studio Starrz Dance and Fitness at Kitchener's first Caribana Ignite. A dance and fitness studio motivated by the passion to help others, inclusiveness, and diversity for everyone. She dedicated the studio to mental health awareness.  

By bringing her high energy to everything she does, Briana is a star beyond stars with her honorary accomplishments, high goals in a law focused career, mentorship, and inspiration to all.