Instructors

RACHELLE GRAHAM

Rachelle Graham is an emerging young artist in Vancouver and has danced, taught and performed all over Canada, The United States and India. To Rachelle dance is more than just movements, it’s her life.  She has trained in modern styles such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Latin, Ballet, Indo-Jazz and various Bollywood styles in Canada and India. At a young age she started in an Indian Classical style of dance call Bharat Natyam that she continued to train in for many years and which later became her foundation. Rachelle wishes to inspire young dancers and to teach them that anything is possible!

VANESSA LANZ

Vanessa has been studying ballet (Royal Academy Of Dance) for over 17 years.  She has obtained her Advanced level in the RAD syllabus and is currently studying to become a certified RAD teacher and put children through RAD exams. She studied under Dolores Kirkwood, Bruce Monk (from the Royal Winnipeg), Sarah Brewer, Camilla Fishwick, Trisha Sinosich, Mr. Lee and many others at Kirkwood Academy. Vanessa was also a part of Royal Youth Ballet; with them she travelled and performed on  the Norwegian, Princess and Carnival Cruise lines, Alaska, Mexico, Harrison Hot Springs, Whistler, Disneyland and within her community. Along with these performances she has also taken part in The Nutcracker, Copellia, Cinderella and various National Dances. Vanessa has attended the Parksville Summer Intensive, Kirkwood (Nanaimo) Summer Intensive, and Royal City Youth Ballet’s Summer School.

Vanessa currently is in her third year at Simon Fraser University, in the Contemporary Arts department, where she is studying to obtain her BA as a dance major. At Simon Fraser University she is a part of the Off Centre Dance Company and studies under Judith Grary ( the owner of Dancer’s Dancing) Rob Kitsos, Cheryl Prophet, Marla Eist, Megan Walker Straight and many other. She is studying many different modern techniques such as Graham and Cunningham, but still keeping a strong foundation in ballet. Vanessa’s goal is to finish her university degree, become a certified dance teacher in Royal Academy of Dance and to perform on cruise ship to make enough money to open her own studio.  Vanessa has a passion for dance and believes that anything is possible. All you have to do is believe!

ANGELA AMICI

Angela Amici has danced & performed internationally in a variety of styles from Salsa to Jazz and Hip Hop for the past 7 years. Students praise her natural welcoming attitude and ability to communicate. She has been spotlighted in the 24hr news paper, Shaw TV, Spike TV, Glow Magazine & CBC news for her popular dance classes. She has performed for Juno awarded winning artists and international dance events. She is the director and choreographer of performing Vancouver based dance group the Dance Divas. Credits include the Los Angeles Salsa Congress, Choreographer for Nessa-V Music Video, dancer for Juno winners Rumba Calzada live in Concert & choreographer for Claude Duke Music.

LISA GOEBEL

Born and raised in British Columbia, Lisa has trained and competed in regional and national competitions. She has achieved numerous high score awards and scholarships from North American dance competitions. Dancing has provided her with the opportunity of training throughout North America - from Seattle to Las Vegas, and most recently New York City. She has completed the ISVP program at the Broadway Dance Center in New York, and has considerable training with master teachers and video choreographers. Lisa has completed the Al Gilbert Jazz Syllabus, and has studied extensively in jazz, ballet, hip hop and musical theatre.

She especially enjoys musical theatre, incorporating her theatre background into the structure of her class. Lisa is a graduate of Studio 58. She enjoys teaching all levels, from recreational beginners to advanced competitive students. Her high energy and interesting choreography always lead to a fun yet challenging class!

YOSHI HISANAGA

Yoshi is a versatile and innovative dancer who brings a fresh and energetic flavor to dance where ever he goes. Yoshi is a passionate teacher who believes in passing down his knowledge to the next generation and giving back to the Vancouver hiphop dance community. He focuses on old school hip-hop basics and fundamentals. His classes include everything from popping, bboying, locking, to street jazz. His passion and dedication to the art has caught the attention of the renowned hiphop group Over the Influence, which Yoshi has become the latest member of. He also embraces the competitive element of hiphop. He is an award winning choreographer who specializes in a unique and abstract blend of hip-hop and break dancing. He was the choreographer and dancer for the 2005 Senior Canadian National Dance Competition Champions, and the choreographer for the 2005, 2006, 2007 Junior Canadian National Dance Competition Champions (Elktrik). He also represented Canada at the Hip-hop International ChampionshipS in the summer of 2007 in L.A and 2008 in Vegas.

JOJO ZOLINA’ Kinetic Philosopher’

An extraordinary freestyler dancer and choreographer, Jojo the “Kinetic Philosopher” Zolina, is greatly respected for his work in the dance community worldwide. He has traveled, researched and worked with the originators and pioneers of Hip Hop, such as the Electric Boogaloos L.A., Mop Top Crew NYC and Dance Fusion NYC. After learning from these pioneers, Jojo is ready to pass along the true essence of Hip Hop culture. He melds a diverse fusion of dance style like traditional ethnic folk dance, hip hop, funk styles, vogueing, whacking, house, reggaeton, dancehall, contemporary and salsa.

Jojo is a phenomenal collaborator and a well-known international choreographer. His resume includes performances with such as Nelly Furtado, K-Os, Swollen Members, Michael Buble, Cory Lee, Illa Brown as well as opening for artist Mos Def, Talib Kwali, The Roots, Dogg Pound to name a few. His movie and TV credits include Dr. Doolittle 3, Catwoman, Reefer Madness, Goodbye Girl, L-Word, Eureka, Caprica, Bratz Dolls, Verizon, Blue Cross, Kyocera and Citroen C4. As an Artist, his talents have taken him beyond Vancouver, sharing his knowledge and skills in The Netherlands, France, Italy, England, The Philippines, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Jojo will be touring with Over The Influence (OTI) across Canada with the show called “Hip Hop Is…” written, directed and produced by OTI.  For Jojo, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The constant love and support he receives from his community and students only fuel his growing inspiration and passion for dance, leaving limitless possibilities for the future.

TAMARA DEWAR

Tamara is a former competitive figure skater who discovered her love of Oriental dance (belly dance) in 1998. She has studied with local masters Loulie and Sarita as well as world renouned dancers Amir Thaleb, Sahra Saeeda, Yousry Sharif, Jillina, Bozenka, and Jim Boz to name but a few. She is known for her innate ability to break down the most complex movements into its simplest forms to teach students of all levels. As the artistic director of her troupe, The Nefertara Dancers, her choreographies have received rave reviews at every show they have participated in from local festivals, to the PNE mainstage. This may be attributed to her years of ballroom training both on and off the ice.
Tamara is forever student and teacher, believing in a lifetime of learning. Her style of bellydance is rooted in the Oriental tradition but her energy and charisma bring a stylization of modernism to the dance that really comes alive on stage. The way she fuses the music to the dance is expressed through her movement in a way that will delight even the most sophisticated of audiences. A delight wherever she performs, Tamara is a dancer not to be missed.Tamara currently teaches classes for all ages and levels in New Westminster and Burnaby.

SHAWNA PARRY

Shawna trained in dance with the Fay Gleeson Dance Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with whom she traveled and competed throughout the U.S. and Canada.  After moving to Vancouver, she soon discovered that singing and acting were just as wonderful as dancing and has been immersed in musical theatre ever since!  She teaches dance and musical theatre, as well as choreographs, coaches, and adjudicates for many lower mainland schools and theatre companies.

Favorite performance credits include dancing for the Famous Players show band, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Metro Theatre) for which she was nominated for a Most Outstanding Female Performance Ovation Award, The Waitress in Working (Footlight), Nickie in Sweet Charity (Pipedream), Eve in the Diary of Adam and Eve (little apple equity co-op), a cheerleader in High School Musical (URP), Connie in A Chorus Line (VIVA Musica), as well as productions with Theatre Under The Stars.  She delights in combining traveling with her career and has performed in the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular (Razzle-Dazzle Productions) on Vancouver Island and Rhythms On The Rails (Rocky Mountaineer) in Kamloops, BC.

Recently Shawna thoroughly enjoyed choreographing Little Shop of Horrors for Uncle Randy Productions and Thoroughly Modern Millie for Crofton House School. Honored to be able to do what she loves to do, Shawna loves passing on this joy to her students, whom always seem to respond with an exchange of inspiration!

BARBARA TUTT

Beautiful, Burnaby B.C. is Barbara’s home town that she has watched flourish and grow in the arts for over 40 years and where she is very proud of becoming a dance studio owner, artistic director, producer and award winning choreographer.  She started dancing with former New York “Rockette” and Las Vegas “Lido” dancer, with Betty McHardy at age 10 and her accomplishments lead her on to perform with a Vancouver based “Las Vegas” styled group called “Gypsy”.

She’s danced for many International Trade shows and Corporate Conventions, Expo ‘86, the Canadian Armed Forces Europe, Cyprus and Northern Canada tours.  She has also danced and acted in 9 National commercials, tapped along side Jim Hibbard with Hoofers Ink,, and for over 20 years has performed and choreographed for Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath and the Variety Club Telethon.

With many years of training experience in tap, jazz, musical theatre, acrobatics, ballet and lyrical, taking dance classes from New York to Los Angles as well as being an Honours graduate of the Al Gilbert technique syllabus, Barbara has been able to help fellow performers expand and structure their techniques adjudicating in Quesnel, Edmonton, Regina, Calgary, Lethbridge and Vancouver and is a sought after teacher in lower mainland dance studios. Barbara has had the pleasure of training many students that have successful careers as performers on Broadway, Cruise Lines, in touring companies, one of the top 15 finalists of the 1^st T.V. series,” So you think you can dance”, award winning choreographers and dance studio owners.  She also choreographed for the highly acclaimed “Chorus Dance Company”, which most recently performed for the Cannes Reel sponsored by the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) at the River Rock Casino in Richmond.

“To dance is to feel it from the inside”.  Barbara is honoured to work with Sonica Gujral and Dancin’ Stars and finds it wonderfully rewarding to help dancers explore and press beyond their boundaries to find their creative soul that waits to be expressed.  Best wishes in your pursuit of dance.

KRISTINA LINDEN

Kristina is an accomplished dancer who has been immersed in the dance world since the age of four. She was most recently seen in the Metro Theatre’s production of Anything Goes; she was also seen tapping her feet in Royal City Musical Theatre’s  2007 production of 42^nd Street. She is an original member of Beat Feet Divaz, Vancouver’s only all female tap and hip-hop fusion dance company. Kristina was a co-recipient of the West Coast Tap Dance Collective’s annual scholarship in 2007, and has been a performer at many notable events including the LA Tap Festival’s “Remembering Dr. Jimmy Slyde,” the Vancouver Tap Festival’s “Tap Passages,” numerous Vancouver International Tap Day Celebrations, Vancouver’s PNE Star Discovery, and “For the Luv of It.” In 2005, she was a member of the Canadian National Tap Team which received a silver medal at the World Tap Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany; she was also a finalist in the duet category. Kristina has studied with and been heavily influenced by many tap artists such as: Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Arthur Duncan, Dr. Jeni LeGon, Dr. Harold Cromer, Diane Walker, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Ted Levy, Michelle Dorrance, Brenda Buffalino, Heather Cornell, and Chester Whitmore. During the summer of 2008, she attended the Los Angeles Tap Festival at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy where she was lucky enough to receive a week long internship! Kristina has also trained at the Millennium Dance Complex and the Edge Performing Arts Centre in L.A., and at Broadway Dance Center in New York.

ALI NELSON

Ali has been dancing since the age of 4, taking lessons in jazz, tap, stage, ballet, voice, musical theatre, and hip hop. She has achieved her CDTA (Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association) Gold Star medals in both tap and jazz, and, as of February 2009, has become an Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association. Dancing has brought Ali many opportunities to travel and perform. She has studied dance locally at Dance Express, Dancin’Stars, P&B Dance Unlimited, Harbour Dance, and abroad at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York. Through her years of experience, she has been apart of a dance team that has performed in Hawaii, Mexico, Whistler, and at various locations in the lower mainland. She has also performed at venues such as the Abbotsford Agrifair, Harrison Hotsprings Resort, and the Red Robinson Show Theatre with the Vancouver-based Stardust Showgirls. Ali is currently working to expand her knowledge of dance by taking classes, teaching children and adults of all ages, and learning the business aspect of things by working alongside Sonica Gujral as office manager at Dancin’Stars School of the Performing Arts.

LEE HEDGES

Lee Hedges began his career in the world of acting, and was involved in every theatre program he could get his hands on. That is until he discovered the world of dance through his work in Musical Theatre. At the age of 16 Lee was scouted out at a local dance competition by two veterans of the LA dance scene (whose credits include Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Janet Jackson) and was asked to join their competitive team. It was through their training program that he discovered his passion for dance, but it wasn’t until he received a scholarship from Melissa Williams (of So You Think You Can Dance Canada) to train in Los Angeles that he realized he wanted his passion to become a career.

Lee is a very versatile dancer, as he has trained in various styles with some of the best instructors and companies in the industry. Lee has worked with Amber Funk Barton in her contemporary show “Risk”, has performed live on stage with recording artist Melissa G., and can be seen in Hey Ocean’s music video for “A Song About California” (Peaking at #2 on MuchMoreMusic top 10) as well as 16mm’s music video for “Lula”. His theatre credits include the title role as Cat in the Hat in “Seussical the Musical”, supporting roles in “Annie” the Musical, and a lead role in “The Nutcracker: Uncracked” co-directed by Jeff Hyslop. Other credits include: Global TV, Shaw TV, Pacific National Exhibition and CMC Entertainment. Most recently Lee can be seen performing with his Vancouver based group “CraveSoul” to which he is the founder and choreographer, and can been seen dancing throughout the 2010 Winter Olympics in the “Canadian Winter Sport Showcase”, a live multi-media show put on by UPR Productions in West Vancouver.

TREVOR KLUSHIN

Trevor Klushin has over 18 years experience as a professional modern/ballet dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. He graduated at GMCC (Grant MacEwan Community College, in Alberta) from 1984 to 1994 with a dance performance diploma and dance teacher diploma. He has danced with Mile Zero Dance Co., Brian Webb Dance Co., Ballet North, Cornelius Fisher Credo, Chick Snipper, Katherine Labelle, as well many other independent artists. Trevor has choreographed for independent artists, Children’s companies in British Columbia and Alberta. As well he has produced over forty dances since he started to train professionally at the age of nineteen. His work has been shown in Canada, Cayman Islands, Brazil, and Holland. Trevor has done film, TV, and commercials regarding dance and art. Known by his students as “Mr. Trevor” his teaching style and education were founded on the principles set out by Charlene Tarver. A founder of the Grant MacEwan Program in Alberta, Charlene Tarver trained with Honya Holm in New York, a pioneer in modern dance. Her influence on the dance community and Mr. Trevor continues today. Mr. Trevor does dance parties for children as well, he gives lectures to Early Childhood educator’s on the concepts of creative dance.

 

BERNIE MARFORI

Born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Richmond BC, Bernie has always had a passion to perform. He was first exposed into the performing industry in secondary school where he was a highly active member of the theatre and performing arts department. In 2006 he was invited to take an introductory hip hop class where he did better than he expected, and gave him the confidence and drive to keep going and advance. He found the art of choreographing dances to be very unique and it really intrigued him.

Bernie then enrolled himself into the Vancouver Academy of Dance where he met his first instructor/mentor, Stewart Iguidez, where he was learned and experienced a different perspective of choreography. After a season of class at Vancouver Academy of Dance, he flew to Los Angeles and took a summer intensive workshop at the Millennium Dance Complex where he was able to train exclusively with his idols and learn a lot about the dance industry and how it works. Right there and then Bernie met many choreographers, and after being exposed to many different styles, he was inspired to start making his own choreography. Upon his return back to Richmond BC, he trained exclusively under Richard O’Sullivan; from whom he learned many valuable lessons about dance, including the basic fundamentals of how to properly instruct class. Being very into performing arts, pursuing dance as a career was a very vivid option for him. With knowledge of how the industry works, Bernie’s future was soon to bloom.

Now at age 20, within the span of three years, Bernie has accomplished so much in the dance industry and has worked with many top choreographers in North America. He is a proud member and founder of Nu Era Cru, and a proud member of Flowethics dance crew, and formerly a proud member of the highly-competitive Xtreme Soul Style dance crew. Having the privilege to be teaching at many different dance studios, Bernie is able to follow and fulfill his passion by spreading his unique style of choreography to as many people as possible. You can catch Bernie in many different studios either taking class, teaching, or rehearsing. Be sure to come out and try his classes and make sure you go check out his Youtube channel for more videos, (bm1228), and remember to subscribe!

Bernie’s choreography combines various forms of movement from sharp, fast moves, to smooth yet precise, and very controlled moves. It is unique as the style can vary from technical isolations and footwork, to groovy and fun steps. Because his style of choreography consists of many different and contrasting styles of movement, it is consistently challenging his students and always helping them improve. Character is an important factor when it comes to his choreography, and also focuses on capturing a certain mood with each piece. Bernie also puts a major focus on musicality – his students will learn to listen to music in a completely different way that will give them a better understanding of beats and rhythm.

JHAYMEE HIZON

Jhaymee Hizon, aka ‘BBOY ELOQUENCE’ is a dance instructor as well as a performer. He has been teaching the art of bboying for twelve years now. Jhaymee is well versed in the traditional style of Bboying. His style is a fusion of the “old school” moves and his own “new school” moves to give him a unique character out on the dance floor.

He has been featured in films, music videos, television programs, and fashion shows. One of his past film projects was playing the role of Cole’s crew in the movie “Kickin it Old Skool” which came out in theatres in 2007. His goal is to promote the positive side of hip-hop, while preserving this powerful art form and its strong cultural presence. You can catch him performing with his crew Now or Never (Canadian bboy champions) throughout the lower mainland.

LORENZO BERNABE

STEPHANIE VAN DYCK

As soon as she could walk, Stephanie began dancing and somersaulting everywhere she went. She begged her parents to enroll her in ballet lessons, and finally when she turned four, she took her first beginner ballet class. She immediately fell in love with the art, and soon after found herself taking practically ever type of dance, from ballet all the way to street jazz. Before graduating high school she completed her advanced one ballet exam (ISTD), Red acrobatics exam (AFSA), and Advanced one modern exam (ISTD), receiving high marks in all three. Two years in a row, she was invited to an international acrobatic competition, held in South Africa, for receiving one of the highest exam scores in all of North America. At the age of 16, Stephanie spent the summer in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with the “American Ballet Theatre,” building even more of a passion for the art. As well as dancing full time, Stephanie began rhythmic gymnastics, competing at a national level throughout Canada and the U.S. After graduating high school, Stephanie took one year of the professional ballet program at “Artsumbrella,” as well as began performing as a professional acrobat with “West Coast Contortion and Acrobatics.” Before long, the acrobatics and ballet began to conflict, and Stephanie decided to go the acrobatics route. She is now performing contortion and acrobatic routines across Canada at various shows and events, such as: The Katy Perry Concert, Jason Priestley’s Red Hills Winery Anniversary Party, Thomas Lynch Christmas Party, and many others.

 

SARAH MOORE

After observing her first kick-line at Expo’86, Sarah relentlessly begged her parents for dance lessons.  Her love of dance has led her to train in jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, contemporary/modern, stage, hip hop, and swing dancing.  She has completed the internationally recognized Al Gilbert Dance Syllabus in Jazz and Tap and has a BFA in contemporary dance from Simon Fraser University, where she had the opportunity to study with Judith Garay, Megan Walker-Straight, Mary Louise Albert, Sarah Brewer, and many other notable dance artists.

As a performer, Sarah has been seen kicking her legs up doing the Can-Can and Charleston as a member of the ‘Gypsy Dancers’ alongside Gillian Campbell (a.k.a. Klondike Kate) as well as performing with Vancouver Light & Movement productions, a contemporary ballet company based in North Vancouver.

However, Sarah’s true passion is teaching and choreographing. Her students have been successful at local and international competitions, receiving many high score and specialty awards   Her choreography has also been honored with awards and she had the pleasure of choreographing ‘Can-Can’ for the BC Cancer Foundation’s ‘Nite of Hope’.

Sarah enjoys sharing her passion for dance with students and is looking forward to working with the students of Dancin’Stars for the 2010/2011 season.

LAUREN CHEN

Lauren was inducted to the world of dancing at the age of 3 at her local Youth Club in Guangzhou, China.  By the time she was admitted to the Guangdong Dance Academy at the age of 12, she was already a seasoned dancer performing solos and leads for her school and the dance club she belonged.   At the Academy, she underwent a six-year regiment of training for professional ballerinas.  Upon graduation in 1999, she was recruited by one of the top ballet troupes in China, the Guangdong Ballet Company, where she did over 100 performances a year of classical repertoires such as “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Giselle”, and ballet interpretations of “Butterfly Lovers”, “Yellow River”.  She went on tours with the Company to Taiwan, USA.

Between 2001 and 2006, Lauren accepted a full scholarship from the Goh Ballet Academy here in Vancouver to further her quest for the perfection of ballet performance.  As part of her graduate studies, she spent considerable time on other dance forms such as contemporary, jazz, street, Broadway, learning first hand from masters who regularly teach at the Goh Ballet.

JENNIFER BEAVERSTOCK

Jennifer started dancing with Halau Kia’i O Ka Hula under the direction of Josie de Baat at the age of three. She has learned the delicate art of hula, as well as dance forms from other islands in the South Pacific; including, Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji. Over the years Jennifer has competed in dance festivals throughout the lower mainland as well as in the United States. Winning numerous personal awards for overall top performances including; top Tahitian, Kahiko (ancient Hawaiian dance), Hawaiian, and overall top dancer awards. Jennifer has participated in workshops with some of the biggest Hawaiian Kumu’s (teachers) including; the late Uncle George Naope, Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu, Charles Ka’apu, Willie K, and several others. She has dedicated most of her life to learning the art of hula as well as the language and history of the country and art, and wishes to share her knowledge and love for dance with her students.