Tri-City Dance Centre

Shannon spent her early years of training in the Vancouver area, studying Royal Academy of Dance Ballet (Primary through Advanced) Jazz, Musical Theatre and Voice. She went on to study with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, York University Dance Department in Toronto, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.

 

Shannon also has experience in the Vagonava and Cecchetti styles of Ballet, Martha Graham Modern, Benesh Notation, and Educational Psychology. Shannon holds the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certificate, in which she received a mark of Distinction, and the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Diploma specializing in Anatomy and Dance History. Shannon continues her studies alongside some of the best Ballet Teachers in the World each summer in New York City, including Finis Jhung, David Howard and Jo Rowan.Shannon is also a Ballet member of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.

 

She has been teaching locally for the past 26 years and currently mentors and supervises in the RAD's Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies. As a teacher, her students have been accepted to and studied at some of the best schools in the world, including:  Alberta Ballet * American Ballet Theatre (ABT) *Ballet Austin *Ballet B.C. * Ballet Magnificat *Boston Ballet * Broadway Theatre Project * The Banff Centre for the Arts * Les Grands Ballets Canadians * Hartford Ballet * Illinois Ballet * Joffrey Ballet * Louisville Ballet * Miami City Ballet * The National Ballet of Canada * North Carolina Dance Theatre * Oregon Ballet Theatre * Orlando Ballet Theatre * Pacific Northwest Ballet School * Princess Cruise Lines * Royal City Musical Theatre * Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines * The Royal Winnipeg Ballet * Tokyo Disney * Washington Ballet * Theatre Under the Stars * Toronto Dance Theatre * Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive

 

Ryan trained locally in Jazz, Tap, Lyrical Jazz, Musical Theatre and Ballet. She was a member of the Grizzlies Dance Team since it's inception, and was also a principal dancer with "Fusion Dance Company".

She has trained up to the R.A.D. intermediate level in ballet and achieved the Gold Star in C.D.T.A. Tap. Ryan has performed all over the world-from Las Vegas to Japan, including many public venues throughout B.C.

 

She trained under master teacher Belinda Sobie, as well as Jocelyn Peden, Shannon Stewardson and Margaret Derksen. Ryan is the Assistant Director of Tri-City Dance Centre and co-director of the Intermediate Professional Program.

 

She has been teaching at Tri-City Dance Centre for the past twenty years, and is a registered A.I.D.T. Tap teacher. 

 

Kayla has over 20 years of dance and acting experience. She started dancing at the age of 6 and has trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Modern, Musical Theatre and Ballet. In her younger years, Kayla successfully competed in Festivals and Dance Competitions, attended Okanagan Summer School of the Arts, and performed in several plays and musicals including Annie Get Your Gun, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, and Bye Bye Birdie.

 

Following high school, Kayla attended both Victoria Motion Picture School and then the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  It was during her years in L.A. that Kayla was offered a dance teaching job at La Salle High School. It was there that she discovered her love for teaching and choreographing. After graduating from AADA with her Associate of Arts Degree, Kayla decided to continue her dance studies at various dance studios in the area and attended Glendale Community College where she was a member of their Dance Company.

 

Upon returning to the Vancouver area 6 years ago, Kayla has been teaching and choreographing at various studios, elementary and high schools. Many of her students and choreography have received numerous awards at local dance festivals and competitions. Most recently Kayla has choreographed a high school production of RENT, as well as being the director and choreographer for the children’s musical, The Mad Adventures of Mr Toad. Kayla’s immense passion and love of performing has her continuing her own training while sharing this love with her students and the community.

 

Sarah Brewer Clowes is a master teacher with a career spanning the continent as well as a time period of over 38 years. She is also a dancer, choreographer, adjudicator and personal movement expert. Sarah is a proud mother, a podcaster and workshop creator/leader on the importance of Injury Prevention through Health Maintenance and Anatomical Basics. 
Sarah’s performing career began at the Munich Ballet in Germany over 30 years ago and included dancing with the Northwest Florida Ballet, Banff Festival Ballet and the Vancouver Opera.

 

Her independent performing career encompasses most of her professional life and allowed her the privilege of working with such luminaries as Crystal Pite, David Earle, Wen Wei Wang, Cori Caulfield, Amber Funk Barton, Sylvain Senez and Gioconda Barbuto to name a few. She choreographs for both amateur and professional dancers and loves the explorative process of creating with artists. Sarah has also had the pleasure of adjudicating dance festivals all over Western Canada, including 3 Provincial festivals in B.C.

As a teacher, Sarah’s passion lies in creating space and potential for each and every dancer to discover their own path to movement clarity, both in physical health and in technical individuality. Her methods involve an emphasis on anatomical knowledge, personal expression and love of self-discovery. 

Sarah is highly respected for her extensive anatomical knowledge and creation of workshops that assist in maintaining dancer’s physical and mental health. She is also the creator of “Sarah’s Space”, a podcast that addresses a plethora of subjects from the arts world to social unrest and everything in between. Sarah’s deepest motivation is to help everyone that she works with find the best way they can dance forward in life. 
 

 

Born in BC, Krista trained both locally and nationally, in the Professional Programs of The Richmond Academy of Dance, National Ballet School of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Banff Centre for the Arts, and Montreal’s L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec.  While living in Montreal, she worked with company members of Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, and studied daily with the esteemed Alexandra Wells, former principal dancer of Boston Ballet, and faculty member of The Juilliard School, New York.

 

Krista danced many classical and contemporary roles, completed all RAD Vocational Examinations, and won numerous awards and scholarships, including one to train at London Studio Centre, England.  After injuries put a stop to her performance career, Krista obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Food, Nutrition, and Health, from The University of British Columbia.  With a special interest in wellness and injury prevention, she has conducted nutrition seminars for dancers.  

For over 20 years, Krista has taught at multiple schools in BC and Alberta.  She also works with pre-professional and professional dancers, teaching company class for both Ballet BC and Lamondance, where she continues as a Guest Collaborator.  Krista holds her Teaching Certificate and Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance, and is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, a revolutionary conditioning program taught globally.

 

From 2009 through 2021, Krista was Head of Ballet at RNB Dance & Theatre Arts, North Vancouver.  During her time leading the program, she encouraged each student to rise to their personal potential.  She mentored them through examinations and performances, always challenging the dancers to be fully present - finding joy and pride, not only in the public successes and recognition, but in the daily process of class. 

 

In 2021, Krista joined the faculty of Tri-City Dance Centre.  As well as training students in the younger grades of study, she now serves as an Assistant Director to the specialized Conservatory Program.   Krista teaches class with passion and an eye for detail, holding high technical standards, while encouraging individual discovery and expression.

 

Krista continues to guest teach and choreograph at different schools throughout Western Canada, offering private and group coaching to dancers of all ages in open work (Vaganova and RAD influenced), RAD Exam Syllabus, classical repertoire, strength/stretch/PBT, and solo and group choreography.  Her students are consistently recognized for strong exam results, awards and festival placings.  They continue to be chosen as representatives to the BC Provincial Festival, are accepted to prestigious international training institutions, and have gone on to dance professionally.  Krista has a genuine passion for ballet, and loves sharing this with the next generation of dancers!

 

Kylah Powell is a Vancouver born resident who attended on scholarship and graduated with a BFA in dance (with a focus on Modern) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She studied dance under Leni Wylliams, Mary Pat Henry and Paula Webber, and also spent a summer in New York as a student at the Alvin Ailey Dance Centre. 

Kylah has been teaching for over 20 years, with her choreography winning numerous awards throughout the Lower Mainland, including “Choreography of entire Dance Power Festival” for 5 years. She has performed in various festivals over the years, and her choreography has been showcased in the B.C. Festival of Arts, among many other events. In 2009, she choreographed and performed in a short film titled ‘Swell Season’, which screened at the Chicago International Film & Music Festival. During that time she was also part of Project CPR, a project focusing on the choreographic process, directed by Claire French. Choreographers included Sara Coffin, Heather Laura Gray and Caroline Liffman. Kylah’s most memorable moment came in 2010, when she danced in the Vancouver Olympic Opening Ceremonies! Since then, she has been focussing on her company (see below), and in 2015 performed a piece in a segment entitled ‘This Is A Full Length’, as part of the Dance In Vancouver Festival. In May of 2018, Kylah’s work was selected to be showcased in a special Gala celebrating BC’s 160th, held at the Vancouver Playhouse.

 

Kylah was a national level competitive gymnast for many years, competing both locally and out of province and country. This experience proved to be invaluable, as the teaching and choreographing of circus arts at Cirkids became another creative aspect to her life.

In 2005, Kylah formed CollabArt Creations, a contemporary dance company whose goal is to showcase the artistic collaboration of dancers, performers, and artists of various mediums in the public domain. She has produced and choreographed several full-length shows throughout the Lower Mainland, all of which were well received by enthusiastic audiences! CollabArt Creations has collaborated with artists including choreographers, dancers, photographers, painters, film directors/producers.

 

Most recently, Kylah has focused on the realm of film, due to Co-Vid. She has produced/ choreographed several short dance films and has just received a grant from The Dance Centre towards her next film project ‘Just a Swipe’.  Stay tuned…

 

For more info visit www.collabartcreations.weebly.com

 

Follow Kylah on Instagram: @kylahpowell   @collabartcreations

 

Originally from Edmonton, Liz was a competitive dancer at Shelley’s Dance Company.
 

Her professional career has allowed her to travel all over the world. She began with Princess Cruises as a featured dancer, she then travelled to Tokyo, Japan where she was part of the featured pas de deux couple in “Encore!” at Tokyo Disney Sea. She also went to Egypt and Israel under Big Fish Management for an inspiring show tour for the Canadian military.

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Liz was able to exercise all of her skills in dancing, acting and singing when the love of the stage drew her to the world of musical theatre. Throughout her career she got to play a wide variety of characters, in Theatre Calgary’s production of “Anne of Green Gables” she played Gertie Pye, a flashy chorus girl in The Arts Club production of “Spamalot” and a dream come true performing in the North American Premiere/Toronto Mirvish production of “Dirty Dancing”. She performed as Ensemble and 1st “Baby” understudy. After an 18 month run Liz went on to play the role of “Baby” 52 times!

 

Her television credits include assisting Canadian Choreographer Stacey Tookey on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. She was part of the creative team for ‘Reefer Madness” where she helped create dance sequences for the film.   Liz can be seen on various episodes of ABC’s Once Upon a Time”, the CW Network’s “Hellcats” as a featured dancer, and as Ashley Tisdale’s dance double. She was also Maggie Lawon’s dance double in the musical episode of “Psych”, a featured dancer in Syfy’s Network “Magicians”, Nickelodeon’s “Jinxed” and “The Layover”

 

Transitioning to the world of choreography Liz’s work can most recently be seen on Super Channel’s “When Calls the Heart”. Other credits include Assistant Choreographer on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”, choreographing and directing the Czech Republic fashion show for the 2010 winter Olympics, and choreographing the opening number for the Times of India Film Awards at BC Place. Liz loves to share her passion for what she does with pre-professional and professional dancers across Canada via master classes, adjudicating or setting choreography.

She is currently on faculty at Harbour Dance Centre (www.harbourdance.com)

 

 

I started dance at age 5 and found my true passion in contortion and acrobatics at the age of 8. I have studied under the direction of Anne Lawton from Westcoast Contortion and Acrobatics and have trained with Otgo Waller, a world-renowned contortionist from Cirque du Soleil. I have also trained on aerial silks with Kristi Toguchi, a Las Vegas performer, as well as former Cirque Du Soleil performers; Ninon Parent and Peter Boulanger.

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When I am not busy self-training and or teaching, I spend the rest of my time performing!
I have completed all my South African Acrobatics exams with honours with distinction, my CTDA exams with honours, and have completed my Acrobatic Arts teacher certification.

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I am very versatile in all styles of dance, as I have been trained in jazz, contemporary, theatre, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip-hop. I am also a certified yoga and zumba instructor as well as a silks, trapeze, hoop, chains, and contortion coach! 

Based in Vancouver, BC; Nicol has over 20 years of dance education and theatre performance training and over 15 years of teaching experience both in Canada and Japan.

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Nicol is excited to be heading into her fifth year with TCDC to share her love and passion for theatre and dance with her students.

Nicol has had the opportunity to perform in many productions in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. An avid performer, she has appeared in Cat in the Hat (Carousel Theatre for Young People),  Hairspray, Annie Get Your Gun, Annie (TUTS), Joseph, A Chorus Line, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Peter Pan (RCMT) Joseph, Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar (URP), Night of the Living Dead (DRSP), Disney Dreams, Mickey’s Pirates and The Golden Mickeys (Disney Cruise Line), and the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. On screen, Nicol has worked with Disney Entertainment, CBS, NBC, 20th Century Fox and Alliance Atlantis. Nicol is also a choreographer and has won multiple awards for her work seen around Vancouver. Choreography credits include: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and  Mary Poppins  (Theatre Under The Stars),  Enron (United Players) Legally Blonde, Annie and Shrek (Align Entertainment), 13: The Musical (Bring on Tomorrow Co.) and Sweeney Todd (The Snapshots Collective) of which the show was nominated for 8 Jessie Richardson Awards including Critics Choice for Innovation in Theatre,  9 to 5 (Capilano University), Mamma Mia (Chemainus Theatre Festival) Rock of Ages (Renegade Arts Co.), Company (Raincity Theatre), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Gateway Theatre) . Nicol has won two Ovation awards for Outstanding Choreography for work in Mary Poppins and Cinderella at Theatre Under the Stars. Nicol is also the co-artist director at Raincity Theatre here in Vancouver. 

 

 

Ken Yung

Ken “Kennon” Yung is the director of Kill The Lights professional dance crew based in Vancouver, Canada. Having trained in Hip Hop extensively in LA, Vancouver and Hong Kong, he’s an experienced dancer and choreographer. For the last two years, he has toured around Western Canada and the US with his crew to perform and teach in workshops. Ken’s passion for dance is like no other and he loves to share it through his teaching. Please check out his work at : www.youtube.com/KennonLive

Hip Hop

 

Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Melissa started dancing at the age of 7 with Affinity Dance and has trained in multiple genres of dance such as Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. 
She’s had the privilege of working with Patrick Roberge Productions performing in live performances for the Paralympics, CFLS's BC Lions Grey Cup halftime shows and PNE Dance shows.

After graduating in 2012 Melissa signed with an agent. She was featured in TV series and movies including Bates Motel, Arrow, My Life as a Dead Girl and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.  Her latest credits include dancing on Riverdale working with choreographer Heather Laura Grey and Danielle Ryans "Ain't Christmas Without You" music video.  Her passion for dance continued and she started teaching at studios throughout BC and the lower mainland.  Melissa is a versatile, passionate and devoted teacher of 10 years who brings her high energy into every class.  Melissa strives to train her dancers with confidence in and out of the classroom.  She is thrilled to share her love of dance and teaching with the students of Tri-City Dance Center.

 

 

Lalainia has worked in the Performing Arts industry professionally since the age of 8.  She began in film & television, however, once she discovered musical theatre, it became her passion.  Though she has extensive lead role credits in film & tv as a young woman (The X-Files, Sabrina The Teenage Witch; Dead Mans Gun, Disturbing Behavior, First Wave) her main focus became theatre, starring in professional productions across Canada (selected credits: BD PROD: Steel Magnolias, TUTS: Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, Grease, Crazy for You, Big: The Musical, ARTS CLUB: Red Rock Diner, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Swing STAGE WEST: Cinderella PACIFIC THEATRE: Christmas on the Air, Smoke on the Mountain CHARLOTTETOWN FESTIVAL, ROYAL CITY, RICHMOND GATEWAY & JAPAN TOUR: Anne of Green Gables). Her directing and choreography credits include Grease, The Wizard of Oz,  The Sound of Music, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof (Ovation Award – Best Director & Production), Cinderella, Seussical the musical, Little Shop of Horrors. She is currently the Artistic Director for Xtreme Theatre and has taught Movement at Trinity Western University. She was the co-founder/director of The Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts for 10 years (now independently owned).

 

Originally from Vancouver, Suzanne trained and danced with some of the worlds finest ballet companies from Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet to Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, London England’s Dance Centre to Pacific Ballet Theatre (Ballet B.C.)

 

Suzanne was Ballet Mistress for Ballet BC for 5 years and is the founding director of Ballet B.C.’s Mentor Program under Artistic Director John Alleyne. She has worked as a rehearsal director for James Kudelka, Paul Taylor, Jean Grand Maitre, Reid Anderson, Anna Marie Holmes, Joshua Beamish.  She was rehearsal director for Mascall dance under Jennifer Mascall and recently worked with Ballet Kelowna as ballet mistress and rehearsal director under CEO Simone Orlando.

 

Suzanne has also performed as a lead dancer, singer and actress in professional musicals with the Vancouver Playhouse, Calgary’s Stage West Dinner theatre and several productions for TUTS, MUSSOC and Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage. She has guest taught and adjudicated both in ballet as well as Musical Theatre master classes all across Canada for schools and professional companies.
 

A very creative and innovative choreographer, Suzanne has worked extensively in TV / film,  CBC TV specials, Columbia Pictures Promos, fashion shows for hair and clothing designers, dance programs for Canada’s Olympic skaters, numerous UBC Opera productions, Vancouver Opera Galas, Royal City Musical theatre productions, Arts Club theatre, Kay Meeks theatre conservatory productions and Richmond Gateway Theatre musicals, where she won a choreography award for The Music Man.  
 

Suzanne’s passion, enthusiasm, and extensive background in many facets of the performing arts, make her in great demand as a master teacher, choreographer, rehearsal director and adjudicator.  She is currently on faculty at Harbour Dance Centre.

 

www.suzanneouellette.me