2020 Dance Adjudicator – BALLET & MODERN: Nola Antony
Nola Antony has been teaching and performing in many styles of dance for over 25 years. She has been trained under R.A.D., A.D.A.P.T., Al Gilbert and Acrobatic Arts syllabus. Nola has taught jazz, tap, ballet (pointe), lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre at both recreational and competitive levels and her students have won numerous high-score and choreography awards. She is a certified dance teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as Module One certified with Acrobatic Arts and with Professional Adjudication Alliance (P.A.A.). Nola has also obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Currently she is working to become certified with International Dance Teaching Standards.
Nola was the Dance Director for the Fort McMurray Public School Board’s PEAK Athletic Academy as well as teaching the dance curriculum for the Triple Threat Academy in Fort McMurray, AB and doing workshops and dance intensives. Recently Nola has been teaching dance around the Edmonton area.
Nola’s students have enjoyed success as professionals in the dance industry, being accepted into dance universities, dancing with Disney Cruise ships, attending the Alberta Ballet School and the Joffery Ballet School and performing in music videos with artists such as Michael Buble, K-os, and These Kids Wear Crowns.
During her career Nola has worked as, choreographer of community theatre, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Celebration and choreographer for Multicultural Celebrations in Fort McMurray. Nola has been adjudicating for dance competitions across Canada. Nola has a passion for performance, teaching and technique. She enjoys working with children and helping them to discover themselves through the expression of dance.
2020 Dance Adjudicator – STAGE: Samantha Schleese
Samantha Schleese’s presence is full of sophistication and vibrant frequencies. Her versatility in dance shines through her craft as a performer and instructor. A Toronto based professional dance artist, Samantha is trained in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Salsa, even American Ballroom Styles. With over 17 years of dance experience, Samantha is not only an avid dancer in the community but also teaches and choreographs works across Canada and throughout the GTA.
Samantha has danced and toured throughout the UK with MAP Dance Company. There, she has worked under such choreographers as Saju Hari, Kiera Martin, Yael Flexor, Lila Dance, Matteo Fargion and the late great Nigel Charnock(DV8). During her tour, Samantha completed her Masters in Performance Dance specializing in Contemporary dance. Samantha has also completed BFA in Dance from York University alongside dancing with the YorkU Hip Hop Team Stylewize.
Most recently, her dance company, SaMel Tanz, was part of the 2019 DanceWorks CoWorks Series and debuted their fifth production, Mind-ful(l), which raised awareness about mental illness within the dance community. Previous productions include: that “F” word at the Next Stage Toronto Fringe Festival in January of 2018, receiving NNNN from NOW Magazine and 3 out 4 stars from the Globe and Mail; The “F” Word (2017) (nominated for Outstanding Contemporary Production by My Entertainment World). Other works include “Bossed Up” performed at Breakin’ Convention 2018 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and CBC’s “Interpretive Facts” online segment.
Samantha has performed for major corporations such as PFAFF Audi, Bud Light Sensations and the Royal Ontario Museum. Samantha is also a part of Hip Hop crew, DEUCEnDIP. With the crew, they have performed for World Pride, Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival and WE DAY. Samantha has also worked and performed with such companies as Pratibha Arts, ABS Crew, Gadfly, and Evolution Dance Theatre. Follow her company @sameltanz and www.sameltanz.com.
2020 Speech Arts Adjudicator: Nitasha Rajoo
Nitasha Rajoo is currently the Interim Director of Education at the Stratford Festival. Nitasha has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts as an actor, director and as an educator. Her love for the creative arts, education, travel and adventure has allowed her to work all over the globe leading workshops, adjudicating, teaching, directing and programming- including countries such as South Africa, India, US, Jamaica, the UK ( where she lived for over 10 years!) and now back home in Canada.
Nitasha holds a Master of Arts in the Advanced Teachings of Shakespeare (Warwick, UK) and most recently delivered workshops at the Teaching Shakespeare Program at the Stratford Festival. She has also provided workshops at the ABCDE Conference entitled “ Hamlet – To be or Not”, and “Whoosh into Shakespeare” and at The Good Will Shakespeare Festival she presented on Othello. She was the program leader for the Creative Teens Program at the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver from 2016- 2019. In BC, she has taught a series of drama workshops on Beauty and the Beast to new immigrants and refugees, and has been invited to consult on drama reform in schools in the Northwest Territories and has been an adjudicator for Speech Arts Festivals across Canada.
2020 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator: Adele Clark
Adele Clark’s teaching and performance experience spans over twenty-five years. After obtaining her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of British Columbia she completed her master’s degree with a major in Opera Performance. She served as assistant to the Director of Opera Studies at UBC, where she also taught voice. Her private studio was established in 1991. Many of Adele’s students have gone on to post-secondary education in music and professional performing careers.
The constant challenge of staying current in vocal pedagogy and performance practices is very exciting to Adele. Enthusiasm and positive approach keep her in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and workshop teacher across Canada.
Adele’s diversified repertoire from opera to cabaret includes roles as wide-ranging as ‘Nellie Lovett’ in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd to the ‘Countess’ in Le Nozze di Figaro and of course ‘Adele’ in Die Fledermaus, as well as a large collection of “crazy ladies and women of dubious repute”. Directing credits include opera, cabaret and musical theatre for professional and community theatre.
Adele Clark is a long-standing member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Teachers National Association, the B.C. Registered Music Teachers’ Association, the Voice Foundation (Professional Member) and the Canadian Actors’ Equity Union.
2019 Dance Adjudicator – BALLET & MODERN:
2019 Dance Adjudicator – STAGE:
2019 Speech Arts Adjudicator:
2019 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator:
2019 Piano Adjudicator:
2018 Dance Adjudicator – BALLET & MODERN: Suzanne Ouelette
Member of UBCP, ACTRA and Canadian Actors Equity
Suzanne’s extensive career in the Performing Arts began in ballet where she trained and danced professionally with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet; London, England’s Dance Center; and finally with Vancouver’s Ballet British Columbia. Her current status as one of British Columbia’s most respected dance teachers/choreographers/rehearsal directors grew out of her love of teaching and choreography.
Suzanne was Ballet Mistress for Ballet BC for 5 seasons where she developed the Ballet BC Mentor Program, a Program for Senior Classical Ballet students.
Ms. Ouellette has performed in many professional musicals with the Stage West in Calgary, Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage, Vancouver’s Playhouse Theatre Company and Theatre Under the Stars. She is an independent artist working with dance studios, pre-professional and professional companies to produce some of Canada’s finest performers and performances. In addition to many award-winning solos and ballets created for local ballet students, Suzanne has choreographed many television/film segments as well as professional musicals for theatre and opera.
Suzanne has been a very creative and innovative choreographer for CBC TV, Columbia Pictures, fashion shows, Olympic skaters, Showtime and the Fox Network, among her extensive TV/film credits, as well as UBC Opera Department, Vancouver Opera’s Bravo Gala, Kay Meeks summer conservatory, Arts Club Theatre company and Richmond Gateway Theatre musicals, where she won the 2016 Ovation award for Most Outstanding Choreographer for The Music Man.
Suzanne’s passion, enthusiasm, and extensive background in many facets of the performing arts makes her in great demand as a teacher, choreographer, director and adjudicator.
2018 Dance Adjudicator – STAGE: Sherrie Scherger
Originally from Toronto, Sherrie grew up in her family-owned dance studio in Calgary, and now resides in Vancouver. She is a guest choreographer/instructor for many dance companies, studios and dance education institutions throughout Canada and the U.S. She also guest instructs overseas: John Paul College of Arts, Brisbane, Australia; Secondary School Dance Program, Dover, England; Olten Dance Productions, Switzerland; and DSB, Berlin, Germany.
Sherrie is extensively trained in the RAD ballet syllabus, and the A.D.A.P.T jazz & tap syllabus, as well as being educated in dance/music history, anatomy, and kinesiology at Grant MacEwan College Dance Arts Program. Sherrie has been an educator for 25 years and adjudicator for over 15 years.
In her professional career, Sherrie was principle dancer with Decidedly Jazz Dance Company, De Hershey Modern Company, and Stone Soup Collective Contemporary Company. She performed in the Dance Documentary No Small Feats and World Dance Congress in Chicago with Gus Giordano. She was also principle dancer with Las Vegas Company Farrington Production that performed the Rio Las Vegas show in Atami, Japan, and The Mix revue show in Macau, China as a singer and dancer. Her commercial credits include: “Radio Disney”, Lysol, Febreeze, Ensure, Chevy, and Tim Horton, to name a few.
Her choreography credits include the Michael Jackson VH1 film Man in the Mirror, and Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls) for VH1 Magic Special, as well as The Man starring LL Cool J (television pilot), Nelly Furtado, The Black-Eyed Peas (Grey Cup half-time show) and The Gemini Awards. She was assistant choreographer to Sean Cheesman on CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance.
Sherrie’s professional performance musical credits include: The Boyfriend, The Music Man, 42nd Street, and The Pajama Game. Her choreography for theatre credits include Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, Aladdin, Evangeline, and Shakespeare in the Park for the Mount Royal Theatre Arts, as well as The Cherry Orchard with United Theatre Players, and How To Succeed in Business and Damn Yankees with Front Row Centre Players.
Over the years Sherrie has worked on many film projects as choreographer and movement coach, and she has won numerous distinguished awards for her creative choreography including winning the International Choreography Award representing Canada.
2018 Speech Arts Adjudicator:
2018 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator:
2018 Piano Adjudicator:
2017 Dance Adjudicator:
BALLET & MODERN:
Amalia Schelborn
Having grown up and had her early training in Memphis, Tennessee, at 15 years of age Amalia Schelhorn entered Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. There, she was awarded the prestigious Peter Dwyer scholarship. After graduating from the school, Amalia was accepted into the National Ballet of Canada, with whom she was the first member to be promoted directly from the corps de ballet to the rank of first soloist. Her repertoire encompassed solo and principal roles in many of the great classic and contemporary ballets, and she toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. She was especially noted for the roles she created for then-resident choreographer Constantin Patsalas.
Motherhood changed her focus, and after a period free-lancing in operas, modern dance, and jazz, Amalia and her husband moved to Vancouver Island to raise their four children. She has taught extensively since that time, and many of her students have gone on to major professional schools and companies. She was the assistant artistic director of Dancestreams Youth Company and a founding member of Ballet Victoria. Currently, she is Dance Chair of the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She also teaches at Raino Dance and at the Victoria Academy of Ballet. She continues to perform and to choreograph, and has produced her own show “Momnipotence and Other Expressions of Motherhood”. She has been recognized as an honorary member of the University of Victoria’s chapter of the International Golden Key Society.
Amalia likes to continually broaden her knowledge and to remember what it feels like to be the student through her forays into yoga and various dance forms.
2017 Dance Adjudicator:
STAGE:
Irene Booth
Irene has spent over 30 years studying and teaching dance. She was born and raised on Vancouver Island, B.C., where she initially received her dance training in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, modern/contemporary, modern stage and character dance. In 1991, Irene attained a post secondary education in Edmonton, Alberta from Grant MacEwan College, receiving a degree in Dance Teacher Training, a Diploma in Dance, an honorarium scholarship and graduating at the top of her class with Distinction.
Irene holds a Certificate and Diploma in Dance as a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, and is an acting certified mentor in which she continues to train dancers to become certified instructors. Other credentials include full membership with the Performing Arts Educators of Canada and the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association. Irene currently serves as a certified Ballet and Modern examiner with the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association B.C. Branch, and is serving on the Executive Board of the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association, B.C. Branch as the B.C. CDTA Modern Chairperson.
Irene is the owner/founder and Artistic Director of Tempo Dance Academy located in Nanaimo, B.C., since 1993. She incorporated a second studio in 2010, Rhythm Dance Academy in Ladysmith, B.C.
A member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, Irene is a sought after adjudicator for local, provincial and private festivals across Canada. She enjoys sharing her love of dance through her unique and dynamic approach to the teaching of dance, through dance education, mentoring and creating productions. Several of her former students are now enjoying professional careers in dance, or have become certified instructors and studio owners.
2017 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator:
Sarona Mynhardt
Born and raised in South Africa, Sarona Mynhardt completed her teaching degree in Pretoria where she specialized in Classroom Music, Voice, Choral Conducting, Drama, and Special Education. Her formal voice training culminated in postgraduate work at the Conservatory of Music at North-West University in Potchefstroom.
Following ten successful years of teaching Music and conducting Choirs at Elementary and Secondary School levels, as well as directing Musicals and plays, Sarona immigrated with her family to Canada. In 1997 she founded the White Rock Children’s Choir, which currently has Choirs at three levels under her artistic direction. The Choir receives regular invitations to participate in International festivals and has travelled as far as Italy, England, France, South Africa, Hawaii, Mexico, Eastern Canada and the USA. In April 2014 they performed in Carnegie Hall, NY.
Sarona has taught in both the public and private school systems and conducted / directed both Elementary and High School Choirs and Musicals. She was on the board for the BC Choral Federation for five years, and has been a guest conductor for several honour Choirs in the Lower Mainland. She regularly serves as Adjudicator at Music Festivals & Clinician for Conductor and Choral workshops. She is on the faculty for the BCCF Summer Conducting Course and has also taught Vocal and Choral workshops in Taiwan and South Africa. Sarona has participated in and completed level three of Creating Artistry – Conducting workshops and Master Classes with Henry Leck and Vocal Training with Steven Rickards at Butler University in Indianapolis. Together with Henry Leck, she co-conduced a North American Choir on a 14 day Concert Tour of South Africa in 2008. Sarona also teaches voice at her private studio in White Rock.
2017 Piano Adjudicator:
Rita Attrot
Rita Attrot has been teaching piano students of all ages and levels for thirty years. She received her early training at the Victoria Conservatory, where she took her diploma in Teacher Training with Winifred Scott Wood. Ms. Attrot went on to complete her Bachelor of Music at the University of Victoria with Bruce Vogt and followed up with a Master of Music degree in performance from the University of Western Ontario where she studied with Dr. Damjana Bratuz and Ronald Turini. As a graduate student and post-graduation, Rita specialized in Accompanying and Chamber Music.
Ms. Attrot held the position of Staff Accompanist at Acadia University in Nova Scotia for 9 years, worked as a free-lance accompanist for instrumentalists and singers in Toronto, and served as a coach and repetiteur at the University of Toronto Opera School. She has collaborated with: violinist Mishan Han- releasing a CD from a live performance at the Glenn Gould Studio, pianist Lynn Johnson- performing piano duo and two-piano recitals in the Maritime provinces, the Appassionata Trio and the Erato Ensemble- serving as principal pianist in concerts throughout Vancouver, Victoria and the Lower Mainland. Above all, Rita is passionate about working with vocalists and can be heard in recital performing innovative programs of great song literature with frequent collaborator, soprano- Catherine Laub.
Ms. Attrot is Head of the Piano Department at the B.C. Conservatory of Music in Burnaby, where she has many private students and teaches the Piano Pedagogy course. As a church musician, Ms. Attrot has held many posts as organist and choir director: she is presently the Music Director at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church in Vancouver.
In her free time, Rita enjoys walking in Stanley Park, roller-blading, snowshoeing, and watercolour painting.
2017 Speech Arts Adjudicator:
Camilla Burgess
Camilla Burgess’ approach to teaching and adjudicating combines her 10 plus years of experience in Speech Arts with her philosophy of careful listening and helping others learn through discovery. She brings genuine warmth and enthusiasm to her teaching, helping all her students reach their maximum potential.
Camilla is the owner of Viva Voce Speech Arts Studio in Vancouver, where she and her fellow teachers help over fifty students aged four to adult become confident, effective speakers.
Camilla holds an ARCT in Speech and Drama from The Royal Conservatory of Music, and an ATCL in Speech and Drama from Trinity College London. Camilla studied at Canada’s National Voice Intensive, under Canada’s foremost voice, movement and Shakespeare teachers, and continues to expand her knowledge and skills through voice and acting classes and workshops. She also holds an ESL teacher certification (CELTA) and a Bachelor of Arts Honours from Queen’s University.
Camilla’s voice work is based on the principles of Kristin Linklater, and her Speech Arts classes follow the RCM syllabus.
Aside from teaching, Camilla loves being a mum and spending time with her one-year-old son. Camilla also enjoys reading, cross country skiing, and being outdoors.
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2016 Dance Adjudicator:
BALLET & MODERN:
Jennifer Quibell
ARAD, NBS TTP
Jennifer Quibell began her dance training at Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts in Nanaimo studying Ballet (RAD), Jazz, Tap (CDTA) and Modern. During these early years she furthered her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Summer School and full time program at L’Ecole de Superieure de Danse in Montreal.
In 2003, Jennifer graduated with Distinction from the 3 year Teacher Training Program at the National Ballet School in Toronto. She obtained her teaching qualifications in both the Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti syllabi and was a recipient of the Carol Chadwick Award. During her time back east she also taught at the Randolph Academy Junior Division and Pegasus Children’s Dance Centre.
Upon returning home to the West Coast (2003) to teach on Vancouver Island and the Mainland, Jennifer taught Ballet (RAD & Cechetti), Jazz and Modern, Modern Stage to students of all ages. As Ballet Mistress for Kirkwood Productions and the Artistic Director of the Kirkwood Youth Dance Company in Nanaimo, she staged and choreographed numerous productions of “Nutcracker” and “Coppelia”, took students to perform at Disneyland Magic Music Days, on Royal Caribbean Cruise lines and attended classes at The Edge and Millennium in LA and at Alvin Ailey, Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Centre in New York .
While residing in Vancouver (2010-2012), Jennifer was the Professional and General Dance Program Liaison and full time Ballet teacher in the Professional and General program at Arts Umbrella. She has also had the pleasure of working with students all over the Lower Mainland as the Vancouver Children’s Rehearsal Mistress and Communications Liaison for the Alberta Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” productions in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for the last 6 years. Over the years back home BC, Jennifer has had pleasure of adjudicating throughout the province to various communities including Chilliwack, Penticton, Prince George, Fort St. John, Duncan, Nelson and Powell River.
Jennifer relocated back to Vancouver Island in 2013 and currently teaches at Innovate Dance Arts in Parksville as the Ballet Director of the Pursuit and Intensive Ballet Program and the Rehearsal Mistress for Helix Dance Theatre Junior and Senior Company.
She is passionate about working with students of all ages and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with the upcoming artists of tomorrow!
2016 Dance Adjudicator
STAGE:
Stephanie Correia
BFA Honours, ADAPT, IADMS, DMA, IADA
Stephanie graduated in 2007 from Ontario’s York University with an Honours BFA Double Major in Dance and Kinesiology & Health Science with a focus on injury prevention for dancers.
Stephanie is a certified member of Dance Masters of America (DMA), the International Academy of Dance Adjudicators (IADA), the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT).
As a Dance Adjudicator, Stephanie has been invited to travel all over Canada to various Competitions including the 2013 B.C. Performing Arts Festival.
Stephanie was trained at Durham Dance Centre in Pickering, Ontario as well as the National Ballet School of Canada, where she was a member of the Junior Associate Program. She has studied Jazz (ADAPT, BATD), Tap (ADAPT, BATD), Ballet (RAD, Cecchetti, BATD), Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern (Cunningham, Graham, Limone) and Pointe.
Throughout her training, Stephanie had the opportunity to compete in many cities throughout Canada and the United States, including Florida and Las Vegas, where she and her teammates won many awards. Now as a teacher and choreographer Stephanie’s students have won numerous awards and accolades.
Stephanie is a founding member and Past-President of “Healthy Dancer Canada”, a Canadian organization that promotes communication between dance and medical professionals, and educates dance instructors on safe dance training practices. www.healthydancercanada.org.
Stephanie is very passionate about dance, and truly enjoys her job as a dance educator
2016 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator:
Dr. Erinn Evdokimoff Roberts
DMA, M.Mus, B.Mus
Mezzo-soprano Dr. Erinn Evdokimoff Roberts, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, holds a Doctorate of Music in Voice/Opera performance from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Music in Operatic performance from the same institution and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal performance from the University of Lethbridge.
Operatic appearances include performances with the Vancouver Opera Association, Pacific Opera Victoria and the University of British-Columbia Opera Ensemble which toured extensively in B.C. and Europe. Leading roles include Tessa in “The Gondoliers” (Gilbert & Sullivan), Dorabella in “Cosi Fan Tutte” (Mozart), Rosette in “Manon” (Massenet), Isabella in “L’Italiana in Algieri” (Rossini), Gianetta in “L’Elisir d’Amore” (Donizetti), Miss Todd in “The Old Maid and the Thief” (Menotti), and Hansel in “Hansel & Gretel” (Humperdinck).
Leading performances in oratorio include Bach’s Cantata #12, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Handel’s Messiah and Dettingen Te Deum. In 2006, she was selected to fill the mezzo-soprano position in the Burton and Olive Kurth Pacific Opera Victoria Young Artist Program after a nation-wide audition.
Erinn has also appeared in numerous music theatre productions throughout Western Canada, is an active recitalist and an accomplished pianist.
Erinn has held teaching positions at the University of Lethbridge, B.C. Conservatory and the Victoria Conservatory of Music. She currently teaches voice and is an active clinician and adjudicator.
2016 Piano Adjudicator:
Ina Dykstra
Ms. Ina Dykstra received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Alberta, where she studied under Dr. Ernesto Lejano and Dr. Helmut Brauss. She also went on to complete Graduate Degree courses in Art Song, Collaborative Piano, Chamber Music and Solo Performance.
Ms. Dykstra holds a degree in Music Therapy from Capilano College in Vancouver, and has worked with a wide variety of students of all ages and all abilities, from the very gifted to those with various special needs.
Ms. Dykstra has studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts (Chamber Music) and worked for the Yamaha School of Music. She has also examined extensively across the country for Conservatory Canada, and is presently an apprentice examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
She continues to do workshops for teachers across the prairie provinces, and has a special interest in duet, 2-piano and concerto music, which she explores daily in her teaching adventures!
Ina has a deep commitment to furthering musical education, creativity, and artistry. She feels very blessed to work with each and every student, and hopes to inspire and encourage players young and old! After a long and rewarding career in St. Albert, Alberta, she now lives in Victoria, B.C., and has over 35 years experience as an accompanist, performer, clinician, examiner, adjudicator, and inspiring teacher.
2016 Speech Arts Adjudicator:
Camilla Burgess
See bio above in 2017 listing.
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2015 Vocal & Choral Adjudicator:
Sarona Mynhardt
See bio above in 2017 listing.
2015 Dance Adjudicator: Ballet/Modern
Laurie Alston
Originally from Edmonton, Laurie’s career in dance has taken her around the world as a performer, adjudicator, award-winning choreographer, convention teacher, and instructor.
She has trained in tap, jazz, lyrical,contemporary, modern, hip hop, acrobatics, ballet,and musical theatre at such renowned schools as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Randolph’s and Metro Movement in Toronto, The Banff School of Fine Arts, Broadway Dance Center (N.Y. and Tokyo) and EDGE, LA.
She holds her Advanced II certificate with the Royal Academy of Dancing and performed professionally with Ballet North. Performances with Ballet North included a tour of Mainland China as a Principal dancer. Laurie also worked at length as a lead singer and dancer in Japan at Tokyo Disneyland, playing such fun-loving characters as Belle, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. She has also enjoyed working in the Cruise-ship industry.
Industrial credits include Calvin Klein, Lancome, Tommy Hilfiger, the grand opening of Casino Niagara, and Club Firestone. She has also performed in the Tokyo “AKOM” commercial, Berenstein Bears Christmas Show with Paramount Pictures, Legends Alive, Chiropractic Association of Alberta, and Cool FM radio, and appeared as a guest singer on the TV show Day By Day.
Laurie has also had the pleasure of doing voice over work in Japan, taught dance to figure skaters at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton, and has worked with dancers from Beijing’s Capital Normal University and learned some Chinese Cultural dance. She was the co-choreographer of escape artist Dean Gunnarson’s live televised Halloween Special. A great honor was being invited to audition for Cirque du Soleil and be added to their bank of potential performers.
Most recently Laurie taught at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and co-founded Prairie Sky Dance Works, an initiative to bring more opportunities to dancers in the Winnipeg area.
Laurie is currently teaching at the Edmonton School of Ballet in the daytime professional program. She has recently become acrobatic arts certified and is enjoying teaching acrobatics to her students. Many of Laurie’s past students are enjoying careers in dance and she couldn’t be happier to see them share their love of the arts. She truly enjoys meeting and teaching young dancers who continue to inspire her with their determination and love of dance.
2015 Dance Adjudicator: Stage
Geneen Georgiev
Geneen was raised on Gabriola Island, where she started her career as a classically-trained ballet dancer and competitive gymnast. From a young age, she understood the value dance has to positively shape individuals and communities. Her extensive background working as a performer and director in film, music videos, corporate events, and live shows including large-scale productions in Vancouver through, has cultivated in Geneen a passion for the arts.
Geneen founded Drive Dance Centre in 2000, and has more recently established Vancouver-based Core Dance Productions which provides workshop and competition opportunities for developing dancers.
Geneen’s years of experience teaching and training in many different dance styles worldwide makes her a sought-after adjudicator for competitions and festivals. She cares about the future of the dance industry and the growth of today’s students, so it is important to her that she provides constructive and inspiring feedback to support them in developing their craft. For Geneen, dance is a way for all to express, to emote, and to release feelings and ideas that brings audiences together.
2015 Speech Arts Adjudicator:
Christina Rogers
Christina Rogers has been a speech arts enthusiast for almost 20 years.
She holds an ARCT in speech arts from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto where she received the Florence Memorial Scholarship and gold medal for the highest mark in Canada. She has also completed exams with Trinity College in London, England and has spent several years teaching at the well-respected Speech Arts Studio in Edmonton, Alberta.
While in her youth, Christina began studying with esteemed speech arts coach Shirley Konrad, and went on to win many awards for her performances, including the best overall speech award 4 different times, the Telus Scholarship and first place at the provincial level.
Christina has also used her speech arts background to do radio interviews and presentations on various topics.
Christina is a published author and poet and also enjoys musical theater, voice, and being a mom to her three children.
2015 Piano Adjudicator:
Yvette Rowledge
Yvette is an active adjudicator at many music Festivals throughout Western Canada and is a member of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association and the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association. She has taught all levels of music for over 35 years and is a former faculty member of the Langley Community Music School, the Victoria Conservatory and the Douglas College Community Music School.
Yvette Rowledge graduated with distinction from the University of Victoria School of Music and holds diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto (ARCT, Performance), the Victoria Conservatory of Music (AVCM, Performance and Pedagogy), and Camosun College (Associate of Arts Diploma in music). Her tutors have included Dr. Robin Wood, Winifred Scott Wood, Dr. Gordana Lazarevich and Bruce Vogt.
She has examined senior levels of piano for The London College of Music and Media (England). Yvette enjoys both leading and participating in Master Classes.