Bio - Dance - University of Alberta

TEACHING THE LANGUAGE OF DANCE
2014 - 2015
ORCHESIS DANCE GROUP INSTRUCTORS
Brief biographies of the instructors, past and present, who teach our classes.
JAZZ INSTRUCTORS
Kelsie Acton - is an Edmonton-based dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She has danced for the KO
Dance Project, Orchesis Dance Group and iDANCE. Her choreography has been presented by the Good
Women Dance Group, Expanse Movement Arts Festival, Orchesis Dance Group, and her own company,
the no/w/here project. In addition to teaching jazz for the Orchesis Dance Group Kelsie teaches jazz
dance for Recreation Services at the University of Alberta. She is the chairperson of the non-profit
Orchesis Dance Society, the fundraising body for Orchesis Dance Group. She holds a BA (Honours) in
Drama from the University of Alberta and an MA in Theatre Studies from the University of Guelph where
she trained with Dance Theatre David Earle. Kelsie is a certified yoga instructor.
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Wendy Gervais has studied, performed and taught dance in Edmonton since the mid 1980’s.
Originally from New Brunswick she studied ballet, jazz, and modern courses in dance at the University of
New Brunswick (BA ), the University of Windsor (Department of Art and Design) and the University of
Alberta (BFA). Wendy was a performer for many years in Orchesis Modern Dance Group’s annual Motif
production and with Edmonton’s Kompany! and Triangle Workshops and has been teaching jazz classes
for Orchesis, and for Recreation Services for over 20 years. Wendy is a sessional instructor for the Faculty
of Physical Education at the University of Alberta.
Stephanie Lilley-Her involvement in dance is fueled by her training in jazz, contemporary and ballet.
She has performed for both Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Line and has appeared in countless industry
productions. With the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers , Stephanie has completed a 23 show China tour and a
25 show Canadian tour. She has danced in Citie Ballet and Freefall and has also performed with the
Edmonton Opera. Stephanie has collaborated with the Movements Dance Ensemble, an Afro-Caribbean
dance company, as a choreographer and performer and has also danced under the direction of Decidedly
Jazz Danceworks in the Feats Festival.Stephanie is thrilled to be directing her own professional caliber
contemporary company: Viva Dance. Since Viva’s conception in the spring of 2012, the company has
performed in over 50 shows including The Fringe, Western Canadian Fashion Week, NextFest, Featsfest,
fundraisers, and corporate events. Viva’s show in the 2013 Edmonton Fringe Festival was the single
highest attended show at the entire festival! Stephanie has adjudicated the Zirka Dance Challenge, the
Kalyna Festival, the Northern Star Talent Quest as well as the Athabasca Dance Festival. She has her
Bachelor's degree in Physical Education (B.PE) as well as her Master’s degree in Business Administration
(MBA)
Marla Albiston was raised in Edmonton, AB, and is trained in all disciplines of dance. She has studied
in such places as New York, LA, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, and Sydney, Australia. She completed her
Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta, and has worked with the Dance programs at Victoria
School, Queen Elizabeth High School, and Vimy Ridge Academy. Marla danced for Princess Cruiselines,
has appeared in various commercials, performed in dozens of industrial shows and festivals, and spent a
year in Byron Bay, Australia, where she taught dance, and trained in aerial circus. Currently, she runs the
Dance program at Eastglen High School, works as a freelance dance teacher and choreographer, trains in
aerial circus with Firefly Theatre, and is a very proud member of the local Contemporary company, ViVA!
She is very excited to be teaching Jazz level III for Orchesis this year!
MODERN INSTRUCTORS
Tamara Bliss - has been dancing, teaching and choreographing in Edmonton since 1993.
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Following an 18-year professional dance career in the USA, she left New York City to pursue
graduate studies at the University of Alberta. After receiving a master’s degree at the U of A, she
was invited to continue as an Academic Lecturer in Dance in the Faculty of Physical Education
and Recreation and assume directorship of the Orchesis Dance Group. In 2007 she received an
award of merit from the PER faculty for Excellence in Teaching and “the Most Inclusive Educator
Award” from Education Faculty’s On Campus Program, in 2012. Originally from Washington
State, Tamara has lived/danced with companies in Seattle, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia
and New York City. Dance company associations included Metro Theatre Circus of St. Louis,
Wimmer Wimmer and Dancers of Salt Lake City & Philadelphia, Waves Jazz Dance of
Philadelphia and Peter Pucci Plus, Ed Henry, Matthew Diamond Dance and Rachel Lampert and
Dancers all of New York City. In Edmonton, Tamara has performed with Linda Rubin, Kathy
Ochoa, Kathy Metzger, Tony Olivares and Usha Gupta whose work she toured in India, 20082009. She has taught and choreographed for various organizations including Marymount
Manhattan College, 92nd Street YM/YWHA, both NYC and School of the Pennsylvania Ballet in
Philadelphia. Two previous degrees include an Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Design
from Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Western
Washington University, in Bellingham. A certified yoga instructor, she teaches in the Edmonton
community and on campus.
Kathy Metzger-Corriveau - A modern dancer, choreographer and teacher of ballet, modern
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and creative dance in Edmonton since 1990, she has received GMCC Dance Performance and
Dance Teacher-Training diplomas, as well as a Physical Education degree with a focus in dance.
With additional professional training in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and New York, she has
choreographed works for Mile Zero Dance and Citie Ballet; Dirty Feet Productions, Alberta
Dance Explosions, Orchesis Dance Group, the musical “OGOJ”, Edmonton Dance Centre, and
the Telus Children’s Musical Theatre. Kathy was an emerging choreographer for the GMCC
Choreographic Intensive in August 1998, and produced her own show under Destiny Dance
Productions for the Edmonton Fringe Festival, 2000. A dancer who explores various methods of
developing movement through creative process, both her experience as dance artist and a
practitioner of the Pilates Method naturally influences her teaching. Kathy is the Chairperson of
the non-profit Orchesis Dance Society, the fundraising body for Orchesis Dance Group. She is
currently working on a Master’s Degree in Dance in the Faculty of Physical Education and
Recreation.
Kate Stashko is an independent professional dance artist and writer. After studying ballet at
the University of Calgary/School of Alberta Ballet, she graduated from the Professional
Training Program in contemporary dance at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 2007.
Kate has worked with Peggy Baker, Helen Husak, Sasha Ivanochko, Mile Zero Dance, m-body
(Davida Monk), Krista Posyniak, Melina Stinson and Heidi Strauss, among others. She is also a
member of the Good Women Dance Collective and Dancers’ Studio West’s Dance Action
Group, and worked with the Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy on a new film titled Cavern. She has
presented her work in Montréal, Toronto and Alberta, including a commission for the
University of Calgary, and has trained across Canada and in Europe. She has taught dance at
the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, York University and the Athabasca Dance Society, and
has worked as rehearsal director for Heidi Strauss and Andrea Nann/Dreamwalker Dance. Kate
is a certified Pilates instructor and a writer for The Dance Current and Dance International
magazines.
Jodie Vandekerkhove Jodie Vandekerkhove is a professional artist with extensive training and
education in the field of dance. She is a graduate from Simon Fraser University, holding a Bachelor of
Fine Arts-Dance Degree, a Dance Diploma from Grant MacEwan College Dance Program and trained in
classical RAD ballet for years. Jodie has gathered knowledge and inspiration from a variety of broad
teaching experiences, and has trained throughout North America and Europe. Jodie is presently
completing her Master’s of Arts at the University of Alberta with a focus in dance. She has danced
professionally for various choreographers including Nancy Sandercock, Heidi Bunting, Gerry Morita and
Jeannie Vandekerkhove and has performed for the Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy, KO Dance project, and
Mile Zero Dance. Jodie has most recently been a presenter for the TEDx Garneau Women event
December 2013. Jodie appreciates all diverse backgrounds and abilities in dance and appreciates
everyone’s unique way of moving. Jodie has a passion for teaching dance and presently is a dance
instructor at Concordia University College and University of Alberta. She also independently
choreographs and teaches throughout Alberta.
Raena Waddell is fascinated with how the human body communicates through movement. She has
built a career in Edmonton as a dancer, choreographer and movement instructor. Under the instruction of
Brian Webb and Heidi Bunting, Raena graduated from the Grant MacEwan Dance Program receiving the
Brian Webb Dance Company Award. Following graduation, Raena spent 4 years with the Mile Zero Dance
Company, completed her certification in both Reflexology and Pilates and continued her ongoing dance
training with Heidi Bunting. Inspired by numerous choreographers and bodywork philosophies, Raena
teaches contemporary technique to instill a sense of curiosity in the dancer - how and what makes their
body move? After premiering 8 of her own choreographic works in Alberta and receiving the 2007
Nextfest Enbridge Emerging Artist Award, Raena toured 2010/2011 Prairie Dance Circuit. Raena was the
recipient of the 2011 Expanse New Works Development Program, premiering her first full-length project
in March 2011 entitled “A Matter of Life and Breath”. On stage and in class Raena desires to create a
“feeling” atmosphere where every movement in the body is significant. Raena works and trains in
Edmonton as an independent artist presenting and dancing in Alberta Dance Explosions, Feats Festival,
Fringe Theatre Adventures, Nextfest, Expanse Movement Arts Festival, Heidi Bunting Dance and the
Brian Webb Dance Company.
MUSICAL ACCOMPANISTS (both) + MEDIA TECHNICIAN
Thom Bennett is a professional musician/producer/recordist/instructor based in Edmonton. He
performs regularly around Western Canada and beyond with a plethora of artists including A/B trio,
MIXTAPE, Ann Vriend, Jesse Peters and dozens of other artists. He has toured across Canada, the United
States and Europe playing festivals, theatres, clubs and has shared stages with the likes of Kathleen
Edwards, Jacksoul, Brad Turner and Aaron Neville. When not maintaining his busy gigging schedule he
splits his time between producing and engineering records for local artists at Sanctuary Studios, session
studio work, accompaniment work at the University of Alberta, MacEwan University and Concordia
University, his teaching duties (which involve clinics for Edmonton and area school boards) and
composing music for a variety of oeuvres. www.thombennett.ca
John Newton joined the creative dance staff of Physical Education and Recreation at the U of A in
2009 as the full time, Musical Accompanist/Media Technician. He accompanies: ballet, modern, and
creative dance for children. John is an active performer in many styles with over thirty recordings to date
which span many different genres. He has been recognized with Juno nominations, Edmonton Music
Awards, and Western Canadian Music awards. He is currently interested in fusing electronic and acoustic
percussion.
GUESTS - Choreographers/teachers - AFA funded
Peggy Baker is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding and influential contemporary dancers of her
generation. She began her career in Toronto in 1974 as a founding member of Dancemakers, toured
internationally as a prominent member of Lar Lubovitch’s celebrated New York company throughout the
eighties, and joined Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris for the inaugural season of their White Oak
Dance Project, subsequently forging important creative relationships with Paul-André Fortier (Montreal),
James Kudelka (Toronto), and Doug Varone (New York). She established Peggy Baker Dance Projects in
1990, and for the first 18 years she dedicated herself to solo performance, winning rapturous praise for
the eloquence and depth of her dancing, and accolades for her collaborative partnerships with
extraordinary musicians and designers. Since 2009 her choreography has focused on works for small
ensemble. Over its 24-year history Peggy Baker Dance Projects has been presented at major festivals
and dance centres in North America, Asia and Europe. Among her many awards are the Order of Canada,
The Governor General’s Award, the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Walter Carsen Prize
and honorary doctorates from the University of Calgary and York. A master teacher, Ms. Baker is Artistin-Residence at Canada’s National Ballet school. (OSDI 2014, Motif Guest 2015).
Josh Beamish (Motif 2010 & OSDI 2009) began dancing at the age of 3 in Edmonton, Alberta, but
later received his formal training in Kelowna, BC. Upon moving to Vancouver, Josh continued his training
at Pacific DanceArts, while also dancing for the Source Dance Company. Josh has worked as an assistant
choreographer, dance captain or dancer on various feature films and television shows and has previously
danced for Vancouver-based choreographers Simone Orlando and Amber Funk Barton. Josh recently
choreographed a new work for Ballet Kelowna and is the 2009 recipient of one of four City of Vancouver
Artist Studio Awards. In 2005, at the young age of 17, Josh Beamish founded MOVE: the company and
continues as the Artistic director.
Cori Caulfield (Motif 2007) is a Vancouver based choreographer, interdisciplinary performer, and
instructor. She is the artistic director of Coriograph Theatre and the founder and director of the Caulfield
School of Dance in Port Moody. Cori has performed in the work of esteemed Canadian choreographers
such as Cornelius Fischer-Credo, Jennifer Mascall, Grant Strate C.M., and others. She is the first dancer
to work with Crystal Pite's company, Kidd Pivot, and toured internationally in Pite's Uncollected Work.
Cori has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University and a diploma in Limon Modern
Dance Technique from the Limon Institute, New York. She has toured extensively with her “meticulously
crafted solos” (The Globe and Mail) in Canada and in several cities through China, Singapore, and
Malaysia. Her solos have been presented in New York City in 1998, 2000, and 2002; in Zagreb, Croatia in
2003; and in Portland, and twice in Seattle in 2004. She has also performed as a dancer, actor, and singer
in the works of other well-known Canadian choreographers.
Sarisa Figueroa de Toledo (Motif 2012 & OSDI 2011, 2013, 2014) - Sarisa is the artistic assistant
and Canvas artistic director and a choreographer for Decidedly Jazz Dance (DJD) in Calgary, Alberta.
Since 1994 Sarisa has performed in fifteen seasons with the company. In addition to dancing with DJD
she has performed with One Yellow Rabbit, Sage Theatre and Edmonton Festival Ballet as well as
working with several independent choreographers and directors. She was artistic director for DJD's
dancer-choreographed evenings on Larimer St., root 7 and Alchemy (Co-Artistic Director with
Kimberley Cooper) as well as Artistic Director for DJD's June production Tinge and Tone in 2008. Sarisa
has choreographed for Alberta Dance Explosions, eko dance projects and Alberta Theatre for Young
People and teaches for the DJD company and school, independently around Alberta and as far away as
Vada, Italy. She was rehearsal director for DJD's, twentyfive and has been artistic assistant for the
company since 2007.
David Flewelling Williams (Motif 2009 & OSDI 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) started his
professional career with Peter Bingham in Vancouver at EDAM. He received grants from the BC Arts
Council and The Canada Council for the Arts to further his studies in Contact-Improvisation (CI). In
addition to working with Peter, David has performed in CI with Andrew Harwood, Allen and Karen
Kaeja, Tony Olivares and Ray Chung and he's been teaching CI across the country for almost a decade.
David has also performed in contemporary dance with La Fondation Jean-Pierre Perrault, The Holy
Body Tattoo, David Pressault and other independent choreographers. Furthermore he has created
works for 12 minutes max in Vancouver and for Studio 303 and Tangente in Montreal. Currently David is
focusing on his Yoga Studio in Montreal and studying yoga therapeutics with internationally renown
teacher, Hart Lazer in the Iyengar tradition.
Kathleen Hughes, originally from Edmonton, Alberta, she began with ballet training at a very early
age, and was later introduced to Modern while attending the dance program at Grant McEwan College.
Ms. Hughes then completed her studies at The School of the Toronto Dance Theatre. Since 1995 she has
worked with Canadian dance artists such as Patricia Beatty, Bill Coleman, Terill McGuire, Graham
McKelvie, Naoko Murakoshi, Elizabeth Chitty, and Nicole Fougere. In 1999, Ms. Hughes co-founded a
dance collective called The Aurora Dance Community under the mentorship of Patricia Beatty (Cofounder Toronto Dance Theatre, Member of the Order of Canada). During this time she had extensively
produced, choreographed, and performed for this professional collective for five years. In 2005 Kathleen
co-founded and became the co-artistic director of Niagara Dance Company, at which point had an
eventful career teaching professional level classes, choreographing and co–producing bi-annual
performances. Currently, Kathleen is now working out of her home town as the Founder and Artistic
Director Kathleen Hughes Dance Association, producing annual evenings of dance and teaching
continual graham-based dance classes. Kathleen has had the honor to being the guest Choreographer
for Orchesis Motif in 2013 as well as the choreographer for the Musical Production of Voy Soñando, Voy
Caminando presented in September 2013.
Helen Husak - (Motif 2008) Helen is an independent contemporary dance artist and choreographer
based in Calgary, Alberta with a BA degree from the University of Calgary Program of Dance. She
studied with a variety of influential dance artists and mentors from across Canada including Davida
Monk, Darcy Mc Gehee, Tonya Lockyer, Tedd Robinson, Peter Boneham, Susie Burpee and Sasha
Ivanochko. Helen cultivated her craft through artist residencies hosted by the Theatre Arts Program at
the Banff Centre, Calgary’s Dancers’ Studio West, and Le Groupe Dance Lab in Ottawa. She has
explored two collaborative dance ensembles: VIA Ensemble and Raw Gloss Collective. Currently, she is
co-collaborator for Calgary Contemporary Dance Collective focused on establishing a consistent and
advanced training program /meeting place for professional dancers in the local community. Helen’s solo
dance works have been presented both locally and nationally including Calgary’s Alberta Dance
Explosions Festival and The Fluid Movement Arts Festival, Alberta Scene Festival, Canada Dance
Festival in Ottawa, Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, Victoria’s Romp! Festival, and Edmonton's
feats Festival. She has been awarded provincial and federal grants for dance creation, mentorship and
apprenticeship initiatives, and is the recipient of the 2008 Enbridge Emerging Artist Award (Mayor’s
Evening for Business and the Arts in Calgary), plus the 2010 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging
Artist Award. She has been profiled in a number of publications, including Canada’s Dance Current
magazine. Helen is passionate about contemporary dance and dedicated to working with community
leaders, to grow Alberta’s reputation as a thriving industry for contemporary dance within the national
milieu.
Farley Johansson - (Motif 2014, OSDI 2013) is an independent performer, teacher, and choreographer
currently based in Vancouver, Canada. He studied Classical Ballet, Modern and Contemporary Dance at
the New Zealand School of Dance. He is the Co-Artistic Director of Science Friction, which was formed in
2003 with partner Shannon Moreno. Farley has had his work shown in Canada, Germany, England, Serbia
and Brazil. He has danced with Kassel Tanztheater(D), Osnabrück Tanztheater(D), Staats Oper Unter den
Linden-Berlin(D), Deutsche Oper Berlin(D), Edam Dance, Wen Wei Dance, Movent, Kinesis Dance, The
Holy Body Tattoo, Ballet Victoria and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Farley has taught for the Osnabrück
Tanztheater(D), Ballett Hagen(D), Tanztheater Giessen(D), Oldenburg Tanztheater (D), Marameo Tanz
Studio(D), Dock 11(D), Akadamie des Tanzes Mannheim(D), CADA Professional Classes(Vancouver),
Simon Fraser University, Arts Umbrella, Wen Wei Dance, Ballet Victoria
Gerry Morita – (Creative Process and Improvisation OSDI 2010) Holding a BA in Dance from SFU, MA
U of A, she is the Artistic Director of MZD. Gerry has worked and trained in Vancouver, Montreal and
Tokyo. Her dance work is influenced by Peter Bingham, Dianne Miller, Santa Aloi, Grant Strate, Peggy
Baker, David Earle, Andrew Harwood, Nancy Stark Smith, Michael Montanaro, Lee Su Feh, Tony Chong,
Benoit Lachambre and Saburo Teshigawara. Her primary interest is in performance art, how it values
honesty towards the body and communication with the audience. Contact improvisation influences her
choreography along with Japanese contemporary dance forms, particularly butoh and Noguchi taiso. Her
technical training also encompasses ballet, modern, pow wow, highland, jazz and high jump. The
movement vocabulary for each piece she creates is distinct to the artistic or intrinsic message of the work,
with a wide-ranging style. Collaboration is central to her way of working, including artists from wide
ranging media. Gerry is interested in performances in site-specific locations in addition to theatrical
spaces. She has staged work on sidewalks, in parkades, hallways, bathrooms, elevators, grassy hills,
staircases, open fields, in the Badlands, and more. This obsession with taking work into unusual locations
has allowed her to develop skill at audience interaction and staging. She has taught improvisation,
contact improv, Noguchi taiso and composition at Victoria School, Grant MacEwan, U of A’s Drama Dep’t
and Concordia College and thrilled to have worked with dancers at Orchesis.
Emily Noton - (Motif 2011 & OSDI 2008, 2010) grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and trained in
ballet, jazz, and modern. She’s danced with Citie Ballet, The Russian Vaganova Society, and Mile Zero
Dance in Canada. After attending the University of Alberta, Emily spent time teaching ballet at several
ballet schools in Okinawa, Japan, then moved to New York to pursue her dance career full time. There
she danced with Saba Dance Theatre, Rebecca Davis Dance Company in Philadelphia, and LiNK
Contemporary Jazz Dance Company. Emily modeled for renowned dance photographer Lois Greenfield,
and was sponsored by Bloch dancewear and Sansha. Emily also collaborated with Crunch Gyms in NYC
filming fitness dance videos. In New York she took part in the formation of PAC (Performing Arts
Collective), which toured the North-East area, conducting performance workshops for pre-professionals.
Emily completed her degree at the U of A while teaching and choreographing in the community. She now
lives, dances and teaches in Vancouver, BC.
Kristine Nutting - (OSDI 2008) is a movement/theatre performer and instructor who basks in the art
of abstract movement incorporating individual creativity. Among the various media she uses in her
classes are yoga, acting techniques and voice. Essential to all dancers of every persuasion, Kristine
establishes the basic performance principles, with a focus on the body. Kristine has a Masters of Arts:
Drama, University of Alberta (2000), Bachelor of Arts (Honors): English, University of Bachelor of Arts
(Honors): Performance, University of Winnipeg (1997), Bachelor of Education: University of Winnipeg
(1992-1996) and has studied Ashtanga Yoga with Mandala Yoga, V. Shishadri. Mysore India. A recipient of
numerous performing arts grants, her awards include, Alberta Foundation of The Arts Career
Development grant 2007, Lee Fund Emerging Artist Award 2007 and the Edmonton Cultural Capital Grant
2007. She has been seen performing with Kathy Ochoa-Edmonton, One Yellow Rabbit-Calgary, Women
in Comedy, International Street Performer’s Festival, High Performance Rodeo and the Rumble Festival,
Vancouver, B.C. She is a sessional instructor for the University of Alberta, Augustana Faculty.
Kathleen Ochoa, (Motif 2006 & OSDI 2006, 2007, 2009 & 2011) KO is an independent movement
artist, who creates, directs, produces through the KO Dance Project. She has danced for Brooklyn-based
dance company, Human Behavior Explorers and her choreography has been presented in New York via
the Movement Research’s Judson Church and Works-in-Progress Series, and as guest artist for
ProjectLimbs Dance Company and part of the Metro Dance Project Series. In Canada she was Artist in
Residence with Edmonton’s Mile Zero Dance Company, taught part-time faculty for University of Alberta’s
drama department and presented work in Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary working both as
dancer and choreographer for Edmonton’s Mile Zero Dance Company and the Brian Webb Company. Her
BFA in contemporary dance from Concordia University in Montreal led to studies in New York, Paris, and
London, England where she worked as an apprentice for Union Dance Company. She co-created two
Canadian dance collectives and has worked as a freelance dance writer for Vue Weekly Magazine and The
Dance Current. During a two month residency at Garage Dahdah-multimedia collective in Marseille,
France she participated in Danse Recherche Aix-en-Provence Residency, working on a singular approach to
creation and collaborative improvisation through sensation research. In 2011 she danced, taught and
studied in Germany and Italy. Her most recent creation, (2012) Organic Dances at the Forest SpectroChrome is a joyful rebellion against conformity. KO is also a certified instructor of Qi Gong, Yoga and
Pilates, traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.
Tony Olivares – (Motif 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013, 2014 and Creative Process and Solo Improvisation
OSDI 2006, 2007) Originally from Nicaragua, Tony moved to Edmonton in summer of 1987 where he
developed as a dance artist and attended the dance program at MacEwan University. He co-created
Dirty Feet Productions collective dance group and collaborated with many artists in Edmonton,
Montreal, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and the New York areas. In 2003, Tony moved to the
USA where he performed as a solo improvisation artist and in contact improvisation. He is a certified
massage therapist and recently completed his BFA in dance with a minor in sculpting at Trinity College,
Hartford, Connecticut. Tony recently returned to Edmonton following his June 2012 graduation. In 2014
he received a grant from the Edmonton Arts Council for his all male dance company, Tony Olivares
Dance
Jeannie Vandekerkhove - (OSDI 2008 & 2009, Motif 2009) Modern and Jazz substitute instructor.
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Originally from Fort McMurray, Alberta, Jeannie Vandekerkhove was classically trained in her youth and
later continued her studies at Arts Umbrella and the Ballet BC Mentor Program. She has danced
professionally in Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver, and has received opportunities to perform both
nationally and internationally, for a variety of renowned choreographers and directors. Jeannie has
gathered knowledge and inspiration from her eclectic mix of mentorships and broad teaching
experiences from across the country, ranging everywhere from teaching children, to elders, special
needs to adult professional dancers. These include teaching privately and via guest workshops/master
classes abroad including the seasonal ballet/modern instructor at Arts Umbrella's pre-professional
program in Vancouver, the annual jazz instructor at Ballet Divertimento's drop in center in Montreal, the
ballet/ modern instructor at the University of Alberta's Recreation Services Program as well as teaching
Orchesis Dance summer/yearly programs in Edmonton. Jeannie finds joy in contributing to the
involvement of recreational and outreach programs as well as developing strong connections within
local communities. Jeannie appreciates all diverse backgrounds and abilities in dance and feels everyone
has a unique way of moving and dance is the gift all people share in common.
Brian Webb – (Motif 2005 & 2015) Brian Webb graduated with distinction from the University of
Alberta with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. He then moved to New York City, working with Eric
Hawkins who had an influence on his early dance making. During the 1970's, Brian premiered many of
his first dances with the Carol Conway Company in New York. Returning to Edmonton in 1979, he
formed the Brian Webb Dance Company as "company in residence" at Grant MacEwan College, where
he was the Chair of the Dance Program for ten years. The company began presenting a dance season in
1991 and is now the largest season of contemporary dance west of Toronto. Since the beginning, the
BWDC has been dedicated to experimentation, the new, and a collaborative creative process. In 1986,
Brian completed a master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography at the California Institute of the Arts. He
returned to Edmonton and began to create a solo dance theatre repertoire that presented a series of self
portraits in collaboration with composers, writers and visual artists. These works toured across Canada
to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Brian was awarded the Syncrude Award for
Innovation in Artistic Direction, the Telus Award for Arts of the Future and performed in 2005 at the
National Arts Centre's Alberta Scene in Ottawa. He was inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of
Fame (2002), and received the Queens Jubilee Medal (2002) and the Alberta Centennial Medal (2005).
Recently, Brian was awarded a University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award. Brian's reputation extends
nationally and abroad as an artist, teacher and dance presenter.
Orchesis wishes to acknowledge the immense contributions of…
Dr. Marsha Padfield – came to the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation as a professor in
Dance around 1971. She was involved in Orchesis since that time and served as Orchesis director from
1982 – 1994. Marsha’s focus of research and teaching was modern dance, dance ethnology, all study of
dance, movement, and gesture in culture. She was particularly interested in movement and dance as cocreators and reflectors of culture. Marsha choreographed and instructed all dancers, provided excellent
technical, lighting design and supported the best of dance in Orchesis and the Edmonton community.
From 2003 - 2007, she headed the Fresh Start program at the U of A, which provided students who failed
their first year of university, the chance to remain on campus and improve their academic standing.
Marsha helped guide these students, enabling them with a chance to get their lives back on track. Now
professor emeritus, Marsha resides in Monrovia, California, her family home.
Vanessa Harris – Founded the Orchesis jazz dance program and taught intermediate and advanced jazz
for Orchesis for 30 years. Vanessa received her B.A. degree from the University of Alberta and pursued a
broad dance training in Montreal, London and Los Angeles under such noted professionals as Eva von
Gencsy, Matt Mattox and Jaime Rogers. Vanessa co-founded "Kompany!" in 1979, and has worked as a
teacher with the University of Alberta, Y.W.C.A., Concordia College, and in master classes workshops
throughout the province. Her choreography has been featured in the fashion, T.V., and concert productions
of "Kompany!". She is also the daughter of Dorothy Harris, the founder of the Orchesis program.

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