Colleen became a company member of Alberta Ballet and the Banff Festival Ballet before going on to study at the Quinte School of Dance in Ontario and then the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.  Performing classical repertoire pieces including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides and Giselle Colleen had the opportunity to appear on stage with great artists like Evelyn Hart.  During this time, Colleen studied with many renowned teachers and choreographers including Brian McDonald (Les Grands Ballet Canadiens), Choo Chiat Goh (Goh Ballet), Gretchen Ward Warren (University of South Florida), Laura Alonso (Cuban Ballet), Alexander Grant and Reid Anderson (National Ballet of Canada) and David Earle (Toronto Dance Theatre). 

Colleen obtained her Teacher’s Diploma in 1989 from the Royal Academy of Dance under tutelage of Deborah Morgan and Ross Brierton.  In nearly 20 years of teaching, Colleen has prepared hundreds of students for ballet examinations, adjudicated dance festivals, won choreography awards and developed a solid reputation for quality ballet instruction.  Colleen’s professional experience and her passion for dance make her a positive force in Edmonton’s dance community.

Crystal is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance Teacher Certificate Program and brings over 25 years of experience in dance. She has trained with respected teachers and examiners of the R.A.D. and with dance masters spanning across North America, Australia, Asia, and South Africa.

Crystal is a passionate and enthusiastic teacher, teaching in the Edmonton area for over 15 years preparing students for examinations and choreographing pieces for festival and competition. Her greatest teaching accomplishments are in the successes of her students who have made outstanding careers for themselves in dance. Caring deeply about the art of teaching ballet, Crystal continues her education by attending teaching seminars and courses throughout Canada and the United States. 

In addition to her teaching responsibilities Crystal has been a guest instructor, choreographer, examiner and adjudicator in Alberta and British Columbia.

Tasha Orysiuk – Ballet & National Dance Pedagogue
ARAD Teaching Diploma
AISTD Teaching Diploma, National Branch
Viter Ukrainian Dancers, Associate Director
Daytime Dance. Co-Director
ISDSA, Examiner
Junior Grades Examiner

Tasha has studied various forms of dance across Canada, the United States, England and Ukraine under internationally renowned artists. With her extensive training, she has received her ‘Advanced Dance Certificates’ in tap, ballet, jazz, modern and national dancing. Noteworthy to Tasha’s credentials are Teaching Certificates in tap, jazz and Ukrainian dancing, as well she has obtained her Elementary Benesh Notation Certificate. Over the past few years, Tasha has notated the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy’s syllabi and has assisted in its development. She has also created the Classical Ballet Instructors Manual to complement the Syllabus. Tasha has created her own Pre-Beginner and Beginner Syllabi as well as created a dance and culture program specifically designed for Home School students. She has been the RAD coordinator at the Edmonton School of Ballet and Vimy Ridge Dance Program for numerous years. She has conducted workshops at numerous schools across Canada and in the United States.

Previously residing in Toronto for 4 years, Tasha was able to tour Florida and Taiwan with Arkan Dance Company.  She then moved to Edmonton and joined the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers.  Tasha toured California performing “Absolutely Shumka” following up with a tour across Canada in Shumka’s production of “Cinderella”, in which Tasha has also received artistic acknowledgments.   Tasha was also one of 14 dancers chosen from the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers to tour Ontario and the United States with the Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine, performing “The Nutcracker, A Ballet Fantasy.” 

As a dance educator, Tasha has taught dancing for many years throughout Saskatchewan, Ontario and Alberta and has been presented with several choreographic awards.  She has also adjudicated at numerous festivals and competitions across western Canada.

Tasha teaches Ukrainian dancing at the Shumka School of Dance, is the Associate Director the Viter Ukrainian Dancers and the Co-Director of Daytime Dance. Tasha is an examiner for the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy and Edmonton School of Ballet Junior Preparatory Grades in Ballet.

Gail Ledger
Tap Pedagogue

An Accredited Al Gilbert Examiner and Teacher in the disciplines of tap and jazz, Gail has taught workshops, summer schools and masterclasses internationally.  She is one of Canada’s most experienced and qualified instructors for the Al Gilbert Tap Syllabus and this is certainly reflected in her students’ achievements every year. 

Gail was one of the original members of The Alberta Tap Dance Association, which has now evolved and grown into The Alberta Dance Educator’s Association.  Gail has also taken several turns at running popular Canadian dance festivals, including fulfilling the role of Co-ordinator for The Alberta Dance Festival.  Her extensive experience in dance education, choreography, arts administration, and many other dance-related fields have given her a wealth of knowledge to share.

Miss Gail’s choreography has been featured in countless shows and events, from Edmonton’s local festivals to the internationally viewed TV series Star Search.  Gail’s students have gone on to incredibly successful careers as choreographers for TAP DOGS, The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and shows being produced in Vegas and Off Broadway in New York City.  There is also an abundance of former students who have moved on to professional careers as performers on cruise ships, stages, and in resorts all over the world, as well as teachers, choreographers, and professors of dance in colleges.

Gail Ledger is known throughout the dance community for her amazing commitment and dedication not only to the highest quality dance training, but to each and every one of her students.  Just having completed her 41^st season as a dance teacher, Gail brings an energy and love for dance into class that stays with her students forever.

Kelly Cameron BEd, Al Gilbert Certification
Director of Tap Program

Kelly is a high-energy, team-oriented teacher and choreographer. She has trained and performed in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and Highland Dance. She has danced all over the world, from tapping at Edge in Los Angeles to training ballet at Vaganova in Romania. She and her students have competed in hundreds of competitions and festivals capturing a plethora of medals, trophies, and scholarships. The pinnacle of her tap training was completing her Al Gilbert Syllabus Teacher’s Exam with Highest Honours.

Kelly is happy to commence her 10^th year of teaching dance with Dance Alberta, during which time she has taught and choreographed for all ages and abilities. In addition to her extensive dance experience as a performer and educator, Kelly earned her Bachelor of Education Degree with Distinction in 2009 from the University of Alberta. She continues to focus on professional development in both tap dancing and educating children. Her high energy, positive approach, and broad base of experience make her a key member of the Dance Alberta Team and a strong leader for our Tap Department.

Janine England
Tap, Jazz, & Hip Hop Instructor

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Harman Baweja
Hip-Hop Instructor

Harman’s style can be described as sharp and smooth with elements of popping and animation. Harman’s style is mostly influenced by Michael Jackson, U-Min, Usher, Lyle Beniga and Shaun Evaristo.. Harman’s classes are filled with thorough and precise instruction, motivation, knowledge, innovative choreography and most importantly, fun. With his unique blend, Harman has made his mark in the hip hop scene in Edmonton.  

Aside from teaching Harman also performs and dances with “3^rd Street Beat”, “White Chocolate” and “The Shadow Twins”. With these crews Harman has had the opportunity to open for international performing artists such as: Massari, Boyz 2 men, Chris Brown, K-CI & JoJo, Fabolous and many more. Harman also dances for charity events such as Hip Hop for Hope and competitions such as Artists Emerge where he and dance partner Carlo Atienza won first place for their Duet in 2007. 

Harman has been dancing and teaching for years, and he continues to train and better himself as a performer and teacher in order to inspire and motivate others to become the best dancers they can be.

Tracy Wiberg
Outreach Hip Hop Instructor

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Kayla has been dancing for 16 years. She has a background in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. She started her training in ballet and tap in London, England at the age of 3. She then moved to Edmonton and began dancing at Dance Alberta at the age of 7.

As an up-and-coming hip-hop dancer and choreographer in Edmonton, Kayla is inspired by Bay area choreographers such as Jun Quemado, Keone Madrid, Kyle Hanagami, and Lyle Beniga. Since starting her hip-hop training she has taken many classes and workshops including training from the famous Electric Boogaloos. Within the last year Kayla has joined a new professional dance crew in Edmonton named "Next Gen" and has had the opportunity to open for Sean Kingston and has performed alongside Americas Best Dance Crews Supreme Soul, Super Crew, and Fanny Pak. Kayla also loves giving back to the community as much as she can. As a child she loved dancing for senior citizens and care homes during the Christmas season. She has also been involved with Hip Hop for Hope and Santas Kidz, which are both fundraisers for the Stollery Children's Hospital since 2007.

She is currently studying Art and Design at the University of Alberta. However, as a new teacher here at Dance Alberta, Kayla is eager to share her knowledge with her students as well as create a love for dance in each and every one of them.

Ariana Dinsdale
(title coming soon)

Gino Akbari
Salsa Instructor(title coming soon

Gino started his dance training with Kathrine Edgett through the Dalhousie University Acting Program. He had the privilege to study four years of intensive Jazz with one of Canada’s best instructors. He started Salsa as a hobby that soon became an addiction due to its rhythmic movements and jazz based elements. “I have always believed that structure and discipline combined with freedom of creativity brings out the best out of artists. My intentions have always been to bring out the best out of my students by learning more myself and by co-operating with other teachers in different disciplines of dance to enhance students and the art form of Salsa”.