There is an excited, happy and busy buzz at Pro Arte this fall:

  • Melanie Dance  just returned from the UK where she attended teacher training with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance for her Fellowship examination which she will be taking in the spring. This is the fourth of four rigorous teaching qualification examinations offered by the ISTD. She is also thoroughly enjoying being back in the ballet world (Ms Melanie has taken over the Junior Classical Ballet Program), as her roots were with ballet in her training at the prestigious Bush Davies and Northern Ballet Schools in England.
  • Astrid Sherman  is presenting at the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) in Singapore this October with Pro Arte physiotherapist, Erika Mayall. This will be the second occasion in which Ms. Astrid has been asked to present at this annual prestigious international dance convention. She recently co-presented at the “Healthy Dancer Canada” with Pro Arte pilates and non-practising physiotherapist, Susie Higgins. She is also very inspired with the new company CatchingArt Contemporary Ballet Theatre and will be premiering new works at their November 17th performance at the Kay Meek.
  • Stephana Arnold is choreographing a new work for the CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre premiere. From her vast professional experience in Canada’s leading Ballet companies, she is also staging excerpts from the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Stephana also teaches adult classes in ballet and conditioning (see http://stephanaballetfit.com/index.html)
  • Jenny Yoo is working toward her Associate Diploma for the ISTD Imperial Ballet this spring. This is the second of four rigorous teaching qualification examinations offered by the ISTD. Jenny is staging excerpts from Le Corsaire for the CatchingART Contemporary Ballet Theatre premiere.  In addition, Ms Jenny owns and operates her own Pilates studio on Lonsdale.
  • Jamie Hawke will be assisting Astrid Sherman with stage management for the Catching Art premiere. She is also working toward her Associate Diploma for the ISTD Imperial Ballet this spring. Ms Jamie is looking to including a Masters degree in Kinesiology with UBC in her outstanding portfolio starting next Fall.
  • Tory Dixon will be working on AFSA International Acrobatic examinations this November/December. She is also doing teacher training for upcoming acrobatic teachers wanting to quaify in the AFSA teaching certification. Ms Tory works for Mac make-up in her non teaching days and just received a promotion.
  • Kim Dixon just returned from the prestigeous ADF summer workshop intensives. She had the opportunity to work with leaders in the modern and contemporary dance field including Paul Matteson (New York),  Rodger Belman (New York), Ishmael Huston (New York) , Helen Simineau (Montreal), Andrea Webber (Cunningham company dancer), Paul Taylor Company, Mark Haim (Seattle), Abraham in Motion (New York) and Pillobolus. She will be taking her ISTD Associate Modern Teachers examination this Spring.
  • Alicia Bruce is getting married! Between her wedding planning and teaching, Alicia is also a youth councilor for the Maple Ridge School District. Alicia is planning on attending the Dance Teachers Summit in New York this summer.
  • Monique Lefebvre is developing a brand new pre-professional program  at Pro Arte in collaboration with Astrid Sherman & Melanie Dance. The advanced choral class is the start of what’s new……watch this space!
  • Sarah Ahmadi  is continuing her Master’s studies in Leadership and Organizational Management in addition to launching new Educational Program initiatives in secondary and post secondary fine arts studies.  These new programs will be implemented over the next several years to the advantage of our senior and future pre-professional students.