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Erica Hendry enjoys studying many dance forms such as Acro, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, West African, and Musical Theatre. She received her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Calgary: A Collaborative Degree in Contemporary Dance and Kinesiology. Additionally, Erica has studied on Broadway at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and Broadway Dance Centre in New York; In Calgary at the School of Decidedly Jazz DanceWorks, and in Guinea, West Africa with Ballet Matam.
Erica is the Owner and Artistic Director of Alberta Dance Academy. This is her fourteenth year as owner and the company’s twenty-ninth season. Erica holds memberships with the Inner Circle of the Dancer Studio Owners Association (IC DSOA), Alberta Dance Educators Association (ADEA), and Dance Safe Alberta (DSA). In these memberships, she participates in weekly mentoring, quarterly training, and annual conventions to continue her growth as a dancer and studio leader. Other training and certifications include International Dance Teaching Standards, Intellidance Program, and Acrobatic Arts Module One.
Lauren has been dancing for over 15 years, training in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary, with her greatest passion being for rhythm tap. She grew up dancing in Calgary, and while she was studying Kinesiology she’d spent some time training and performing with En Corps Dance Collective and Tri-Tone Rhythm Ensemble, and teaching her own classes.
She had taught dance for five years before moving to New Zealand for chiropractic school, where she continued taking dance classes and teaching. She now works as a chiropractor in Okotoks. She is excited to teach at ADA and share everything she has learned through her dance journey.
Heather is going on her third year teaching at the Alberta Dance Academy and is excited to be back for another year. She grew up taking both gymnastics and dance but fell in love with the art of dance at age 13 and has been passionate about sharing her love for it ever since. Heather is entering into her fourth year of university at Mount Royal and is working towards her Bachelor of Health and Physical Education. She has completed her Junior acrobatic instructor’s course with ADTA and is working on completing the next levels.
Bri Zubick began her dance journey with a competitive dance program in a small town in British Columbia. Upon graduating from high school she began her professional dance journey by moving to Los Angeles to train within the International Dance Academy of Hollywood’s Certificate Program. Within this program, she performed in pieces for Mackenzie Martin, Samm Price, and Amy Morgan. Bri also performed in Choreographers Carnival L.A. for Chelsea Collins. Bri moved to Toronto after completing the program to continue her dance career. In Toronto, Bri has performed in many live performances and video projects throughout the city. She has performed with/for Opus Dance Collective under the direction of Ashley Schofield, Kathryn Miles, Adam Martino, Jessee Lee Santos, Hot in Heels under the direction of Angela Mahoney, and with Unapologetic Dance Collective. Bri is currently training with Decidedly Jazz in Calgary.
Bri is excited to be teaching and sharing her experiences with the dancers at Alberta Dance Academy!
This is Robyn King Edgar’s third season teaching with Alberta Dance Academy and she is thrilled to be back in the classroom teaching dance classes and joining the learning Hub teaching team. Robyn graduated from the University of Calgary with a B.A. in Psychology and B.ED with a minor in Dance, and has worn many teaching hats over the years. She taught English as a second language in Spain, worked as a regular substitute teacher at Strathcona -Tweedsmuir School, Webber Academy and Edison School, worked at the Reading Foundation, and was a teacher at Rundle College Academy in Calgary. She specialized as a learning strategist at Rundle College implementing individualized learning plans for students with learning disabilities including phono graphics, visualization, verbalization techniques for reading and math. Robyn then took on the very rewarding challenge of owning a dance studio for 17 years in Calgary working with all ages in recreational and competitive programming and is a certified CDTA (Canadian Dance Teacher Association) teacher and loves teaching Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Tiny Tots Hip-Hop and Tiny Tots Acro. Last year Robyn became a certified yoga teacher and has loved sharing this beautiful discipline with her students. Robyn is really looking forward to connecting with students and families and helping to foster their mental and physical well-being at the studio.
This is Charli’s 12th season teaching with ADA and she is looking forward to another fun and inspiring year with all of her students! She continues to train in Tap and various styles of Hip Hop. Recently, she has been working on the Al Gilbert Syllabus with her mentor Linda Hovagimian.
Outside of the dance world, she is studying Nutrition through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. Upon completion, she will be a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Alex Krich started dancing at The Alberta Dance Academy as a child. Throughout her years as a student she had the opportunity to learn in a variety of styles. Alex’s favorite dance memory was doing her thing on stage at competition which is probably why she is always hanging out backstage. In 2012 Alex moved into her position as Studio Coordinator and ADA remained her home away from home. She can’t believe she is already in her 9th year as Studio Coordinator at ADA and is very excited for this season!
Nicole has a Master’s of Public Administration and a BAH from Queen’s University. She has been teaching recreational and competitive dance for twenty five years to students age 3 to adult. Her training includes the ADAPT and Al Gilbert syllabus’ in Jazz and Tap, and the RAD syllabus in Ballet, as well as Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Salsa.
Nicole is certified with Acrobatic Arts and Rhythm Works Integrative Dance. She is pursuing her NCCP certification as a trained gymnastics coach. Nicole also holds her yoga teacher certificate and is trained in restorative yoga with the Yoga Studio College of Canada.
Nicole has an extensive performance and teaching background. Her passion for dance has led her on many exciting journeys. She has researched Andean Cultural Dances in Cuzco, Peru for the World University Service of Canada and has traveled abroad as a performing cast member for Princess Cruise Lines. She has adjudicated dance competitions in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan and has represented the Calgary dance and fitness community as an ambassador for Lululemon Athletica. She has held the position of Conservatory Coordinator for the Fine Arts Conservatory at Grande Prairie Regional College and was the Artistic Director of Urban Dance Projects prior to joining Alberta Dance Academy.
Nicole enjoys teaching dance to all ages and levels and is thrilled to be a part of the ADA team this season.
Megan Daniels was born in Saskatoon and came to Calgary 8 years ago to pursue a career as a professional contemporary and ballet dancer. After dancing with several small companies throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, she decided to venture into teaching and fell in love with it right away. As a teenager, she was fortunate to train professionally at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and spent a few years in her early 20’s dancing as an aspirant with the RWB company. It was during those years that she realized that movement and dance are her life and she now feels so lucky that she is able to make her living teaching these things to others. Before she became a ballet instructor, Megan pursued a career as an economist and holds a degree in Economics from the University of Saskatchewan. Megan now works full-time as a ballet and yoga instructor and she is delighted to be a part of the Alberta Dance Academy Faculty and pass along her love of ballet to the eager young dancers of ADA!
Miss Charlotte is a senior competitive dancer and now a dance teacher! She started Dancing at three in Calgary and moved to Okotoks in 2011. Miss Charlotte has Danced at the Alberta Dance Academy ever since! She now takes classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop, and lyrical. Miss Charlottehas been an assistant teacher for four years and really enjoys teaching. Miss Charlotte has attended a large variety of conventions/classes with dance choreographers such as Saxon Fraser, and Bree Wasylenko. She has also attended the Summer Intensive Program with the School of Alberta Ballet. She performed with the Alberta Dance Theater for Young People under the direction Jennifer Mahood. Miss Charlotte enjoys Dancing as well as reading, Marvel Movies, cooking and baking, and being creative in other ways. She can sew and knit, loves to paint, draw, and make collages. Miss Charlotte recently received a certificate of Distinction for her performance on the Mathematica Centrum, Newton Mathematics Contest. Miss Charlotte is currently a grade 10 french immersion student at the Foothills composite high school, she hopes to receive her B-1 D.E.L.F., or the Diplôme d’études en langue française, by the end of the year. Miss Charlotte is a self proclaimed nerd, with a deep love of harry potter, she is a Ravenclaw. After high school she wishes to tour Europe, specifically Italy, France, and England.
Lorraine is excited to be back working as a Studio Administrator for Alberta Dance Academy. She is a proud dance mom of a 15 year old dancer, and a mama to a 12 year old son.
Lorraine is an Educational Assistant with the Foothills School Division working with high risk students. She has her Early Childhood Certification, First Aid Certification including First Responder, she also has NVCI (Non-Violent Crisis Training).
She has been happily married to Mr.Bills for 17 years, and looks forward to cheering on ADA this season!
Tasha grew up dancing at the Alberta Dance Academy, and is proud to still have ADA in her life today. There are places and people that “feel like home” and the Alberta Dance Academy is one of those places for her.
Tasha is also a proud dance mom of an ADA Company Dancer, and can’t wait for another excitng season of competition!
This is Ms. Tashas’ 11th Season with ADA, and we would be forever lost without her amazing skill set! She is the face of ADA, instantly welcoming each performer and parent with her charasmatic ways. She is the reason ADA is a well-oiled machine day in and out.
This past summer Tasha attended the Alberta Dance Teacher Association conference in Edmonton. She is also our Jackrabit, Dancestudio Pro, and Quickbooks Guru.
Born in Calgary, Christahh became captivated by the art of dance at a young age. She has studied a variety of dance styles and is the recipient of scholarships from the Edmonton School of Ballet. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Dance Program at the University of Calgary with a focus on choreography and performance where she choreographed Indomitable Spirit (2016) and Essence of Humanity (2015). Christahh has had the privilege of working with a number of artists including Yung Dre, opening for Juice Wrld (2019) Big Sean and Fetty Wap (2017) Sabrina Naz at the Obsidian Awards (2016), Deanne Walsh in Ciclo De La Vida (2016), as well as dancing in Suite of Dreams (2014) originally choreographed by Hannah Stillwell. In 2014-2015 Christahh was a member of the pre-professional training company, SURGE, directed by Melissa Monteros and Wojciech Mochniej. In the summer of 2015, she was an intern with OYO (Ombetja Yehinga Organisation) dance troupe in Windhoek, Namibia where she contributed in the creation of Ania, a piece that tackles the issue of teen pregnancy. She has completed two years of the professional training program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and dances with a local hip-hop crew, The Tomorrows, under the direction of Lenny Len. Christahh is also the founder and designer for Dance YYC (www.danceyyc.ca) , an online platform providing free organized promotion for the Calgary dance community.
Theater credits include Rumpelstiltskin Revisited for Goodger-Pink Productions, Grey Matter for the Magic World Theatre, Titus Andronicus, Othello, The Queens and Richard lll for The Shakespeare Company, Love(her)/Fight(her) for Urban Curvz, King Lear for Theatre Prospero, Without You, Major Barbara, and Roberta Zucko for Studio Theatre, As You Like It for Free Will Shakespeare Festival, Blood Wedding and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for U of A, and Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare In The Park. Samantha has a diploma from the theatre program at Mount Royal College as well as a BFA degree in acting from the University of Alberta.
Choreographer and Dancer based out of Calgary, AB, Canada. Sean is the creator of VibeTribeYYC, and a founding member of the TOMORROWS dance crew. His knowledge of music and movement is a direct result of his training in Flavorshop, a world-wide motion of like-minded artists created and developed by Lenny Len (Toronto). Sean strives to affect artists and students alike, generating an enhanced understanding and mentality, as well as promoting growth and success through dance and music. Credits involve performing on Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards 2014 for INEZ JASPER, achieving 1st place at the 2014 Cowboys SYTYCD competition with theTOMORROWS, dancing for Commonwealth Bar and Stage’s monthly Hip Hop show: 10@10, back-up for INEZ JASPER at Indspire 2014, choreography for local artists YUNG DRE (Stampede 2017) and MIKE TO, as well as various performances with One World, Mpact, and Downtown Calgary.
Kara is a Vancouver born dance artist graduated from the Arts Umbrella Professional Dance Program and is an alumnus of their Senior Dance Company. Her training took her to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Summer Program, L’Ecole Superieure de Ballet du Quebec, the Banff Summer Training Program and Springboard Dance Montreal. As a performer, Kara apprenticed with Josh Beamish’s MOVE: the company and Amber Funk Barton’s the Response, toured Western Canada with Judith Marcuse’s interdisiplinary show Earth=Home and John Kaplan’s Fundraising Magic show. Kara received mentorship on her choreographic practice from Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg through the pilot project Art Police in 2013. Her work has been shown throughout Canada and she has been growing her choreographic practice in Calgary through residencies with W&M Physical Theatre, Theatre Junctions’s TJ Labs and Springboard Preformance’s contain. Kara as been teaching since the age of 15 and seeks to cultivate a love and respect for the work of dance in her students. She has taught all ages and skill levels across British Columbia and Alberta, setting choreography on advanced students and young professionals. She is a much sought after instructor and choreographer having worked with students at the Alberta Dance Academy, FreeHouse Dance Plus, Decidedly Jazz Dance Centre, Springbank Dancers, Counterpoint Dance Academy, Trip the Light Youth Company, Caulfield School of Dance and Danza.
Heather Herring grew up practising gymnastics at a national level with Calgary Acro. She later transitioned into dance at age 12, when she began dancing with Elite Dance Academy and studying jazz, acro, lyrical, modern, ballet and hip-hop.
In 2013, Heather had the opportunity to train and perform with the Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede as the city recovered from the major flood only weeks earlier. She was also given the privilege to attend the National Circus School’s summer intensive in Montreal on three separate occasions. While training at Elite, Heather completed her ISTD Advanced I Ballet and ISTD Intermediate Modern exams.
Since 2015, Heather has worked alongside the owner and manager of Acrobatique Acro Dance as an assistant teacher, demonstrator, and syllabus model. She is also in the process of completing her Junior Acrobatique certification.
Heather is currently a member of the Calgary Roughnecks Drill Crew. She is also a second-year student at Mount Royal University pursuing a degree in health and physical education with a speciality in physical literacy.This is Heather’s first full season teaching with Alberta Dance Academy. She is excited to get to know and work with the studio’s talented group of dancers.
Darlene Schmidt is a recognized teacher and musician. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Music (Voice), Bachelor of Education from University of Western Ontario, and has Royal Conservatory of Music certificates in both Voice and Piano. She is a member of Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Darlene has been publicly performing since the age of 5, bringing her smooth clear vocals and lyrical piano playing to churches, weddings, music festivals and recital halls. She has over 10 years of experience teaching voice and piano in music studios and her home studio. Her musical talent is complemented by 5 years as an elementary school teacher, teaching homeroom classes along with leading choirs, school concerts and ensembles. Darlene has extensive knowledge of music education philosophies and approaches including Orff and Kodaly methods. Darlene’s passion for music and movement is inspiring!
Courtney Niebergall (ARAD RTS) began her dance training in Regina, and since that time dance has been a great passion, and an integral part of her life. Her amateur training culminated with being awarded the Advanced Certificate in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet, and Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) jazz and tap exams. As a young dancer, she performed with Saskatchewan Express, a musical theatre performance group, and later returned to work as Rehearsal Director for the group.
Courtney continued her training in Toronto where she received a Diploma in Theatre Dance from Ryerson University. While in Toronto, she preformed at Dusk Dances and Series 8:08, and appeared with the Chimera Project and IDAC Dance Collective. Courtney preformed with City Centre Dance Company at the Stream of Dance Festival, and the Cathedral Village Arts Festival in Regina, and danced in the Casino Regina commercial “Two of a Kind”.
Courtney is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, and takes great pride in sharing her passion with her students. She is committed to keeping her training current, and is inspired when learning with fellow dance teachers. Most recently she attended the Dance Teacher Expo in Calgary, as well as curses studying Multi Sensory Teaching Techniques and methods for enhancing Turnout.
Courtney is happy to be sharing her love of dance with her students, and is looking forward to another successful season at ADA!
Chantelle graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in dance. She has traveled to New York, Las Vegas & Los Angeles to train and preform. Chantelle continues to take classes at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Calgary, and Harbour Dance Centre, Vancouver. Chantelle is excited or her fourth year at ADA and looking forward to working with you!
Challen first started dancing in Calgary at the age of 5. By the time she was 8, she transitioned to a competitive gymnast. Some of her gymnastic accolades include P3 Novice Provincial Champion, 3rd Place on Beam, and 3rd place Team both in the Alberta Winter Games.
By age 14 she missed preforming on stage and decided to enroll into dance again. At age 16 Challen retired from gymnastics and took up competitive dancing at The Alberta Dance Academy at the recommendation of a friend. Since then she has trained in Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, and Acro. Additionally, Challen completed her Grade 5 Tap Exam through Al Gilbert and obtained her Level 1 Coaching certificate.
Challen recently ventured to Los Angeles to train at Millennium Dance Complex in their 6 month Certificate Program. There she took classes in Hip Hop, Jazz, Funk, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Grooves, Jazz, Turns, Popping an Locking. There she had the pleasure of working with many well-knows choreographers in the dance industry such as G Madison and Brinn Nicole, and performed at an NBA Clippers game in December along with various dance events in the Hollywood area.
Welcome back Miss Challen!
Bailey has spent fourteen years studying ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical at Alberta Dance Academy. She has completed several RAD ballet and Al Gilbert tap exams. Currently Bailey is working to further her knowledge of the Al Gilbert Tap syllabus, working closely with Miss Charli, completing the teacher workshop, and becoming certified in the syllabus. Additionally, Bailey was a competitive dancer representing ADA for many years. Highlights include being invited to Dance world Cup and competing her tap solo at Nationals in Whistler BC. She has assisted a variety of classes over the past five years and is excited to be able to create a fun, active learning environment for her students this season!