Coast Academy of Dance Teachers

TEACHERS

Julie Izad Director & Teacher Julie Izad studied dance at the Paris School of Dancing in England and qualified as a Dance teacher in Ballet, Modern and Tap in the I.D.T.A. Syllabus in 1977. She performed on stage in Tokyo, Hong Kong, the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and finally in Monte-Carlo, where she became a Choreographer and Solo Dancer. Mrs. Izad has been teaching professional dancers and producing and choreographing shows with her husband since 1985. At present they have a troop of 15 dancers, singers, and visual acts working in their show in the south of France. Mrs. Izad has had experience in fashion modeling and television and film work in France and Italy. The Izad family now resides on the Sunshine Coast, and bring much expertise and enthusiasm to the direction of the Coast Academy of Dance and Performing Arts. Ms. Izad teaches Jazz, Modern Theatre Dance, Advanced Tap, and Ballet to the Senior dance students, and is the Director of the Coast Academy of Dance.
Shirley Jackson Ballet, Pointe Shirley began ballet training in Calgary and Edmonton, passing the R.A.D. Advanced exam in 1976. Further studies took her to Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal and Entre Six in Montreal, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet professional division. She attended the Banff Centre School of Fine Art’s Ballet program for seven summers. Ms. Jackson’s performing career began in 1978, at Ottawa Dance Theatre, where she danced for five years, choreographing three pieces for that company. She then danced for five years with Mountain Dance Theatre in Vancouver, creating four pieces of choreography, including a full length story ballet. During her last year with that company, she was co-artistic director. Other short contracts included dancing in the Festival Opera production of “Idomeneo” at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and dancing at the Pavilion of Promise for the duration of Expo ‘86: the choreographer appointed her dance captain. In 1992 Shirley moved to the Sunshine Coast. Her involvement in dance here has been with the Sunshine Coast Dance Society, choreographing for the Celebration of Dance. She will be teaching I.S.T.D. Exam Ballet, Pointe, and Teen Beginner Ballet at the Coast Academy of Dance.
Christina Fitchett ISTD teacher in Jazz, Tap, Modern Christina is happy to be returning to the Sunshine Coast where she received most of her training while growing up. Christina followed in her family's footsteps when she began highland dancing. She went on to add tap, modern, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and various forms of partner dance at the Coast Academy of Dance. She competed successfully in highland, winning many medals and aggregate trophies. Christina also competed in tap, jazz, and hip hop groups during her senior years at the Coast Academy. She graduated from the Coast Academy's premier year of its 'Pre'Professional Program'. Through this program she was able to achieve her teaching qualifications with excellent results. Christina moved to Vancouver and trained in Harbour Dance Center's 'Intensive Training Program'. This program allowed her to work with highly respected teachers and choreographers from Vancouver, New York, and L.A. This past summer, Christina travelled to Chichester England to participate in the ISTD's summer training course. This allowed her to further her education in the ISTD syllabus for tap, modern and jazz. She will be teaching ISTD tap and modern, jazz, and pre-school ballet .
Kathleen Holmes Ballet Kathleen has an extensive background in classical ballet training. Her teachers included ballerina Ekaterina Maximova and premier danseur Vladimir Vasiliev, former stars of Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet and the international ballet star Anna-Marie and David Holmes, who trained at the legendary Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg. This classical background has been well utilized by Kathleen. She has appeared professionally as a principal in many Russian classics including: Swan Lake, Paquita, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère and in the title role of Prokofiev's Cinderella. She has performed for audiences in Italy, the United States, and Canada. A love of the classics, the rich history, the traditions of ballet - these are the source of inspiration for Kathleen. She brings to her students this important link to the past. It is with the knowledge and enjoyment that what she is imparting on her students is also an important link to the future.
Natacha Izad Stretch & Strength, Conditioning, and Body Jam Natacha was born and raised in Monte-Carlo where at the age of 19 she embarked upon a career in show business. She performed numerous visual acts at the Casino Ruhl in Nice, France. At the age of 22 she discovered a new passion in the fitness world. She trained in Nice and then moved to Brussels, Belgium where she has been working at some of the top health and fitness clubs in Europe. Natacha brings her expertise to the Coast Academy of Dance where she will be teaching: Stretch and Strength, Conditioning, and Body Jam classes.
Jean-Philippe Willems Fitness and "Spinning" Jean-Philippe was educated in Brussels, Belgium. He obtained a Bachelor Degree in Physical Education and went on to pursue a career as a fitness instructor and personal trainer. He is also a qualified ski instructor having obtained his diploma at the Swiss Academy of Nendaz. In recent years Jean-Philippe has perfected his own very unique style of Spinning Classes which have been hugely popular in Brussels. He hopes to promote this indoor cycling program here at the Coast Academy of Dance.
Carla Arduin Hip Hop, Performance Hip Hop Carla started her dance education here at the Coast Academy for Dance, taking as many classes as she could and finding her passion in jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. She then attended the University of Calgary where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Kinesiology. While studying in Calgary she danced and choreographed in two hip hop crews, C-Stylz and Malfunktion which performed all over Alberta, BC and California at the World Hip Hop Championships. She also studied at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, where she was a preprofessional student dancing and performing with them. She has also trained at Urban Element in Montreal and Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver. She has taught various classes and taken workshops from the Electric Boogaloos, Dave Scott, Luther Brown and Shane Sparks. She looks forward to continuing her dance teaching at the Coast Academy.
Pamela Fulkerson Song & Dance, Modern Theatre Dance Pamela grew up in the small town of Port Alice on northern Vancouver Island, where began studying dance at the age of eight at the Caroline Smith School of Dance. Pamela enjoyed all dance disciplines, but her forte was in Jazz. She took exams through The United Kingdom Alliance. At the age of 16 she began student teaching and continued to excel in the Jazz program. At the age of 21 she assumed the position of Jazz instructor and taught four more years at the Caroline Smith School of Dance. She became an Associate of the U.K.A. in 2000. Pamela has been involved in many dance productions, as a performer and as a choreographer and coordinator. Pamela has a strong passion for singing, with experience in choral groups and various musical performances. She teaches Performance Song & Dance at our Academy.
Tara MacLeod Highland Dance Tara MacLeod was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia but made the move out West at an early age. As a young adult Tara took her first Highland dance class as a way of exploring her Scottish roots and was immediately hooked. She has been a competitive Highland dancer for over 12 years and has danced on stages throughout B.C, Washington and Scotland winning numerous medals and trophies.Locally Tara has delighted audiences at annual Robbie Burns Dinners and outdoor festivals up and down the Sunshine Coast. Tara is a full member of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance. She will be teaching Highland dance and Teen Ballet for the Coast Academy of Dance.
Sylvain Brochu Contemporary Dance Originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Sylvain Brochu is a Renaissance man. A master of interpretation and an inspiring educator his career as a performer and teacher of contemporary dance has spanned almost three decades . A major artistic force in our community, he is the director of Coast Contemporary Dancers where he channels a lot of his experience and leadership. Sylvain is also a devoted yoga practicioner and teacher, a compassionate Shiatsu practitioner, an enthusiastic builder, an avid gardener and a passionate singer. He will be teaching Advanced Teen Comtemporary Dance.
April Newton-Mason Advanced Modern Ballet April Newton-Mason has taught and performed with several dance companies in Vancouver: The Goh Ballet, the Judith Marcuse Dance Company, and the Anna Wyman Dance Theatre. She has also danced with City Contemporary Dance Theatre in Hong Kong, and the Alberta Ballet Company. April is teaching advanced Teen/Adult Contemporary this year.
Terra Dannes Acrobatics Terra grew up in the Lower Mainland, professionally training in gymnastics and dance, and became a professional cheerleader. Her gymnastics instructors included two Russian coaches, one of whom was an Olympic gymnast. She later undertook the Dance Performance Diploma Program at Grant MacEwan College in Alberta. Her performance experience is extensive, including the International Stage throughout Expo '86, BC Lions Football Club Dance Team, as well as modeling, radio and television commercials. Terra has taught dance throughout the Lower Mainland and upon moving to the Sunshine Coast has appeared with the Coast Dance Society, Movement Arts Contemporary Dance Company, DSdanse Company, Figure Athletes, and conducted strength and flexibility training for competitive figure skaters. Terra has recently trained off and on the water in Hawaii with a World Champion Tandem Surfer. We are happy to have Terra teaching Acrobatics and Jazz this year.
Lindsay Prentice Modern/ Contemporary Lindsay grew up in Vancouver, and began training in ballet and jazz at the age of 7. Her passion for dance continued into her teenage years and at that time she joined The Arts Umbrella Youth Dance Company, which introduced her to modern dance and gave her the experience of working with professional choreographers. Life took her interests elsewhere in her late teens and early twenties, and she moved to the Sunshine Coast, but the nagging feeling that something was missing for her persisted. So at the age of 26 she returned to Vancouver to train and dance and work professionally. Back on the Coast, her desire is now to teach dance and choreograph. Lindsay will be teaching Teen Contempory/Modern dance at the Coast Academy of Dance this year.
Elaine Hunter ISTD Teacher Elaine trained in the UK, and is a full member of the CDTA. She moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2006. Prior to this, she had her own dance school in Ottawa, Ontario, established in 1975. Among Elaine’s career experiences are producing, directing and choreographing performances for Parliament Hill, representing Canada at the Shanghai International Children’s Cultural & Arts Festival, teaching in Shanghai, and dance adjudication. She is the Director of World Wide Dance for Peace, a position she has held since 1994. For the Coast Academy of Dance she will be teaching Jazz, Cardio Tap, Hip Hop, and Street Jam..
Carol Ann LeBlanc Office Carol Ann is the Administrative Assistant for the Coast Academy of Dance, and in that capacity is responsible for registrations and communications. She is a calm and capable force in the day-to-day running of the school, and her daily presence, pleasant demeanor, and approachability is appreciated by the teaching staff, students, and parents. She was born and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick, and has also lived in Newfoundland and Quebec, where she graduated from Commercial College as a Medical Secretary before moving to Vancouver in 1973. She worked in a variety of office settings before leaving the work force to raise her family. Carol Ann was lured to the Sunshine Coast in 1989, and through her four children participating in many dance disciplines over the years, she has been involved at the Coast Academy since its beginnings. Ms. LeBlanc feels very much at home here at our Academy!