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Dawn Braun-Crawford
Tap, Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre Instructor
R.A.D.Registered Teacher
Modern Dance, Simon Fraser University
Bachelor of Science, Trinity Western University
FreeStyle Dance Centre is proud to introduce Dawn as our most versitale instructor, with tons of experience in many dance styles. Dance performance has brought Dawn to Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. Her biology and psychology degree allows a uniquely kinetic approach to her teaching at FreeStyle where she is dedicated her students' fullest potential. Dawn has directed and performed in the popular "A MAZE OF GRACE" multi-media productions and currently teaches dance at Trinity Western University. She also continues to complete choreography and video contracts in Japan. With countless successes in choreography and technique, Dawn continues to be one of our most popular teachers with teachers and students alike.
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Bernadette Matthew
Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Modern Teacher
R.A.D. Registered Teacher
Modern Dance, Simon Fraser University
BA Major Communication, Trinity Western University
Bernadette has trained and performed extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, musical theater, swing, and contemporary dance. She has her associate certificate in Scottish Dancing and her teaching certificate in ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance. Bernadette has gathered knowledge and experience in teaching in LA, New York, Toronto, Europe, Australia, and, of course, Vancouver. She believes the best teacher is a teacher that continues to learn and develop in their art form and she maintains this with continued training, courses and influence from the commercial, modern and ballet dance worlds. With 20 years of experience in teaching dance, Bernadette prides herself developing young dancers into their fullest potential. She believes in the unique abilities of each student as dance artists and strives to bring out the best in each person through thoughtful teaching and award-winning choreography. She is excited to share new knowledge she has gained from the British Ballet Association and the Australian Teachers of Dance Assocation during her recent stay in Australia.
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Morgan McQueen
Hip Hop and Tap Instructor
Morgan McQueen is a talented individual who has been emerged within the dance world since the young age of three. Through her training, she has excelled in styles such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. Morgan has achieved a variety of dance accomplishments throughout her life. A highlighted few include the popular teen comedy, “John Tucker Must Die”, featuring Ashanti and Jesse Metcalf. Morgan was fortunate to have the opportunity to work on set with the stars and dance in smaller roles throughout the film. Other exciting events Morgan has been involved in include, dancing as a BC Lions’ Felion for three years, being a part of the Vancouver Giants’ dance team for four years and dancing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. Aside from the many dance opportunities Morgan has been involved in, she was also asked to be a part of the 2005 Canadian National Tap Team at the World Tap Championship which took place in Reisa, Germany. Morgan was extremely successful in her endeavors at the competition, placing seventh overall in the Women’s solo tap category and second place in the group category. On top of Morgan’s evolving dance career, she takes time to stay true to her love of dance by teaching at various dance studios. Morgan has had the opportunity to train at elite dance establishments in areas such as Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas and Vancouver. Morgan’s passion for dancing is evident in her many successes as a dancer and as a teacher. She now wants to pass on to her students everything she has learned throughout her years of training, and prepare those who might consider dance to be their profession one day.
We welcome Miss Morgan to FreeStyle Dance Centre.
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Meghan Bowe
Ballet, Modern and Tap Instructor
Modern Dance, Simon Fraser University
Worked with dance artists, Serge Bennathan, Barbara Bourget, Sarah Brewer and John Ottoman.
Meghan is completing concurrent degrees at Simon Fraser University with a BFA in dance from the school for Contemporary Arts and a BA with majors in history and humanities. She has studied contemporary dance, Cunningham and Graham technique as well as composition, improvisation and contact work at the university level. Over the last four years Meghan has had the pleasure of working and training with Mary Louise Albert, Sarah Brewer, Barbara Bourget, Marla Eist, Judith Garay, Rob Kitsos and Serge Bennathan. As a student Meghan trained in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre. She studied RAD ballet up to and including Advance 2 and completed her CDTA tap exams up to gold achieving honours for all her medal exams. Meghan also had the opportunity of performing for the Royal City Youth Ballet which toured and performed in Disneyland, Victoria, Duncan, Cranbrook, on the Princess Cruise line to California, as well as throughout the lower mainland.
As a teacher Meghan strives for technical excellence and seeks artistic maturity from all her students. She especially enjoys watching students thrive in a kind, encouraging and supportive dance environment like Freestyle.
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Jessica Domnich
Tiny Dance, Ballet, Jazz, and Lyrical Insructor
R.A.D Registered Teacher
Jessica has had the opportunity to train in a wide variety of styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hiphop and stage. Ballet being her favorite which she started training in at the age of five. Jessica has completed all graded exams from primary to five as well as her vocationals up to and including Advanced one successfully. Jessica is excited to have completed the CBTS program with the Royal Academy of Dance, a two year intensive study in teaching ballet. Since completing the R.A.D. certification Jessica has successfully entered students in all levels of examinations in both graded and vocational exams with exceptional results. As well as her training with the Royal Academy of Dance Jessica is also educated in human kinetics and anatomy. Dance is Jessica's passion in life and is excited to share that with each and every student at Freestyle. Each student is special and with determination and hardwork everyone can reach their full potential and can surpass their personal goals. Dance has given Jessica the opportunity to perform and train all across the lower mainland, Northern British Colombia, Calgary, and Los Angeles where she trained at ‘The Edge’. Jessica has a genuine love of dance and can’t wait to share that with all the students at FreeStyle dance centre.
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Karolynn Fisher
NEW INSTUCTOR FOR FALL 2009
Tiny Dance and Kids Instructor
Karolynn Fisher first began performing as a gymnast at the age of 8, and was introduced to the wonderful art of dance through Freestyle Dance Centre four years later, at age 12. Her current training at the Drive Dance Center Scholarship program includes contemporary, ballet, jazz and hip hop. Fresh from high school, Karolynn has been asked to perform in music videos, shows such as Risk with Amber Funk, and with companies such as Heather Gray's “Urbanflow Productions”. Miss Fisher's classical training and passion for dance makes her someone to look out for as she breaks into the Vancouver Dance scene. She believes that dance is an incredibly freeing form of art with endless possiblities to explore.
We are pleased to welcome Karolynn Fisher back to FreeStyle Dance Centre as a teacher!
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Leslie Ann Nadon
Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre/Stage, & Voice Instructor
Dance Diploma, Grant Mac Ewan College
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Dance, Simon Fraser University
Originally from Saskatchewan Miss Leslie has over 20 years of dance training. Her passion for dance and love for performing shines through in her teaching.
Leslie is an accomplished dancer with extensive training in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, RAD ballet, allegro, pointe and musical theatre/stage. After her studio training she continued her dance career studying contemporary dance at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. In addition to her extensive training Leslie has eight years of teaching experience in a variety of disciplines and teaching settings. When she’s not at the studio Leslie is heavily involved in Vancouver’s dance community. She is the General Manager of the Vancouver Ballet Society, a community benefit organization for dance students. She's also a strong advocate for arts and dance funding as well as for dance and arts in education. She enjoys taking weekly classes to inspire her and keep her classes fresh and exciting for students!
As a teacher Miss Leslie encourages her students to work to their full potential. Her outgoing attitude and comedic nature makes her a natural with teen students. Leslie’s favourite advice is that dancing is just fancy walking-one foot and then the other! Miss Leslie is looking forward to another successful and exciting year at Freestyle!
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Alexandra Benac
Hip Hop and Jazz Instructor
Alexandra has been dancing since the age of three. She has studied lyrical, ballet and jazz but her passion is hip hop or street jazz. Alexandras technique and unique "groovy" style is taught with fun and enthusiasm. She has trained with Carla Catherwood, Robin Merchant, the faculty of Street Groove Convention as well as at The Edge and Millenium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. Alexandra believes there is always something new to learn and something more to teach.
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. |
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Francis Fisher
Acro Instructor, Substitute Teacher
As a young girl, Francis began to explore the world of sports when she became involved with competitive gymnastics. She won several medals and awards and was given the opportunity to compete against international competitors. Although she enjoyed it, she had a secret passion for dance. As a young teen, she embarked on her dance journey, training in various styles such as ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, stage, and tap at Freestyle Dance Centre. She completed her Advanced One ballet exam under the Royal Academy of Dance and has enjoyed her opportunities to travel to Los Angeles to train. Currently, she is a part of the Felions Dance Team and loves cheering on the BC Lions at every home game. As a full-time university student, she still manages to devote all the time she can to dance. She believes that dance is a life-long journey and can’t wait for what’s in store.
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Hanna Zetting
Teacher in Training, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre Instructor
After assisting and training under Dawn Crawford, Hanna is excited to make her debut year teaching at FreeStyle Dance Centre. She has performed as a soloist in both hip hop and song and dance and ready to share her passions for these styles with her students.
Lauren Healy
Teacher in Training, Ballet and Lyrical Instructor RAD Advanced One
This year will be Lauren’s third year teaching at Freestyle. She looks forward to continuing to use her experience and skills to help young dancers enjoy dance and achieve personal and technical excellence.
Lauren has trained extensively for ten years, in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, acro, hip-hop, tap, modern, contemporary and stage. She is a recent graduate of Freestyle where she performed and competed at a high level, both as a soloist and in group ensembles. In Lauren’s years of competition she has won awards such as: ‘Dancer of the Year’ at 5,6,7,8 Competition in Whistler, as well as overall top scoring soloist in her division at both Shine Dance Festival and Peak Dance Competition. Lauren has had the opportunity to train with Barbra Bourget (Kokoro), Carla Catherwood (For The Love Of It Productions) Lynette Kelley ( R.A.D. examiner) and Robin Merchant. This past summer Lauren completed her RAD Advanced Two ballet exam. Lauren says that dance has opened a world of wonderful experiences, memories, friendships and opportunities. |
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