Dance Works Academy is proud to introduce their friendly, and very talented dance instructors.
Shantaya Erb has been dancing with Dance Works Academy for the last four years and singing with the Musical Theatre group for the last five years. She studied Ballet and Tap in Nanaimo as a youngster. Shantaya is a gifted dancer, singer and actress and has excelled in her examinations, competitions and performances. She has trained in Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Ballet. During the past eight years Shantaya has been active in Drama and has been chosen to perform in several productions on the Sunshine Coast. She recently danced the lead role with Charles Cottrell in the Sunshine Coast Senior Orchestra's production 'Salmson and Delilah' and 'Lord of the Dance'. Shantaya graduated from Elphinstone Secondary in 2005 and is now assisting Penny Hudson at Dance Works Academy. She teaches Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, Swing and Cape Breton Style Step Dancing. Shantaya is continuing with her vocational dance studies in Ballet, Jazz and Tap. Passing recent R.A.D. exams with distinction. Shantaya has also recently won the judges choice award along with her Sr. Jazz class when they recently competed in Vancouver. Shantaya and her dance partner, Franklin Cottrell were commended in the adjudication and asked to perform their classical Pas de Deux at this years Sunshine Coast Music Festival honors performance.
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 an Associate of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance and will taking her full Members exam this winter. She is looking forward to her third year at Danceworks.
Laurel Sukkau has over twenty years experience creating art with children in a variety of settings. This has given her an appreciation of their natural creative processes. As a long term resident of Gibsons, Laurel has enjoyed the stimulating company of many artists and experimented with a wide range of mediums. She is a mother of three children, who have been influenced by Laurels love of the arts. Her eldest daughter Shiloh just graduated from Emily Carr in 2007, her Son Calen is a musician living in Vancouver and her youngest daughter is studying at Dance Works with the hopes of being a professional dancer. Laurel is looking forward to working with Penny Hudson and Dance Works Academy to create an exciting space of artistic discovery.
Krystal Garib
Born and raised in British Columbia, Krystal's professional dance career has taken her all over the world in fields of performance, teaching, and choreography. A life-long student, Krystal started her training with ballet, tap, jazz and later, hip hop. In India, she studied with famous Kathak dancer Chetna Jalan. Past and recent credits include performing in the World Premiere Cast of THE LORD OF THE RINGS in Toronto, the Original Broadway Cast of AR Rahman's BOMBAY DREAMS in New York City as an understudy to the lead, and dancing alongside John Travolta in the 2007 hit movie-musical HAIRSPRAY! You can also catch Krystal dancing in the films REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA (winter 2008) featuring Paris Hilton and THE LOVE GURU starring Mike Myers, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake, on which she also acted as assistant choreographer. In 2004, Dance Spirit Magazine named Krystal one of "Broadway's Young Stars". Currently, she is featured in the Discover Ontario commercial, starring Canadian Idol contestant Toya Alexis and can be seen on MTV Canada's “Dancing with the Hosts” as Paul The Intern's dance partner and choreographer. Dance Works is excited to welcome Krystal to our team of talented teachers!
Chelsea Cofield
Chelsea started her dance training at the age of three. She instantly fell in love and began expanding her knowledge in all forms of dance such as jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern stage, ballet, pointe, irish, contemporary, and salsa. At the age of twelve she started to compete with solos and received several bursaries and scholarships along the way. She received the “Most Potential Dancer Award" at the centre stage competition at the age of twelve. Chelsea has been the North Island representative at the Provincials twice. She has been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to train with some of the top dancers and choreographers in L.A. These opportunities were made possible when Chelsea started dancing at the CR Dancextreme studio in Campbell River now owned by Shawna Sloan and Buddy Mynatt , two very successful dancers with credits that include: Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Chelsea has competed in the Extreme Dance convention run by Melissa Williams (so you think you can dance Canada judge and choreographer) for the last three years and has won a scholarship every year as well as last year winning a scholarship in Los Angeles at the Extreme Dance International finals. Chelsea's goal is to continue her training in all forms of dance and have a successful career in the industry. She enjoys teaching and passing on all the knowledge she has received from so many talented mentors.
Barabra Caioli
Barbara Caioli was born in Rome, Italy and moved with her family to the United States at an early age. She has been dancing since the age of five. She holds a BFA in Dance Choreography from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where she studied classical ballet, modern, kinesiology and Laban movement analysis. Barbara has worked with such choreographers and instructors as Wade Madsen, Pat Hon, Lodi McClellan, Sean Curran, David Dorfman, Kitty Daniels, Lynn Simonson, Liz Lerman, Deborah Wolf, Terri Sparks, Daniel Cruz, Amii Legendre and Michele Miller. In 2007 Barbara's choreography won several awards at west coast dance competitions. Barbara is a certified personal trainer who focuses on injury prevention and overall wellness.
Kevin Crofton
Kevin is a talented local Acting teacher, and Director. Kevin has been teaching in several dance studios including, Coast Academy Of Dance, and his own Acting class located in Gibsons. He has directed and taught unforgettable plays such as, "The Dream", "BeachCombers Musical Review" , "Grease", and "Fame". Kevin has also directed several short dramas and comedies with students enrolled in some of the alternate school programs in Sechelt and Gibsons.
Dance Works Is also excited to introduce, Frankie Cottrell, Janice Brunson , Maggie Guzzi to our New Dance Year! Photos and Bios comming Soon!