Instructors
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From being an alumni of the the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to working on hit TV shows and productions like Riverdale and the Descendents, our staff are both working professionals in the arts industries and experienced in childhood education. We welcome you to explore our team with our interactive page, and get to know our teachers and their passions!
Owners
Marissa Heaven
Owner, Studio Director
NVSD Academy Coordinator
Faculty: Samba, Latin, Ballet
Lauren Overholt
Owner, Artistic Director
Faculty: Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Stage, Ballet
Katie Gillett
Owner, Operations Director & Faculty: Lyrical, Jazz, Acro Certified in Acrobatic Arts
Instructors
Jessica Heaven
Communications Director & NVSD Academy Coordinator
Faculty: Broadway Bound, Ballet, Ballet Stars
Sam Ball
R.A.D Coordinator, R.A.D Registered Teacher
Faculty: Ballet
Nicola Earl
R.B.S. (T.T.C.), A.R.A.D,
Faculty: Ballet
Paige Vassos
R.A.D Registered Teacher
Faculty: Ballet, Lyrical, Tap
Tyler Carver
R.A.D Teacher
Faculty: Ballet
Giovanni Giordano
R.A.D Teacher
Faculty: Ballet & Partnering
Haileigh Feduniak
Faculty: Ballet Stars, Lyrical, Jazz, Stretch & Conditioning
Nicole Narwal
R.A.D Teacher
Faculty: Acro, Ballet, Jazz, Stage Tap
Jenna Williamson
R.A.D Teacher
Faculty: Contemporary, Irish, Jazz, Lyrical, Stretch & Conditioning
Marsha Kwan
R.A.D. Teacher
Faculty: Ballet & Partnering
Belinda Sobie
Faculty: Jazz Technique
Milaina Chanel
Faculty: Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Stage, Stretch & Conditioning, Tap
Venice Dang
Faculty: Contempory, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz, Acro Certified in Acrobatic Arts
Emily Tellier
Faculty: Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Improvisation
Astrid Eckerle
Faculty: Acro, Hip Hop
Joshua Fernandez
Faculty: Hip Hop
Magnus Futrell-Fruhling
Faculty: Breaking & Hip Hop
Jakob Phan
Faculty: Contempory, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz, Acro Certified in Acrobatic Arts
Gabriel Richard
Faculty: Breaking & Hip Hop
Jeav Villaroya
Faculty: Breaking & Hip Hop
Guest Instructors
Megan Mitchell
Faculty: Ballet, Acro, Contemporary, Hip Hop
Certified in Acrobatic Arts
Megan began dancing at Seymour Dance at 3 years old. She completed the RAD examinations from PrePrimary through Advanced Foundations in her time training at Seymour. She competed for over 10 years in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, stage, and contemporary. Megan has been teaching at Seymour Dance for 3 years working with students aged 3 to 13. She graduated in the class of 2021. Starting in fall of 2021, Megan will be attending the University of British Columbia in the faculty of arts, where she plans to study under the Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice program. Megan is so excited to introduce her students to the wonderful world of dance from a young age.
Sophie Grover
Faculty: Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Stars
Sophie Grover is a Seymour Dance Alumni, from North Vancouver, BC. She grew up dancing at Seymour Dance and has taken part in multiple of their productions including Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, and Clara in the Nutcracker Ballet. She has been working with kids since a young age, and is currently a team Leader for North Vancouver Recreation and Culture. She is trained in many styles of dance including, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pointe and more. Sophie loves being there for the students as her teachers were for her growing up and is excited to push them to their fullest potential.
Ken Yung
Faculty: Hip Hop
Ken “Kennon” Yung is the director of Kill The Lights professional dance crew based in Vancouver, Canada. Having trained in Hip Hop extensively in LA, Vancouver and Hong Kong, he’s an experienced dancer and choreographer. For the last two years, he has toured around Western Canada and the US with his crew to perform and teach in workshops. Ken’s passion for dance is like no other and he loves to share it through his teaching. Please check out his work at : www.youtube.com/KennonLive
Randa Barett
Faculty: Stretch, Acro, Hip Hop, Adult Cardio
Randa was accepted into the Intensive training program at Harbour dance centre. After her year at Harbour Randa channeled her focus into hip-hop. She was accepted into SOULdiers Dance Company where she spent two years expanding her knowledge of hip-hop. Now on her own Randa actively finds new ways to continue her growth as a dancer. Randa got the opportunity to dance with Royal Caribbean which introduced her to Aerial. Randa has found a passion for Aerial and is now one of the skills she is actively working on, adding to her variety of abilities. Randa set a high goal for herself in trying to obtain her O-1 Visa to the United States where she could continue pushing toward her goals and dreams. In 2016 she got approved and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Gaia Margiocco
Faculty: Acro, Ballet
Gaia started dancing at Seymour Dance was she was 10 years old. She danced with Seymour's Competitive Company until graduation, and participated in many of their productions. She was lucky enough to be cast as many incredible roles, including Clara in the Nutcracker and Eloise in the Secret Circus. After graduation, Gaia joined the Source Dance Company for their 22nd season. She loves passing on her knowledge to students and is excited to continue to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Arianna Elsworth
Faculty: Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Stage, Stretch
Born and raised in North Vancouver BC, Arianna found her passion in dance at the age of 4. She is a Seymour Dance Alumni; she was an RAD solo seal candidate, and has danced competitively in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, acro, samba, musical theatre, tap, and has earned numerous awards & scholarships from her years competing, as well as post-graduation. Following her competitive dance career growing up, Arianna attended the two-year Lamondance Professional Training Company program, and just recently graduated from the CLI Conservatory under the direction of Teddy Forance, in Massachusetts USA. She is very passionate about teaching, and enjoys sharing her love of dance with others!
Jared Khalifa
Faculty: Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Stage, Stretch, Acro
Jared is a multidisciplinary artist and athlete, born and raised in Vancouver.
Jared’s interests in music and movement first sparked while training in capoeira, leading him to pursue gymnastics, voice and musical theatre. As a tumbler, Jared has competed globally - representing Canada at three World Age Group Championships, earning two World Cup Silver medals, twelve National Championship medals and three Canadian titles. While competing on the international stage, Jared was featured for two years as a VIP athlete at the All Star Games live spectacle in Las Vegas. Alongside his gymnastics career, Jared continued to work in the theatre industry and has been seen in Beauty and the Beast (The Arts Club), Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat (Royal City Musical
Theatre), the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and live appearances in concert with Barry Manilow, Foreigner and Eric Church with the group Showstoppers.
Jared was later scouted by Cirque Du Soleil and offered a select position at
Cirque IHQ in Montreal. There, he continued his training in teeterboard, tumbling,
dance, physical acting and voice. Shortly after, he signed to the original cast of the arena touring show OVO. While touring North America, he had the additional opportunity to train in aerial straps, cerceau, hand balancing and contortion.
Following his time with Cirque, Jared dove into the Film/TV industry as a dancer,
actor and stunt performer. Soon to be seen in the cast of Schmigadoon (Apple TV),
summer 2021 and dancing in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Paramount Studios), 2022.
Volunteer Team
Melissa Haibeck
Costume Mistress & Parent Volunteer Coordinator
Melissa oversees the costume coordination, volunteer, and backstage set-up for the Centennial Theatre shows. Volunteers are always appreciated to help with various costume duties as well as backstage helpers.
Ariyanna Pascuzzi
Community Coordinator & Adult Fitness
Ariyanna helps with the community outreach with Seymour Dance. Volunteers are always appreciated to help with various costume duties as well as backstage helpers.
Adult Daytime classes are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays mornings at the Studio. Please visit; www.themovementconnection.com for more details.
