Dance
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Dance
Arts Umbrella's Dance program is internationally recognized as high-quality training that develops the whole dancer, stressing technique, strength, intellectual and artistic expression, with a focus on health and wellness. Young dancers are given the opportunity to explore dance as artists, performers, audience members and professionals.
The program has a strong foundation in Classical Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary dance forms. Program options range from beginner to career-level dance training, including graduate-level programs and a half-day academic program. Arts Umbrella now offers a dance diploma through Vancouver Community College.
In addition to regular classes, Arts Umbrella professional-level dance students are given the opportunity to work with local and internationally renowned guest artists and perform world-class choreography through participation in the Arts Umbrella Dance Company. Performances are an integral part of the program, developing a sense of community and ultimately an understanding of their chosen art form.
Program placement is based on age and ability, as assessed through faculty placements or audition, as specified for each program level.
Please note: dance program registration is currently not available online. For more information regarding registration, auditions and the placement process, contact the Registrar: registration@artsumbrella.com.
Past guest teachers and choreographers:
past guest faculty
GIOCONDA BARBUTO (Montreal)
ASZURE BARTON (New York City)
CHERICE BARTON (Spiderman NYC)
MARC BOIVIN (Montreal)
ROBERTO CAMPANELLA (ProArteDanza)
MARGIE GILLIS (Order of Canada Governor General Award)
GLENN GILMOUR (The National Ballet School)
ROBERT GLUMBEK (ProArteDanza)
MARK GODDEN
JEAN GRAND-MAÎTRE (Alberta Ballet)
SHAWN HOUNSELL (LA LA LA Human Steps)
ROB KITSOS (SFU)
THOMAS KLEIN (Compañía Nacional de Danza de España)
DONNA KRASNOW (York University Dance Faculty)
JAMES KUDELKA (International Choreographer)
FRANCISCO MARTINEZ (Alvin Ailey Juilliard Faculty)
ANDREA MILLER (Gallim Dance)
EMILY MOLNAR (Ballet British Columbia)
KEVIN O'DAY (Ballet Mannheim Germany)
KENNY PEARL (Founding Member Toronto Dance Theatre)
CRYSTAL PITE (Kidd Pivot)
DONALD SALES (Ballet British Columbia)
RISA STEINBERG (Juilliard Faculty)
LESLIE TELFORD (Nederlands Dans Theatre)
WEN WEI WANG (Wen Wei Dance)
ALEXANDRA WELLS (Juilliard Faculty)
alumni
AMBER FUNK BARTON (1999) Independent Dance Artist, Founder of The Response Contemporary Dance Company
LARA BRECHT (1999) District Manager Sixty Inc., Director James Perse Canada
ALEXANDER BURTON (2010) Ballet British Columbia
MICHELLE CHEUNG (2005) Ballett National Theater Mannheim (Germany)
KATHERINE COWIE (2000) BJM Danse, Hofesh Shechter Company (UK)
DANIELLE DE JONG, MD (1998) Graduate of UBC Medical School
KIMBERLEY DE JONG (2000) Itzik Galili Dance Company, Compagnie Marie Chouinard
ALISON DENHAM (1999) Dance Makers, Wen Wei Dance, Vancouver Independent Artist
TARA DYBERG (2000) BJM Danse, Vancouver Independent Artist, Joe Ink
LIVONA ELLIS (2010) Ballet British Columbia
SHANNON ELLIS (2006) Melbourne Ballet Company (Australia)
ALEXIS FLETCHER (2004) Ballet British Columbia
ALYSON FRETZ (2009) Ballet British Columbia
SHANNON FERGUSON (2005) Ballet Kelowna, Ballet British Columbia
YEVA GLOVER (2004) Company XIV (New York City)
CONNOR GNAM (2005) Ballet Kelowna, Ballet British Columbia
CHRIS HOYTE (2010) Dresden Semperoper Ballet
CAROLINE KIRKPATRICK (2009) Sidra Bell Dance New York
RENA NARUMI (2008) ProArteDanza, Kidd Pivot, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (Germany)
REBECCA NIZIOL (2007) DanceWorks Chicago
ALEX PARRETT (2009) Noord Nederlandse Dans Studio Group (Holland)
JULIE PECARD (2005) ProArte Danza, Ballett National Theater Mannheim (Germany)
ACACIA SCHACHTE (1998) Ballet British Columbia, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet NYC
JEANNIE VANDERKERHOVE (2000) Independent Dance Artist
SARAH WASIK (2006) Toronto Dance Theater
MADDY WYNNE-JONES (2002) Founder and resident choreographer of the Tempered Body Dance Company in London, England