Kelowna Dance and Performing Arts

“Stuff the Bus” for Kelowna Community Food Bank – November 26 & 27

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:38:49 +0000

KDPA students and parents are invited to help support the Kelowna Community Food Bank with the annual “Stuff the Bus”. It takes place on November 26th and 27th at the Kelowna Superstore at 2280 Baron Road. There are shifts running from 10am-12pm and 12pm-2pm on both days. We will be assisting with handing out wish lists and loading the bus.

Contact Miss Melodie to sign up if you would like to participate and help give back to our community.

Competition Dates for 2011/2012

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:33:14 +0000

Comp 1, Comp 2, & Comp 3

Kiwanis in Penticton - Ballet April 13-16 and Stage April 19-23
Great Canadian Dance Challenge in Kelowna - May 9-13

Comp 4 and Limelight

Dance Power in Burnaby - March 27 – April 1
Kiwanis in Penticton - Ballet April 13-16 and Stage April 19-23
Great Canadian Dance Challenge in Kelowna - May 9-13

More information to follow.

Dance Field Trip – Saturday October 15

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:29:22 +0000

Students interested in supporting Miss Christina in Breaking Boundaries are welcome to join us for the show on Saturday October 15 at 2pm at Kelowna Community Theatre. The KDPA student price is $15. See Miss Melodie for more information and … Continue reading →

Kelowna Chamber of Commerce “Rising Star” Nomination

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:14:57 +0000

Kelowna Dance was nominated for the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s “Rising Star” award. Unfortunately, we did not make the short list, however, it was a HUGE honor to be nominated. We send out a good luck out to the other … Continue reading →

Miss Melodie – Owner/Director

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:18:05 +0000

With three decades of dance behind her, including 17 years of teaching, Miss Melodie has studied under such legends as Al Gilbert, Brian Foley, Susan Mensinger, Van the Man Porter, Mia Michaels, Art Stone, Bill deRicco, Debbi Dee, Charles McGowen, Brenda Buffalino, and Frank Hatchett. Competition has taken her across North America and led her to the stages of Tremaine and Dance Olympus, creating a solid background in choreography and technique. For Miss Melodie, that was just the beginning. Through freelance teaching, Miss Melodie instructed at numerous studios throughout the Okanagan Valley and BC Interior, and has seen prior students go on to dance professionally for the likes of Hillary Duff, Randolph Academy, The Banff Centre, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT), and several notable cruise lines. The previous eight year ownership of an Armstrong studio, Tap and All That Jazz, enhanced Miss Melodie’s raw enthusiasm for dance and an innovative teaching style.

Mrs. Watters R.A.D. RTS, ARAD

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:17:28 +0000

Dedicated to excellence in teaching and choreography, Sarah, a certified Royal Academy of Dance ballet teacher, ups the ante with her lengthy list of accolades and polished training at such notable schools as The Banff Centre for the Arts, University of Oklahoma and the Milwaukee Ballet School. Sarah’s training spans not only ballet but character, jazz, tap and modern and she has had the profound joy of studying under some of the creative masterminds of the New York Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the Martha Graham Company. Following her post-secondary education, Sarah went on to perform principal and soloist roles with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet. With 15 years of teaching behind her, Sarah promises to ready her students for exams, auditions and competition.

Miss Christina

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:16:32 +0000

Christina began her ballet training in Kamloops and was accepted into the Professional Ballet program at The National Ballet of Canada in 2001. She has studied in Germany at The Hamburg Ballet School, The Netherlands at The Royal Conservatoire in The Hague as part of the NBS student exchange program and has worked with renowned artists such as Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant, Jiri Kylian, Rudi Van Dantzig, Fernando Alonso and Sorella Englund. In 2007 she participated in The National Ballet of Canada’s Interactive Performance and Movement Workshops program. Graduating from the Professional Program in 2005, Christina went on to complete the post-secondary program. She was a participant in The Banff Centre’s Professional Dance Program in 2008, dancing in Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and Peggy Baker’s Julio Lumo. Currently, Christina is a principal dancer with Ballet Kelowna. Her Ballet Kelowna repertoire includes Swan Lake Act II Pas de Deux, The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker as well as Negotiating Shifts, Bolero, In Arden Woods and Divertimenti.

Miss Meredith

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:15:48 +0000

Miss Meredith, an elite artistic gymnast, has competed at the international level representing Canada at several World Cup competitions. Her attendance in the World Championships assisted the Canadian team in bringing home the silver medal, solidifying a background of excellence that Miss Meredith has become known for. Passionate about coaching and working with children to promote their personal growth as gymnasts, Miss Meredith has happily devoted five years to instruction while creating a perfect balance of fun while learning.

Miss Olivia

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:15:17 +0000

Olivia received her Advanced 2 certificate in ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance, and has completed advanced levels of tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, musical theatre. She has studied at some of the top training facilities in New York City and Los Angeles including: Broadway Dance Center, Steps, The Edge, Millennium Dance Complex. She has had the opportunity to work renowned choreographers including: Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Nick Lazzarini. Olivia has been chosen as a delegate 3 times for the BC Performing Arts Provincial Festival and has competed at National levels in New York City and Las Vegas. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music silver medal award (highest exam mark in the province) for the Grade 7 voice examination, studied under the direction of Terry Logan. Olivia is also continuing her studies in Grade 9 Piano and Voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Olivia has performed at Radio City Music Hall in a production choreographed by Dan Karaty. In the summer of 2009 Olivia also sang with the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa for part of the prestigious Canada Day celebrations at both Parliament and the National Arts Center. Also, in 2009 Olivia was asked to partner So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer in a Cha Cha demonstration. Olivia has also performed show stopping numbers choreographed Blake Mcgrath (Time to Move), “Footloose” star Kenny Wormald and “Fame” star Kherington Payne. Olivia has also performed dances choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo as well as So You Think You Can Dance season 4 alumnus Steven “t-Witch” Boss. Olivia is very excited to be a new addition to the KDPA team and is looking forward to another inspiring year of instructing.

Manny

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:04:43 +0000

Started breakdancing career started in Australia and has led him to battles in Kelowna, Vernon, Abbotsford, Vancouver, Prince George, Nanaimo, and Toronto. Locally he has performed in Centre of Gravity, Parks Alive, and the Rush Youth Conference. Manny enjoys teaching … Continue reading →