School of Dance

Assistant Teacher

Abby has been dancing since the age of three, at Motion Dance Studio. She fell in love with the movement and feeling of dance immediately, and never stopped. She has been taking a range of styles from an early age, such as ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. 

Abby is currently a member of Motion Dance Company and has been since its creation in 2015. She began volunteering at the studio in 2019, and loves being able to help young dancers experience the joys of the art as much as herself. 

In 2024 Abby was the inaugural recipient of the Michelle Hebert Joy of Dance scholarship.

Team Canada (Ballet, Jazz, Modern)

Amber has 22 years of Dance experience in RAD Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Tap, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre, but took a special interest in HipHop and Contemporary though she loves teaching every style of dance. 

Amber grew up in Coquitlam and trained at K&S Dance Productions and Street Kings Dance Academy. She competed locally and internationally in a number of dance competitions winning multiple awards and scholarships from all around the world.

Amber performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympics winter games in Vancouver, BC.

Amber was on Team Canada for multiple genres. Ballet, Modern & Jazz took place in Poland in 2014. ShowDance took place in Germany in 2016 and Hip Hop took place in Denmark in 2017.

In 2017 Amber assisted Team Canada Showdance with choreographer Danielle Gardner and travelled back to Riesa Germany.

After graduating Amber continued exploring her passion for dance and teaching. She travelled throughout the states assisting with Fluid Force at Fluid Dance Conventions.

Amber’s had countless amazing opportunities including joining the Vancouver Giants Dance Team this year that she’s grateful for and continues to work hard and see where her dance and teaching future takes her. Amber is passionate about helping young dancers reach their full potential. Amber is excited to share her love of dance.

SFU Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

Camryn is a contemporary dance artist from the small town of Cayley, Alberta. From an early age, she studied and competed in various dance styles including Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Acro, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre, to name a few. When not at the studio, Camryn focused on studying piano, and flute, and participating in her school’s choir group. 

Through her exploration of different dance techniques, she fell in love with contemporary dance and pursued and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts. During her time at Simon Fraser University, she has had the opportunity to choreograph, lead, and participate in various shows and perform as part of the Dance Repertoire shows. In addition to her dance experience, she had the opportunity to collaborate with various composers and explore the relationship between music and movement, and the importance of sound within her works.  

Camryn has always been passionate about sharing her love for dance, music, and the arts, and dreamed of being an educator since she was little. She is super excited to be a part of Motion & Music and the ability to share her passion with her students!

Acrobatic Arts Certified • So You Think You Can Dance (s.3) Finalist

Born and raised in Canada, Charlene began dancing at the age of 3. She has continued for 33 strong years, and her career is only growing more substantial. She has accomplished many dreams and continues to thrive for what she wants.

Most recognizable, Charlene achieved the title of final top 5 girls in the hit TV show, "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" Season 3. Charlene competed against thousands to make the Top 22. Since the completion and filming of SYTYCDC, Charlene has returned to BC where she is working hard and travelling the lower mainland teaching workshops, master classes, setting choreography and highlighting in numerous shows.

Charlene has appeared in such shows as: Carnival LA 2010, The Annual Sports BC Award Ceremonies 2011, Women's Resource Society Show against "Abuse Towards Women," Vancouver's Choreography and Talent Showcase '11 and Cliff House Entertainment production of "Fest of Fools." Charlene has choreographed, in addition to highlighting with her own solo work, for Song, Strings and Steps productions of "Talent," "A Christmas Tale" and "Hits from Broadway." Film credits include the movie, from the famous Nickelodeon Production, "Ragz."

Charlene choreographed for Team Canada West, where they placed Top 5th Finalist Jr. Small Group Modern Formations Division @ 'World's' in Poland. She was titled 'Head Instructor' in charge of cleaning all of Team Canada West Routines to prepare them for Worlds 2014. Charlene also had the privilege of being the head choreographer for 'Fraser Valley Stage's Production of Oklahoma', where they received standing ovations and sold-out performances! In 2011, she was chosen and awarded by the Abbotsford Arts Council the 'Arty Award for Outstanding Artist in the Performing Arts, Dance.’

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Holland America Cruise Lines (as Dance Captain), were amongst Charlene's professional jobs at the age of 18. After dabbling in the creative side of dance, Charlene became a production assistant and choreographer for Stiletto Entertainment. She was then inspired to move to New York City to train with the best of the best, and expanded her education in dance into the world of Ballroom, and Latin. Whilst digging into this new training, Charlene also continued to study hard with some of the world’s top teachers and choreographers that are constantly sought after: Stacey Tookey, Mia Michaels, Maria Torres, Blake McGrath, Luther Brown, Jean-Marc Genereux, Sergio Trujillo, Danny Arbour, Gustavo Vargas, ShowTyme, Melissa Williams, Bill T. Jones, Christiana Woodard, and the staff of Alvin Ailey to name a few.

Additionally, she has completed the Royal Academy of Dance graded and vocational exams. She has her certification in Acrobatic Arts and continues to train and extend her certification levels in this field of dance.

When Charlene is not performing or studying her art, you can find her sharing her abundance of knowledge, experience, and insight - shaping and developing young dancers to chase after their dreams. Charlene's passion for teaching reflects the same passion and love she feels towards dancing herself.

MDC Creative Director • SFU Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

Chelsea is a dancer and dance instructor who resides, teaches, and trains on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Halkomelem-speaking nations. Chelsea knew from the moment she pointed her toes in her first ballet class that her lifelong dream was to dance! In her youth she studied Cecchetti Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary. After leaving her hometown of Williams Lake, she achieved a BFA in Contemporary Dance from SFU. Post-graduation she trained in Contact Improvisation at EDAM Dance, learned and researched street-style Memphis Jookin, and continues to train where her interest takes her, including in Animation and Tutting, as well as continuing her Ballet and Contemporary training. 

Chelsea is the Creative Director of Motion Youth Dance Company at Motion & Music. She believes every "body" can dance, and strives for an inclusive, loving, non-hierarchical and decolonial approach in her dance teaching. won several scholarships and awards during her post-secondary education.

Assistant Teacher

Ciara has been dancing for over a decade. She started at the community centre in Coquitlam with Jessica as her teacher, and has continued to dance with her when she started Motion and Music. Ciara dances with the MDC competitive of the studio, where her 2022-2023 season lyrical dance made it to provincial finals. She has experience in styles such as; lyrical, jazz, contemporary, ballet, and highland. 

RAD Certified • PBT

Emma has 13 years of dance experience in various styles but took a special interest in ballet.

She trained in Saskatchewan at Doris Sitter School of Dance and spent many summers attending The Royal Winnipeg Ballet intensives. After completing all of her RAD examinations, Emma finished her teaching certificate and has been working as a Royal Academy of Dance registered teacher for the past 5 years. She is also Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) certified and enjoys bringing elements of PBT into her classes.

Emma is also attending the University of British Columbia to complete her psychology degree.

SFU Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance 2025)

Gaby was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, where she started her dance journey at the age of 3. At 11 years old, she immigrated to Vancouver, Canada with her family. Here, she continued to explore and challenge her potential in dance through the Dance program at Burnaby Mountain Secondary, in which she was a company member and part of the leadership program throughout all her high school years. Gaby is now heading into her fourth year as a Dance Major at the School for the Contemporary Arts, SFU- where she works to obtain her Bachelor in Fine Arts with a Minor in Kinesiology. She has had the opportunity to learn under, work and perform for Vancouver-based artists Justine A. Chambers, Ninin Dongnier, Marla Eist, Rob Kitsos, Emmalena Fredriksson, Daisy Thompson, Henry Daniel, and Megan Walker Straight. Gaby is also an active community member, where she has volunteered for Company 605 and Ballet BC. She is also part of Samba Fusion as a trainee, dancer and performer and she has recently began exploring various Latin dance styles, such as bachata, salsa, and mambo.

Gaby is a passionate and energetic individual interested in the never-ending exploration of movement through dance, music, physical activity and mind-body connection. She is ecstatic to be joining the Motion & Music family as a Dance Instructor for the 2024 season. By sharing her lifelong passion for the arts, encouraging exploration through self-expression and fostering individuality and diversity, she hopes to create a safe and fun space for her students to explore the magic of dance and reach their full potential!

Academy Director • SFU Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) • Kinesiology & Fitness Cert.

Jessica's love for dance started at the early age of three at a small studio in Whitecourt, Alberta. There she studied and competed in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, hip hop, musical theatre and highland. Jessica's passion for teaching began when she was given the opportunity to instruct her own beginner classes, which eventually led to her teaching the tap and ballet programs for her dance school. Jessica shared her passion for dance by volunteering regularly for the Boys and Girls Club, Go-Girl Conference (a girl’s self-esteem camp), and other recreational dance programs and elementary schools to help encourage kids creativity and physical activity. As a dancer in high school, Jessica trained many hours per week, which included the opportunity to train on scholarship at The Edge Performing Arts Centre in Los Angeles.

Jessica was brought out to British Columbia after being accepted into The Source Dance Company, a semi-professional dance company based in downtown Vancouver. While in The Source, Jessica performed around the Pacific Northwest for events such as the BC Sports Awards, Vancouver International Dance Festival and many other art festivals. From The Source, she branched out to Simon Fraser University’s Contemporary Arts program, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, with a Minor in kinesiology, a professional Fitness & Nutrition Certificate.

Jessica extends her gratitude to the families who make up K.Y.M. and feels extremely blessed to have the opportunity to engage young minds through dance and watch them develop as both artists and unique individuals.

Musical Theatre Director • PPA Musical Theatre Dipl.

Maddi is a Musical Theatre performer from the UK. Training from a young age and working professionally in the industry from sixteen.

Maddi trained at Stagewise School for Performing Arts, Leaf Studio School and Performance Preparation Academy and then went on to work in shows across the UK.

Her career so far has seen her play ‘Marty’ in Grease, ‘Cinderella’ in Once Upon A Princess (UK Tour) and in multiple Pantomimes, as well as some work in TV and Film. Whilst working two seasons as the resident vocalist at resorts around the UK Maddi had the opportunity to direct and choreograph new shows as well as performing in them.

Since leaving the UK Maddi has turned her talents to teaching and sharing her passion for performing. From teaching classes at the stage school she trained at when she was younger to working in the USA as Musical Theatre Director at a summer camp, and now that she has moved to Vancouver; Maddi is excited to be joining the Motion & Music family, with hopes to inspire the next generation of Musical Theatre performers!

Professional Breakdance

Magnus has been breaking for 13 years, Teaching for 8, and online for 5, teaching all over the lower mainland in studios, and throughout the whole world through youtube and privately.

Growing up he never felt like he knew his place, or identity in life, until he found breaking. Being a Bboy was not just a chance to do the art form for him, it became the way he gained confidence, social skills, health, wealth, relationships, from close friends to family and then all the way to romantic relationships.

His dance family is Now Or Never Crew, he now has the opportunity to dance, perform and compete next to his teachers/mentors and now brothers, which to him was always his main goal growing up, to be fair what child doesn’t want to be exactly like their mentors? Well, he was lucky enough to be able to have achieved that.

Dancing to him is the greatest foundation for life, as it was and still is his foundation to everything. There are countless mental, physical and emotional tools concepts and lessons that dance has taught him, that he applies to his life daily. He can proudly say that dance has supported him full-time since the very beginning, he is blessed enough to be able to have over 100 students locally, along with over 20,000 students internationally that follow his online endeavours.

His single goal with teaching is to become the best version of himself possible, by providing his students the tools they need to become the best versions of themselves possible, so that they can become the version of themselves that they’ve always dreamt of becoming.

Dance Theatre Dipl. • Team Canada (Hip Hop)

Rhianna, born in Calgary, AB, has been dancing since she was 4 years old and continues to actively pursue her dreams of becoming a professional dancer and choreographer. She is a graduate of the Dance Arts Institute's (The School of Toronto Dance Theatre) Diploma Program in Toronto ON where she studied contemporary technique such as Graham, Horton, and repertoire work. She has also completed the Harbour Dance Centre Intensive Training Program under Moe Brody in June 2022 where she learnt multiple genres of dance. It was here where she was introduced to hip hop culture and street styles and that’s where her love for street styles and hip hop started to take off. Since then, Rhianna has had numerous opportunities to compete globally both with Team Canada in 2023 in Poland/2024 in Greece as well as TwoFourSeven Company. She is constantly honing in on her craft by working in multiple training groups such as Quill run by Carlo Atienza and RuffRyderz run by Roberta Bierman. Rhianna started teaching dance during her teen years where she was able to be a student assistant at her home studio. She continued this practice at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre where she was involved in the Young Dancers Program. After graduating, she continued to teach at a local studio, VanBuskirk Studio of Dance, presented master classes during her visits to local studios in Calgary, AB and recently has been providing substitute coverage as well as teaching hip hop at John Oliver Secondary high school.

Rhianna is so excited to be joining Motion & Music for this upcoming season and she is so eager to share her love for the arts with everyone and is excited to continue to grow as an artist, leader, and teacher.

SFU Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)

Ursula Blanchard is a contemporary dance artist originally from New Jersey. She came to Vancouver to study dance at SFU and since receiving her BFA has loved getting to teach and dance in different parts of the city.

She is excited to be training with the Lamondance dance company in the fall. She continues to develop her choreographic and artistic voice since graduating and has discovered a passion for teaching along the way.