Teachers at Vibe Dance in Nanaimo

Serra Stewart

Serra has been a dancer all of her life. Her first dancing was done as an infant when she moved her arms and legs in time to her dad’s piano playing! Starting dance classes at the age of 5, she began her on-going study of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Musical Theater and Hip Hop. She trained first at Bea McLeod’s Ballet School, then to Beat Street Danceworks, Harbour Dancenter (Nanaimo), Kirkwood Academy and Parksville Ballet School. Currently she trains in Hip Hop, Jazz, Street Jazz and Ballet at Harbour Dance Center in Vancouver.

Serra has choreographed awesome hip hop shows for numerous events, including; The B.C. Disability Games, Parksville Sandcastle competitions, The Strongman World Cup Tour, The Adventure Games, Canada Day Celebration, Silly Boat Regatta, New Year’s Eve Celebration, Youth Week Nanaimo and for FAME the World Tour in Nanaimo.

Serra loves dance. It is her passion and she is thrilled to be able to do it everyday of her life!

Marc Generoso

Marc Generoso has established himself as an innovative and emerging talent in Western Canada’s hip hop and street dance scene.  His hard work and efforts has taken him to teach and perform around North America and has given him the opportunity to represent Canada in the World Hip Hop Championships 2006 in Los Angeles.

Marc imbues all his dance projects with a sense of community building and love for what he does.  He is a strong believer that everyone can dance once their heart and mind allows them to, so he constantly helping his students find themselves as dancers through encouragement and patience.  As a choreographer, Marc’s style is always evolving with constant learning and inspiration, but nonetheless, always challenging and energetic.  Currently, Marc is using his theatrical and imaginative approach as a member of Over The Influence and to co-direct a new dance company set to debut in 2009, while maintaining a full schedule in instructing at various studios in the lower mainland.

Mike McInnes

Mike McInnes was born in the northern town of Terrace BC. At the age of 16 he moved to Vancouver to pursue a career in dance, training at some of Vancouver’s finest schools including Danzmode productions under the direction of Rachel Porrier. With a background in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Hip-Hop, and Tap, Mike has also spent time in L.A. training with some of the worlds top Choreographers. Mike has worked in many aspects of the dance industry including Cruise Ships, Industrials, and Television. More recently Mike has gained much recognition as a Teacher and Choreographer, and has become highly sought after for these skills.

Lee Fraser

Born in East Vancouver, Lee grew up playing hockey, not dancing. Part of a musical family, with his father an avid musician and jazz lover and his sister a professional pianist and singer, Lee always had a passion for music, and an innate understanding of beats and rhythms. It wasn't until 2008 that Lee found dance, but when he did find it, the love and passion came almost instantaneously. Lee has trained tirelessly over the past two years, surrounding himself with the best dancers in the city and training everyday. He is a member of the SOULdiers Dance Company, run by Kim Sato, where he trains in popping, locking, oldschool, and groove. He is also a member of Kill The Lights (KTL) dance crew, where he trains in new school commercial hip hop and R&B. He looks forward teaching and inspiring kids and teens, where he can combine years worth of youth work and coaching with his love for dance.

Shauna Smith

Being born in Nanaimo, Shauna is excited to be teaching at the Vibe this year!  Originally trained in ballet, tap and jazz as a child, Shauna began pursuing her love of hip hop at the age of sixteen and hasn’t looked back since.  With her combined passion for travel and dance, she has been fortunate enough to train in various places around the world including, Los Angeles, New York, London, Switzerland, South Africa and Las Vegas.  Pursuing her dance career in Las Vegas this past winter, Shauna had the opportunity to teach at the well known “Culture Shock, Las Vegas” master class, as well as the “Groove Company class” and the new “Rock Centre for Dance”.  She also had the privilege to perform alongside some of Vegas’s top dancers at the annual “Beaux Arts Halloween Ball” at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand hotel on the Las Vegas strip.  Shaunas film credits include being a dancer in “Another Cinderella Story”, Vegas’s “Intensi-T” TV and the Killers newest music video “Spaceman”.

Dominique Saab

Dominique found her passion for dance in 2007 when she started hip hop at Vibrant Dance Studios. She quickly advanced to the top performance level, performing and competing in venues on Vancouver Island, the lower mainland and as far as Edmonton, Alberta. During this time, Dominique has performed for events including the Olympic Torch Relay, I<3VanArt and a T-Pain concert. She specializes in the funk styles waacking, punking, vogueing and popping/iso. Along with taking classes from names such as Eric Malapad, Caleaf Sellers, Lockadelic, SugaPop, Rhapsody and Shaun Evaristo, Dominique has participated in and attended various battles and showcases. Recognition Dominique has received includes, Artists Emerge 2010 Rising Star, 2010 Vibrant Dance Studios Dancer of the Year and consistent placements in dance festivals. She has also choreographed a number of duets and group pieces in collaboration with Chelsea Ikona. Dominique finds inspiration through dance outlets, instructors, peers, students and, most of all, music. She hopes to share her passion for dance and music, as well as the history from which hip hop culture was derived.

Geraldine Furrer

Geraldine Furrer received her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division. She has performed with companies around the world, including: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Geneva Ballet Theatre, Hanover Ballet. Versed in all styles of dance from classical to neo-classical, contemporary to ballet-jazz and musical theatre, her quest to create was put into motion while working closely with such choreographers as Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, Bejart and Rene Mencini. She has choreographed on dancers worldwide in all styles of dance ranging from commercial to classical, and is the recipient of many choreography awards. Ms Furrer received her initial teachers training in Winnipeg at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, also completing her State National Teaching Diploma in France in 2001. Her teaching experience includes: The RWB general/professional divion, The professional division school of Les Ballets du Nord in Roubaix France, La compangie de dance CRASTO in Lille France, Les Petits Rats de Geneve in Geneva Switzerland, and more recently as director of her own school The Nanaimo Ballet School in BC. This past year Ms. Furrer enjoyed some time off with her family. She is thrilled to join the staff of Vibrant Dance Studios.

Eric Malapad

Eric is an extremely talented dancer, choreographer and performer. His passion for dance and eclectic taste in music has led him to learn a wide spectrum of dance forms. He has choreographed for the TV show the "L Word", danced opening for "Black Eyed Peas", and onstage for "K-os" and "Talib Kweli". Eric has appeared on movies such as "See Spot Run" with David Arquette and Anthony Anderson; worked on the film "Life or Something Like It" with Angelina Jolie and other films such as 1937's remake of "Reefer Madness."

Eric currently teaches and instructs hip hop, street jazz, house, b-boying, salsa, swing and lyrical Hip hop. His diversity of styles makes him a sought out dancer and teacher. Currently, he mainly teaches out of the prestigious Harbour Dance Center in Vancouver and also choreographs for upcoming artists, fashion designers and singers. Vibe is honored to have such an accomplished dancer instructing within their walls.

Lisa Metz

Growing up in Alberta, Lisa trained in Cochcrane and Calgary before her drive moved her to Vancouver where she began working with sought after contemporary choreographers and movers Tiffany Tregarthen and David Raymond in Modus Operandi. She has travelled across North America performing and working along side cutting -edge choreographers, most recently bringing her to New York City performing with Heather Laura Gray. Other credits include Move: The Company (Josh Beamish), Project CPR (Claire French, Heather Laura Grey, Sarah Coffin, Caroline Liffman), as well as shows and film projects through the artistry of Modus Operandi.

Currently a part of Stonefoxx dance crew, Vancouver's 1st all girl hip hop crew, as well as the new up and coming "Diamonds in the Rough" created by our very own Natatsha Gorrie, Lisa is creating a place in the dance scene untouched by others. Motivated by endless progression, Lisa continues traveling training with the best from Shotyme, Poppin' Pete to Luam and Jian Pierre-Louis. Lisa's credits also include Wells Fargo, Sears, Lululemon and the BC Lions.

Carlo Atienza

Carlo took his first dance class at the age of 19 and hasn’t looked back since. He is one of the most captivating performers to have hit the scene as a choreographer in recent years. He is currently a member of White Chocolate, who won top prize as best professional dance crew in 2006 and has also joined up with 3D dance crew who was awarded Choreographer of the year at Artists Emerge 2008. Carlo hopes to encourage his students to hear music differently so that they may better understand themselves both as dancers and choreographers. He continues to educate and train himself in all styles of hip hop dance whether it be in locking, popping, or house.

He not only draws inspiration from the top choreographers of the west coast, but also from his fellow peers and most importantly his students. “Knowing how to learn is knowing how to grow. Not until we understand how to be inspired can we then inspire.”

Voula Rounis

Voula Rounis has been dancing for eight years specializing in hip hop. Starting dance though high school she found her passion and eventually took over teaching the dance team in grade 12. She continued teaching the dance team after graduation and is now just finished teaching the team for the 4th year in a row. In 2006 she received the top senior dancer award for her high school. In 2010 she won the "Diamonds are Forever" workshop scholarship, and got the adjudicators choice award for her solo during the Core Dance 2010 dance competition. . Voula is currently training and taking classes at Vibrant Studio in nanaimo. She has also taken the time to train in Vancouver at Harbour Dance Centre, and at Drive Dance Centre.

Chelsea Ikona

Chelsea began her dance training at the age of five at Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts. During her time there she trained in ballet, pointe, jazz and musical theatre, also performing in several theatre productions. In 2007, Chelsea found her passion for hip hop and, since then, has applied her love of dance and music to this field. She achieved a place in the top performance level at Vibrant Dance Studios by her second year and, by the third, was training in Vancouver whenever time permitted. During this time, Chelsea took classes from dancers and choreographers such as Eric Malapad, Shaun Evaristo, Lockadelic, SugaPop, Rhapsody, and Caleaf Sellers. She also attended and participated in battles across Vancouver. Chelsea specializes in popping, isolations and waving. She has performed and competed at Artists Emerge, Edmonton; Shine, Surrey, Courtney, Core and Upper Island Festivals; the Olympic Torch Relay; I<3VanArt; and a T-Pain concert along with various other community events. Through this, Chelsea has received awards such as the Rising Star from Artists Emerge 2010, Vibe Dancer of the Year and numerous gold and silver placements. Chelsea and her partner, Dominique Saab, have collaborated on several praised pieces of choreography. Chelsea is inspired by the history, technique and the indescribable vibe of street dance. She hopes to pass on this inspiration to her students.

AJ "MegaMan" Kambere

AJ has been dancing for seven years and popping for four. He learned hip hop growing up in his neigbourhood and was on the dance team at his school also. He started learning popping from his math tutor AniDoktoR who is a professional dancer in Vancouver. Continuing his career in popping, he eventually learned from the creater of bopping style "Boppin Andre", who helped him get to the level he's currently at. He then branched out and started a dance crew called Heavy Hittaz with crew member Luxurious and have further improved his style in popping. He's been a finalist in competitions, including 'Set it straight 4' in Halifax and won second place at 'World Of Dance Vancouver'. He's travelled all around North America to compete in competitions including New york, Toronto & LA. He currently teaches workshops all 
across the continent, takes part in competitions and loves to spread knowledge to all dancers who want to improve their dance skills.