Teachers

Carlo Atienza has always been known for pushing creative boundaries with his exceptionally innovative work, but it wasn’t until he completed his degree in Film and Media at the University of Alberta that he decided to move to beautiful Vancouver to pursue his career in dance. Over the past decade, Carlo has made an undeniable impact on the world competitive circuit with the two companies he has directed, The Faculty and TwoFourSeven. Under Carlo’s direction these groups have competed and won at prestigious international competitions such as Body Rock, Vibe Dance Competition, World of Dance, and Hip Hop International. It was through this exposure that Carlo began to teach globally and become sought after by many of the industry’s top professionals. Carlo’s list of choreography credits include BTS, Disney, World of Dance Season 2, and Lulu Lemon’s 2022 Olympic campaign to name a few. As his resume continues to grow, Carlo has also found purpose in giving back to his dance community with his latest endeavour, Quill Collective. With such a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to creating meaningful and purposeful art, Carlo has found his calling in guiding the next generation of creators in finding their artistic voices. By pulling inspiration from hip hop, dancehall, vogue, contemporary, jazz movement and mixing it with his expertise in story telling and staging, Carlo has created a signature style that many seek to study and emulate. As a creative, Carlo has always sought ways to separate himself from the rest. His ability to embody such a diverse vocabulary has proven to be a valuable asset in his career. But most importantly, he wants to create art that is timeless. He is a poet of movement, a proud queer artist, and with his quill he aims to make a inspiring impact that lives beyond his years. You can follow Carlo’s work at @ati3nza on Instagram.

Ivana graduated from the Prague Conservatory of Dance. She danced professionally in Czechia with Pilsen Ballet and in Canada with Ballet BC, Ballet Victoria and Robert Desrosiers company, among others. She is currently a director of Bohemia Dance Productions- a boutique touring company with Artstarts BC, and a collaborator with Vancouver Island Symphony. As a pedagogue, Ivana has extensive teaching experience in Europe and Canada and is pursuing Masters of Dance at the prestigious Palucca University of Dance in Dresden, Germany. Her coaching of private students has led to their successful enrolment in prestigious ballet schools (Paris Opera ballet School,Tanya Pearson Academy, Canada’s National Ballet School and Royal Winnipeg Ballet School) and she feels privileged to be able to continue to share her passion and knowledge as a guest ballet master at Ballet Victoria. Ivana's other ventures with dance include dancing with older adults with dementia, coaching teams of artistic swimmers and adjudicating ballet competitions and festivals throughout Canada.

Chris is a dancer, choreographer, instructor, and director from Vancouver, BC. He currently teaches at Harbour Dance Centre and A3 District and hosts weekly freestyle sessions for the community called The Corner. He is a member of TwoFourSeven Company and is part of their creative team, having choreographed for elite competitions such as Body Rock, VIBE, and World Of Dance. Chris has taught all over BC, as well as Edmonton, Calgary, Oslo, and LA and continues to share his work with the rest of the world. Chris is known for fusing choreography and freestyle to create organic movement, character, and story telling through his dance.

Geneviève Caron is a jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop and musical theatre instructor & choreographer. For the last 25 years, she has trained dancers of all ages and levels. She has also performed and choreographed for professional and Jr sports teams such as Montreal Alouettes, Montreal Canadians, VI Raiders, Montreal Express; danced in Canadian Armed Forces Tours, corporate shows, video clips and many different events throughout Canada. Here is Nanaimo, she has worked with dancers and performers from Tempo Dance Academy, Rhythm Dance Academy, Headliners Production, Nanaimo Ambassador Program and VI Raiders dance team to name a few. Originally from Québec, Geneviève started dancing at 4 years old and fell in love with the art. She graduated from UQAM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern and Contemporary dance. Genevieve still takes dance classes every chance she gets and continues to expand her dance knowledge participating in numerous seminars and workshops across Canada and the United States in order to stay competitive in the industry. She is a member of PAEC and RWID.

Deeya has been dancing at the Vibe Studio for over 10 years and it has been a second home for her. A freestyle dancer with foundations in hip-hop, popping, and locking, she has used the teachings from her instructors to allow her to compete on the world stage. She has won the U18 battle zone in hip hop, popping and all styles. She has been on the commercial side of dance as well, appearing in a Netflix original 'The Healing Powers of Dude' and CITY TV’S 'A Million Little Things'. Her proudest achievement so far is performing with Minibots and Gigabots on season 3 and 4 of NBC’s World of Dance. Deeya’s main goal is to teach the next generation of youth about the history of hip hop, how to groove and helping young dancers discover their OWN dancing style in a safe space. Deeya is an alumni of Vibe, it's so very special to have her teaching our performance levels this season.

Sevrin “Sevi” Emnacen-Boyd is a half Filipino b-boy, all-styles dancer, and an enthusiast of all things rhythmic and expressive. Seeking to push forward the vibrant spirit of the Vancouver street dance scene, Sevi’s style has become attuned to musical details and movements uncommonly explored in breaking. As an active member of the Vancouver street dance community since 2006, Sevi has sought to play a prominent role in building what is quickly becoming a prominent force in the local art scene. He has organized a number of youth dance battles with the City of Surrey and currently judges, performs, and teaches across Canada. Sevi is also a renown competitor in the international breakdance scene and has traveled to many creative corners of the world including Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York City, and Manila. He is currently an active member in the Now Or Never Crew, Scndrlz, and Think Twice Japan.

Once a competitive gymnast, Shai fell in love with pole right away. It is everything she loves, movement, strength grace and MUSIC! It is not always easy, and there is always something to learn. Shai has her pole certifications with the CPFA, and has been teaching for 3 years. With over 20 years of combined teaching experience, (gymnastics, dance, yoga, Acro and fitness) she is excited to share her love for pole with you! Come get your sass on with this baddie!

Rees has been dancing with Vibe for over 12 years, training in mostly hiphop/street with a few years of locking sprinkled in. She has competed with countless crews over the years and now, after graduation, is turning her focus over to teaching. Dance has always been a huge passion for her and she loves to watch her students grow, as her teachers did before her. You’ll often catch her with her camera in hand, recording moments around the studio. Rees is an alumni of the studio and we are so lucky to have her continue teaching with us :)

Darsey first started her pole journey 8 years ago at Luxe Studios and has been hooked ever since her first class. Darsey prides herself on starting her dance journey later in life and loves that there is always something new to learn and improve on. As your instructor, she’ll remind you to point your toes as often as she reminds herself! Darsey will be your biggest cheerleader and hopes that you’ll feel as strong and confident doing pole as she does.

Karrie is thrilled to join the crew at Vibrant Dance. Though she is a new teacher, she's not so new to Vibe or some of the current staff. Before Serra opened her studio, she took classes with both her and Ivana. Since Vibe opened, Karrie has also had the pleasure (and pain) of classes with past and some current teachers including Eric, AJ Megaman, Jacksun, Genevieve and Deeya. Karrie has had a love affair with dance for as long as she can remember, which seems to run in the family, as both her young girls dance at Vibe and create performances at home on the daily. Now for a little secret, Karrie was quite shy growing up and didn't actually start taking regular dance classes until after high school, at which point she tried as many classes as she could! She ventured into tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre and hip-hop, all while attending the theatre program at university. Now she's got a day job but gets to play and dance for the pure love of it!

Rachel started dancing recreational Ballet at Harbour Dance Studios at age three. She branched out to Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical and Hip Hop when she was nine. Rachel switched to competitive dance at age eleven and got into Harbour Dance Studios Day Program at thirteen. She has earned many certifications in stage (CDTA) and ballet (RAD). During this transition she realized she wanted dance in her life forever in some form. Shortly after Spending time in the day program she was confident she wanted to teach. While participating in Harbour Dance Studios day program, she received scholarships for master classes and has worked as a background dancer in music videos and performances. She is happy to share that she is working towards receiving her CDTA Associate Jazz Credentials by June 2024. Her passion lies in entertainment and teaching smaller dancers as well as teens and she has worked in youth leadership for years and exels at bringing kids out of their shells and into the group. She strives to find every dancer’s flare and help them find strength and confidence in their individuality.

Kalen has been Dancing for 15 years now and loving every minute of it! With a main interest in Break Dance, Kalen loves it's rich history and everything there is to learn both on the floor and from every Dancer He meets. He also loves to find inspiration in watching and training in a plethora of styles helping adapt it to his own. Kalen has lots of love for the community and has participated and volunteered in many dance events in public performances, school shows and around the region sharing his love for dance. Kalen has danced in various competitions, Cyphers and Battles up and down the West Coast winning awards with Crews, friends and by himself. Kalen truly enjoys helping everyone to understand their potential and express their individuality through teaching Different Creative methods, helping students find their own styles.

With a BFA and an MA in Theatre, Kelly has spent the last twenty years teaching high school performing arts in Nanaimo. Currently at Nanaimo District Secondary School, she has worked hard to develop a performing arts program that inspires her students to reach their fullest potential while creating a space that feels like home. Highlights from her career include directing productions of “Urinetown: the musical” and “Waiting for the Parade” (Cedar Secondary) as well as “Annie” (NDSS). Kelly is also extremely proud of the NDSS’ original productions she’s created with Sarah Kielly; in particular, “Wrong Side of the Wire” and “Ninety Seconds” which both won Best Director & Best Play at the Vancouver Island one Act Festival. When not working with youth, Kelly spends much of her free time participating in theatre productions in the community. As a home grown Island girl, she has worked as a stage manager, director, actor, and educator for numerous companies including B2B, ECHO Players, VIU’s Malaspina Theatre, and Courtney’s CYMC.

Sarah also known as “Mini Sarah” has been a dancer at Vibe for over 15 years. She loves the environment of Vibe and all the love and support within the studio. She has been a competitive hip hop dancer at Vibe since she was nine competing with many different crews. She is so grateful to have had the opportunity to have trained and learned from the best teachers. She is especially excited to be teaching at Vibe a place she’s grown up in and has always been a safe place for her. Sarah is so excited to see you in the studio to learn but also to have FUN!! Sarah is an alumni of the studio, and we are so happy to have her continue to share her love of dance with us.

Jillian Norman- YTT500, PBT, ISSA CPT Jillian began her early training at the Goh Ballet, Arts Umbrella and Pacific Dance Arts in Vancouver, B.C. She toured with dance companies and theatre companies throughout the lower mainland which ignited her passion for performing at a young age. She attended Capilano College for Opera and Musical Theatre, and finished at the University of British Columbia in Women and Gender studies. More recently, as a returning adult, she has studied at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, Ballet Lounge and Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, B.C. Jillian is a 500hr certified yoga teacher and an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. She has completed her teacher training in Progressing Ballet Technique. Jillian loves sharing the joy of dance with people of all ages and abilities. She is most passionate about adult dancers learning pointe. Her classes are informative, educational, and most of all fun! Come and find the joy of dancing again!

Bgirl Suma has dancing hip hop and breaking since she was three years old and is a member of Freshest Kids and other crews at Vibe. She loves the competion at battles, the funky music and wowing the crowd with power moves. Suma is grateful to have learned from the current Olympic Breaking coach Thaiyo Seo and is ready to start teaching the fundamentals to the next group of bgirls. Thanks to the OG's breaking is just starting to take off and Suma is determined to create a safe, welcoming and fire space for girls to learn this sport.

Maddy began dancing at age 5 and has never stopped. She’s done everything from Ballet to Salsa, and has always found so much joy in all styles of dance. But nothing quite compared to the feeling of her first invert 8 years ago. Pole dancing has empowered Maddy with the confidence that comes from building strength, and has opened up new ways to explore dance and movement in ways that she never thought were possible. She’s thrilled to share her love of pole with you and to welcome you into our amazing community.

Having found her start in a Dutch baby ballet class at the age of two, Lavi (aka Delusion) grew up training in various technical disciplines before making her way to Street Dance. She is currently a member of Heavy Hittaz, and is mainly present in Vancouver’s battle and choreography scenes but has competed and performed internationally. Though she explores and trains within many styles, Lavi’s main focus is popping with a specialty in animation. She greatly enjoys sharing, exchanging, and collaborating with other artists and aims to continue expanding her historical knowledge and technical ability. Lavi is an alumni from the studio, so we are so pumped to have her return!!

Leena Sharma has been dancing since the age of 5 and brings her own fearless, high-energy style to every stage she steps on. As one-half of the twin duo 2Hype and a proud member of TBA Sharma with her sister Deeya, Leena has carved out her own identity within a powerhouse family of dancers. While her twin, Leeya, is known for her precision and fluidity, Leena’s signature style stands out for its boldness, explosive movement, and undeniable stage charisma. Leena’s performance journey includes multiple first-place wins at Battlezone (2v2 Open Style) and won the hip hop category in 2024 in both Vancouver and Nanaimo, and she represented Team Canada at the World Championships in Poland, placing 4th globally in the junior category Leena thrives on stage but also shines in the studio. Her growth as a dancer has been shaped by years of training with some of the best in the industry, including Carlo Atienza, Jacksun Fryer, Chris Bonus, Eric Malpad, AJ Megaman, Roberta Beerman, and Natasha Gorrie. She has taken countless workshops across Canada, always eager to absorb new styles and push her versatility as both a dancer and an instructor. As a teacher, Leena brings more than just choreography—she brings energy, connection, and intention. Her classes are known for their hype atmosphere, encouraging young dancers to move with power and purpose. With a strong sense of rhythm and a fearless approach to freestyling and performance, Leena inspires students to dance unapologetically and embrace who they are.

Leeya Sharma has been dancing since the age of 4 and is one half of the dynamic twin duo 2hype and with her elder sister Deeya, the award winning trio TBA Sharma. Leeya has earned recognition both locally and internationally for her talent, dedication, and performance skills. Leeya has won multiple local awards in British Columbia for duo duo and trio performances. Her achievements include back-to-back wins at Battlezone 2v2 Open Style in Vancouver and Nanaimo. She was selected to represent Team Canada at the World Championships in Poland, where her duo placed 4th globally in the junior category. She continues to grow as a dancer, having trained under and been mentored by leading industry professionals including Carlo Atienza, Jacksun Fryer, Chris Bonus, Eric Malpad, AJ Megaman, Roberta Beerman, and Natasha Gorrie. Leeya has taken numerous workshops to build a strong foundation in hip hop and urban dance styles, blending creativity with technique in both performance and instruction. With a vibrant presence and a passion for sharing her craft, Leeya brings energy, authenticity, and heart to every class she teaches

Anwar was born and raised in Nanaimo, BC and has been training in various dance styles for 20 years with the main focus in hip hop. He has been battling since he was 7 years old and is dedicated to his craft. Recently he has been at the forefront of the Vancouver area battle scene as both competitor and judge. An alumni from the studio, we are so happy to have him return!!

Keaton has been dancing for 13 years with both Vibe and UDC in Campbell River. He is trained in mostly hip-hop and breaking, with a little house and locking on the side. He has competed with many crews in competitions as well as by himself at battles. He has always loved dance and is excited to pass on this love to others. Keaton can’t wait to show dancers the warm and open environment that welcomed him his first time at vibe.

Inheriting her love of dance from her mother, Aracely Gonzalez began training at Vibrant Dance at a young age and continues to train under the studio. She has competed and performed around the island and mainland with different dance teams, winning many of these competitions. With a specialization in Street styles, primarily focused on Hip Hop, she has training in popping, locking, jazz funk, contemporary, ballet, and more. She is currently training in Vancouver to better her dance repertoire and is very excited to teach in hopes of sharing her passion for dance to the younger generations and create an environment where people can express themselves in a fun and safe space through dance!

Avary has learnt from the best, her past teachers including; Eric Malapad, AJ Megaman, Ivana Ho, Chris Bonus, Carlo Atienza and of course Serra Stewart. Her time in the studio spans over 12 years. Avary thrives in the competitive setting and is part of numerous crews within the studio, traveling to various competitions to showcase what the studio has to offer. She loves to dance and considers the studio her second home. Avary loves the embracing environment Vibrant Studios offers as a place for all to express themselves and thrive. She feels the studio has so much to offer even on top of the outstanding skill level provided by the instructors. She feels she has made lifelong friends and developed so many important values and leadership skills being a student. Now she is so excited to pass these on to her students to contribute to the Vibe legacy that Serra began.

PynKsy Shell (Tânia do Amaral) is a Mozambican dancer, teacher, and cultural activist. Through dances from Africa, she inspires students to explore folkloric, urban, and traditional styles. Afro Fusion Sharqi Danceᵀᴹ offers guiding principles to support dancers’ journeys with respect, integrity, and honour for African cultures. afro-fusionsharqidance.ca

Olena Tur is a professional dance instructor and choreographer originally from Ukraine, with over 25 years of dance experience and more than 20 years of teaching experience. Dance has been an essential part of Olena’s life since early childhood. She has extensive training in contemporary, jazz, and modern dance, as well as a strong foundation in classical ballet technique, which forms the technical base of her teaching and choreography. Throughout her career in Ukraine, Olena worked and performed with professional dance companies, participating in competitions and international tours. Under her leadership, her teams achieved multiple top placements at dance competitions. She has continuously expanded her knowledge through professional workshops, master classes, and choreographic training. Olena specializes in Adult High Heels choreography, focusing on confidence, femininity, strength, and artistic self-expression. She also teaches contemporary dance and mix-style classes for children, helping young dancers develop musicality, coordination, creativity, and stage presence. Her classes provide a supportive, inspiring, and inclusive environment where dancers of all levels feel encouraged to explore movement, build body awareness, and grow both technically and artistically. With a strong technical background and a deep passion for teaching, Olena’s goal is to help her students feel confident, expressive, and empowered through dance — both in the studio and beyond. Based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Olena continues to share her passion for dance with both adults and children, inspiring students to discover their confidence and creativity through movement.

Onna has been a dancer at Vibe for 5 years. She loves how dancing makes her feel like there is no other place she would rather be. The studio has become a space where she feels seen, heard, and supported, and she values the strong sense of community within Vibe. She has been a competitive hip hop dancer at Vibe through multiple crews, training and growing as both a dancer and performer. Onna is so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from incredible teachers such as Chris Bonus, Jacksun Fryer, and Carlo Atienza, whose mentorship has helped shape her passion, confidence, and knowledge of hip hop. She is excited to share everything she has gained throughout the years with others and to help inspire the next generation of dancers. Teaching at Vibe is a meaningful opportunity for Onna, as the studio has been such a special place in her own journey. She is so excited to see you in the studio to learn, grow, and most importantly have FUN! Onna is an alumni of the studio, and we are so happy to have her continue to share her love of dance with us.

Born on Vancouver Island, Tiernan has been dancing since the age of three. While she has always been passionate about dance, she found her true calling in Hip Hop. Since then, Tiernan has trained, performed, and competed internationally with TwoFourSeven Company and Ruffnecks, and has also appeared on Canada's Got Talent. Teaching Hip Hop culture through knowledge, foundations, and groove is where Tiernan’s passion truly lies. Powered by music and late-night dance sessions, she channels emotion, catches vibes, and creates choreography straight from the soul.

Jeav Villaroya is a professional dancer, performer, and instructor with over eight years of training and industry experience. His diverse background includes hip hop, street styles, contemporary, and jazz, having trained under renowned choreographers throughout North America. Throughout his career, Jeav has performed on internationally recognized stages and events, including VIBE, Hip Hop International, and Body Rock. Passionate about both artistic growth and community development, Jeav continues to train extensively throughout the Lower Mainland while actively sharing his knowledge with the next generation of dancers. His classes emphasize strong fundamentals, musicality, performance quality, and personal expression, creating an encouraging environment where dancers can build confidence, develop their craft, and grow as artists.

Sarah is a performer/choreographer from Nanaimo BC with a passion for teaching the arts. Starting her training at age 3, Sarah cultivated her skills in a variety of styles including but not limited to Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary as well as Voice, Choir and Cello. As she grew older her passion for creation and choreography grew stronger and she’s been teaching for the last 9 years. Sarah continues to work with various studios and groups across the island including Tempo Dance Academy, NDSS Performing arts, ECHO players, Three Legged Dog Productions and Rainbow Youth Theatre creating fun and unique choreography that showcases the artistry of her students. When Sarah isn’t working in the arts she can be found in elementary schools as a child and youth mental heath councillor and loves bringing both of her jobs together to support young artists find their voice.