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The directors and staff of YBCS believe that dance classes offer any young child the opportunity to grow in self-confidence, grace, coordination, flexibility, strength, musicality, artistry and creativity. As the children grow older within the dance school, they may choose to dance recreationally or to commit to intensive training to reach their full potential as a young dancer. Serious dance students, age 11 & up, often choose to audition for our pre-professional performing company. YBCS offers classes in Kindermusik, Rhythm and Movement for preschoolers, Ballet, Modern dance and Jazz. Students range from age three to adult, with levels of instruction ranging from beginner to advanced. The Company boasts a highly qualified and experienced staff of eight teachers. Younger students have several opportunities to show what they’ve learned. Parents are invited to view classes on pre-set parent days. The annual recital is held in May at the Saskatchewan Center of the Arts, and presents the students from age three to senior dancers.
TEACHING, FACULTY ~ 2009/2010 SEASON
T Richard Zimich Artistic Director Ballet Teacher
Born in Vancouver, Richard began dancing at the age of three. He trained at the Goh Ballet, Pacific N.W. School of Dance, Banff Centre for the Arts and the National Ballet School of Canada. He went on to dance with the Vancouver Opera, Ballet British Columbia, Alberta Ballet, Les Sortileges de Montreal and Ballet North. He also was a principal dancer with Ballet Ouest de Montreal and has been guest artist and adjudicator on several occasions across Canada. His teaching career has taken from B.C to New Brunswick and into the US.
Barbara Cameron Executive Director Ballet Teacher A graduate of the Royal Ballet School in London, England, Barb emigrated to Canada when she was 20 and took her teacher training at the Ottawa Dance Centre. Moving to Regina in 1980 she took further training at several summer courses at the National Ballet School and Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and eventually became Artistic Director of Regina Modern Dance Works school, a position she held for six years. She joined the teaching faculty at YBCS in 1998 and was hired as Office Administrator the following year. Barb has served on Boards and Committees of many Saskatchewan cultural agencies, including Dance Sask. Inc, Sask. Arts Board, Regina Arts Commission, SaskCulture and Theatre Regina. She enjoys both the teaching and management sides of her work with YBCS.
Karen Rose Guest Artist in Residence, Modern Dance and Performing Company Karen is an independent dancer, choreographer, actor, director and teacher. She received her B.A from Simon Fraser University, and since then her work has taken her across Canada and Europe. Dance companies she has worked for include Kokoro Dance, Mascall Dance, La Compagnie de Monique Giard, Haraupin Hai, Dancetheatre David Earle, Mappin Dance and The William Louther Dance and Theatre Corp. Her choreography has been presented by Dancing on the Edge, 6 seasons including the 20th Anniversary; The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, the 10th Anniversary; The Vancouver International Dance Festival, Tangente (Mtl); Studio 303 (Mtl); New Dance Horizons and various other festivals in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. To view a dance photo of Karen click here: photo 1 - Karen Rose.jpg Her choreography can also be seen in films, videos (including Much Music Canada), in London’s off-west-end, and in Sydney, Australia. On the theatre stage Ms. Rose has performed roles in Chekhov to Shakespeare to Tremblay to Theatre sports, and in film work. Ms. Rose has recently directed, choreographed and edited the film Helenka which is touring Canada, the USA and Europe. As a teacher, Ms. Rose teaches Graham technique via the Graham School in New York City, Toronto Dance Theatre and the late great William Louther. She has taught for Dance Theatre David Earle; The University of Waterloo; Dance Core at NDH; and for the Youth Ballet Company of Saskatchewan .Michelle McMillan Ballet, Modern, Stretch & Strength, Michelle McMillan is new to Regina from the United States and is excited to be part of the YBCS staff. Michelle has always loved to dance and studied ballet, tap and jazz in near her home in California. She trained in the Vaganova method of classical ballet from former dancers of the Bolshoi and Moscow Classical Ballet companies. At the age of 18, Michelle earned an apprenticeship with the prestigious Kirov Ballet Academy. She danced in several regional ballet companies performing both classical and original works. Some of her favorite roles include Arabian from The Nutcracker, soloist in Le Corsaire, Paquita, and Sleeping Beauty. Michelle was interested in expanding her horizons as a dancer and went to Orange Coast College in California to enter their teacher certificate program, as well as study modern and choreography. Her piece John Somebody earned her an award for most outstanding choreography. Michelle continued to perform in a wide variety of productions. Some of her other credits include 5 years as a Radio City Rockette, teacher of several Radio City “Rockette Experience” workshops, performer in equity musical productions of Annie Get Your Gun, The Will Rogers’ Follies, The Who’s Tommy, The Music Man; fire-eater in Penn & Teller at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and dancer/ understudy for the principal at Le Lido de Paris in Paris, France. Michelle has also appeared in several commercials, runway shows, TV spots and was a feature in a BBC documentary on the Lives of Las Vegas Entertainers. In 2005, Michelle returned to her classical ballet roots to perform and choreograph onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ships as part of an adagio act (a blend of classical pas de deux and acrobatics). Michelle is happy to be able to share her love of dance with the students at YBCS. She has also been participating in Learning Through The Arts, bringing dance to the public schools in Regina. Michelle plans to continue training in Stott Pilates and hopes to achieve her next level of certification in 2010.
Paula Skotnitsky Adapted, Modern, Rhythm & Movement B.Ed
Paula has many years of Ballet and Modern Dance training. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in Physical Activities Studies Adapted (pertaining to working with Special Needs individuals) from the University of Regina. She has recently earned a 2nd degree in Arts Education and has completed a certificate in Special Education from the University of Regina. Paula has presented her own solo work at both the Stream of Dance Festival and W.I.P Series (Saskatoon).
Angelika Nixdorf Kindermusik
Angelika is a parent of two, a Kindermusik educator, and a speech-language pathologist. She understands how the well-developed Kindermusik curriculum provides a strong foundation in the areas of music,language, cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. She also understands how developmentally appropriate activities in those areas helps prepare students for school.
Sanchea Wasyliw Ballet ARAD Sanchea has been a student at YBCS since the age of three and a member of the Performing Company since 2000. She has achieved the RAD Advanced 2 level. Sanchea has attended various professional ballet summer schools including the National Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Quinte, and Banff Centre. She is also an instructor at Chaban Ukrainian Dance School. Sanchea is a second year pre-med student at the University of Regina. Marnie Dickson Jazz, Ballet Marnie began dancing at age 5 and has studied ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical jazz, pointe, modern, contact, Irish, Scottish, Spanish/Flamenco and break dance as well as other performing arts such as voice, musical theatre and drama. She has studied with many gifted artists and teachers from around the world. She taught for many years at Ritenburg Dance Studio, where she also created routines for competitions that have won several awards. She holds her Gr. 8 Award & Advanced 1 R.A.D. ballet certificates as well as her Advanced Jazz & Gr. 4 Tap with the C.D.T.A..
Pat Gabel-Yablonski RAD Ballet
Meredith LaRocque Rhythm and Movement, Adapted Dance
Meredith studied
Modern and Contemporary dance for eight years at the
Conservatory of Performing Arts, the University of Regina and
received a scholarship of study at the University of California,
Irvine. With a background in dance and choreography
incorporating digital graphic projections, Meredith has
performed all through Saskatchewan as well as the Toronto Dance
Festival and graduate concerts in Irvine, California. She has
integrated her graphic design, illustration and animation to
coincide with contemporary dance into an intense and highly
structured performance. Using her expertise, Meredith was
selected as an Artist in Residence for three years teaching in
five different schools in Melville, Saskatchewan. She has been
involved in several Arts Smarts School projects in Alberta and
Saskatchewan and taught in the Young Children's Program at the
Conservatory of Performing Arts for five years.
Our School
We offer an adapted program for special needs students.
We offer Kindermusik programs for infants to 3 years.
This program, designed for students aged three to five, encourages children to have fun with movement, rhythm, and creativity, while developing coordination, balance, flexibility, musicality as well as some pre-ballet steps and skills.
Ballet is the basis for all dance taught at YBCS. We believe that a good education in ballet can benefit dancers in all forms of dance. Our Pre-Ballet Program starts at age 5 and includes both creative and technical elements. Our ballet program is based on a combination of methods and syllabi, including the Royal Academy of Dancing Syllabus. The curriculum is designed to take students from the beginner to the advanced level. An optional RAD examination program is available for students who wish to take exams. \
RAD Exam Program All RAD grades are offered from Grade 1 to Advanced. This is an optional program with RAD classes being held at special times within the schedule. Candidates must have approval from the teacher before registering in the RAD program. The RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) is a global organization founded in 1920 to advance the standards of teaching in classical ballet. RAD exams give dancers a goal to work toward as well as recognition from the world's largest ballet examining body.
This program is offered to our ballet students, as well as others who have an interest in this dance form. Our modern program utilizes ballet technique as well as modern dance qualities, including swing, drop, contraction, flow, fall, groundedness, free and creative movement. We believe these modern dance skills are necessary in today’s dance world. Dance composition and choreography is also taught within our modern dance program.
Combining the strength and flexibility of ballet, jazz employs movements which are angular and percussive.Emphasis is on quick, clean movements to jazz and popular music. Many styles of jazz are taught, including lyrical, funk and hip hop.
YBCS offers recreational classes for adults in ballet, modern dance and jazz. No experience is required.
We offer classes to teens with little or no previous dance training.
Our students regularly achieve higher than the national average in ballet exams.Renowned guest choreographers who work with our company, frequently comment that our dancers are very well trained.
YBCS presents a spring school concert at the end of May at Conexus Arts Centre. This concert features all the students in a professionally presented format including costumes, lighting, and sets. It has been the custom of the Company to adapt full ballets for the young students. In the past the Company has presented works such as: ‘The Tin Soldier’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Les Sylphides’, Shostakovich Ballet Suite’, ‘The Tales of Beatrix Potter’,'Madeline and the Gypsies', 'The Pink Planet'. ' Coppelia', and 'Shel Suite' (based on the poetry of Shel Silverstein).
Under special circumstances, YBCS can offer scholarships to committed students and dancers who are in need. For more information, please contact the Artistic Director. We are committed to small class sizes for our young students. This means individualized instruction at YBCS. Students progress faster since instructors give corrections to each student. In addition, a family atmosphere develops between students, instructors and volunteers. Although our classes for older students can be larger, we are committed to limiting overcrowding and maintaining each student's right to individualized attention by providing qualified teacher assistants.
YBCS is available for consultation, workshops, and performances in Regina schools. For Further Information call 306-352-9908. |
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| photo by Pete Gutiw |
| photo by Trevor Hopkin |
| photo by Richard Avram |
