• Connie Parsons, AISTD. ACDTA • Erika Wilansky • Andrea Young A.R.A.D. • Leslie Hammond, AISTD • Ashley Penney • Ashley Thorne • Alex Rose • Allison Robbins • Dave Gardiner - Breakdancing Connie Parsons, AISTD. ACDTA Owner/Artistic Director Fully qualified and professionally trained dance instructor. Associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Associate Diploma Cecchetti Ballet Associate Tap Associate Modern Theatre Associate member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association. Associate Ballroom(Latin American) Certificates from the National Ballet School of Canada for completing teacher training seminars. Certificates from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School for completing the seminar "The Art of Teaching." Certificate from Broadway Dance Center, NYC for attending the 2009 annual Teacher's Workshop in conjunction with The PULSE. Courses in Child Development and Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Advanced 2 Modern Theatre Advanced 2 Tap Advanced 1 Cecchetti Ballet Intermediate National Dance Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Newfoundland and Labrador (2000) Connie stays up to date on the latest trends in dance in able to provide classes in current as well as classic styles. She believes strongly in continued learning and regularly attends courses to update class curriculum and inspire new ideas. She has trained with some of the top dance pedagogues from around the world and is always eager to learn more. During the summer of 2009, Connie attended the Broadway Dance Center's Teacher Workshop in New York City, held in conjunction with The PULSE on Tour. This experience provided the opportunity to study Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, and Theatre Dance with Tony winning Broadway stars and the faculty of the hit TV series "So You Think You Can Dance". In August 2009 she once again attended the Cecchetti Ballet National Conference held at The National Ballet School in Toronto. In 2008, she travelled to Europe to attend the ISTD Modern and Tap summer school hosted by The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London, England) Connie Parsons has enjoyed a fun-filled performance career which has included guest appearances dancing live in concert with Great Big Sea, and The Irish Descendants as well as performances in various local musicals. Erika Wilansky Erika Wilansky began her dancing career 25 years ago in Montreal at the age of three. She studied Modern dance, Jazz, and Hip Hop as part of her regular school curriculum, and went on to further her dance knowledge with training in Latin dance and Breakdancing. She has been teaching Jazz, Modern and Hip-Hop for the past ten years. While attending high school in Newfoundland, Erika developed a very successful extra-curricular dance program at her school and choreographed for Annex Promotions. In Montreal, Erika taught children’s dance classes at The Young Actors Workshop as well as classes at the local Community Centre. Erika has been teaching at CPSOD since 2004 and has since become heavily involved in the St. John's dance community. She is always eager to share her passion for dance with others. Andrea Young A.R.A.D. Ms. Young is originally from the U.K. but now resides in St. John's, NL with her family. She has vast experience in the world of dance having taught and performed worldwide. She attained her teaching qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England in 1994 after and extensive performance career with the London City Ballet Company. She attended London Contemporary Dance School and graduated from London Studio Centre in 1989. She has performed in various shows and music videos for many big stars including Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross and Elton John! Andrea is a lovely person and most importantly she is "really good with kids". She herself is the mother of four children. Andrea is returning for her fifth year teaching at CPSOD. Associate in RAD Classical Ballet Leslie Hammond, AISTD Leslie Hammond has been a part of Connie Parsons School of Dance since the age of four. Now, at the age of 21, she has progressed from a dedicated student, to a conscientious teaching assistant, and finally a valuable and talented teacher at our school. Leslie has been trained through the ISTD examination program here at CPSOD and in May 2009 graduated through the required levels in tap having obtained her Associate teaching qualification. Leslie excels in many areas of dance having studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, latin jazz & modern. She started as a teaching assistant at CPSOD in 2003 and discovered a keen interest in teaching children and teaching dance. Leslie has invested a considerable amount of time into her dance education, she is currently working towards her Associate teaching qualification in the Cecchetti method of classical ballet. During the summer 2009 Leslie travelled to New York for Broadway Dance Center's teacher workshop in conjunction with 'The Pulse', she also attended the Cecchetti Ballet's National Conference at the National Ballet School, Toronto. Leslie has also been an avid performer for many years and was a featured dancer in many local musicals and shows including 'Footloose' (2003), ‘Our Diva’s do Christmas’ (2005,2006), 'Our Divas Do Broadway' (2008). She is thrilled to be a part of the teaching staff at CPSOD again this season. Associate in Tap with ISTD Advanced I Cecchetti Ballet Advanced II Tap 'The Art of Teaching' summer course, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (July 2006) ISTD Summer School for Tap Dance, Chichester, England (August 2008) Broadway Dance Center & The Pulse's Teacher Workshop, New York (July 2009) Cecchetti Ballet National Conference, Toronto (August 2009) Ashley Penney Ashley Penney is now entering her second year as an instructor with CPSOD. During out 2008-09 dance season, Ashley taught Hip Hop classes to students ages eight to adult as well as a very energetic boys Street Funk class. Her genuine passion for dance is infectious and the students are thrilled with her sense of style and unique flare she brings to her choreography. Ashley has taken the Mount Pearl Show Choir to critical acclaim in Japan. She is fun and funky and totally enthusiastic about teaching at CPSOD again this year. Ashley Thorne We are very excited and proud to introduce Ashley Thorne as a full time teacher at our studio this season. Ashley has been dancing at CPSOD for 9 years and always had a keen interest in dance having studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern & hip hop. Ashley has been a part of the examination program for 7 years taking exams in ISTD tap and Cecchetti classical ballet. In 2006 Ashley became a teaching assistant helping teach children age 3 to 11 yrs. The past year she has filled in as a substitute teacher and her dedication and love for dance has shone through. During July 2009 Ashley attended Broadway Dance Center's Teacher Workshop held in Conjunction with 'The Pulse'in New York City to work with world-renowned choreographers such as Shane Sparks and Wade Robson. She is delighted to be a part of our teaching staff for the 2009-2010 dance season. Advanced 1 Tap (ISTD) Broadway Dance Center & The Pulse's Teacher Workshop, New York (July 2009) Alex Rose We are pleased to welcome back Alex Rose to our teaching staff this season. Alex began her dance training right here in St. John's Newfoundland. After volunteering as an assistant teacher at CPSOD for 5 years, she began teaching a variety of disciplines including Cecchetti ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop full-time in September 2005. Always eager to expand her knowledge and expertise of dance, Alex travelled to Winnipeg to attend the annual Cecchetti Conference (July 2005) and 'The Art of Teaching, The Teaching of Art' summer course at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (July 2006). During this time, Alex also completed her Intermidiate Cecchetti Ballet Exam (May 2005) and trained for the Advanced 1 Cecchetti Ballet Exam under the direction of Sandra Blackmore (2007). She is an avid preformer, having appeared in such local shows as Our Divas Do Broadway (Fall 2004), Our Divas Do Christmas (Fall 2005) and Our Divas do Christmas on Broadway (upcoming - Fall 2009). Most recently, Alex became a member of the MUN Dance preforming group. Alex is also a full-time student at Memorial University, and will complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology next year. Allison Robbins Allison Robbins began dancing at Connie Parsons School of Dance in 1997. She has danced extensively throughout the years and is an active member of our exam program in both Cecchetti Ballet and ISTD Tap. In the summer of 2008, she performed in "Mermaids of Avalon" with Kittiwake Dance Theatre. Most recently, Allison participated in the Millenium Inspiration Tour 2009 and was taught by "So You Think You Can Dance" celebrities, along with top industry professionals from across Canada and the United States. Allison is a lovely, mature young woman with a keen interest in teaching dance to young children. She has been a teaching assistant at CPSOD for the past 2 years and this year will be joining us on staff to teach the 8-11 yrs. recreational ballet program. Allison looks forward to a career in teaching dance and we are thrilled to welcome her to our teaching team! Dave Gardiner - Breakdancing Dave Gardiner started B-Boying in 1998 and co-founded Atlantic Canada's longest running crew, the Lokdown Crew. Dave has been a member of East Rock Crew since 2006 and produced a Newfoundland tour for them in 2007. He has travelled to New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and Ottawa, and participated in numerous master classes and workshops with some of the top B-Boys in North America. Dave is helping keep the B-Boy art form alive, by sharing his knowledge with the students of Connie Parsons School of Dance this dance season.
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