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Brittany Black- Director
Brittany Black is a dancer, dance educator and choreographer currently serving as Director and Owner of Emerge Dance Academy.
As a dancer, she has extensive and varied training in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Musical Theatre and was also trained professionally for her voice. Brittany has performed as an independent artist and also works as a freelance guest teacher, adjudicator, and choreographer. Her innovative choreography has been seen in many performances and events including a production of the Musical “Hairspray.” She continues to train and keep up-to-date by taking classes at Edge PAC, Harbour Dance Centre and attending workshops/conventions like the Dance Teacher’s Summit with some incredible creators in the industry.
In addition to her dance training Brittany was an English major who also studied Modern Dance at the U of A and completed a Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute for Technology in Television Broadcasting. Brittany spent many years as a video editor and producer and still works as a freelance producer for Hoopla Media in Edmonton.
Since 2013, she has enjoyed working on the Emerge business side as well as teaching. Brittany believes that her love of dance, her education and her experience in the production industry has given her a unique and creative sounding board for her ever-growing journey in entrepreneurship. She has enjoyed creating an environment for dancers that is safe to grow in, unique in both choreography and music, varied in educators and mentors and most of all…a positive community.
Sharing the love, art and freedom of movement in dance with students and colleagues is extremely important to her. She finds great joy in continuing to watch Emerge students’ progress each year and share their achievements: in classes, exams and especially… on stage!
Josephine Cavaco- Ballet & Modern
Josephine, who hails from Montreal, developed a passion for dance very early. At the age of 3, she began her training at Le Centre d'Art de Natasha under ballet Mistress Marie Cote, a retired National Ballet company member.
Her training in ballet and modern lead her to join the professional program at L'ecole Superiuere de la Dance du Quebec. She continued her training in ballet, modern and character dance for the next 6 years under Susanne Toumine and Wendy Wright. Josephine's devotion and love of dance led her to join Les Grande Ballet Canadiens at the early age of 16. She has performed various roles in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, Coppelia and Swan Lake. Josephine is a performer, teacher and choreographer who holds her Associates in the Cecchetti Ballet teaching method.
Krista Soleski - Ballet
Barbara holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta as well as training through International Internships in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Barbara was for years a leader in the Edmonton-area and Vancouver Tap dance community. She has recently relocated to Edmonton as an Instructor at McEwan University.
- Jason Samuels Smith
Realizing at an early age she also had a passion for working with children and youth, Candace chose to dedicate her life to teaching dance and gymnastics. She has now been sharing everything she knows with her students for the past 9 years and couldn't see it any other way. To provide her students the most effective training, Candace continues to educate herself and stay current in her teaching methods.
With her strong gymnastics background it was natural for her to develop an interest in AcroDance. Most recently Candace has completed her Certification as a Junior and Intermediate Registered Acrobatique Instructor, as well as Level 1 Certified with NCCP - gymnastics division. Candace is so excited to bring her knowledge and passion to all her students, and can't wait to be apart of their journeys!
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Katie Began her dance training at the age of five with Volya, a Ukrainian dance school and Company located in Edmonton. She became interested in other forms of dance and was soon also training in Ballet(RAD and Cecchetti, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap and Hip Hop. Katie trained at Dance Alberta, Powerhouse Dance and Emerge Dance Academy.
She traveled to Las Vegas to attend workshops and compete in West Coast Dance Explosion. She also performed with Fused in Disneyland. Katie has also had the opportunity to travel and perform with Voyla in Columbia and Croatia.
Katie found a passion for teaching and choreography at Victoria School of the Arts where she was a student in the International Baccalaureate Composition program.
Leyla Yasa- Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap
Leyla is a well rounded and energetic hip hop, jazz and tap teacher here at Emerge. Leyla began dancing at the age of 6 and has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, modern, tap and contemporary. She has traveled to LA- to take classes at the Edge, Disneyland -to perform and to Las Vegas- to attend workshops at West Coast Dance Explosion. Leyla has trained and assisted at Dance Alberta and Emerge Dance Academy. She was also a part of Emerge's company team, Fused.
Dance is Leyla's biggest passion and she loves sharing the beauty and meaning behind all dance forms.
Ruth- Studio Greeter
Ruth is Emerge's official studio dog! She loves greeting dancers at the door and is always "hounding" them for treats and belly rubs. Her favourite type of dance is "paw-de-deux" and she is always reminding dancers to hold their "pawsture."
Ruth has been dancing at Emerge since she was 3 months old! Her special moves include sitting, speaking, rolling over and shaking hands. She is often found sleeping at the front of the classroom or following her favourite students around the studio, hoping someone will throw her ball. She is sweet and goofy and looks forward to greeting you!
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BRITTNEY ANDERSON - GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER