Faculty

Our Faculty

Our internationally and nationally qualified teachers have brought renowned syllabi to HSD so that our dancers are able to succeed on a provincial, national and international level. Whether your child wishes to take dance for fun or to become the next prima ballerina, our qualified faculty is here to provide a safe, dynamic, fun and rewarding experience!

Tanya Strandlund

Miss Tanya

Artistic Director of the Hinton School of Dance, Accredited Pedagogue & Adjudicator in Dance

L.I.S.T.D Theatre Faculty,  Cecchetti ; Licentiate LCC - CICB,  Advanced 2 CICB Cecchetti Classical Ballet, Graduate Cecchetti Dance Theatre, Hanne Livingstone (FISTD. , FCSC Cecchetti International), IADA & ADA Acro International Dance Adjudicator, Acrobatic Arts Certified & Back handspring/ Aerial & Contortion, PBT Certified (all three levels)


Achievements

Tanya is a fully registered teacher with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing based in London, England while holding her Licentiate level as a teacher with the Cecchetti Canada, Imperial Society & Cecchetti international . She achieved the prestigious Advanced ‘2’ diploma in Cecchetti Classical Ballet and is an  Internationally certified dance adjudicator. Tanya has also been certified in the internationally respected Acrobatic Arts teacher program and has completed the back handspring, Aerial & Contortion teaching courses. She has been recently Certified in the Progressing Ballet Technique Syllabus and Completing the ADA Acro Adjudicating Course and is a certified ADA International adjudicator . Currently, Tanya is focusing on the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma studies and recently took 1-2!year study courses of intense studies through Alberta Ballet, National Ballet of Washington and Ottawa School of Dance.


History

Tanya’s training as a young dancer was in Eastern Canada, Toronto, Quebec, St. John’s & Winnipeg Concentrating on Classical Ballet, Jazz, Modern/ Contemporary & Tap. Teaching and studies also included Irish National Dance, Musical Theatre, Show Choir & Hip Hop. Throughout her time as a dancer, Tanya performed internationally followed with well over 20 years of teaching & exam pedagogy experience. Continuing to travel annually for training/ teaching & adjudicating across North America. Serving as the Cecchetti Society of Canadaʼs Vice rep for the province of Alberta for 5 years duties included serving a short time as historical information coordinator for Canada. Tanya started teaching under the direction of a childhood Mentor in St. John’s NL, later opening her own dance school ‘ Alberta West Dance Company’ in Alberta for 12 years until having to make a hard decision to close the school in 2004 in order to focus on family and teaching. Several of Tanyaʼs past students have moved on to performance, commercial and teaching careers in dance and the performing arts. 


Performance & Choreographic Achievements

Highlights: Soloist Expo ʻ86 Canadian   pavilion “Cats” ; Top Choreography Award at the Show Choir competition in New York 1990; Was a solo performing member of Co. 21 show choir for 7 years.  Choreographer for “Etcetera“ annual sold out Musical, choreographing for casts of over 100 dancers and triple threats. Annually Choreographed a selection in “Stars of Hope” a charity concert at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton for the Kids with Cancer Society. Choreographer for Alberta Winter Games Opening Ceremonies 2005, & Choreography featured in Alberta tourism commercial 2011. Staging for Citie Ballet’s tour of ‘ The Doll Maker’s Dream’ at the Roxy Theatre. Tanya has gained recognition for her choreography over many years; however, her greatest accomplishments and pride comes as she is recognized as a strong pointe and classical ballet pedagogue. Earning several competitive top event awards for her strong Classical Pointe / Classical Ballet & Contemporary choreography over the past 10 years as her focus is on shaping and improving the content & quality of the programming offered at the Hinton School of Dance . 


2019-2023 Personal Studies

It is a strong personal belief of Tanya’s that no teacher is above learning and that personal growth and professional studies are an imperative part of being a strong teacher. Over the past two years, Tanya has been enrolled in several courses of study through : 

Taking advantage of the pandemic shift in online learning availability, Tanya has been able to train under many world renowned masters from England, Washington, Toronto, Ottawa, South Africa . Focused on a lifelong career intent of learning and understanding the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Diploma work, the pandemic has opened up many opportunities for exploration , connections and personal advancements.

Tanya is known as a fair, knowledgeable & enthusiastic teacher/ adjudicator whose emphasis is inspiring but expecting a dancer's “personal best”. Her focus is on a balance of clean technique and passionate artistry.

Tanya has dedicated her life to studying and imparting the love and education of dance.


Marissa Rhodes

Miss Marissa

Associate - CC-CICB

Marissa’s passion for movement began at a young age when she started taking dance classes in her hometown of Hinton, Alberta, where she attended both Alberta West Dance Company and Hinton School of Dance. She began assisting classes at Hinton School of Dance as a teenager, and later went on to teach her own classes after obtaining her Cecchetti Advanced 1 examination (2013) and her ESB Junior Grades teaching certificate (2012). 

Marissa’s primary studies have been in Classical Ballet (Cecchetti and RAD), Tap (ISTD, Al Gilbert and CDTA), Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, and Acrobatics. Throughout her studies as a child and throughout post-secondary, she has also trained in Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Cheer, Irish and other National dance styles. 

After obtaining her Cecchetti Advanced 1 examination and her Junior Grades Teaching Certificate, Marissa went on to train at both the Alberta Ballet - Edmonton Division and the Edmonton School of Ballet. In addition to being a fully qualified Cecchetti ballet teacher, she has her Al Gilbert Grade 7 tap examination (2018), and is an Affiliate member of the CDTA, training towards her Licentiate credentials in both Tap and Modern. Marissa is an Acrobatic Arts Module 1 certified teacher (2017), and also holds her Progressing Ballet Technique certification (2019).

In addition to traditional dance styles, Marissa thoroughly enjoys taking and teaching classes in aerial arts. She has studied aerial hoop, aerial silks and hammock, pole fitness, and contortion. She is currently a certified aerial hoop teacher through Aerial Arts by Acrobatic Arts (2021).

Marissa is looking forward to another great season of sharing her love for dance with her students! 

Ariel Lissel

Miss Ariel

Ariel started dancing at 6 years old, just taking Jazz. Since then she has also trained in Cecchetti Classical Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Musical Theatre. 

Ariel acquired her Advanced 1 Classical Ballet at the School of Alberta Ballet, and danced professionally for Artists Elite in Calgary, Alberta, performing in several shows, openings, and parades. 

Ariel moved back to Hinton in 2005 and began training to be an instructor in Jazz with the CDTA. She continued to train at the Edmonton School of Ballet, acquiring her Junior Teachers Certificate, and she also began more Hip Hop training at the Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, BC.

After acquiring her Associate Member Certificate with the CDTA in Jazz and Acro, Ariel trained with Acrobatic Arts, receiving both modules 1 and 2. She trained with the Alixa Flexibility program, also receiving both modules 1 and 2. 

Ariel has been teaching children in Hinton for over 15 years, and hopes to continue for many more!

Janae Prins

Miss Janae

Janae's love of dance started at the age of 3. She studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Contemporary..  Janae was also a teacher assistant for many years and choreographed several of her own solos and duets during her time as a student.  When she was a student at the Hinton School of Dance she had the amazing opportunity of dancing in a parade at Disneyland and on the stage at California Adventure. 

Janae is a certified Zumba and Zumba Gold instructor (2010) and she is also certified in the internationally respected Acrobatic Arts Program, where she completed her Module 1 training. 

Janae first started teaching for HSD in 2010. In 2011 she left to continue her education in Edmonton and received her Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in management. While living in the city, Janae continued attending dance classes and workshops to keep her training updated. She has since returned to teaching a variety of disciplines at HSD and looks forward to continuously learning and sharing her knowledge with all of her students.

Currently Janae is an affiliate member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association and is training towards her credentials in Jazz. After taking time off to take care of her two daughters she is feeling excited, passionate and grateful to be re-joining the Hinton School of Dance faculty for the 2022-2023 season., she has a new appreciation of how to teach and communicate with each individual. Janae is looking forward to being back in the studio with her students, having fun, learning and dancing!

Denise Stieben

Miss Denise

Denise Stieben (AISTD) has achieved the Associate designation with the ISTD Cecchetti Faculty.


Denise has wanted to dance since she was 3 years old. 

After studying at the Calgary Russian Ballet School for 20 years, learning character, and jazz as well as ballet, she was encouraged to audition for the Edmonton School of Dance . She was welcomed into the teacher training program and she took Cecchetti ballet and some Royal Academy. 


Learning of her background, a fellow teacher invited her to do some workshops on character work. (this being stylized ethnic dances, her favorite).


As a teenager she was honored to work with the Alberta Ballet co. as an extra for their performances of "The Nutcracker". She started as a bon bon, for Mama Gigone, was a soldier, rat, and rein deer.  She was also in their production of Cinderella. (most beautiful dress she ever wore) In her early 20's she was honored to dance for the university's production of Die Fladermouse. 


She has enjoyed Flemenco dance, Hiland dance, belly dance, and components of Irish dance .


She has tought for the Vegerville school of dance , moved to Brooks to teach at the Newell society of Dance , and is thrilled to teach here once again.


Denise looks forward to re vamping her work from Barbra Lissek and learning more fun ways to connect with our students.


Daphna Strandlund

Miss Daphna

Daphna has grown up at HSD with her mother and both older sisters involved in the dance world. There was never a time when she was not immersed in the dance environment.

Spending summers at ballet and dance intensive’s across Canada, while training throughout the dance season at weekend intensives in Edmonton and regularly right here at HSD.

Daphna has studied the full spectrum of the Cecchetti Syllabus work from Primary through to Advanced 2 , had a full dance competition life and has completed all grades up to the advanced levels of Cecchetti examinations with excellent results. She has studied to a high level of Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Acro and Hip hop. 


Last summer, Daphna attended the Cecchetti Canada Teaching intensive in Toronto, Canada at the GOH ballet. 


Daphna is currently working under mentorship with both Mrs Tanya and Mrs. Marissa to work towards her TTP with CDTA and eventual goal, Cecchetti International. 


Daphna has been teaching at HSD for two dance seasons and is looking forward to bringing her love of dance to the classroom once again this dance season. 





Kenzie Christensen

Miss Kenzie

Kenzie first started dancing at the age of 3 at the Hinton School of Dance, where she trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro and Hip Hop. 

During her time at HSD she completed her Cecchetti Ballet Intermediate exam and was an Assistant Teacher. Kenzie thoroughly enjoyed travelling for different dance intensives and classes, broadening her range as a dancer.

Kenzie is currently and undergraduate student at the MacEwan University and working towards a career in Psychology. She plans to integrate mental health awareness and confidence building into her philosophy as a dance instructor, alongside technique and quality of movement.

Kenzie is a pre-associate member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, through which she is working towards completing credentials in Tap and Jazz. Kenzie is also obtaining her AcroDance Pre School Certification through the Acrobatic Arts Teacher Program.

Kenzie is eager to expand her knowledge and credentials, and she is absolutely thrilled to be teaching this season!

Laura Clarke

Miss Laura

Miss Laura’s passion for dance was ignited at a very young age. Growing up in central Ontario, she attended classes at a local studio. Excelling in Ballet, she was often invited to attend supplemental classes with the National Ballet of Canada located in Toronto, Ontario. 

Miss Laura also studied and competed in Jazz, Acro, Modern, Lyrical and Contemporary, travelling to Quebec and New York for competitive invitationals. She studied under several teachers and choreographers with assorted experience in theories, accomplishing levels in Cecchetti and Russian. Furthermore, Miss Laura partook in summer workshop sessions in Musical Theatre, Cheerleading, African, Booty Barre, Pilates, Pilates Reformer, Zumba and Irish. 

To complement her growth she also started assistant teaching in her junior and senior years to eventually become a faculty member of her home studio while studying at post-secondary. In 2012, Miss Laura made the move out to the mountains. Since making Hinton her home, Miss Laura has completed her Acrobatic Arts Module 1, is certified in the Alixa Flexibility Module 1 and is ADAPT certified in Tap and Jazz.