Eaglearts Summer Arts Camp
Faculty Bios
Program Directors
Laura Lee
As a dancer, choreographer, writer, producer and dance educator, Laura’s career in the performing arts is a reflection of versatility and experience spanning 30 years! Early training with outstanding dance educators laid the foundation for Laura’s work in Musical Theatre, Las Vegas production shows, industrials and TV. As co-founder and Artistic Director of Diversity Dance & Theatre, Laura is best known for her work with youth and creating educational arts programs which combine the dynamics of dance, music, and drama to inspire personal growth and positive social change.
Anisa Skuce-Newell
MFA Fine Art, Sculpture from The Edinburgh College of Art and Design; BFA Nova Scotia College of Art and Design; Graphic Design at Humber College of Art and Technology. Anisa has exhibited regularly in Canada and abroad since 1992. She has worked as a residency facilitator in sculpture at the Banff Centre for the Arts, taught at The Edinburgh College of Art and has received Canada Arts Council funding for two large-scale projects. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is working on her most recent project, her daughter Ahdiyeh Pearl.
Dance
Roberta Bierman: Hip Hop Instructor
Roberta Bierman is a passionate performer known for innovative choreography, great musicality and an energetic teaching style. Dancing since the age of five, Roberta has studied many styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary but since the day she was introduced to hip-hop, it truly captured her heart and has become her main focus. She has been expanding her knowledge through styles including; house, popping, locking, new jack, stepping and body percussion.
Roberta’s choreography was featured in the music video "Teachers Pet" by the group "Death to Sexy". Roberta was chosen as a partner and instructor for Victoria’s local "Dancing with the Stars" fundraiser, "Stars on Stage".
Over the last three years Roberta has been a resident hip hop teacher at Dansko Studios, Boston Dance Collective and Victoria Dance Connection. Her hip hop crews and choreography have won numerous awards in both Victoria and Vancouver. Now representing Victoria's premier hip hop crew TruMovement, an elite crew made up of only three founding members, Roberta strives to promote true hip hop dancing through her classes, choreography and performances. Roberta is very excited to be a part of Eagle Arts this summer and share her knowledge, passion and inspiration with the students.
Shannon Harris: Ballet, Jazz, Choreography Projects
Shannon comes to Eagle Arts with over a decade of teaching and choreographic experience, a Dance Diploma from GMCC, BFA majoring in Dance from SFU and her Associate Teaching Diploma in Cecchetti Ballet from the ISTD. Shannon has taught and trained throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. While living in England Shannon not only taught ballet, jazz, modern, musical theatre, pointe and choreography, she also studied the above at London Studio Centre, The Place and London Contemporary Dance School. During her time in England Shannon also had the privilege of teaching jazz at the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters in London, as well at their Summer Schools and Day courses held throughout England.
Shannon is currently preparing her ballet students for exams and competitions throughout the Lower Mainland. She is looking forward to being a part of Eaglearts and working with the students and faculty to create a great summer learning experience.
Danielle Oldziey: Ballet, Fitness Classes, Creative Movement,
Jazz and Hip Hop
Danielle’s primary training is in classical ballet (Balanchine and Russian techniques) with additional classes in Musical Theatre, Graham and Horton style modern dance. She has trained with members of the Cunningham Company, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Bolshoi Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and studied with names such as Gelsey Kirkland, Cynthia Gregory, and Doug Varone. Danielle has received dance scholarships to Stephens Summer Intensive, Dance Conservatory, University of Georgia, Radford University, and Winthrop University. She has been accepted to the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive and fall study programs, Nutmeg Ballet Summer Intensive, and the Kim Robards Dance Company Summer Intensive. She has performed with the Ballet Theatre of Dover as a soloist and principal, as well as with Intersectionz Educational Artz, a Bahá’í workshop-based dance company. She has been the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Delmarva Bahá’í Youth Workshop, Charlotte Bahá’í Youth Workshop, and the San Ignacio Bahá’í Youth Workshop, and has taught dance for the Harris YMCA, St-Arts Summer Intensive, Tuqwila Elementary School, Dover High School and the North Carolina Dance Theater. She is a certified aerobics instructor and is currently employed with Omni Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Winthrop University.
Terra Plum: Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre
Terra took her first dance lesson at the age of four. Falling in love with movement and music, she’s been dancing and singing ever since! A broad range of early training that including ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop and gymnastics laid the foundation for Terra’s performing and teaching career. She earned her Associate Membership from the
British Association of Teachers of Dancing in Stage and Ballet before graduating from High School. Terra continued her training in musical theatre at the California Pacific College of the Performing Arts and toured nationally and internationally with the group ‘The Young Americans’. She later earned her BA in Contemporary Dance at the University of Calgary where she continues to teach dance and Palates for the University Recreation Program. Terra has most recently performed with Kloetzel & Co., Front Row Centre Players and The University of Calgary’s Operetta Company. As a passionate teacher and performer, Terra is thrilled to be joining the Eaglearts faculty.
Drama
Keith Digby: Contemporary Drama - Evening Drama Project
As a director, actor and writer, Keith has spent his life in professional theatre, performing and directing for major theatres across Canada, including the Stratford Festival in Ontario. In addition, he is a highly respected professional adjudicator and educator. He recently finished eighteen years - well spent - at Brentwood College School, doing multiple productions yearly and is now focused on writing screenplays, spending time with Cynthia at their home in France, and focusing on professional directing. Keith is pleased to be on board with Eagle Arts for a second summer.
Anisa Cameron
Anisa Cameron studied acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and received her BFA in Theatre and Development from Concordia University in Montréal, Québec. She has worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer and playwright in both Canada and the United States. She worked for two years as the Project Coordinator for Teesri Duniya Theatre’s collaborative community project, Untold Stories and coordinated their theatre quarterly, alt.theatre: Cultural Diversity and the Stage. Anisa currently directs the theatre program at Bialik High School in Montréal. Anisa is a proud graduate of Maxwell International School and looks forward to returning to Eagle Arts this summer!
Amelia Haskell: Counselor, Drama Assistant, Recreation Supervisor
Amelia has just completed her second year at McGill University in Montreal, Majoring in Theatre and Drama with a Minor in Education. In addition to her talents in drama, Amelia plays guitar, piano, violin and dances! In 2003 she founded a dance group in Montreal called Soul Storm and choreographed dances for the group. Amelia has used all of her talents while doing volunteer work in Uganda, Mauritius, and Slovakia and will have just returned from Namibia where she is volunteering in rural communities by working with children and youth. For the past 3 years she has been coordinating and facilitating youth service projects in the Montreal area. Amelia attended Eaglearts in 2004 as a dance major and is happy to be returning as a member of the staff.
Music
Nikolas Trebesh
Nikolas taught choral and instrumental music in the Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Canada. Currently he is working as a Head of Performing Arts Department (K-12) at Ruamrudee International School in Thailand. His choirs and bands participated in several music festivals in British Columbia, toured and performed in Europe (Germany, Austria and Italy, 2003) and (England, Scotland, 2005). In addition to teaching music Nikolas has been a music director in a number of musical productions including "Annie", "Yellow Submarine", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Godspell", "The Jungle Book" and "Wizard of Oz". He enjoys working with young musicians, playing a number of music instruments and learning about different cultures. His educational background includes music teaching Degree from Ukraine and M.Ed from University of Victoria, BC, Canada. Nikolas is a member of the BC College of Teachers. His interests include learning about a character development and cultural communication.
Dana Hudson: Vocal Instructor, Private Piano, Counselor
Dana Hudson has been a lifelong student and performer of music and has been providing music instruction in various musical disciplines since 1997. Showing an aptitude for music at an early age, Dana was accepted into one of Toronto's finest youth choirs, and was admitted into a school for the performing arts where she was trained as a vocalist for the duration of her high school years. During this time, Dana was also a member of such award winning choirs as "The Ritz" under the direction of Stephen Hatfield, currently one of Canada's most celebrated choral composers for youth choirs.
After graduating, Dana continued her music education, majoring in voice at Capilano College in Vancouver, where she was a member of the award winning Capilano College Singers under the direction of Laars Kario. Dana also had the privilege and honor of being selected to perform with the Vancouver Chamber Choir as well as working with various instrumental groups including The Canadian Brass Ensemble and the CBC Symphonic Orchestra.
Dana is now married with two children and residing in Golden, BC where she conducts The Golden Community Choir and co-conducts the Golden Voices Children's Chorus, of which she is a founding member. Dana keeps her performing skills in tune by singing with The Tudor Singers, and as a member of the alt folk/indie band, "Nigel
Tiana Malone: Vocal Coach, Vocal Ensemble,
Musical Theatre, Counselor
Tiana has been involved in theatre and music since age 6. She holds a Diploma of Music from Kwantlen University, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria. Recent performances include Giulio Cesare with the Victoria Conservatory of Music, La Maitress du Maison in Jean Francaix’s, Paris a nous deux!, Crystal in Triple Threat Productions, Little Shop of Horrors, the Canadian premier of Regina with Pacific Opera Victoria. In 2008, she was the winner of the Bea Scott Memorial Vocal Scholarship, and also received top prize for French Art Song of the Victoria Performing Arts Festival. Tiana loves working with children and has traveled the world running youth programs on cruise ships. She has taught voice, piano and music theory for over four years in the Lower Mainland and around Vancouver Island and has given many choral and vocal workshops for high school groups in the Fraser Valley area. Tiana was recently a member of Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2009 Young Artist Program, and in fall of 2009, will be attending the University of Montreal to begin her masters in Vocal Performance.
Michael Ferguson: Assistant Music Instructor, Counselor
Michael is a third year Music and Culture student at the University of Toronto. He has years of experience teaching music and has utilized his musical knowledge in working in character education programs for children and youth classes in many places in eastern Canada. Mike is an accomplished musician and has toured the country with bands such as Sloan, the Trews, Sam Roberts and Joel Plaskett.
Visual
Kay Austen: Ceramics & Clay Play
I think I have a pottery gene. My great grandfather was a potter and my aunt worked for Wedgewood. The history, techniques and design of ceramics formed an integral part of my Bachelor of Arts degree and art teaching qualification from Wolverhampton and Sussex universities. There I gained the foundation on which to base my work with the most technically difficult, yet most spiritually rewarding of media forms: clay. My multifaceted and eclectic body of work includes thrown, altered and hand built stoneware and porcelain, colourful majolica ware and experimental pit and Raku fired non-functional pieces. While I am sometimes inspired by ancient and far Eastern ceramics and by form, texture and colour in nature, my work is uncompromisingly ‘West Coast Contemporary’ in character.
Nurturing others’ sense of wonder and self-discovery in this timeless and boundless medium is a great source of delight for me. I look forward to sharing and learning at her first eaglearts summer!
Yulia Shtern: Drawing & Painting 15-17
Yulia Shtern completed her BFA in Drawing and Painting at the Ontario College of Art and Design and is currently working toward a Masters degree in Scenic Design at UBC. She is a practicing visual artist, working primarily in acrylics and mixed media, and a theatre designer. Her artwork has been exhibited in numerous art shows, both group and solo. Some of her recent design credits include Ten Nights of Dream (set, costumes and co-designing video projections, Tomoe Arts at Center A), The Early Girl (set, Douglas College), Tartuffe (co-designing costumes, Trinity Western University), A Beautiful Woman Is an Unfortunate Life (set and costumes, My Theatre Company Society), Dybbuk and Agatha (sets, Theatre at UBC), Stone Face (set, Damfino Theatre), Lady Windermere’s Fan (set, United Players of Vancouver), and Moonlight and Valentino, Homeward Bound and Problem Child/Criminal Genius (sets, Alumnae Theatre). Yulia has taught various visual arts and crafts programs over the course of the last decade and is looking forward to teaching her first season at the Eaglearts Academy.
Alison Shields: Painting and Drawing 13-14 & Mixed media 12-14
Alison Shields moved to Vancouver from Ontario 10 years ago to study Art History at the University of Victoria. After completed her Bachelor of Arts, she also received a Bachelor of Education. Since then, she has been teaching with the Burnaby School District while pursuing her passion for the Visual Arts. In 2008, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia, specializing in painting. She has exhibited her paintings in both Vancouver and Toronto. This fall, Alison will be moving back to Ontario to begin her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo.
Linda Weech: Digital Photography & Drawing and Painting 12-13
Linda Weech is a West Coast Canadian artist and educator whose photographs, paintings and mixed media works focus on the rich and luminous qualities of our inner and outer worlds. Her artwork is represented in private collections worldwide. Linda received her B.F.A. in Visual Arts with Distinction from the University of Victoria (1980) and was awarded the Teachers' Award of Excellence upon completion of UVic's Post Degree Professional Program (specializing in Art Education) in 1985. Since then, Linda has been living her passion by integrating art, education and community so that the healing power of creative expression can contribute to vital individual and community development. For over twenty-five years she has held classes, workshops and creative retreats for both local and international students of all ages and experience. Over these last few years Linda has also been the founder and creative director of the Children's International Peace Project (a multi-media peace and environmental education program) which has travelled twice to Central America and will be heading for Africa this coming November. Her commitment and aspiration is to help the global community to achieve transformation and wholeness so that the world can be the place we were meant to live in.
Video Production
Melanie Jones: Morning Film Track & Sculpture
An artist for over 12 years, Melanie began her creative exploration in the medium of sculpture and installation art while earning a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Vancouver’s Emily Carr Institute and a Masters of Fine Art from the University of Windsor.
In 2006, she joined the Directing stream of the Langara College Film Arts program. Her graduating film ‘Manhood’ has screened in numerous festivals in the United States and Canada and was nominated for Best Lead Actor at the Calgary Fringe Film Festival. Since graduating she has produced and directed 7 short films including ‘rest stop’ which premiered at the Victoria Film Festival in Australia, won Best Cinematography at the U of T Film Festival and is now distributed by Ouat Media. Upon leaving film school, she founded the F.S.TO.P Film Collective with a group of her fellow graduates. Working collaboratively, the collective has participated in numerous 48hr and 72hr film festivals and won awards.
Andrew Newell: Guest Director, Film Farm
Bio coming soon!
Counselors
Victor Baillesteros: Video Documentation, Counselor
Look for bio soon
Crystal Eckstrand: Counselor, Arts Assistant, Recreation Supervisor
Crystal just completed her second year of studying International Development at the University of Toronto. She was a member of the Maxwell International School -Educational Arts Outreach Project for six years, traveling to the US, Japan and many places in Canada. In 2005, Crystal spent her summer in San Ignacio, Belize where she helped develop, organize and facilitate a junior youth empowerment program incorporating the arts and later went on to coordinate similar projects in after school programs based in Scarborough, Ontario. She continues her dedicated work with children and youth in her own neighborhood in Toronto by facilitating programs focused on character development and moral education.
Kaity McWhinney - Counselor, Visual Arts Assistant
Kaity is very excited to be joining the Eaglearts team for the first time. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she focused on Visual Arts and English. Her preferred medium has largely been painting and film, though she has dabbled in photography, sculpture and collage. Her work has appeared in a number of art shows in Abbotsford and Vancouver. After completing her BA, Kaity went on to earn a Bachelor of Education at Simon Fraser University and complete the Professional Development Program. She is now working as a Teacher on Call in both Elementary Schools and High Schools in Vancouver, Surrey and Abbotsford. Previous to her teaching career, Kaity worked for many years at an out of school care center in Abbotsford. It was here that she had the pleasure of working with the virtues program, which focuses on character development. Kaity is also an avid fan of campfires, swimming, canoeing, art and music and is very much looking forward to camp this summer.
Kristin Winter - Counselor, Life Guard, Visual Arts Assistant
Kristin is studying Child Psychology and Art History at McGill University and prior to the start of Eaglearts 08, she will have just completed an Art History course in Florence, Italy.
Kristin is an accomplished young artist and has shown some of her work in Vancouver and Montreal exhibits. She can be seen at various outdoor markets and Trade Shows selling some of her pieces.
Kristin has experience working with children and youth of all ages in a variety of positions including: Swim and Bike Instructor, Science Teaching Assistant, and as a counselor and tutor in various camps and after-school programs.
This is Kristin's first year at Eaglearts - She loves both art and working with kids, and is so excited for this opportunity to combine the two!