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.
Janet Cundal: Tiny Seeds & Leaping Leonardo's Director
Ms Janet currently teaches at the Shawnigan Lake Montessori Preschool where she is also the school's director. Janet is very active in environmental education and has developed a program that assists other educators to encourage students to plant trees.
She previously taught high school biology and worked in service learning at Maxwell Community Service Institute. In Scotland, she initiated a 'World Citizenship' Education program in schools and assisted LivingWater.org.uk, a company implementing ecological water treatment projects. Janet was also a social forester in Africa and Papua New Guinea for 10 years.
Magdalena Angel: Counselor Coordinator
Magdalena is a student at Quest University Canada, located in Squamish BC. Here she is doing her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her focus of study is broad and involves aspects of sustainability, history of social movements, contemporary environmental issues and activism. This past year she participated the RSBC Sustainable Living Leadership Program, where she canoed and rafted down the length of the Fraser River over a twenty-four day trip. In the fall she traveled to northern BC and experienced the beauty and abundance of the Great Bear Rainforest, where she volunteered as a whale research assistant. This is her third year at Eaglearts, and she is exited to take on a new role as counselor coordinator. She loves Eaglearts because working with youth and encouraging social change through the arts, is very inspiring work, and every year Magdalena learns new and important lessons during these four weeks.
Dance
Roberta Bierman: Hip Hop
Roberta 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 but once she was introduced to hip hop, it captured her heart and became her main focus. She continues to expand her knowledge of street dance through forms such as popping, locking and house as well as stepping and body percussion. Her hip hop crews and choreography are continually recognized at competitions and festivals throughout BC. Roberta is also the co-founder of the elite street dance crew Tru Movement.
Roberta's choreography was featured in the music video "Teachers Pet" by the group "Death to Sexy". She was chosen as a partner and instructor for Victoria's local "Dancing with the Stars" competition, "Stars on Stage". Roberta has trained extensively throughout the US including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Texas. While training in Los Angeles she has the opportunity to dance in the Silly Walks for Hunger Charity event choreographed by Rich and Tone Talauega. Most recently, Roberta was invited to perform in Montreal at Danse Encore Festival with Tri-Tone Productions based in Austin, Texas.
Currently residing in Vancouver, Roberta can be found rehearsing with the well respected all female street dance crew Diamonds in the Rough as well as Co-Directing TwoFourSeven Company.
Lynn Taylor and Byron Weaver: Specialty Worshop - African Dance
Byron and Lynn have recently returned from Guinea, West Africa, where they increased their already extensive passion for and knowledge of West African rhythms and dances. They love sharing these traditions, in the manner so generously shared with them. Lynn has studied dance extensively, across a range of disciplines: modern at the University of Calgary, jazz at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and West African with a variety of Dance Masters (Percussion de Guineé, Les Ballet Africains). Recent performance and choreographic work includes Wongai! Drum and Dance, Kuraba Drum and Dance, Ballet Saamato in Guinea, and MoonDance Ensemble. Lynn is the director of MoonDance Dynamic Arts, now in its sixth year on Vancouver Island. Musician and composer, Byron Weaver, accompanies her classes on the djembé.
Drama
Carol Adamson: Acting, Musical Theatre, Counsellor
Carol has been living in Victoria for nearly four years completing her degree in English and the Fine Arts Acting specialty at the University of Victoria. A very passionate theatre major, Carol has taken part in several shows with the University and will be making her Victoria Fringe Festival debut in August. She has trained for several years in dance, movement workshops and classes, vocal training with the University and most recently had the amazing opportunity to train with Commedia dell'arte half masks.
Having attended theatre camps in the past, Carol is very excited to join the Eaglearts team. Teaching is another passion of hers and she is looking forward to an extraordinary opportunity to learn and grow and be inspired with the kids!
Hersie-Nina Init: Drama, Counselor
Hersie discovered her passion for theatre while studying Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia. Outside of her studies, she found herself immersed in the world of theatre and refused to leave. After graduating, she returned to UBC, completed a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and has not stopped playing since! Creating theatre through the eyes of an actor, director and stage manager, Hersie has been involved with many companies: UBC Theatre, Delinquent Theatre, Third Degree Theatre, Fighting Chance Productions, Theatre Under the Stars, Suitestyle Musical and more! She is currently the Assistant Director for The Verona Project (Stone's Throw Production) and the Stage Manager/Assistant Director for Clara/Clara (Song Drama Productions). Hersie can not wait for another summer of art and inspiration at Eaglearts!
Jameson Trenholm: Acting Instructor & Counsellor
Jameson is originally from the small town of Priddis Alberta; making the move to Vancouver almost 3 years ago he is a graduate from Red Deer College's Theatre Studies and Motion Picture Arts Program. Jameson has been acting professionally since he was 16 in various television shows, movies and theatre productions. Some of Jameson's credits include Runt in "Resurrecting the Champ" working alongside Josh Hartnett and Samuel L Jackson. He also played the Hippy in "Freezer Burn" acting with Tom Green. Jameson has been involved in both Calgary and Edmonton Fringe Festivals in the musicals, Dead Lovers Day and The Blue Note Lounge. Most recently Jameson has been involved with Dandelion Youth Theatre, as the assistant instructor of the program. He is excited to be a part of Eaglearts this summer and can't wait to see what the students can bring to the courses!
Music
Eve Daniell: Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Musical Theatre, Private Voice & Piano
Eve was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Music, with distinction, in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria, an ARCT Piano Performance diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music and an ARCT Voice Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music for which she received the gold medal, having achieved the highest marks in North America.
Eve lives in Shawnigan Lake where she teaches voice and piano to students ranging in age from five years old to adult. She also keeps active in her community. Fundraising efforts include a solo recital with David E Walden raising money for the Cowichan/Mill Bay Food Bank, a 2010 concert raising money to help rehabilitate child soldiers and a concert at Ecole Mill Bay which raised money for its Roots and Shoots program which teaches children environmental awareness.
This June Eve is looking forward to playing the Sorceress in Opera on the Avalon's Dido and Aeneas. Recent operatic performances include The Mother/The Witch in Pacific Opera Victoria's school tour of Hansel and Gretel and chorus work in Pacific Opera Victoria's La Boheme. Eve has performed with the Victoria Bach Ensemble, the Cowichan Consort, Adamare Cantus Children's Choir and the University of Victoria Orchestra and Chorus.
Eve is thrilled to be joining the Eagle Arts faculty for 2011. She looks forward to getting to work with musicians of all ages and backgrounds.
Tiana Malone: Vocal Coach & Musical Theatre
Tiana has been involved in theatre and music since age 6. From her humble beginnings in community theatre and musicals, she now holds a Diploma of Music from Kwantlen University, a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria and recently completing her Masters in Vocal Performance at Université de Montréal. She is beginning her certification as a Music Therapist in September 2011.
Recent performances include the world premier of the opera Foudroyé, with UdeM and the National Theatre School of Canada, Giulio Cesare with Université de Montréal and the Victoria Conservatory of Music, James Rolfe`s children's opera Elijah`s Kite with Pacific Opera Victoria, La Maitress du Maison in University of Victoria's, Paris a nous deux!, Crystal in Triple Threat Productions, Little Shop of Horrors, the Canadian premier of Regina with Pacific Opera Victoria.
Tiana loves working with youth and has traveled the world running youth programs on cruise ships. She has taught voice, piano and music theory for over 7 years in Montreal, the Lower Mainland and around Vancouver Island, and has given many choral and vocal workshops for high school groups in the Fraser Valley area. She has been an instructor at Eaglearts for the past three summers and is thrilled to be back on the West Coast for another inspiring summer of fun and musical exploration.
Nabil Moghaddam: Counselor/Teacher - Song Writing & Electronic Recording
Nabil was raised in Portugal but now lives in Stratford, ON where he is pursuing a career as a singer, song-writer and recording engineer. In 2006 Nabil graduated from Metalworks Institute with a diploma in Audio Engineering and Music Production. He has since started an independent music label, Nkindle Productions, and has been busy with writing and recording projects. You can listen to some of his music and find out more about this talented young artist at: www.nkindleproductions.com & www.facebook.com/nabilsmusic
Sam Shumka: Piano Intensive & Music Director
Sam has been playing music from the age of six. He holds an ARCT diploma in Piano Performance and an Elementary Piano Pedagogy Certification from the Royal Conservertory of Music. He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Saskatchewan, and in June 2011 will hold a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Music from the University of Victoria. Sam also has extensive courses in jazz studies from Malaspina University College. In 2010 Sam won the Frederick Harris Scholarship Winner for the highest RCM marks in a discipline (trumpet). He is currently the musical director of The Power Project, an eight piece horn-rock band. With drummer David Dee, he conceptualized The Big Thing - Canada's Definitive Tribute to the Band Chicago. Sam has travelled the world playing music on cruise ships, backing some of the biggest names in show business including: Lorna Luft, Audra McDonald, and Rosie O'Donnell. He is also serving as music director for Chalkboard Theatre, a not-for-profit theatre company in Duncan BC. Sam is passionate about creating learning and performance opportunities for young people. He is looking forward to his third season at EagleArts, and his first at the helm of the new Intermediate Piano Camp.
Janet Walker: Song-writing, counseling
Janet is a Victoria based singer/songwriter, guitarist, exhibiting artist and play-write. Born in Canada, At the age of 8, Janet moved to Australia with her family and spent most of her life living in Sydney. This 'migration' across the pacific had a deep impact on her young mind, and she often explores the themes of transition, migration, flight, refuge, and homelessness in her art and music. She has studied fine art, anthropology, creative writing and in 2009 won a scholarship for an intensive physical and creative theatre course with PACT theatre in Sydney Australia. After many years travelling and performing music and live storytelling in Australia, Scandinavia, and Europe, Janet now enjoys living in Victoria, playing with her band, performing at story- slams, and working on new creative projects. This fall Janet will perform her original acoustic musical 'Cantadora' as part of Intrepid theatre's You Show festival and hopes to record an album with her band before the year is through. Find Janet's music at www.reverbnation.com/janetwalker and her production company at www.catflapcreations.wordpress.com
Visual
Harry Fowler: Art Assistant & Counsellor
Born and raised in Sidney BC, Harry is a student at the Victoria College of Art where he will be starting his 3rd year towards a Diploma in Fine Arts in the Fall. His passion and creativity in the arts has led him to embrace illustration and concept design. After graduation Harry will pursue a career in the movie industry.
Harry loves to work with people, to share and encourage others with what he has learned. He was a volunteer at the Royal BC Museum where he taught painting, pottery and drawing classes for children. His work includes several commissions: company logos, CD and book covers and he is currently illustrating his first children's book.
In addition to the arts Harry likes sports and outdoor adventures. He has hiked the Juan de Fuca trail, portaged the Sayward lakes and also hiked to the summit of Mount Albert Edward in the winter season.
He is very excited to be part of the wonderful staff at Eagle Arts Academy and can't wait to meet everyone this summer.
Ann-Kathrin Lohsen: Ceramics & Pottery
Ann started her indepth study in the arts in high school, focusing on drama, dance and art. She received her Fine Arts diploma from North Island College in Courtney, BC and then continued her studies in Europe. Here, she received her BA with Honours at Camberwell College of Arts and Crafts in London, England and her Masters of Fine Arts at Bath Spa University in Bath, England, majoring in Ceramics. Throughout the past twelve years of study, she has taken part in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout Europe and North America. During this time, she has taught two- and three-dimensional art to both adults and children in a very engaged fashion. One of her main projects included developing a children’s art program to lay a foundation of life-long learning and skill development. Ann has a strong interest in the cultural and universal importance of past traditions and craftsman skills, fusing them with contemporary issues and settings. “If we know where we are from, we have an idea where we are going!” One of Ann’s passions is working with children, passing on skills and traditions, so that they may have the tools to express themselves and their culture clearly and with confidence.
Julia Turner: Art Assistant & Counselor
Julia was born and raised in Victoria, BC, and currently attends the Victoria College of Art. Prior to discovering her passion for visual arts, she attended the University of Victoria, where she studied Philosophy and Economics.
After completing her first year at VCA, Julia is eager to continue her arts education, and looks forward to sharing what she has learned with the campers at Eaglearts.
Julia is a volunteer at the Royal BC Museum, where she facilitates educational art programs for youth including - the life and works of Emily Carr, and a Night at the Museum adventure.
Julia has been lucky enough to be part of Victoria's underground art scene, and is eager to exhibit in more collective galleries downtown. She also loves traveling, eating, and being outdoors. She makes an awesome cheese sauce, and can't wait to continue exploring the world and expanding her skills.
Yulia Shtern: Drawing & Painting grades 10-12
Yulia Shtern possesses a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a Masters degree in Scenic Design from UBC. She is a practicing visual artist, working primarily in acrylics and mixed media, and a set and costume designer for theatre. Her artwork has been exhibited in numerous art shows, both group and solo. Some of her recent design credits include The Busy World Is Hushed (one2theatre), Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire , Bird Brain and A Year With Frog and Toad (Carousel Theatre), EN and Ten Nights of Dream (TomoeArts), Denmark, Blood Relations and The Early Girl (Douglas College), HALO and Tartuffe (Theatre at TWU) , and Dybbuk (Theatre at UBC). Yulia has taught various visual arts and crafts programs over the course of the last decade and is looking forward to coming back to the Eaglearts Academy this summer.
Linda Weech: Digital Photography & Drawing and Painting grades 7-9
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.
Erica Wilk: Printmaking, Photoshop, Video Assistant
Erica was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. She spent two years studying Fine Art at Grant MacEwan College, obtaining a Diploma of Fine Art. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Art Degree at Emily Carr University in Vancouver this year. Art is her passion in life, she often works with many different mediums, such as video/film, projection, collage, textiles, photography, sound and print making (intaglio, screen print, bookmaking).
Another love of Erica's is traveling. In September 2009 she participated in a field school with Simon Fraser University to study contemporary art and culture in India. She also has traveled through Europe, China, and Scandinavia. She has also participated in several volunteer abroad programs, helping at an after school program and soup kitchen in downtown Los Angeles and a children's home in Guatemala. These experiences have not only been very rewarding and educating for her but also created awareness to the world and the responsive role that artist's have.
Erica is excited to return to Eagle Arts this summer, and sees it as an opportunity to share some of the things she has learned as well as encourage creativity and community.
Video Production
Kimara Brilling: Video Production
Working in the film industry has been a wonderful creative outlet for Kimara. With a background in journalism, theatre and dance, she brings a sense of playful exploration to her visual style of storytelling. Since graduating from the Vancouver Film School in 2002, Kimara has worked on documentaries for companies like Global, CBC and Discovery. She has also enjoyed being a part of the comedy world for CTV and Showcase.
More recently, working on an animated movie for Rainmaker Animation sent Kimara off in a new and exciting direction. She is now focused on children's educational and entertainment media. In 2011 Kimara has been working as an educator at the Pacific Film and New Media Academy in Victoria. She belongs to an active community of independent filmmakers who believe in sharing positive energy and creating quality works.
Andrew Newell: Guest Director, Film Farm
Bio coming soon!
Bruna Melis: Counselor
Bruna is an energetic 22 year old girl from Sardinia, an island in Southern Italy. She has traveled through Europe and the United States and currently lives and studies in Canada, at Quest University.
Her strengths and passions she says: "revolve around art, creativity and social connections; I seek and find situations where I have the possibility of sharing my artistic abilities in communal contexts. Such as Eaglearts!" Bruna loves music, singing and playing guitar, didjeridoo, percussion, drums and Jew harp. She likes to write stories, poems, and paint as well as juggling, poi, biking and longboarding. She has a strong connection with nature, which she pursues through camping and hiking. Her favorite book of all times is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien.
Julian MacPherson: Junior Counselor
Julian was born in Victoria BC, and at the age of 9 moved to New York City with his family where he then was hired in a professional choir for two years. He also attended the prestigious arts camp French Woods. After moving back home to Canada he decided to pursue his theatrical and musical talents and began attending Eagle Arts Academy. After attending for several years, Julian loves Eagle Arts so much that he is now coming back to play a different role in the community. This past year Julian played a role in an original, locally produced musical in Chilliwack called Misty Hill Automaton. He has been performing in shows and musicals for the past years 5 both in Chilliwack, and at Eagle Arts, although his primary focus is Film. Julian recently worked on a short film for the Art Institute of Vancouver, and in the future hopes to attend Sheridan College in Toronto for Film and Theatre. Among his other talents Julian is a certified life guard, loves to swim, and has experience playing a variety of instruments. Julian is very enthusiastic about returning to the Eagle Arts community, and hopes to help others enjoy their time there, as much as he has!
Tahira Naroth: Counselor
Tahira was born in South Africa but later spent 12 years in the United States. She has recently moved to BC where she is studying dietetics at the University of British Columbia. Tahira plays several instruments including clarinet, guitar and a bit of sax and flute. Her camp and volunteer experiences includes working with people with disabilities, a children's art camp and a non profit women's forum. Tahira is very excited to join the eaglearts team and hopes to contribute to a fun and safe place for those who love the arts as much as she does!