Jill Danielson Owner, Artistic Director & Teacher Ballet - Modern - Contemporary - Broadway Certified ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Certified Silver Swans ballet teacher (RAD) CEGEP Diploma in Professional Theatre
Born and raised in Montreal, Jill received her formal training (ballet & modern) at l'Académie de Danse Classique under the instruction of Renee Rouleau (former professional ballerina with The Royal Ballet in England alongside Margot Fonteyn & Rudolf Nureyev) & Linda Marchand. Jill was trained primarily in the Cechetti method of classical ballet where she completed exams. She furthered her training by becoming a company member of Ballet Ouest de Montréal for eight years. Jill danced in many full-length classical productions including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Cinderella, Les Sylphides, Firebird, Pineapple Poll and several original modern dance pieces. Jill's dance training was complemented by a variety of competitive sports including swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, gymnastics, figure skating, running and volleyball. Jill graduated from the Professional Theatre program at Montreal's CEGEP John Abbott where she trained in acting, singing and dancing, in a variety of theatrical styles. Jill has trained in other dance styles such as Irish, Breakin' and HipHop and continues to take classes and explore new styles. Jill continued her dance studies as an adult and became a certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in 2013. She has trained and entered many students for ballet exams since then and has maintained a 100% pass rate. Jill attends professional development seminars/workshops regularly, at institutions such as Canada's National Ballet School, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Broadway Dance Center in New York City and various Royal Academy of Dance seminars across Canada. Jill loves all aspects of teaching and especially choreographing. Her quirky and creative choreography have won awards at many dance competitions, most recently Top Overall Choreography at Dance Evolution 2024 and Top Choreographer at Wanna Dance Canada 2024. Jill loves a good cup of tea, snuggling with her cats and traveling with her handy-dandy studio husband (aka Mr. Jill) and teenage dancing daughter. This is Jill's 17th season teaching dance in Canmore and her 11th season as studio owner.
Sean Butler Hip-Hop Sean is a choreographer and dancer based out of Calgary, AB, Canada. Sean is the creator of VibeTribeYYC, and a founding member of theTOMORROWS dance crew. His knowledge of music and movement is a direct result of his training in Flavorshop, a world-wide motion of like-minded artists created and developed by Lenny Len (Toronto). Sean strives to affect artists and students alike, generating an enhanced understanding and mentality, as well as promoting growth and success through dance and music. Credits involve performing on Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards 2014 for INEZ JASPER, achieving 1st place at the 2014 Cowboys SYTYCD competition with theTOMORROWS, Choreography and performing with YUNG DRE at Stampede 2017, dancing for Commonwealth Bar and Stage’s monthly Hip Hop show: 10@10, back-up for INEZ JASPER at Indspire 2014, back-up choreography for local artists YUNG DRE, HAYDEN MCHUGH, MIKE TO, as well as various performances with One World, Masked Canvas, Mpact, and Downtown Calgary. Sean rocks sweats harder than Rocky Balboa and likes to beatbox in the shower. This is Sean's eighth season with Canmore Dance Corps.
Leia Finbow
Preschool & Kindergarten Leia has been dancing since the age of four, completing IDTA exams in Ballet, Modern and Tap. Leia has always been creative, active and artistic, also enjoying competitive gymnastics, figure skating, swimming and performing arts classes. She emigrated to Canada from England at age ten, starting her RAD ballet education and joining the world of competitive dance. Leia has been teaching dance to children and adults since 2015, teaching styles from Ballet to HipHop, and has won awards for her choreography at several competitions. She is also an Interior Designer (University Degree) with Compass Design Co., creating beautiful spaces for the Bow Valley and beyond. Leia's passions are dance, singing, Broadway musicals, drawing, her dog Bella and helping the community. This is Leia's second season with Canmore Dance Corps.
Amanda Brown Jazz - Lyrical - Tap Certified Yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance Certified Spin teacher and studio manager with HotShop (Calgary)
Born and raised in Calgary, AB, Amanda trained at Calgary's premier studio, Drewitz Dance Productions, in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap and musical theatre where RAD classical ballet training was a great focus. She was a member of her studio's elite competitive dance team where they competed in Canada and the US. After graduation, Amanda worked as a professional dancer for Carnival Cruise Lines where they traveled around North and South America. She had the opportunity to work with dancers and choreographers from all over the world, learn new styles and perform on-stage every night. Amanda has been teaching for over a decade years, specializing in Jazz, Lyrical and Tap. Amanda's technical expertise and award-winning choreography have greatly helped to develop our competitive dance team. Choreography is Amanda's favorite aspect of teaching and she is dedicated to coming up with new and creative ideas each year to keep our dancers inspired, excited and current. Amanda also teaches dance in Calgary, owns her own wedding planning company called Calgary Wedding Company, and is also a certified Yoga instructor and Spin instructor with Hot Shop (Calgary). Amanda's continued commitment to our dancers is absolutely amazing and we are so thankful to have her! Amanda loves traveling and spoiling her adorable dog Kipper. We are also convinced that she is well-versed in the ways of time-travel, which would explain how she is able to stay on top of her ridiculously busy schedule! This is Amanda's 12th season with Canmore Dance Corps.
Alexis Macintosh Ballet - Adult Certified ballet teacher with the RAD Certified Yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance Alexis began her dance training in Victoria B.C. with Maureen Eastick before moving to Toronto to train at Canada’s National Ballet school. She enjoyed a dance career that lasted over a decade performing with: The Guangzhou Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, The Banff Centre’s Festival Dance, and as a soloist with Alberta Ballet. Alexis has had the pleasure of working with world-renowned teachers, artistic directors, and choreographers. This professional experience has developed her keen eye for technique, choreographic ingenuity, and artistic subtleties. Alexis is enthusiastically dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge in the discipline of classical ballet. This passion for the art form easily translated into a career as a teacher. She has been teaching ballet in the Bow Valley for the past seven years, and she is a certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Alexis has helped students achieve a high level of excellence in RAD examinations, regional competitions, and local productions. In addition, Alexis holds a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Calgary, and is a certified yoga instructor. She enjoys all artistic pursuits, from culinary to literary; and works very hard to keep up with the wild adventures and antics of her husband and two sons. This is Alexis' fifth season with Canmore Dance Corps.
Meghan Brown Acro - Jazz - Lyrical - Tap Administrative Assistant University degree in Kinesiology Certified Yoga Teacher with AFLCA Certified in American Barre Technique Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique Meghan discovered dance at a young age and her love for the artform blossomed and developed as she grew up. Meghan was a competitive dancer in her home town of Red Deer for her entire school career and kept dancing and expanding her dance knowledge through her university years while she acquired her kinesiology degree. Meghan is a certified Yoga instructor who teaches fitness and yoga classes in various establishments in Canmore. She is a busy mom to two young children and is often involved in children's programming around town. Meghan loves to pass along the joy of dance to the community as well as to spark passion in young dancers. She enjoys and crafting and creating of all kinds as well hanging upside down from the rafters (on a piece of silk). This is Meghan's fifth season with Canmore Dance Corps.
Tammera Kostya Pilates University degree in Earth Sciences Certifies Pilates instructor with the National Pilates Certification Program (NPCP) in Classical Pilates Tammera grew up in Southern Ontario along the shores of the Bay of Quinte where she spent as much time as she could exploring the outdoors. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences at McMaster University, she packed her bags and headed West. For the next ten years, Tammera worked outside as a field geoscientist exploring the remote wilds of northwestern Canada. This passion brought her to Canmore, where her passions grew to trail running, backcountry skiing, weightlifting, caving and more. With her active lifestyle, Tammera required functional body movement understanding and core strength training to support injury prevention and rehabilitation. She found this through Pilates! In 2017 Tammera became a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher in Classical Pilates. She runs her own Pilates Studio in Canmore and also teaches in various recreational centres and studios in the Bow Valley. We are very excited to be welcoming Tammera in her first season with CDC as our designated Pilates instructor!
