Sherry Black Born and raised in Victoria and with an extensive background in Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Fitness; Artistic Director, Sherry Black, opened "BroadStreet Dance" in 1967…continuing each year, along with her expert Faculty, to teach over 300 students of 'All Ages and Abilities', to dance! Forever a student herself, she has an extensive background in B.Sc of Kinesiology from UVIC. Sherry is a member of The International Tap Association, The Royal Academy of Dancing, and The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and believes "Dance is a Life Skill!" Students from "BroadStreet Dance" can be found performing on Cruise Ships; on stages from here to BroadWay, working in the movie Industry and in Canadian and US Television commercials and industrials; teaching Dance in private schools and Universities throughout North America; and have twice won International Championships at prestigious US National Dance competitions. For some years Sherry has been on the dance-competition Adjudicators' circuit in Western Canada, and was recently the Adjudicator for "Stage" Dance' at the Provincial Performing Arts Festival. Since The Canadian College of Performing Arts opened in Victoria in 1998, Black has been on its Faculty, teaching Tap each year to over 60 of Canada's up and coming Performing Arts Students. Sherry, as director of Dance Education at Central Junior Secondary School from 1986-2002 taught Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Dance Fitness, Kinesiology and Choreography…a credit course as part of the PE Curriculum. While at The University of Victoria, teaching in The Music Education and Theatre Departments, Sherry choreographed more than 10 productions for UVIC. She also choreographed numerous shows for the Victoria Operatic Society, the David Foster Foundation, The Air Canada Dancers, and Admiral Cruise Lines. Believing that Dance Education is a never-ending process, Sherry and her faculty attend annual conventions, taking classes with world-class choreographers such as Brenda Bufalino and Dianne Walker, Frank Hatchett of Broadway Dance Center in New York, Debbi Dee of Bush Gardens in Florida, Bill deRicco of New York, Gus Giordanno; and Charles McGowan of A Chorus Line fame. "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lynn Stevens (BFA, BEd) (Left) Lynn has been dancing and performing since the age of four. She began her training locally with Bebe Eversfield, and continued with Sherry Black at BroadStreet Dance and with Maureen Eastick at Pacific Dance Centre. As a dancer and choreographer, she has received many awards and scholarships. She attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Banff School of Fine Arts, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, where she trained with such notables as Brian Macdonald, Betty Farrally, and Laura Alonso. Lynn's passion for teaching and choreographing dance began after she completed her Theatre Degree at Uvic. She is well versed in Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern, and Neoclassical movement, and is a firm believer in encouraging students to develop technical skill and beauty of movement without forgetting the true art of performance. Her neoclassical choroegraphy has been honoured with several awards and has received invitations to perform at the prestigious"Holocost Symposium" for several years. Lynn, now with a teaching degree as well, runs the dance program at Spectrum Secondary. Bonnie Pollard (Right) Bonnie has many years of performance & training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre. She has been a dance instructor for over 14 years teaching various levels of Tap & Ballet - ages 8 & up. Bonnie has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Model and Actress and has participated in hundreds of local fashion shows, photo campaigns, commercials and public relation assignments. She has over 10 years of experience as a Make-up Artist in Film/Fashion/Bridal Make-up and she is a Guest Make-up Instructor to Maybelline Cosmetic's Western Region and Lancome Cosmetic's Vancouver Island. Bonnie is an entrepreneur with Fashion in Motion - established in July 1993 and operates a training center for Modeling, Personal Image, Make-up Artistry as well as Community Education Services - creating awareness of how to become involved in the Film & Fashion Industries safely.

Julia Kipshidze About Julia Kipshidze I was born in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1969. In 1977 I became a student of the Vakhtung Chbukaiani Ballet Academy. I received my diploma as Ballet Dancer in 1988. I took part in many performances at the Georgia Ballet Theater: “Swan Lake”, Don Quixote”, “Nutcracker” and many others. In 1989 I attended the Academy of Sport in Tbilisi, Georgia and received my Diploma in 1992 as a Coach of Rhythmic Gymnastics and Teacher of Physical Culture. In 1999 I was invited to dance with Tbilisi Musical Theater of Abashidze. My dance performances in Musical Theater were created by Georgian choreographers, one of them world renowned Giorgi Alexidze. He has his own unique style of modern dance performed to classical music. During this time I was also teaching ballet classes. It was a wonderful learning experience, exchanging dance ideas and styles with dancers from many other European countries. In 1995 I was invited to work with National Team of Rhythmic Gymnastic of Georgia. I was working with Georgian Gymnasts who took part in the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, 1996. My student Eka Abrami received Most Elegant Gymnast award. Following the 1999 Olympic Games I was invited to Limasso, Cyprus, School of Rhythmic Gymnastics as a Ballet Teacher and Choreographer. I helped prepare the routines for the International Championship held in Japan. In 2000 I was invited to Prague, Czech Republic as Coach and Ballet Consultant. I prepared the National Team of Centre of Centre of Rhythmic Gymnastics for the International Championship of Europe. In 2001 I was invited to Toronto, Canada as Ballet Teacher and Choreographer for the Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and the Kalev Estienne Club and Dance Company of Esthetics. I also taught at the Burlington Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and the Seneca College Club of Toronto. I prepared girls from Burlington for the Los Angeles competition where they received three 4th places with competitors from over twenty countries. I also enjoy teaching private classes to dancers

Michael Boston Michael started tapping even before he could walk. His training began at the age of 3 in his hometown of Sooke where he learned Gilbert Tap from Maureen Hart. He then moved on and studied with Arabella Martin completing three advanced ISTD exams. Under the tutelage of Sherry Black and Mark Goodman, Michael was chosen out of hundreds of auditioning dancers to be in a company called Tap Kids a national touring show based out of NY and directed by Lisa Hopkins. Michael moved to New York City at just age 17 to further his studies at Broadway Dance Centre and Steps, where he was fortunate enough to take classes from, Savion Glover, Barbara Duffy, Andrew Nemr, Lisa Hopkins, Mike Minery and Van “the man” Porter?just to name a few. Since then Michael has performed to packed theatres all across the United States, Mexico and Europe,even performing for the Queen of Holland in Amsterdam. Michaeel is honoured to be apart of the great faculty at BroadStreet Dance and owes a huge thanks to Sherry for his success.

Mandy Dewey Mandy began dancing at the age of four. She has had extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics with such teachers as Rae Burns, Sheila Marshall, Sherry Black of "BroadStreet Dance", and Maureen Eastick of Pacific Dance Center. She has been involved as a performer and choreographer with Four Seasons Musical Theatre, the Victoria Theatre Guild, the University of Victoria, the Victoria Operatic Society, and the Sooke School District. Her students from "BroadStreet Dance" have competed, and won awards, at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, the Greater Victoria Dance Works Festival, the BC Festival of the Arts, and the Dance Olympus Competition in Las Vegas.

Matthew Pakozdy Matthew began dance at the age of 5. He started with tap and moved onto, highland and jazz, ballet, modern, and hip hop. Matthew was one of 35 students accepted, after a Canada wide audition, to the Canadian Collage of Performing Arts in Victoria BC Matthew completed an advanced certificate in performing arts and worked summers at the multicultural shows... Spirit of a Nation and Raven Tales...dancing, singing and acting both in Whitehorse, Yukon and in Sidney, BC He has attended the Banff School of Performing Arts in Aboriginal Dance, and has danced as a backup dancer at the National Art Centre in Ottawa with Tom Jackson Dream Weavers Production. He presently teaches Hip Hop and Jazz Funk at BroadStreet Dance in Victoria, BC.

Matthew Howe Matthew Howe (B.Ed) Musical Theatre performer and teacher extraordinaaire, is a grad from UVIC, and founding member of The Ridge Theatre. He has spent the last 9 years as a Director at The Childern's Theatre in Minneapolis (where they won a Tony for Best Regional Theatre). We are so excited to have Matthew back in Victoria where he is The Educational Advisor and Director at The Canadian College of Performing Arts and teaching here at BroadStreet Dance!

Kimberly Tuson Native to Victoria, Kimberly has danced for over 30 years. Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Musical Theatre, are all disciplines Kim has taught and performed. She is an honours graduate of Simon Fraser University majoring in contemporary dance and choreography. After several years of repetitive stress knee injuries, she has become a certified teacher of Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis. A methodology which combines the key principles of Dance, Yoga and Martial Arts.

Melissa Clarke Melissa has been in ballet slippers, or tap and jazz shoes since the age of 4. This background paved the way for her to obtain her degree in Kinesiology at UVic. She has been actively involved in the fitness industry since 1995 as a Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist, Master Trainer, and Trainer of Fitness Leaders. In this time, she has gained extensive experience in a number of areas, including: Group Fitness, Pilates, Fusion, Personal Training, Exercise Therapy, as well as Program Coordination and Supervision. As a Trainer of Fitness Leaders and Master Trainer, she has trained hundreds of individuals to become Certified Instructors and Personal Trainers. She has presented various workshops at conferences throughout BC, and has also done work on a national level for Fitness Leadership program development. She is Co-Owner of Full Balance Fitness, Fitness Coordinator at Bala Fitness, and a New Balance Sponsored Athlete. She brings enthusiasm, energy, and a desire to help others "be unstoppable" in whatever health and fitness initiatives they wish to pursue.

Lia Biros (BA, BEd) Lia has trained extensively in ballet, jazz and hip-hop both locally and across North America and continues to train, travelling to numerous conventions for master classes and intensives with some of the world's most recognised talents. Lia is a licensed aerobics instructor, has her Teaching Degree from UVIC, and has currently been teaching dance at Claremont, Vic High and Spectrum Secondary Schools. Her talents as a dancer and choreographer have made her one of the most popular, sought-after and busiest teacher/choreographers in Victoria. Lia's work has received many accolades!  In 2000 she choreographed three numbers which were part of the Butchart Gardens' summer stage production "Showtime". She was also seen performing with Craig Hempsted in Dancers For Life - Victoria, and was part of Jacques Lemay and Janis Dunning's "Experience Canada", which toured from coast to coast.

Arabella Martin (A.I.S.T.D./A.R.A.D) Arabella began dancing in England at the tender age of three. At seven she expanded her field of expertise to ballet, tap and acrobatic with a little singing thrown in for good measure! At this age she also performed with a group from a professional college touring different venues in southern England. At seventeen, Arabella entered a performing arts college in London taking R.A.D. and I.S.T.D. ballet, modern, jazz, tap, national dance, vocal training, drama, pas de deux, and teacher training. After three years, multiple exams, a few shows, a commercial, choreographic competitions, bleeding and bruised feet (!), she emerged with five teaching qualifications and her advanced performing certificates in all disciplines. Following her graduation, she taught in South Africa and across Canada and has adjudicated in Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria. Now settled and happily married in Victoria, she continues to teach part-time while she embarks on a new career in Interior Design.

Brittney Wallace (Hip-Hop) Brittney has loved working with the teen hip-hop class at "BroadStreet Dance" this year. As well as completing the 4th year Bachelor of Education program at UVic, Brittney is the Hip Hop instructor at the University of Victoria, and instructor of Summer Dance Camps at Recreation Oak Bay. Brittney has also implemented a dance program at Camosun College, and has started an after school dance program at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Julianne Ashmore Since the age of 3, Julianne has been in her tap shoes. She started her training and performing in tap and acrobatics with our Irene Jupp as well as modelling at LDI Models. By the time Julianne was 7 years of age, she had expanded her styles of dance at Sinclair Academy of Performing Arts. Under the mentoring of Arabella Martin and several others, Julianne trained in song and dance, flamenco, drama, and vocal training; and took R.A.D. examinations for her ballet and national dance as well as I.S.T.D. for her modern and tap. Having passed her associate tap exam, Julianne is a qualified I.S.T.D. teacher. She has performed in several different festivals, shows and fundraisers on the island and is looking forward to continuing to pass on the training she has gained to the students at BroadStreet Dance.

Kelsey Dukelow Kelsey has been taking tap, jazz, and funk since the age of 4. She began dancing in Winnipeg Manitoba before coming to Victoria and BroadStreet Dance in 1994. As a young teen, Kelsey assisted the pre-school dancers at BroadStreet Dance and taught at various studios and recreation centers in Victoria. A bright, enthusiastic dancer both on stage and off, Kelsey has been seen on stage in various festivals and recitals. After taking a few years off from dance to obtain her degree in Commerce, Kelsey is happy to be back and dancing and teaching at BroadStreet Dance…and we are thrilled to have her!

Heidi Benetti (B.Ed.) Heidi has been dancing in Victoria since she was five years old, studying ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theatre. When she was eight, she started dancing with Sherry at BroadStreet Dance, and never left! She has performed in many shows in Victoria with various organisations including V.O.S., UVIC's Theatre Department, and The Air Canada Dancers. In addition, Heidi taught dance at many studios and schools while obtaining her BEd. at UVIC. She has now been teaching at Bayside Middle School since 1996 and is director of their Dance & Drama program. Congratulations to Heidi and her dancers for winning the "Nancy Feguson" award at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts 'School Dance' Festival.

Emily Pitman, (BEd.) Emily Pitman, (BEd.) has been dancing and performing since the age of 3. She received her jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, hip hop and Polynesian dance training in the lower mainland with Darcelle Chin at Darcelle's Dancers, Kelly Douglas at the Douglas Ballet Academy, Jocelyn Peden and Joanne Pesusich with the Dance Mosaique Company, and Harbour Dance Centre. She has been the recipient of many awards and scholarships both in Canada and the United States, and she continues to travel, attending classes and conventions. Since Emily began teaching dance in 1995, she has enjoyed working with students of all ages and dance styles. She has taught at studios in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria; and is very excited to be a part of Sherry Black's BroadStreet Dance. As well as teaching dance, Emily has graduated with a teaching degree in elementary education from UVIC, and is back at BroadStreet Dance following a season of travels in the UK.