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

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.

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.

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!

Leah Smart Our 'Tap/Jazz Combo' and 'Hip Hop for Teens' teacher, Leah Smart started her love of dance at Sinclair Academy of Performing Arts. She has been studying with Ms Martin since then, and has received top marks in her R.A.D. and I.S.T.D. exams. Leah came to BroadStreet Dance at age eleven, and as a triple threat dancer with a love of performing, Leah has been a provincial representative for stage dance twice...in 2003 and 2005. In her young career, she has received many scholarships and awards. "An excellent role model, Leah never misses class and always dances 100% full out. Leah has been able to impart her enthusiasm and love of being onstage to her young students, and we get to see them excel on stage as a result!"

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.

Laura Christensen, (BEd.) Laura has been teaching recreational and studio dance classes for preschoolers, children, teens, and adults for 8 years, in hip hop, jazz and ballet. She danced throughout high school as a member of STAGES Performing Arts School and Company, and performed as a member of the Uvic Dance Company for two years while completing her degree in Education and with Lia here at BroadStreet Dance. In addition to BroadStreet Dance, Laura currently teaches dance at the University of Victoria and is working as a substitute elementary teacher

Javier Monsalve Javier Monsalve is the Founder and Director of Sabor Asi Dance Company Ltd. which is one of Vancouver Island’s most popular Latin dance companies. He is also the artistic director, choreographer, lead dancer and trainer for the various performance groups that are run by the company. He was born in Chile and has been teaching Latin dance for more than 4 years. Although his main focus is on salsa and bachata, he also teaches Reggaeton, Cha Cha, Rumba, Casino Rueda and Cumbia. He is one of the most charismatic and talented salsa dancers and instructors on the island and is known for his smooth, imaginative moves and natural funky body movement. His upbeat Latin dance classes are famous for their sabor (flavour), technique and humour. Javier has danced and competed internationally (L.A., New York, Puerto Rico, Calgary, Vancouver, etc.) with some of the world’s top talent and has studied with world famous instructors.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.