Our Team

Madison Simms returns to Caulfield School of Dance from performing with Disney Cruise Lines, most recently as a Dancer, after completing a contract in 2019 as a Headline Performer/ Improvisational Actor. She began teaching and choreographing at Caulfield School of Dance when she herself was still a student here. Her passion for creating choreographies and inspiring the best in young vocalists and dancers is only matched by her dedication to her own development as a performing artist.

Madison’s journey in the performing arts began when she was seven years old at Caulfield School of Dance where she trained here in Ballet (to the R.A.D. Advanced Foundation level) and Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Modern/Contemporary, and Musical Theatre. She started singing at age nine, training in Classical and Contemporary voice at Caulfield School of Dance under the direction of Dr. Gina Oh, and competed at Performing Arts BC Festivals earning Provincial Representative selections five times.

Madison started assistant teaching at Caulfield while in high school and choreographed successful Musical Theatre group pieces and Song & Dance solos for competition. While in high school, Madison also attended both the UBC Summer Vocal Workshop and the Arts Club Senior Musical Theatre Intensive (twice), and is a scholarship recipient from both organizations.
Since 2016, Madison has also studied Voice and taken Masterclass with Peter Jorgensen.

After graduating high school with Distinction, Madison was invited to and attended Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London, UK) where she completed a Certificate Program in Acting in 2018. In 2019, she completed her first contract with Disney Cruise Lines. Madison choreographed Gleneagle Secondary’s 2019/2020 annual production of “Legally Blonde”. Select performing credits include Rosie in “Cabaret” (Tomo Suru Players, 2017) and Fiona in “Shrek the Musical” (Align Entertainment, 2020).

We are so pleased to have this creative and inspiring young artist and teacher working again with Caulfield School of Dance students. Welcome back Miss Madison!

Lauren Phillips B.A. (Hons) Musical Theatre

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Cierra Munro

Ballet

Cierra completed all of the Royal Academy of Dance Vocational Examinations from Intermediate to Advanced II earning Distinction; and under the training of Isabel Yuan and Lynette Kelly, received the highly prestigious Solo Seal Award in 2016.

After graduating, Cierra was selected for the Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program in 2017 under the tutelage of Anna Marie Holmes and participated in a world premier choreographed by Bruce Wells for the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival’s 80th anniversary. She later joined Oregon Ballet Theatre as a member of OBT2, Oregon Ballet Theatre’s second company. Cierra also performed in many company productions at Oregon Ballet Theatre including George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”  Read More →

Andrea Isea

Primary Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Progressing Ballet Technique®

Andrea Isea is pursuing a B.F.A. Dance Major at Simon Fraser University, with dance, kinesiology, and stage production and management courses. Andrea is fully certified in the revolutionary training method, Progressing Ballet Technique®. It is gratifying to have Miss Andrea continuing in her pursuit of a career in dance instruction after her years of Teacher Training mentorship at Caulfield School of Dance.

Andrea’s teaching draws on her love for the art and science of dance and her gift for working with children. She has a patient and clear instructing style that allows her students to understand her expectations while feeling supported to achieve them. Read More →

Nicole  Smith A.R.A.D.

Ballet, Tap, Jazz

Nicole Smith took her first steps into the world of dance at age 3 at Caulfield School of Dance, where she trained in various styles including, Ballet, Jazz/Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern/Contemporary, and Musical Theatre. Under the tutelage of R.A.D. Dual Examiner Ms. Isabel Yuan, Nicole completed her Royal Academy of Dance vocational examinations to the Advanced level. As a member of the Caulfield School of Dance Performance Training Company, and the Professional Training Division, she won numerous awards competing, and loved performing in events including provincial invitational showcases with her fellow dancers.

Immediately after her graduation from Caulfield School of Dance in 2013, Nicole was accepted into the Arts Umbrella Summer Intensive program and the Intensive Training Program at Harbour Dance Center. She later trained and performed in the Aviary Dance Company under the direction of Julio Fuentes with guest choreographer Heather Laura Gray.

As a professional dance artist, Nicole has co-choreographed and performed for the event management company, Patrick Roberge Productions and has enjoyed performing opportunities including WE Day, the 104th Grey Cup, the PNE stage, the Show of Hearts Telethon, and both the Special Olympics and Million Dollar Round Table opening ceremonies.

After completing a two-year diploma program in Recreation Studies at Langara College, Nicole utilizes her knowledge in both recreation and performing arts to create unique programs for preschool, children, youth and adults. Nicole has created special events related to the Arts and completed a 4-month long internship with the City of New Westminster. She continues her education with Langara to complete her degree. Nicole has completed her Standard First Aid, CPR/AED Level C, Wilderness Survival First Aid, High 5 and BCRPA recreation instructor training.

Nicole is determined to continue her journey in the heart of her hometown and give back to the community with the opportunity to learn and teach as a new faculty member of Caulfield Schoo of Dance – both nostalgic and humbling!

We are delighted to have Nicole’s knowledge and bright energy back in this School!

Lindsay Forbes, B.A.(Dance), B.C.R.P.A.

Ballet, Conditioning, Modern/Contemporary Dance

Lindsay Forbes trained in the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus since the age of 3. She completed a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University with a Major in Dance and Psychology then moved to Toronto where she trained with the National Ballet School. She is also a certified Barre Above barre fitness instructor and B.C.R.P.A. certified fitness instructor. Lindsay has also trained extensively in yoga and Pilates, and enjoys sharing her love of fitness with all ages.

Lindsay was a Teacher Trainee under the direction of Cori Caulfield from September 2016 to June 2017 and began instructing Adult Ballet at Caulfield School of Dance in Summer of 2017. She brings her extensive knowledge of ballet, contemporary/modern dance, and best practices in physical development to both her dance and conditioning for dance teaching.

Tiffany Levers

Primary Tap

Biography to Come

2020/21 Guest Instructors

Crystal Pite, Artistic Director of Kidd Pivot – Master Class in Improvisation, September 2020 to

Joshua Beamish, Artistic Director of  MOVETHECOMPANY – Master Class in Contemporary Technique, October 2020

Other Guest Artists to be announced.

Teacher Trainees

Catherine Eckman
Shanna Lilley, Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique®
Holly Reyburn
Kirsten Volberg

Administration

• • • Principal: Cori Caulfield
    • Administration: Lindsay Forbes, Andrea Isea and Nicole Smith

Consultants and Contributors

Biomechanical Health Consultants:

• • • Dr. Lindsay Rite BSc (Hkin), DC
      Doctor of Chiropractic
      Active Release Therapy (at CHANGEpain in Vancouver)
    • Dr. Melisssa Tancredi D.C. M.Sc. B.S. B.A.
    • Stephanie McCann, MPT, BScKIN, OLY, CAFCI (at Maxfit Movement Institute  in Port Moody)

Nutritional Consultant:

• • • Krista Parr B.F.A. (Dance), R.H.N

All  photographs of students on this site are of current or past Caulfield School of Dance students; the photos are by Laura Zeke, Aldo Monteforte, Ken Kajiwara, and Edward Yu.

Guest and Substitute Instructors

• Santé D’Amours Fortunato – Acrobatic Arts
• Kirsten Wicklund – Contemporary Ballet
• Peter Smida – Contemporary Ballet
• Brandon Lee Alley – Contemporary Ballet
• Racheal Prince – Contemporary Ballet
• Lara Barclay – Contemporary
• Kayla Dunbar (Artistic Associate of Carousel Theatre for Young People) – Voice, Acting, Musical Theatre
• Caitlin Griffin –Ballet, Pointe, Progressing Ballet Technique®, and Conditioning
• Julia Zennstrom B.F.A. (Dance) – Ballet, Pointe, Modern/Contemporary, Stage, Tap
• Heather Laura Gray – Contemporary
• Nicole Caron A.R.A.D. – Ballet and Yoga
• Dario Dinuzzi – Contemporary
• Steven Salinas – Hip Hop
• Sylvain Sinez – Ballet
• Josh Beamish – Contemporary
• Shauna Smith – Hip Hop
• Meredith Kalaman – Ballet
• Scott Augustine – Tap
• Andrew Haydock – Contemporary Dance
• Amber Funk Barton – Contemporary Dance
• Molly McDermott – Contemporary Dance and Pilates
• Braeden Burasee – Hip Hop
• Kristina Linden – Tap
• Lexi Vajda – Contemporary Dance
• Dario Dinnuzi – Contemporary Ballet
• Kelly Douglas R.A.D. R.T.S. – R.A.D. Examiner Master Classes
• Barb Towell – Voice
• Kyle Vicente – Hip Hop
• Hayden Fong – Contemporary Dance
• Sarah Corrigan – Hip Hop
• Danny Nielson – Tap
• Jennifer Varney – Barre Fitness Conditioning
• Sarah Brewer Clowes – Ballet
• Andrew Haydock – Contemporary Dance
• Krista Langtree – Conditioning
• Kazumi Evans – Acting and Musical Theatre
• Paula Giroday – Various Disciplines
• Bill Greenland – Acting
• Sarah Dixon – Acting
• Jordana Jackson – Musical Theatre, Voice, and Acting
• Ken Kajiwara – Ballroom and Swing
• Jaelan Mills –Tap, Primary Ballet
• Kara Nolte – Contemporary
• Loreli Skinner  R.A.D. R.T.S. – R.A.D. Master Classes

Lindsay Warnock B.P.A., Musical Theatre Diploma

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Lindsay Warnock is a Jessie-Award nominated actor /singer /dancer /musician /educator who has been performing professionally onstage and onscreen for companies across Canada such as Arts Club, Gateway Theatre, The Globe Theatre, and Theatre Under the Stars, for the past decade. With her extensive training in acting, film, dance and voice, she is also a trained pianist and composer who has Music Directed and Composed for companies such as CircusWest, Studio58 and Arts Club Theatre. Read More →

Crystal Wills R.A.D.R.T.S.

Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, Jazz/Lyrical

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Crystal Wills’  patience, passion, and distinctive choreography have made her a cherished guest teacher and choreographer Caulfield School of Dance.  Parallel to her teaching career, Crystal has toured with MOVETHECOMPANY and has received acclaim performing in works such as Josh Beamish’s Sold Doubt, Allemande, and Atonement, and Lara Barclay’s Caught Excerpt, in performances in B.C., Toronto, New York City, and Bangkok. Crystal has also toured with Lamondance in Germany and Brazil. Crystal has been commissioned to create work for MOVETHECOMPANY in recognition of her unique choreographic voice. Read More →

Jared Khalifa

Acrobatics

Jared Khalifa is a multidisciplinary performing artist, athlete, and teacher, born and raised in Vancouver, BC. In addition to his passion for stage and screen performance, Jared’s teaching endeavours have taken him across Canada and to Europe, working with conventions, companies, and clients including “So You Think You Can Dance”, “World of Dance”, Cirque du Soleil, and Tyler Ayres Dance and Aerial. Read More →

Danielle Gardner

Jazz/Lyrical, Contemporary, Conditioning

Danielle Gardner is an established dancer, award winning choreographer and mentor to youth around BC. Bringing her love of physical art to the forefront, she has dedicated her life to teaching young minds to unleash their creativity.

Danielle placed in the top 3 of girls in Season 3 of CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and credits this experience for propelling her dance career and shaping her into the entrepreneur she is today. Danielle has worked with top entertainment companies such as Matel, CTV, ABC, and Disney, in TV and film projects over the past decade. She has most recently been featured alongside Flash Dance‘s Jennifer Beals and “All Star” dancer Robert Roldan playing the character “Meaghan” on the hit show Motive. Past credits include Read More →

Eva Tavares B.Music (Opera)

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Eva Tavares is a proud Canadian performer.  Most recently starring as Christine Daae in the North American Tour of Phantom of the Opera, she is a graduate of the UBC Opera Program, the LAMDA Shakespeare Short Course and the Banff/Citadel Theatre Professional Training Program. Previous credits include: Marta in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Maria in West Side Story, Anne in A Little Night Music, Harry in Albert Herring, Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, and the world premiere of Sousatzka starring Victoria Clark.

Originally training as a dancer, Eva is also active in the dance community, most recently choreographing Die Fledermaus for Vancouver Opera. When she isn’t performing or choreographing, Tavares continues to work as a coach and mentor across North America and the UK.

Dr. Gina Oh D. Music, D.E.S.S., M. Music, B. Music (Voice)

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Dr. Gina Oh developed the voice program of Caulfield School of Dance to where it is today – recognized as one of the most successful in the province. We are honoured to have this gifted instructor mentoring our young singers.Jordan Fassina headshot

Dr. Oh completed her doctorate dissertation on breathing physiology and awareness for the singer at l’Université de Montréal where she also succeeded in her studies in French and was recognized with the Cedric Ferguson Award. She holds a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston. Read More →

Makayla Moore

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Makayla is a professional dancer, actor and educator. She grew up in Calgary where she trained as a competitive dancer at Drewitz Dance Productions. After receiving a scholarship to Harbour Dance Center, Makayla moved to Vancouver to join The Source Dance Company while enrolled in Capilano University’s Musical Theatre Program. Since graduating in 2014, she has had the pleasure of performing on both stage and screen, across Canada and throughout the world. Credits include Toronto Raptors Dance Pak (NBA Dancer), Crazy for You (Citadel/Theatre Calgary), Ross Petty Panto (The Elgin), Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot (The Arts Club), Grease, Footloose (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Evita (Vancouver Opera), James and the Giant Peach (CTYP) and a featured dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Jordan Fassina

Street Styles

Jordan Fassina’s fervor for dance began in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his foundation in dance was set. Since, Jordan has invested in his knowledge of street dance from house, hip-hop, new jack swing, Afrobeat and other forms. While residing in Vancouver, Jordan pursued his development through training under Culturally Defined (Street Dance Company, directed by Kyle Vicente and Chris Wong); Illustrative Society (Professional dance and development, directed by Tristan Anderson and Joseph Tuliao); Progressive Freestyle/Street Dance with Natasha Gorrie and others; Ketch Di Vybz (Afro/Dancehall training company, directed by Mikhail “Venom” Morris and Judy Madarász); Higher Ground (Street dance/freestyle training company, directed by Natasha Gorrie and Bryce Koebel).

Jordan aims to provide a holistic teaching experience through developing body awareness, imparting knowledge, and refining execution, from technical basics through to complex choreography.

Linda Arkelian

Ballet, Contemporary/Modern, Acting/Musical Theatre

Linda Arkelian has performed internationally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Theatre Ballet of Canada, Anna Wyman Dance Theatre and the Judith Marcuse Dance Company.

Linda has choreographed and collaborated in the creation of numerous contemporary dance projects. She teaches Ballet and Contemporary Dance at Scotiabank Dance Centre, as well as Advanced Ballet at the School for the Contemporary Arts, Simon Fraser University. She is also ballet instructor and repertoire coach at Lamondance Company. Read More →

David Secunda M.A. (Art Education)

Acting/Musical Theatre

Originally a visual artist specializing in fibre arts, David Secunda began experimenting in ritual style performance art at gallery openings and conferences such as the International Sculpture Symposium in 1978. Through the 1980s David Secunda performed physical theatre, puppetry, and performance art touring nationally and internationally with Imago and Theatre of Giants. David’s work was recognized with several Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council grants.

In 1989 he became a theatre arts teacher in Coquitlam directing 23 musicals and dozens of other plays at Terry Fox, Centennial, and, Riverside Secondary Schools. Favourite musicals directed include “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Hair”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Godspell”, “Westside Story” and “Copacabana”. After retiring from teaching he has appeared in several films and plays including “We Are Three Sisters” and “Marriage of Figaro” and “Escape from Happiness”. Favourite film credit include Brandon Norman’s “Cohesion”. Most recently he directed and dramaturged Joylyn Secunda’s solo show, “The Moaning Yoni”, which is touring Fringe festivals.

Katherine Cahoon A.R.A.D.

Hip Hop, Tap, Stage, Jazz/Lyrical, Ballet

Katherine Cahoon began assistant teaching at Caulfield School of Dance in 2012. She became a Teacher Trainee at Caulfield School of Dance in September of 2016 and in that year distinguished herself choreographing for group courses, including the Professional Training Division Musical Theatre group’s Christmas presentation, and several very successful competitive solo and duo pieces. Now in her second year as a Faculty member  Read More →

Emily Nicholson

Ballet, Pointe

Emily Nicholson was born in B.C. and began her ballet education with Avril Johns. She later trained at the National Ballet School and the Goh Ballet Academy before moving to Calgary in 2006 to dance with the Albert Ballet. She loved performing in Madame Butterfly, Othello, The Fiddle and the Drum, Alice in Wonderland, and Swan Lake. Some of her favourite roles with the Alberta Ballet also include Arabian in The Nutcracker, Demon in Love Lies Bleeding, Pas de deux #4  from Songs of a Wayfarer choreographed by Emily Molnar, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Prairie People in Jean Grand-Maître’s Balletlujah!. After ten years with the company, Emily retired and returned to B.C. to raise her family. Read More →

Talietha Sangha

Talietha Sangha, a native to Vancouver Island, has a long history in Musical Theatre, Dance and Voice. She graduated from the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Acting for Stage and Screen at Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts where she studied Opera. She also holds a high level Vocal and Piano Royal Conservatory of Music Certificates.

As professional actor and Musical Theatre performer, Talietha loves to share her passion for the performing arts through teaching. Her approach is strongly rooted in classical voice pedagogy and emphasizes vocal health and proper technique development.

She teaches Musical Theatre, Jazz, Pop, Folk and Classical singing. She has taught students of all ages and levels in groups and individually and loves inspiring them to be more inquisitive and fearless as she guides them on their journey to musical and theatrical self-expression.

Morgan McQueen R.A.D.R.T.S.

Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap

Morgan McQueen began taking dance classes from Deborah Cameron at the age of three at Cameron Academy of Classic Dance; she also trained at Dance Expressions under the direction Barry Colter and Tara Macdonald. Morgan’s love for ballet was always strong, even as she developed as a dancer excelling in several dance forms including, tap, jazz/lyrical, musical theatre, and hip hop. Morgan’s postsecondary training included training in Canada and the U.S. with Dawn Braun Crawford, Alyssa Parry, and others.

Morgan’s passion for teaching classical ballet as a career led her to pursue her Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies with the Royal Academy of Dance. She has been teaching for over 18 years and her talent as a dance educator has helped her students earn many scholarships, bursaries, and professional achievements. Morgan always aspires to influence her students as her teacher’s did her.

Barbara Towell

Voice, Musical Theatre

Barbara Towell graduated from the University of British Columbia’s with her Master’s of Music in Opera program. An accomplished singer in a variety of repertoire from opera to art song to jazz puts her on the leading edge of the ever-changing world of classical music. Operatic appearances include: Hansel in “Hansel and Gretel”, Cherubino in “Le Nozze di Figaro”, Flora in “La Traviata”, and Berta in “The Barber of Sevilla”.  Barbara was also a member of the ensemble cast of “Sweeney Todd” with Vancouver Opera and performed in he chorus for “Die Fledermaus”.

In November 2014 Barbara was honoured to perform in the world premiere of Vancouver Opera’s “Stickboy” based on the novel by acclaimed poet Shane Koyczan. She was also a cast member of the world premiere of “The Lake / N-ha-a-itk” with Astrolabe Musik Theatre and Turning Point Ensemble, in collaboration with Westbank First Nation.

Also in demand for concert and oratorio Barbara has recently performed Handel’s Messiah with Vancouver Bach Choir and St.John’s Passion with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra. Barbara recently completed a tour of BC, performing in the hilarious show “Opera for Everyone” with the Canadian operatic supergroup Quintessence. In the 2017-2018 season she performs in Vancouver Opera’s Russian White Nights Festival in the chorus for “Eugene Onegin”.

Ms. Barb has been instructing voice and musical theatre for several years t Caulfield School of Dance and elsewhere. Her calm and gentle yet exacting approach instills both confidence and skill in her students.

Melody Courage B. Music (Voice), M.P.D. 

Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting

Melody Courage is a professional opera singer and voice instructor. Melody has taught students of all ages and levels preparing them for musical theatre auditions, festival competitions, and performances, for over ten years. Melody received her degree and diploma in Opera Performance from the Vancouver Academy of Music after studying music at the University of British Columbia. She also teaches piano.

Caulfield School of Dance
2610 St Johns Street
Port Moody, BC
V3H 2B6
604 469 9366
admin@caulfield.bc.ca