Voula Rounis
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Voula found her passion dancing when she was in high school taking dance as an elective and hasn’t looked back since. She quickly took over teaching the dance team, which she continued to volunteer teaching 4 years after graduating. She started training in hip hop at Vibrant dance studio at the age of 18, and continues to train taking countless workshops and conventions from the industries best to expand her knowledge. Since moving to Vancouver in 2015 Voula was a part of EP Ryders run by A3 district. She has a number of competitions and performances under her belt including, Vancity Showcase, Vancity Project, World of dance Vancouver, Artist Emerge Vancouver, and opening for Swollen Members.
Kelly Malone AISTD
Kelly is originally from the UK and started her dance training at the Pauline Cook School of Dance at the age of 2. It was there that she trained in the IDTA syllabus (tap, modern, stage, jazz and ballet) as well as RAD (ballet).
At 15 Kelly travelled every weekend to train with the Northern Ballet as an Associate with their professional company.
She entered into full time dance and performing arts training at 16 and attended SLP College in Leeds (UK) for the next 3 years. It is here that she started her training in the ISTD syllabus and took her teaching Associate examinations. While in training Kelly also performed professionally with several dance troupes. At 19 she graduated with a Diploma in Performing Arts, Musical Theatre and Teacher Training as well as a certified teacher with the ISTD, qualified to enter students for Modern, Tap and Ballet examinations.
Immediately upon early graduation, Kelly began working as a professional dancer for the next 5 years and has several theatre and tv credits to her name. Most of her professional career was spent onboard Cruise Ships traveling the world and performing in professional shows. Kelly worked for both Princess and Celebrity Cruise Lines and worked her way up to Dance Captain.
In 2006 Kelly moved to Port Alberni and began her teaching career at Stage West. During that time she prepared students for their tap and modern ISTD examinations as well as their Stage Festival pieces. Kelly’s students have always excelled in both their examinations and at local festivals.
Kelly is Director of our Stage Program and continues to prepare students for their ISTD Tap and Modern examinations as well as teaching the bulk of jazz, musical theatre and conditioning classes. She has a strong love for working with children and is committed to helping every student to strive and improve to be the best that they can be. She is a strong believer that dance should be fun and encourages a positive environment at all times.
Sarh Formosa
Born and raised in the Greater Vancouver Area, Sarah Formosa has always had a love for performing and began dancing at the age of three. Upon high school graduation, she decided to pursue more classical ballet training so she auditioned for the prestigious Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, was accepted and began her training in San Francisco in 2014. When she finished her training, Sarah returned to Vancouver in 2016. While in Vancouver, she has expanded her craft and works in all styles of dance as a freelance contemporary artist, as well as on camera in film and television.
As an independent artist, Sarah has had the opportunity to work with David Harvey, Ralph Escamillian, Heather Dotto, Heather Laura-Gray, Jennifer Mcleish-Lewis, Alameda Civic Ballet Company, The Vancouver Opera (Josh Beamish), Company Joe Ink (Joe Laughlin) and the response. Dance Company (Amber Funk-Barton). She is honoured to currently be working with the following Vancouver based companies TWObigsteps Collective, Vision Impure (Noam Gagnon), WAREhaus Dance Collective (Meghan Hunter), Raven Spirit Dance Company (Starr Muranko), Wen Wei Dance (Wen Wei Wang) and Action at a Distance (Vanessa Goodman). In the summer of 2019 Sarah took part in Springboard Danse Montreal (Alexandra Wells) where she had the opportunity to perform an excerpt of Crystal Pite’s ‘Betroffenheit’ staged by Eric Beauchesne.
On screen, Sarah has had the pleasure of working with Disney (Descendants 3), Nickelodeon (Blurt), Lifetime (Death of a Cheerleader), FreeForm (Motherland), Netflix (To All The Boys 3) and The ABC Network (Once Upon a Time). She is grateful to have shared the space with Michelle Johnston, Kenny Ortega and Jamal Sims during these experiences. Onstage, Sarah currently is a resident performer with ‘The Smoke Show’ an immersive cabaret performance directed by Jen Oleksiuk. Sarah also had the opportunity to join Wanting Qu as a dancer and choreographer for her set for the Albatross Music Festival in Vancouver.
As a choreographer and teacher, Sarah has had the opportunity to share her work and practice with others across the Lower Mainland. In January of 2018, Sarah had her first choreographic residency with Dances for a Small Stage and her work has since been presented by Small Stage, Dancing on the Edge Vancouver and 12 Minutes Max (The Dance Centre). As a teacher, she is currently a guest with Harbour Dance Centre, Spiral Dance Company, Northshore Dance Academy, Richmond Academy of Dance, Shapeshifter Studio and Immigrant Lessons Collective.
Most recently, Sarah has started her journey as an actor and is happy to be working and training with AMAW Studios under master teacher Frank Zotter. Sarah is inspired by all art mediums including voice work and as a high-level gymnast. She is excited to add acting to diverses skillset and will continue to work and learn to become the best artist she can be.
Athena Ethier AISTD, AAC2, TADA, ALIXAFLEXIBILITY, BCDEA, PBT, IDTS
Athena was raised in Port Alberni, where she grew up dancing from the tender age of two. Athena performed at many competitions and festivals throughout the years, where she received many special awards and recognition for her own dancing, as well as choreography awards. She had the pleasure of learning from various celebrity choreographers, and training in many styles of dance. Athena’s love for teaching blossomed after she started Student teaching at the age of 12, she has not quit teaching since.
After graduation, Athena attended College and received a diploma as a Registered Cardiology Technologist, and working towards a specialty advanced certificate in Cardiac Rhythm Devices; such as cardiac pacemakers and internal defibrillators. She feels her knowledge of Human Anatomy correlates well with the physical demands of dance. She loves to pass on her knowledge to her students, so they can have an understanding of what causes their body to strengthen, move and recover.
Athena approaches every class with enthusiasm and a desire to bring the best out of her students. She strives to instil a hard work ethic in her class. She believes that learning to work hard for what you want begins right from childhood and what better way is there to learn that, than from dancing!
Athena has completed her RAD Ballet and ISTD graded Tap and Modern examinations, as well as her vocational examinations with high marks. Athena has received an Associate Teaching Certificate from the ISTD. She is a registered teacher with the International Dance Teaching Standards, and accredited as a Progressive Ballet Technique Instructor. Athena is also a current member of the BC Dance Educators association. She is currently working towards a certificate from the International Ballet Barre Fitness Association as a certified Barre Fitness teacher (level 3) and certified Barre teacher for Pre and Post-natal Classes.
Athena has further gone on to gain qualification from Acrobatic Arts, and is an Acrobatic Arts Instructor (AAC2) and can train children to adults in the Art of Acrobatics. Athena is a certified hand balancing coach with TADA certification program (level 3), and can train students in correlation with the syllabus created by former Cirque de Solei acrobat/ hand balancer Tyler Ayers. As well as a level three certified flexibility, coach with Alixa Flexibility.
Athena has a passion for continuous learning, and believes that learning is never over. Especially in the ever changing world of dance. She hopes to pass on her love of dance to all her students, from ages 2 – adult and thrives to inspire them as they inspire her every day.
Oksana Augustine
Oksana has been teaching since she was 16, so just about 10 years now. she has taught at many different studios, throughout the year as well as camps/workshops/extra work. The studios she has worked for are; Rocky Dreams Dance School (now called Westland Dance) in Rocky Mountain House Alberta, Joy’s School of Dance in Innisfail Alberta, Dancer’s Edge in Blackfalds and Lacombe Alberta, Dance Co. in Vancouver BC, and Triple Heat Dance in Courtenay BC.
Oksana started dancing competitively when she was 6 doing all styles of dance, in her graduating year I started teaching, and after graduation she did Harbour Dance’s ITP (Intensive Training Program) for one year, then she did Aviary (a small performance company run by Julio Fuentes) for 2 years, and then The Source Dance Company for one year. After that Oksana found her passion for contemporary dance and joined Modus Operandi for 4 years, and has just completed her 4th year.