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Irene Booth RAD RTS, CDTA
Artistic Director/Owner Tempo Dance Academy
Irene began her dance training at the Pat Cummings School of Dance in Port Alberni, BC. Under the direction of Pat Cummings and Alison Cowan her studies included Ballet, and expanded into Tap, Jazz, Pointe and Modern Stage.
Throughout her training, Irene took part in examinations in the R.A.D. method as well as the CDTA and IDTA receiving wonderful marks throughout. She annually competed in local dance festivals and took part in many local performances and conventions.
Upon graduation from high school, Irene studied in Edmonton, Alberta at the Grant MacEwan Community College. Here Irene, graduated with distinction and received her diploma for Dance /Dance Teacher Training. Irene feels fortunate to have been given the opportunity to train with internationally renowned teachers/choreographers, as well as studying the RAD Ballet Syllabus under the direction of Gail Leonard.
Irene went on to receive her Teaching Certificate and Diploma with the Royal Academy of Dance for Ballet. Irene also holds an Associate and Full Membership with the Candian Dance Teachers Associaton for both the Ballet and Stage Divisions. Currently, Irene serves on the Executive board for the CDTA and devotes her spare time as the Ballet Chairman for the BC Branch.
In 1993, Irene founded and established Tempo Dance Academy in Nanaimo British Columbia. With twenty two years of teaching experience Irene spends much of her time mentoring and teaching her students as well as operating the school on a full time basis. Irene is a certified mentor with the R.A.D. and created a dance teacher training method in her school for those students who wish to continue on with their dance careers or pursue a teaching career.
Irene is a highly respected teacher, and her students enjoy her sense of humor, her passion and love of dance in all forms. Irene has the the ability to work with pupils of all ages and levels, having a particular skill of working with children through to professional levels. She annually prepares pupils for the R.A.D examinations, as well as C.D.T.A. examinations and has maintained a strong track record for obtaining excellent results.
During her spare time, Irene enjoys volunteering on the board of directors for the Vi Raiders Junior Football Team - National Champions 2006. Here, Irene is the Team Co-ordinator and creator for the New Vi Raiders Dance Team as well as promotes season passes and general admission tickets. She enjoys attending competitions and workshops throughout the year in Vancouver and Las Vegas and particularily enjoys adjudicating for provincial festivals within BC for both the Ballet and Stage sections. Irene recently adjudicated for the Nelson Dance Festival as well as the Prince George Dance Festival and is a certified member of the International Academy of Dance Adjudicators.
Irene constantly strives to achieve the highest levels of teaching in order to pass on her experience to her students and staff members.
Along with her husband of eighteen years she enjoys travelling and family time with their two children eleven and eight.
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Tanya Dean
Tanya began her dance training at Parksville Ballet School under the direction of Linda Klassen. Studying many forms of dance including ballet, tap, national, modern, jazz, and musical theatre, she participated in festivals, exams and performed with youth dance company "Dancestreams". She was fortunate enough to have many wonderful teachers along the way and credits many of them with her passion to teach dance. Upon her graduation, Tanya continued on to the National Ballet School where she spent two years in their teacher's training program. Shortly afterwards she became an associate member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (Tap). Since 1995 she has taught in a number of schools on the island and in Vancouver and has enjoyed many successes in teaching and choreography. In her classes, Tanya hopes to inspire her students to love dance and the performing arts and endeavors to give them the knowledge and experience they need to succeed. |
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Kirsten Graham
Kirsten Graham is an accomplished performer, teacher and choreographer who beleives in the individual artistry of each dancer. Professionally, Kirsten toured Canada and Russia with the companies Le Juene Ballet du Quebec and Ballet North of Edmonton. Kirsten began her dance training at Kirkwood Academy in Nanaimo and attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle and Banff School of Fine Arts. At the young age of 15, Kirsten was awarded the Solo Seal and competed internationally at the Adeline Genee awards in London, England. Kirsten later graduated from L'Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec in Montreal. Kirsten's career also includes, work in Canadian film with Judith Marcuse in Vancouver and summer performances at the Butchart Gardens.
After her daughter was born, Kirsten turned her attention to teaching dance full time. She has since enjoyed being a guest instructor at various summer schools and adjudicating festival in B.C. Currently, Kirsten is on staff at Tempo Dance Academy in Nanaimo and does freelance choreography. |
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Silvia Graffi
Silvia Knapp received part of her formal training at the National Ballet School and the Royal Winnipeg School. She was also awarded a full-year dance scholarship at Florida Ballet Arts in Sarasota, FLA. She then returned to Toronto and received an Honours Graduate Diploma for successfully completing the dance training program at George Brown College. Experiencing a diverse and extensive professional career in ballet, jazz and tap, Silvia has literally performed around the world, incuding Japan, Bermuda, Haiti, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Arctic and throughout North America. Her C.B.C. television credits include, Rita and Friends (The Rita MacNeil Show), Today's Special (dancer for Jeff Hyslop), and Chasing Rainbows. She has appeared in commercials for Lee Jeans, Borics Hair Salon, and the P.C. Party. Silvia's vast experience as a professional dancer has allowed her to be an exceptionally creative and innovative choreographer. Her accolades include the Canadian Armed Forces Middle East Tour, cruise ships in the Caribbean, the Magic of Rossini American Tour, various industrial shows, musical theatre productions, and fashion shows. Recently, Silvia has choreographed for the competitors of the Nanaimo Embassador Program, and the full length musical productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats.
Silvia has enjoyed being an adjudicator at numerous competitions such as the Surrey Festival of Dance, the C.N.E. Rising Star, Rhythm, D-Force, Champions and Dance Dance Canada to name a few. Originally from Toronto, Silvia is quite happy to be teaching here now in beautiful Nanaimo and is a full member of the C.D.T.A. (Canadian Dance Teachers Association) Her love of children and her passion for dance is the driving force that enables her students to find their own motivation to strive for their personal best! |
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Genevieve Caron
Genevieve moved to Nanaimo in December 2005 from Montreal, Quebec. She graduated from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree in modern dance, creation and interpretation. Since then, she has danced for different corporate shows, sports events, video clips, show bands and many Quebec promotional tours for Molson. She has travelled to the Middle East as part of the Canadian Armed Forces Showtour and danced at the Montreal and Hull Casinos for the magic show Alain Choquette and Company. Genevieve was also a proud cheerleader for the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes for 7 seasons. She has trained in many dance styles: modern, contemporary, Simonson Jazz, jazz and hip-hop; attending classes in Montreal as well as dance conferences in Toronto, Vancouver and Las Vegas.
Genevieve started teaching jazz ballet at 15 years old and has been teaching dance ever since. She teaches students from 5 years old, all the way to adults… from jazz to flash dance, modern to cheerleading, creative dance to hip-hop! From 1999 to 2005, Genevieve was the choreographer and trainer for a College dance troupe in Montreal while leading dance workshops in different dance schools and high schools throughout Quebec. She also choreographed different theme shows for corporate events and promotional dance teams, and worked as the event and entertainment coordinator for a Montreal Dance Club.
Genevieve is looking forward to working with the Tempo Dance Academy students. She can't wait to share her passion and love of dance, and life, with them! Be prepared to work hard, dance hard and laugh out loud! Let the classes begin! |
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Candice Thompson
At two years of age, Candice began her dance training at the Multi Gogo School of Dance in Nanaimo BC. When she turned five she continued her training at Tempo Dance Academy participating in disciplines to include Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. In her early teens she added Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Pointe to her schedule.
Candice began assistant teaching at the age of thirteen and it was here that she became aware of the love and desire to teach dance.
Throughout her many years of training Candice took part in RAD examinations for Ballet as well as CDTA examinations for Tap and Jazz receiving outstanding marks throughout. She participated in many local community events, competitions and dance conventions as far away as Las Vegas.
In 2007, Candice enrolled and was accepted for the Dance Teacher Training Program under the Royal Academy of Dance. Candice also successfully completed the IADA’s Dance Adjudication Training Seminar in Vancouver. She auditioned and was selected for a position on the Vi Raiders Junior Football Dance Team and enjoyed much success with the team, travelling all over BC.
In October 2008, Candice successfully completed her two year teacher training program and graduated receiving her diploma as a Registered and Certified RAD Instructor.
Candice is currently the office manager at Tempo Dance Academy as well as teaches pre-school, ballet, jazz and hip hop classes.
Candice finds it a joy to be able to share her knowledge and love of dance with her students. |
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Mary Podgorski
Tempo Dance is pleased to welcome a new addition to their staff this season Instructor Mary Podgorski.
Mary has danced professionally with Les Grands Ballet Canadienne, as guest artist for the The Nutcracker, Canadian Pacific Ballet in the role of The Snow Queen, OMO Dance Company in various modern repertoires for two full seasons. For three years Mary danced and toured with the Alberta Ballet Company in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and A Mid Summer Night’s Dream.
Mary trained with the School of Alberta Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program completing a four year post secondary training program under the direction of Murray and Nancy Kilgour. As well, Mary attended the The National Ballet School as a full time student.
As a guest teacher at the Academy’s summer syllabus this summer the students enjoyed her passion of dance, her expertise in Ballet and her warm and bright personality. We look forward to working with Mary who will be teaching Ballet, Modern, Repertoire, Pointe and Production classes. |
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Jennifer MacPherson
Jennifer MacPherson is an Associate Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (Tap, Jazz and Ballet divisions) and a soon-to-be member of the Performing Arts Educators of Canada. She began dancing at the age of three and it has been her passion ever since. Jennifer’s credits include performing and competing throughout Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.. She was the youngest ever performer to entertain guests at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland, has choreographed award-winning dances at Music Festivals and has also choreographed/danced in an independent film, “Movin’ On Up”, which was nominated for award at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. |
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