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For BCTF Teachers, the conference fee includes:
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membership to the BC Dance Educators’ Association PSA
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access to the members-only section of the website
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admission to the conference, including:
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access to all conference documents
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lunch
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chance to win a door prize
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collaborate with your peers from across the province
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Student teachers, retirees/EOCs/FTE<.5, subscribers (non-BCTF members), dance studio teachers, and private school teachers are welcome and encouraged to attend as well.
Early Bird rates are applicable until October 1
Regular rates apply until 10pm until October 23
Conference Schedule below:
Clinician details & workshop information below:
BCTF $100
NON-BCTF $115.00
Half Day Option $50.00
BCTF $120.00
NON-BCTF $140.00
Half Day Option $60.00
Student Teachers $80
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
Brenda Cowie
Brenda Cowie was cast in her first role at the age of eight, playing Shirley
Temple in a CBC tribute to old Hollywood. Since then she has hardly taken the tap
shoes off her feet! Brenda has travelled the world with her tap shoes, performing,
training and teaching. Highlights include working with Lynn Daly and the Jazz Tap
Ensemble in LA; training with, and subbing in for, Derek Hartley at Pineapple
Studios in London; receiving an invitation to take private lessons with Victor Cuno
in Paris (in French!) and attending workshops with tap dance masters such as
Heather Cornell, Arthur Duncan and Gregory Hines.
Brenda spent five years working in England with inclusive dance organization,
Gdance, leading dance sessions for young people with disabilities. Here in the
Lower Mainland, Brenda taught at various local dance studios as she completed
the Education program at UBC. She taught Dance at Frank Hurt Secondary, in
Surrey and is now an Elementary Performing Arts Teacher in the Langley school
district.
Brenda has a Masters in Arts Education from SFU and is currently working on a
series of site-specific, tap dance films.
WORKSHOP 1: TAP (Intermediate/Secondary)
WORKSHOP 2: BODY RHYTHM (All Levels)
Sara Close
Sara is a Strength Coach, Personal Trainer, Mobility Specialist, and Olympic Weightlifting Coach, based in Vancouver, BC. She has worked with a diverse population of people, helping them gain, or regain, their strength to live functional, confident, and pain free lives. Her coaching and teaching experience spans 20 years, where she has worked with all ages and backgrounds, however, her main specialty is youth athletic development. Her focus is on providing the education and training necessary to build strength, increase range of motion, and mitigate injury; guiding youth on the path of strength and resiliency for a successful future in their life and activities. She is the proud director of DanceStrong, a program specifically geared towards dancers, looking to enhance their movement and performance potential. Growing up as a competitive dancer, and eventually entering into a 20 year career as a dance instructor and choreographer, she recognizes the need for a healthy balance between skill, foundation, and life. DanceStrong bridges the gap and provides dancers with mindful support to keep them moving. Although Sara now spends most of her time in the gym instead of the studio, she continues to advocate for dancers in need of a healthy balance. Her main focus as a dance instructor was on technique and choreography, in various styles including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and tap. Sara is also an NCCP Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach. She has had the pleasure of coaching many youth and adults on their journey to compete in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting in BC. Credentials: NCCP Weightlifting Coach BCRPA – Certified Personal Trainer Agatsu Level 1 Kettlebell Coach FRCms – Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist Kinstretch Certified Instructor BCWA TO4 Certified - Olympic Weightlifting Technical Official CFFF TO1 Certified - Canadian Functional Fitness Federation Technical Official Precision Nutrition L1 (in progress)
WORKSHOP: STRENGTH & MOBILITY (Upper Intermediate/Secondary)
Dance is an athletic art. Between the grace, aesthetics, and artist's expression, there is athleticism. That athleticism is what requires a dancer to train like an athlete. In this two-part class, participants will learn about the benefits of strength and mobility training for dancers. Discussions will focus on why strength and mobility training is a necessary tool for building a strong foundation to mitigate injury, as well as how it can level up a dancer’s movement potential. Part 1: Mobility Participants will be guided through a movement assessment to get a better glimpse at how their own bodies are moving. Various mobility protocols will be taught with a focus on targeting joint movement limitations, increasing range of motion, and maintaining healthy movement. Part 2: Strength Participants will be educated on proper technique for basic functional movements used to develop strength (squat, hinge, push, pull, lunge, etc.), as well as learn additional tools to progress specific attributes like power, and speed. Modifications and progressions will also be provided as options for individual needs. By the end of the class, participants will have gained insight into the benefits of building a strong foundation to support dancing, with exercises and protocols that they can immediately start implementing in the classroom, and at home.
Sophie Dow
Treaty 1-born Sophie Dow is a multidisciplinary creator, inspired by dance, music, film, collaboration and Michif/Assiniboine + French/Ukrainian roots. An avid adventurer, Sophie exudes passions for busking and traveling on top of holding a degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from York University. Sophie presently fulfills roles as: artistic associate of O.Dela Arts, The Chimera Project & V’ni Dansi/Louis Riel Métis Dancers, residency coordinator at Dance West Network, creative director of PEC’s Flight Festival, a licensed practitioner of Traditional Thai Massage, a trained facilitator & student of BreathWave, a freelance dancer/choreographer/sound designer and a puddle jumping trickster.
WORKSHOP: INDIGENOUS DANCE (All Levels)
Listen, gather, explore the reciprocity of the circle and cycles within our stories, memories from the earth and the imprints within our own bodies. This workshop welcomes all ages to move and reflect as they embody understandings through some of the origin principles & dances of Turtle Island. Participants are invited to consider what you carry in your personal bundle. Together, we’ll tour a series of teachings naturally ingrained in our bones by proxy of living and residing as human beings on this planet and particularly this land.
Prince Nii Engmann
Prince Nii is an award winning dancer, actor and choreographer from Vancouver, Canada. With a unique style that blends versatility and creativity, Prince has become a source of inspiration for artists across the globe. His work has been featured in major productions for Disney, Netflix, Apple, CBS, NBC, and more, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. He travels worldwide teaching multiple dance styles including Modern Afro Dance, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk and other Street Styles, and teaches at Harbour Dance Centre and A3 District locally in Vancouver. His goal is to spread the knowledge and culture of the African Diaspora so that in educating others about the past we can strengthen our present and build a better tomorrow.
Nii-Okwei Engmann
WORKSHOP 1: HIP HOP (Secondary)
This class will be choreography based. After discussing the cultural foundation of hip-hop, students will be taken through the Grooves that are the building blocks of hip-hop movement. From there they will learn a short routine to bring together all the information they've learned.'
WORKSHOP 2: AFROBEATS (All Levels)
This class will focus on the culture and foundational movements of West African modern party dances! Open to all ages, the exercises will go through the basics of physical coordination in connection to the music.
Erika Mayall
ONLINE HALF DAY WORKSHOP: Active Mobility for Dancers
Improving flexibility is often a top goal for dancers, but many flexibility training methods are outdated or ineffective. Active mobility is an approach to training flexibility that is safe and effective. Unlike static, passive stretching which is common in the dance world, active mobility allows us to create mobility at varying angles, positions, ranges and planes of action - which more closely mimics the demands of dance. This ultimately leads to greater control through the full range of motion available to dancers.Active mobility also generates greater muscular stress and tension which can lead to increased strength, all while working on mobility. Moving through ranges in a controlled manner protects joints and connective tissue which reduces the risk of injury. In this Active Mobility Bundle you’ll get access to the Active Mobility for Dancers webinar recording where you’ll learn the theory behind flexibility and how active mobility fits into flexibility training; as well as the Active Mobility Exercise Library resource with 15 easy to implement active mobility exercises you can use with your dancers.
PhysiotherapistMPT, HBSc(Kin), CAFCI, FCAMPT
Erika is a registered physiotherapist and the owner of Allegro Performance + Wellness, a boutique physiotherapy clinic in North Vancouver that specializes in treating dancers and other artistic athletes. As a former elite dancer, Erika’s passion lies not just intreating injuries, but also in injury prevention and maximizing performance potential.Erika has a passion for education within the dance community, and is the host of The Dance Physio Podcast where she aims to bridge the gap between dance science and the studio.Erika has completed specialized training in the field of dance medicine in Australia, Canada and the United States. She is a frequent invited guest speaker on the topic of dance medicine and science locally, nationally and internationally and teaches workshops on the same topics to dancers and dance educators.
Nathan Fadear
Dancer • Choreographer • Educator • Yoga Instructor • Adjudicator
Nathan Fadear is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, yoga instructor, educator, and adjudicator from British Columbia, bringing over a decade of expertise to the global dance and entertainment industry. His artistry and versatility have taken him around the world, with standout performances including three contracts with Princess Cruise Lines, the International Diabetic Conference in Sweden, the Polish Folk Festival in Poland, and Santa’s Christmas Wonderland in Reno, Nevada.
On screen, Nathan has built an impressive portfolio across some of the industry’s most recognized studios and networks. His film and television credits span Disney, NBC, The CW, Hallmark, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Mainframe, Netflix, Roku, and Paramount Plus. Career highlights include Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Riverdale, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, iZombie, The Flash, Haters Back Off, The Man in the High Castle, Disney’s remake of Freaky Friday, Hallmark Channel’s Love at First Dance, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, and Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.
As a sought-after choreographer, Nathan’s work merges storytelling and movement with striking originality. He choreographed Dear Rouge’s chart-topping hit Fake Fame and has created movement for artists such as Matt Webb, The Promised, Fionn, and Kate Morgan. His international choreography credits also extend into the commercial world, with projects for brands including HOMEGOODS, Lenovo, LGI Homes and Mattel. His collaborations with Mattel include three Netflix feature films: Barbie Mermaid Power (2023), Barbie & Stacie to the Rescue (2024), and Barbie & Teresa: Recipe for Friendship (Spring 2025).
Beyond the stage and screen, Nathan is deeply committed to mentorship and education. A passionate advocate for young dancers, he shares his knowledge and experience to inspire the next generation to pursue their dreams with both artistry and integrity.
Follow Nathan’s journey: @natefadear
WORKSHOP 1: CONTEMPORARY (Secondary)
WORKSHOP 2: THEME BASED DANCE FOR THE CLASSROOM (Elementary)
WORKSHOP 3: IMPROV/COMPOSITION (All Levels)