THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS YEAR!
We hope you had just as much fun as we did! Please see the link below for documents from the 2024 workshop. Check back in for exciting updates regarding our 2025 workshop!
Have a great year everyone!
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, 2024.
Regular rates apply until 10pm until October 24, 2024.
For the conference schedule please see below.
Clinician details & workshop information below.
BCTF $95.00
NON-BCTF $110.00
BCTF $105.00
NON-BCTF $120.00
Donna Redlick
Donna Redlick (she/ her) is a Certified Movement Analyst in Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Studies (CMA), a Registered Master Somatic Movement Educator/Therapist (R-MSME/T), an Infant Development Movement Educator (IDME) and a professional somatic-based dance artist and teacher. She holds an MA in Creative
Dance Practice with distinction from Trinity Laban (London, UK) and a BA in Sociology, as well as a Diploma in Dance Teacher Training. She has taught all ages, in both community and post-secondary settings including; 33 years at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, sessional positions at Simon Fraser University School of Contemporary Arts and the University of British Columbia, as well as the Laban/Bartenieff and Somatic Studies International (LSSI) program as core faculty. Donna is the founder and director of Moving Arts & Somatic Studies (MASS). She offers movement re-patterning for all ages within her private practice and teaches somatic-based dance focusing on her Soma Dance Practice Methods. She is grateful to be able to reside and work in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. → For more information about Donna visit www.donnaredlick.com
Workshop 1: A Somatic Approach to Choreography: Choreographic Tools Based on Sensing Experiences
Discover a unique somatic approach to the choreographic process. In this workshop we work with sensing experiences as a way to inform the choreographic process. Learn how to set up and guide somatic sensing experiences with your students to source and form movement material that invites choreographing from the ‘inside-out’, rather than the ‘outside-in’.
Workshop 2: Moving towards a Somatic Approach to Dance: Shifting the Paradigm
Advocate, writer, and somatic educator Martha Eddy suggests that the somatic arts can inform mindfulness and conscious action, moving us towards developing nonjudgmental self-awareness. What might we experience (students and teachers) if we shifted the paradigm of traditional dance practices, towards a somatic approach? This workshop discusses a brief history of somatics and how it influenced, and continues to influence, dance education that allows for personal agency. Together, we address new ways of perceiving to expand our perspectives on what dance practice and training can be. Learn to ‘let go’ of habitual ways of facilitating and languaging dance and discover new ways of teaching dance that supports holism, body-mind integration, presence, and self-discovery.
Liz Tookey
From a very young age Liz knew she needed dance to be a part of her life. Her career has allowed her to experience a wide scope of what the industry has to offer.
She started performing with Princess Cruises, travelled to Tokyo, Japan where she was part of the featured pas de deux couple in “Encore!” at Tokyo Disney Sea, and also Egypt and Israel performing in a show tour for the Canadian military. Liz was able to exercise all of her skills in dancing, acting and singing when the
love of the stage drew her to the world of musical theatre. Throughout her career she got to play a wide variety of characters. In Theatre Calgary’s production of “Anne of Green Gables”, The Arts Club production of “Spamalot”, and a dream come true performance in the North American Premiere / Toronto Mirvish production of “Dirty Dancing” she performed as ensemble and 1st “Baby” understudy.
Liz can be seen on various episodes of the CW Network’s “Hellcats” as a featured dancer, and as Ashley Tisdale’s dance double. As Maggie Lawson’s dance double in the musical episode of “Psych”, a featured dancer in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time”, Nickelodeon’s “Jinxed”, “The Layover”, NBC’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” and Paramount’s “Rise Of The Pink Ladies”. Transitioning to the world of choreography, Liz began by assisting choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. She was also part of the creative team for ‘Reefer Madness”. Liz’s choreography can be seen on Super Channel’s “When Calls the Heart”, and most recently was the personal dance coach for award winning actor Domhnall Gleeson for the feature film Crash Pad. Liz loves to share her passion for what she does with pre-professional and professional dancers across Canada via master classes, adjudicating and choreography.
Workshop 3: SUGARFOOT PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR DANCERS
Sugarfoot Therapy is a revolutionary conditioning program created by Doctors of Physical Therapy in collaboration with many professional dancers at MOTI Physical Therapy in Los Angeles. Used by dancers and dance educators worldwide, Sugarfoot Therapy brings the exercises of sports physical therapy to dancers. When practiced regularly, these exercises are scientifically proven to help reduce injury risk and enhance performance.
Thys Armstrong
Thys Armstrong is a Canadian dance and theatre artist with over ten years of professional experience performing, creating, and teaching across Canada, the US, and Europe. Thys is currently in his fourth season as a company dancer with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Passionate about movement that is both historically rooted, yet evolutionary and expansive, he continues to deepen his love for Jazz and Tap Dance and contribute to the Canadian dance landscape.
As an educator, Thys believes that music has the power to shape movement. His approach focuses on artistry, personal expression, improvisation, dancing to music, with bent knees and a heavy pelvis, and community in and out of the studio. Thys has taught for many leading institutions across Canada including National Capital Dance Educators (Ottawa) and Pacific DanceArts (Vancouver). He now teaches at the School of Decidedly Jazz and is a sought-after teacher for summer intensives and workshops.
Thys has performed at Jacobs Pillow, Fall For Dance North, The National Arts Centre, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, and has worked with Ben Stevenson, Wen Wei Wang, Travis Knights, Vicki Adams Willis, and Lisa LaTouche. He has performed soloist and principle roles from Midsummer Night’s Dream, Giselle, and Swan Lake. From 2015-2018, Thys danced with Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver, and was resident choreographer/rehearsal director from 2020/21. In 2019/20, he danced with 3120 Dance Amsterdam, and Henny Jurriens Studio.
Workshop 1: Tap (4-12):
A community-oriented workshop focusing on fundamentals and improvisation. Discussion around Tap culture and some unlearning of traditional “studio tap” practices.
Workshop 2: Rooted Jazz Dance (8-12):
In this workshop we will focus on connecting deeply to the music and understanding Jazz dance’s intrinsic connection to Jazz music. We will get a glimpse of the broadness of Jazz dance and think critically about the way we approach the form.
Workshop 3: Music & Culture for Kids through a Jazz Dance Lens (K-7):
Jazz is a social dance form, and is saturated in stories and lessons. This workshop will highlight the importance of teaching the physicality of the form in tandem with the culture and history.
Sylvain Brochu
A performer, creator and teacher of great range and vision, Sylvain has been involved in the performing arts for four decades. As a dance artist, he has worked with numerous dance companies and had a fruitful solo career performing across Canada and abroad. As a teacher he has taught students from age 10 to 65 within recreational, university and professional training settings.
Sylvain moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2001 and since then has directed, danced and choreographed many productions which included local community dancers and professional guest artists from around BC. He also choreographed for a number of community musical theatre productions. More recently, Sylvain produced and created and performed in the successful Dance Piano & Voice, an intimate concert involving local dancers and musicians. Over the years, Sylvain’s fascination with the human body/mind led him to dive deeply into the ancient practices of yoga and shiatsu.
Although semi-retired, Sylvain teaches dance and yoga and maintains a small shiatsu practice. Informed by these wide-ranging experiences, as well as through his yoga and shiatsu practices, Sylvain's dance classes are infused with deep body knowledge. Humour, musicality, imagery, transition and connections are at the core of his inspired approach.
Workshop 3: Contemporary Dance Grades 8 -12
Sylvain’s dynamic and generous teaching is strongly influenced by his extensive background as a performer as well as the practice of mindfulness. The class begins with an “inward movement” lying down on the floor followed by simple centering and mindful mobilizations moving through various changes of levels. Once on our feet the center warm up emphasizes a dynamic relationship with gravity through the lower limbs, a comprehensive articulation of the spine and an exploration of the many actions of the “embracing” upper limbs. This is followed by various traveling movement phrases and short dance sequences where we are encouraged to make choices of dynamics while paying close attention to transition and preparations. The class ends with a cooldown circle taking us back to the inward place where we began. Musicality and connection is centre stage in this class which balances precision and flow and encourages our spirits to rise.
Isaac "Izo Dreamchaser" Gasangwa
Isaac Gasangwa, also known as Izo Dreamchaser, is a distinguished educator, creator, and ambassador of African cultures in Vancouver. With a passion for promoting African heritage, he founded Afro-Beats Van in 2017 to introduce, educate, and inspire Vancouverites to connect with African culture and history while addressing pressing social issues such as racism and police brutality. Afro-Beats Van also oGers dance classes and performance opportunities to Black artists.
Hailing from Rwanda, Isaac embarked on his professional dance journey in 2007 and, with the support of his community, organized Rwanda's first-ever dance festival in 2011. Additionally, he established the country's inaugural dance studio at Club Rafiki, a community center. This dance studio played a significant role in the post-genocide rebuilding eGorts of Rwanda by providing a purposeful outlet for orphans and keeping them oG the streets.
Upon relocating to Vancouver in 2014, Isaac took it upon himself to create opportunities and establish a platform for African dance enthusiasts.
One of the notable events he initiated is the annual BVAN (Black Vancouver Artistry Night), an awards ceremony celebrating local creatives in dance. Isaac also premiered his first full production in Sept 2023, titled "The African Dream," co-produced in partnership with Afro-Beats Van, The Dance Centre, and Dance West Network with a grant from the City of Vancouver.
Workshops
IZO’s open-level Afro-dance class provides an energetic and inclusive environment for dancers of all backgrounds and skill levels. The class focuses on traditional and contemporary Afro-dance styles, incorporating dynamic movements, rhythmic footwork, and expressive storytelling through dance. Participants can expect to learn choreography that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of African dance while also building strength, f lexibility, and coordination. Combining traditional and modern music, IZO's class creates a vibrant, engaging experience that encourages self-expression and creativity. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or new to Afro-dance, this class o ers a welcoming space to explore the beauty and power of African dance traditions. Join us for an invigorating and culturally enriching experience that will leave you feeling inspired and connected to the rhythms of the African diaspora.