Jennifer Groff - Studio Director

Jazz, Lyrical. Tap, and Musical Theatre and TROUPE 2013!

Jennifer has been teaching for over ten years in and around Edmonton and Grande Prairie, and also introduced structured dance lessons to a number of smaller communities in Alberta.  Her passion for teaching dance has led her to the position of Studio Director. Her experience, creativity, and commitment to excellence make her an ideal leader. 

Jennifer has been formally trained in two tap syllabi—Al Gilbert, up to and including grade 9, and I.S.T.D., through Advance level 1—as well as two ballet syllabi—Vaganova and I.S.T.D.  Jennifer has danced twice in Disney World, placed first in Hoctor’s Dance Caravan Competition in Florida and finished second in the Grande National Championship.  She has participated in many competitions in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and danced in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Alberta Winter Games. 

Since she began teaching, Jennifer has won numerous choreography awards and her students have been named most outstanding, and most promising at many competitions.  She has taken groups to British Columbia, to Los Angeles, to Disneyland, and aboard the Royal Caribbean “Mariner of the Seas” for performances, training, and competition.  Jennifer has also been asked to choreograph for Edmonton’s and Grande Prairie’s Festival of Trees and Edmonton Contemporary Dancers.  Many of her students have gone on to dance professionally in Edmonton, in Vancouver, in New York, and on cruise ships.

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Nikki Gilbertson – Senior Instructor -  Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Stretch & Strength

Nikki Harms started dancing at the age of three with baby tap and soon added  ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern.  If you have ever been around Nikki, you will notice that she is never still, and always moving her feet.  She is extremely passionate about tap dance! Nikki has experience with the CDTA syllabus, and has completed her CDTA Gold Star Tap and Jazz exams with a grade of Honours with distinction.

Nikki started competing at the age of 12 with solos in Tap, Jazz and Lyrical, and has won may outstanding, and most promising awards all over Alberta and BC.  Nikki took a few years off to continue her education and became a Graphic Designer, but soon missed dance, and has now been teaching at NOW for 4 years.  (Still doing Graphic Design on the side)  Nikki's method of teaching is about giving students confidence and style and at the same time having lots of fun.  She has attended numerous festivals, and competitions both as a participant and an instructor throughout Alberta and BC and has won awards for her choreography. 

Nikki loves teaching, and is excited to continue on with NOW Dance.

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Alexander Chung  -  Competitive Hip Hop Instructor

Best known for his enthusiasm and innovative choreography, Alexander Chung is a rapidly emerging choreographer, dancer and artistic director. In Grade ten Alex attended a private school for the arts on Vancouver Island B.C. Having many opportunities to choreograph and teach, his passion and love for dance was ignited when he was given a choreography part for the school’s company which toured Switzerland and Germany for three weeks. Alex later moved back to Edmonton and finished his high school education at Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts; where he studied Dance Composition and completed his international baccalaureate in Dance. Now back in Edmonton, Alex has choreographed for groups performing alongside artists such as Danny Fernandes, Karl Wolf, Omarion, Dragonette, Sean Kingston, B2K, Justin Blais, Fanny Pack and Super Crew. He is currently choreographing and working with artist Justin Blais. Constantly looking at bettering himself as a teacher, Alex attends many local dance conventions and routinely travels to Los Angeles to train from the world’s finest directors and choreographers. Alex currently is a choreographer, dancer and devoted member of Next Gen, one of Edmonton’s newest crews. 

This summer Alex toured China for one month alongside the production "Hip-hop Saved my Life". Over the years Alex's teaching has not only given him various opportunities to teach within Alberta but also internationally in Switzerland, China, and this Summer Alex was fortunate enough to teach in Los Angeles at Millennium Dance Complex; home of Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and many of todays top artists. Alex places strong values on fun and positive class environment were dancers come to learn, train, and make friends, yet still receive quality and professional training. 

We are excited to have Alex return as part of  the NOW Dance faculty!

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Julia Friesen  -  Ballet, Pointe  and Contemporary

Julia returns to Grande Prairie after four years studying at the University of Calgary where she has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in contemporary dance with a specialization in Ballet.  There she received training focused mainly in contemporary dance from world-renowned artists and instructors as well as ballet and pointe from the professional division of the School of Alberta Ballet.  In addition to her university education, Julia also aspired to attain an associate diploma within the Cecchetti ballet technique and after 3 years of intense instruction with the top Cecchetti experts in Canada (also through the School of Alberta Ballet) she received honours for her associate examination taken in the spring.

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Toni Shenfield  -  Competitive Hip Hop and Lyrical

Toni started dancing at the age of 3 and has had extensive training in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and ballet.

Over the years Toni has specialized her attention on hip hop and contemporary styles. She continues to keep her technique in shape by taking ballet and jazz technique classes at Shelley’s Dance Company. Her hip hop training has been under 3rd Street Beat for four years, and most recently started training with The Kore Dance Studio. Toni has been a member of Next Gen Company for two years training under the direction of Alexander Chung- Company Founder and director of The Kore. She is continually involved with learning the latest techniques and styles by constantly attending various workshops and classes, not only in Edmonton but in Vancouver and Las Angeles as well. Toni’s passion and motivation has accelerated with the opportunity to train and take class from such inspirational choreographers and teachers. Such as, Stacey Tookey, Wendi Danbrooke, Sabrina Philip, and Shelley Tookey (contemporary/jazz choreographers), Alexander Chung (Kore Dance Studio, Next Gen Company), Carlo Atienza (Faculty, 247 Company), Jerome Esplana (247 Company, Faculty), Jp Tarlit (Faculty), Mariel Martin (Choreo Cookies), and Laura Edwards, Candance Brown (hip hop choreographers). Throughout Toni’s many years of dance she has received numerous awards and scholarships. Some of the most memorable have been – Broadway Dance Centre in New York. The Edge Performing Arts Centre in LA.

In 2010 Toni had an incredible performance opportunity with 3rd Street Beat Entertainment, travelling to China for a 1 month tour to present an amazing hip hop dance production “Hip Hop Saved My Life”. She has also performed at many benefit concerts, such as Hip Hop For Hope, Kinesis, and Little Hearts Big Dreams.

Full of enthusiasm and passion Toni always looks forward to new challenges and opportunities that come her way.

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Tiffany Green  -  Lyrical, Jazz and Hip Hop

Originally from Fort St John, Tiffany moved to Grande Prairie to start her dance training at the age of ten. She fell in love with the art instantly and excelled to receive many scholarships and awards throughout BC and AB such as a chance to train in New York. In 2006 she had the opportunity to perform in Disneyland with the NOW dance performing troupe and take classes at the Edge in LA.

After graduating, Tiffany moved to Vancouver to teach at an Academy and expand her training with the “Drive Dance Center Scholarship Program.” During her year in Vancouver she appeared in Hey Ocean’s, “Song about California,” music video and had to opportunity to perform in shows for well known choreographers, Amber Funk Barton, Brock Jellison, and Geneen Georgiev. In June Tiffany travelled to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Ireland where she was inspired by the different styles around the world and hopes to incorporate this diversity into her own choreography.

Having worked with some of Vancouver’s top dancers and choreographers and learning about the commercial dance industry, she is excited to pass this knowledge onto her students at NOW Dance Studio.

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Tenille Millsap -

Preprimary Coordinator

Baby  & Pre Primary & Primary Classes

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Samantha Hoveland -  Musical Theatre, Ballet Hip Hop,  and Jazz

Samantha has trained for over 18 years in a wide variety of disciplines including hip hop, ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe and musical theater. At the age of 13, Samantha began teaching ballet classes which progressed into other disciplines.

She has attended a wide variety of classes and workshops throughout Western Canada and the United States to study different techniques and styles of dance. In addition to her training, Samantha has had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland, in Broadway Live Broadway, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, as well as various sporting events and community fundraisers.

Samantha is a versatile dancer with a unique style and an abundance of energy that has led to many awards and scholarships at numerous competitions and festivals.

Samantha is currently studying Nursing, and working/teaching at NOW Dance and we are thrilled that she is part of the Faculty!

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Kassidy Green  -  Student Teacher -  Beginner Hip Hop , Baby Ballet & Baby Jazz

Kassidy started dancing at the age of 9, and began student teaching at the age of 13.  She continues to show and share her passion for dance through hip hop, tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and musical theatre. Over the last 6 years, Kassidy has competed in many festivals and competitions in Alberta and BC, and has received a number of awards and scholarships, including the opportunity to dance in Paris.

Kassidy has also attended a variety of dance conventions and has had the privilege of training with such artists as Twitch. Lil C, Showtyme, Mia Michaels, and of course, White Chocolate. In August 2010, Kassidy had the chance to travel to Los Angeles, as part of the NOW Dance Performance Troupe, where they trained at the world renowned Edge Performing Arts Centre, and Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio. They also performed onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, as part of the ships entertainment.

Kassidy is known for her enthusiastic and energetic attitude, and she is excited to share her passion with the younger students of NOW Dance.

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Jenna Wold  -  Student Teacher - PrePrimary Ballet & Beginner Hip Hop

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STUDENT TEACHERS

TEACHER ASSISTANTS

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