FACULTY

Artistic Director / Principal - Denise Lafortune

Denise Lafortune has been a ballet teacher for 23 years.  She is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance with Registered Teacher Status.  Denise has been classically trained in Royal Academy of Dance, Cecchetti and Vaganova methods.  Her primary training was with the Goh Ballet of Vancouver, Soonee Lee of The Vancouver Academy of Musica, and Mara McBirney.  Denise has attended numerous Masters Classes and spring seminars taught by prominent international guest artists including Karen Kain, Celia Franca, Melissa Hayden, Jeff Hyslop, David Maroni, Ben Stevenson and many others.

Denise has received professional training with The Royal Academy of Dance (London, England), Royal Winnipeg Ballet Professional Division, Janet Sassoon (San Francisco), Ecole Supérieure de Danse de Montréal (Professional School for Les Grande Ballets Canadiens), and the Simon Fraser University Contemporary Dance Program.

Denise has taught, studied, choreographed and performed internationally.

Instructor - Baby Ballet & Ballet Basics - Carlin Swift

Carlin has been studying ballet since the age of three.  She began teaching five years ago, specializing in pre-school ballet programs.  Carlin has been a youth mentor with Abbotsford Community Services and has devoted many volunteer hours working with youth in our community.  She has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology.  Her dedication and ingenuity with preschool children and dance creates fun programs that engage children in productive learning that both teaches and entertains.