| Edmonton Dance Centre Faculty & Staff | |
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Deborah Morgan, ARAD Dip RBS TTC Director - Edmonton Dance Centre |
| Deborah began her training at the Arts Educational School in England, later receiving a scholarship for study at the Royal Ballet School. Upon graduation she was awarded the Royal Ballet Diploma for the teaching of ballet. Consequently she was invited to teach at the Alberta Ballet School, and was promoted to Principal in 1983. While there, she developed the professional stream of the school, introduced a teacher-training program and implemented the High School Credit program. She also proved invaluable to the Alberta Ballet Company acting as rehearsal mistress for all their productions requiring students and subsequently became a regular guest teacher for the company until their relocation to Calgary. From 1992 - June 1998, she co-directed the Edmonton Dance Centre becoming sole owner & director of the school in July 1998. Deborah was also a faculty member of the Dance program at Grant MacEwan College from 1996 – 2004. She has served as a juror for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Alberta Study Grants and the Alberta Dance Alliance and in 1995 was awarded an Alberta Heritage scholarship. Since 2007 Deborah has also held appointments as a Practical Teaching Supervisor and Tutor for the Royal Academy of Dance Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies. Deborah has had students go on to perform with the Dutch National Ballet Company, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grande Ballet Canadiens, Alberta Ballet, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and numerous other companies in North America and Europe. Deborah is known in Edmonton for her expertise, artistic integrity, and her commitment to excellence. |
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| Monique Langevin-Connell, RAD Teaching Cert. | |
| Monique trained in Edmonton before successfully completing the Dance Teacher Training Course at the Hammond School in England. After graduation, Monique returned to Alberta where she taught for, the Vermilion Dance Assoc., Wainwright Dance Academy and the Kitscoty Dance Academy . In 1987 she accepted a teaching position with the Alberta Ballet School (now Dance Alberta). During this time Monique was the Nutcracker Rehearsal Assistant for the Alberta Ballet for two seasons. In 1997 she resigned from Dance Alberta and joined the faculty of the Edmonton Dance Centre. Monique was also a faculty member of the Dance program at Grant MacEwan College for the 2003 – 2004 school year. She has successfully entered numerous students for examinations. Her classes are always full of energy and enthusiasm. | |
| Solveig Groenland | |
| Solveig's modern classes are based on the Paul Taylor and Erik Hawkins technique, focusing on the use of floor work and the "suspend and fall" of contemporary movement. Her classes are very popular and her choreography consistently receives recognition. She has studied in Montreal with BJM Danse, O Vertigo and Isabele Gotskowski. Solveig is also an honours graduate of the Grant MacEwan University's Dance program and as Resident Choreographer for Citie Ballet since 2006 she has created many innovative new works. She has experience teaching all age groups and is in high demand for private classes, coaching, and choreography. Her conditioning class integrates theraband work, components from her Pilates training as well as her back ground in Iaido and Capoeira. She constantly attends workshops and classes consistently expanding her knowledge of pedagogue and dance instruction. Her students are known for their courtesy, professionalism, and commitment to their performances. Solveig also holds her Associate accreditation with the Cecchetti Society of Canada and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and she is currently working towards her Associate Diploma accreditation. | |
| Laurence Menotti, Resident Guest Instructor | |
| Born in France, Laurence began her training in 1973 under the careful tutelage of her mother Nicole Menotti and in 1978 successfully auditioned for the Geneva Dance Center, Switzerland. In 1986 she was selected to compete at the illustrious International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. That same year she accepted a contract with the Ballet du Nord Company in France where she remained as principal dancer for fifteen years. She joined the Alberta Ballet Company under the directorship of Mikko Nissinen in 2001. As a dancer Laurence was equally adept in classical and contemporary ballets. She had a strong technique, was musical and extremely expressive, and there is no doubt she brings these qualities to her teaching. While pursuing her dance career Laurence was also able to work towards obtaining The State Diploma for Dance Teaching from the French government. Since retiring from dancing in 2003 she has taught both in Canada and France, has sat as a juror for the Ballet du Nord and is in great demand as a private coach. |
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