Director: Kim Breiland

Artistic Director, Kim Breiland, opened STAGES Performing Arts School in 1980 to teach “All Ages and Abilities” the love of dance.  Kim was born and raised in Victoria.  Her extensive background in Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Modern dance, Gymnastics, Partner and Flight harness work as well as her extensive performance work throughout Canada, the United States, the Middle East and Germany informs her teaching.  She has worked along side Karen Kain, Evelyn Hart, Rex Harrington, Laura Alonso, Janet Jackson, Dick Clark, Entertainment Tonight, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Stephanie Mills, the David Foster Foundation, members of Cirque Du Soleil, Saltibango, Mystere, Tap Dogs, Long John Baldry, Weird Al Yankovich, Leslie Neilson and Olympia Dukakis.  She was delighted to perform for the Prince and Princess of Wales. 

Kim choreographed LIVING COLOURS - 2010 SPIRIT SPECTACULAR in Victoria and a segment of THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY CELEBRATIONS as the Olympic Torch started its journey across Canada in Victoria on October 30th 2009.  She worked with over 200 dancers, 100 Unity Drummers, Hip Hop artist Kira Kadiri, local musicians, the media, and the final torch bearer, Jeenice Endroff, who lit the Olympic Caldron in front of the Parliament Buildings to create GLOWING HEARTS.  Kim received critical acclaim for this event and looks forward to working with the City of Victoria on future events. 

Other large scale events she has choreographed:

• CONNECTING HANDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, an international festival honouring many local politicians and dignitaries including the Ambassadors of Uruguay and Sweden, the Lt. Governor and BC’s Attorney General Wally Oppal
• Opening ceremonies for FIFA’S World Cup, Women under 20

Kim toured extensively with the overseas production of CATS and performed in the award winning THE FLIGHT OF THE DRAGON. In 2009, she found herself in front of the camera again as a singer/dancer in the CTV Television series ALIENS IN AMERICA. Her Flight Harness work also found her working along side Rachelle Lefevre in NEW MOON Movie – the 2nd part of the Twilight Saga. 

She did pre-production work for upcoming movies SUCKER PUNCHED, starring Vanessa Hudgens, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID and SORORITY WARS at STAGES with acclaimed choreographer and protégé Paul Becker. Kim has appeared in numerous videos, TV commercials and specials and has orchestrated five international tours, performing in the former Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, Cuba as well as entertaining Canadian Armed Forces during two international tours. In recognition of her work, Kim received personal congratulations from both the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of BC, Franco Dragone and Steve Wynn.  She has been the recipient of the Award of Excellence from King Entertainment in Toronto, been chosen as Arts Leader of the Year, nominated for Woman of Distinction and her Company received an M Award for the Arts. 

Kim produced DANCERS FOR LIFE and CELEBRATION of Life AIDS benefits, responsible for raising over $250,000 for the various AIDS organization in the Greater Victoria community. DANCERS FOR LIFE included some of the premiere internationally recognized dance talent from across Canada and the United States perform in Victoria in support of the event.

For the past two decades Kim has honed her skills as an adjudicator for all forms of dance. She has adjudicated extensively throughout Canada and was recently at the Provincial Finals. She also adjudicated for the renowned Dance Power competitions; Peak Invitational; 5,6,7,8 Show Time; Dance Educators; and Thunder Struck (out of the United States) as well as adjudicated for Canada Council. 

Kim’s love of children led her to develop an extensive pre-school program that caters to students as young as 12 months. This program has exploded and has been recognized as one of the top pre-school programs in the Greater Victoria Area. 

In 1982 STAGES initiated a scholarship program.  The program has grown to over $40,000 annually.  The program is endorsed and supported by Greater Victoria Schools districts 61, 62 and 63 and has seen many young performers blossom as a result.

Since its inception, Kim established a tradition at STAGES of providing dancers of all ages and levels of experience with the very best training possible in a supportive, non-competitive and caring environment. Her goals: to promote self-confidence, self-esteem and a sense of fulfillment while fostering self-expression, a healthy body image and confidence in each and every student and to nurture inspiration, creativity and pride in each student’s accomplishments. 

What Kim is most proud of are her students. Not only the ones that she has the pleasure of teaching on a daily basis but those who have gone off to work in the industry including Miss Universe 07/08, Miss Riyo Mari. 

Her students have appeared in:
 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA both as a Judge and Choreographer, 
Michael Buble’s Just Haven’t Met You Yet 
Aliens In America 
High School Musical Tour 
Hanna Montana’s World Tour 
Jonas Brothers 
Disney’s The Music Man 
OSCAR award winning movie, Chicago 
On screen in The Wicker Man with Nicolas Cage 
RV starring Robin Williams 
Totally Awesome starring Kris Kattan, 
Dee-Lovely 
A Wrinkle in Time 
Once Upon a Mattress with Carol Burnett
The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz 
Toronto’s production of Mamma Mia 
A touring production of Peter Pan 
On board major Cruise Lines 
The Rockettes
Working in the West End in London 
Productions in Las Vegas