2017-18 VIREO faculty

HALEY TOAL, ISDSA - OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR
Haley has been dancing and performing since the tender age of 3. She has taken the stage in a variety of forms including dance performances in the community, recitals and competitions, musicals and other theatrical productions, and also as a musician/singer-songwriter. She has trained extensively in many disciplines of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, modern, lyrical, and contemporary, as well as successfully completing ISTD Tap and ISTD Modern Theatre examinations. Haley's love of dance and the performing arts led her to begin instructing dance as  Teacher's Assistant at age 11, studying under Brian Kruse. Her teaching experience includes working with dancers of all ages and abilities, from 3 years old to adult, as well as dancers with special needs. Haley's passion lies in her teaching and choreography. She has been described as an encouraging, inspirational, and passionate teacher that knows how to draw the very best out of her students. 

At the age of 17, Haley opened VIREO School of Performing Arts to share her love of the performing arts and teaching with the Comox Valley. Her studio is known for its family-oriented, inclusive dynamics and strong focus on technique and training dancers to be athletes. Her competitive program takes dancers to the next level with intensive training and opportunities to travel throughout Canada and the United States to attend competitions and conventions. Her dancers have won several overall high score trophies and medals, gold, high gold and platinum scores, and special judges awards at competitions in Canada and the United States. 


​LAURA HARROW - INSTRUCTOR
Laura grew up in the North East of Scotland in the UK. She has performed with National youth Music Theatre & is a founding member of Elevate Contemporary Dance Company, as well has participated in the world renowned Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Laura has studied at Stella Mann College in England where she qualified with a Diploma in Music Theatre to complete her Diploma in Voice from the London College of Music. Upon graduating, Laura secured lead roles in pantomimes as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Snow White in Snow White, both for Qdos Entertainment in Addition to the role of Maisie in The Boyfriend, and ensemble in A Chorus Line, 42nd Street and Footloose. Laura now teaches various styles of dance since moving to Vancouver Island in 2012.





​LACEY BUTLER - INSTRUCTOR
Lacey grew up in Port Alberni, always living an active lifestyle - whether it was sports or enjoying the great outdoors. She was a competitive gymnast for 10 years, and then started dancing at the age of 13. The art of dance quickly became her passion. She completed advanced levels of several dance practices, including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern. Hip hop/street dance came into her life the year she was graduating high school, and she has been hooked on it ever since! Lacey has been teaching Dance for 14 years, and within that time also completed her pilates certification and attended university to obtain a Physical Education Diploma. Within her dance career she has choreographed the BC Winter Olympic Games opening ceremonies, volunteered for 3 years as the head coach of a high school dance team, ran lunch hour programs for schools, and choreographed countless routines for competitions and shows. Lacey is very excited to continue her career at VIREO School of Performing Arts for the 2017-18 season!

​

​CHAI SULLIVAN - INSTRUCTOR
Born and raised in the Comox Valley, Chai Sullivan uses music, dance and theatre as her creative outlet. Chai began her training taking dance classes with Brian Kruse in 2008. In 2012 Chai took a break from dance to figure skate competitively. Since her return in 2014 she has been a full-time member of the Vireo Stageteam, taking senior classes in every dance style. Chai's specialty is musical theatre. Knowing the cast & musical scores of most broadway shows like the back of her hand, she has been performing (acting, dancing and singing) with Rainbow Youth Theatre since 2009 and recently became the youngest member of Three Legged Dog Productions. Graduating from Vanier Secondary in the coming spring, Chai hopes to make a career of acting in musicals alongside teaching and directing. Her teaching career began last year instructing hip hop lessons for ages 3 to 13, Chai has discovered her love to choreograph and is excited to be instructing her favourite style this dance season! ​