OUR FACULTY

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HALEY TOAL - OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (ISTD, ISDSA)
Competition Team & Company Director
​Jazz, Technique, Ballet, Tap, Modern Stage/Musical Theatre
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 Modern Theatre examinations. Haley has trained in Ukrainian dance since the age of 3 under the instruction of her mom Carrie Toal, and Artistic Director of the Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers, Janette Martin-Lutzer. She attributes both her passion for dance and her love of performing to her time as a Ukrainian dancer. She is a certified Instructor of the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy, and enjoys using her knowledge from her time at Summer Intensives and teacher training at the Shumka School in Edmonton, AB in class to help her Ukrainian dance students grow. In other disciplines, Haley is also a certified ISTD teacher with a full teaching membership.

Haley's love of dance and the performing arts led her to begin instructing dance as a Teacher's Assistant at age 11, studying under Brian Kruse. Her 10+ years of extensive teaching experience includes working with dancers of all ages and abilities, from 3 years old to adult, as well as dancers with special needs and diverse abilities. Haley's passion lies in her teaching and mentorship. She has been described as an encouraging, inspirational, and passionate teacher that knows how to draw the very best out of her students.

In 2015 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 elite competitions and conventions. In addition to dance convention scholarships, her dancers have won countless overall high score overall scores, trophies and medals, gold, high gold and platinum scores, and special judges awards at competitions in Canada and the United States. Haley’s students can be seen performing in school and community theatre, attending intensive summer dance programs, as well as in college-level dance and theatre programs. Haley’s knowledge, experience and passion creates not only excellent dancers, but helps to raise the leaders of tomorrow.
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​LACEY BUTLER
Acro/Tumbling, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Jazz, PBT
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 17 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 a certified Progressing Ballet Technique teacher and is excited to bring PBT to the studio. Lacey is known for her tremendous dedication, extensive knowledge, and ability to create an exciting and positive environment for each dancer!
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JESSICA CARTER
Contemporary, Lyrical, Conditioning
Jessica Carter is an award winning choreographer and passionate teacher with more then
10 years teaching experience. Carter has a diverse scope of movement practices teaching open modern, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop dance styles. Carter is also trained in Stott Pilates and has completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training. Carter brings forward knowledge, passion and creativity to inspire her students. She continually strives to develop a supportive classroom environment where students can work on their personal goals and build confidence.

In Early years, Carter grew up dancing at Gemini Dance Studios and Nanaimo Ballet School
while participating in Dancestreams Youth Company. As a young dancer she received many
bursaries and scholarships and took every opportunity to further her dance training. Upon
Graduation Carter moved to Vancouver to train at Arts Umbrella and then Drive Dance
Scholarship program. During her time in the city Carter had the privilege of working with
many talented teachers and choreographers as well as participating in professional level performances.

Carter began professional choreography while working for True Colours Youth Company
along side Livea Gill Harding for 5 consecutive years. During this time is when Carter
realized her passion was for more than dancing, but also teaching and creating.
Carter’s choreography has been presented and showcased throughout Vancouver Island
winning awards through local festivals and provincial competitions. Carter is most
recognized for her creativity of movement in contact and partner work. Carter’s main success has been as a teacher. She has taught for Gemini Dance Studios, Triple Heat Academy of Performing Arts, Urban Dance Connection, Studio North Dance Academy, Dance Unlimited Performing Arts, Hip Hop Coalition, Vireo School of Performing Arts and Inner Pursuit Fitness.

Carter currently teaches at a variety of studios within the Comox Valley covering dance,
yoga, Pilates and barre fitness. Carter is passionate about movement and is eager to continue her learning and training.
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REBECCA MCLANE
Ballet Technique
Rebecca fell in love with dance at a young age, shortly after graduation she discovered a second passion; travel. She began to put the two together to travel the world while studying and working as a dancer. Her first stop was in England, where she studied all styles of dance for one year at Laine Theatre Arts.

Returning to Ottawa, Canada, Rebecca earned a diploma from The School of Dance, Contemporary Division. During this time she studied under Canadian dance luminaries Brian
Webb, Peter Boneham, Massimo Agostinelle, Sarah Bild, Serge Bennathan, Yvonne Coutts, Sylvie Desrosiers, Tedd Robinson, Meagan O Shea, and Cathy Kyle Fenton. After graduating, Rebecca created her first professional choreography under the mentorship of Peter Boneham and
enjoyed performing in the Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto areas.

Traveling to Melbourne, Australia, Rebecca performed an improvised dance, a collaboration of music, art and movement at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. While here, Rebecca dove further into her love for movement and completed a 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training at the Australian Yoga Academy and discovered barre fitness. She earned the position of Studio Manager while teaching at Aleenta Barre, Melbourneʼs newest barre fitness studio. Choreographing competitive dance routines to all ages in the surrounding area and teaching barre fitness Rebecca decided it was time to add to her teaching qualifications. Finally, Rebecca travelled to India for a 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training before heading back to her home in Parksville, B.C.

Rebecca has guest choreographed for Helix Youth Dance Theatre and teaches Modern Technique and Ballet up and down Vancouver Island. She is passionate about sharing her love of dance.
KIRSTEN POWERS
Ballet
Bio coming soon!
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ALINNA TILLER
Jazz, Lyrical
Born and raised in the Comox Valley, Alinna has been dancing on a stage since she can remember. She has danced competitively dancing in a variety of styles since the age of 10, she’s expanded her dancing opportunities at VIREO by assisting and teaching classes. Alinna has trained in a wide variety of styles; ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, musical theatre, tap, hiphop, and even cultural dancing such as Ukrainian and Irish. Alinna has taken her dancing over North America, attending competitions and conventions in Calgary, Seattle, and Vancouver. Alinna has had the opportunity to learn from award winning choreographers such as Brian Friedman and Mark Meismer. Alinna has won numerous convention scholarships from RADIX and Dupree and has won highest scoring soloist at Synergy Dance in Maple Ridge.

Alinna begun dancing at VIREO in 2017, and quickly began assisting and helping with choreography. Alinna has won double platinum and overall scores for her choreography, Alinna’s storytelling choreography will have you understand the concept of her dance, and can leave you in tears! Alinna does love all styles of dance and competing, but she is extremely passionate about teaching dance to help kids grow and feel confident with their dancing. Alinna is excited for the 2020/2021 season as it is her graduation year; she’s even more excited to build kids confidence and help them find their love for dancing.
KALEA RICHARDSON
Modern/Lyrical
Dancing since the age of 6, Kalea has trained in a variety of different styles throughout the mainland and the island. She began her dance career training in hip hop and quickly added lyrical, jazz, and ballet to her repertoire. Since joining the Vireo family, Kalea has trained in all styles of dance; ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, and even Ukrainian! Kalea has travelled all around North America attending different conventions and competitions and has been exposed to many award winning choreographers, picking up many awards along the way as a dancer - most notably a top 10 double-platinum overall placement at Dupree Dance Seattle, and was as selected out of hundreds of dancers in auditions to receive a convention scholarship.

Soon following the beginning of her dance career, Kalea developed a passion for choreography. Winning first place and an overall award at the 5678 Nationals in Whistler, Kalea’s unique style is sure to captivate any audience. While she enjoys all styles of dance, Kalea is a contemporary girl at heart and is training to complete her ISTD certification in modern dance. Kalea is looking forward to helping to train the next generation of dancers and artists at Vireo and is excited for the 2020/21 season!
LYNN CRAIG
Tap
Lynn has been dancing with VIREO since the beginning... and even earlier. First learning tap from Brian Kruse, a fantastic teacher and tap dancer, his teaching in her early career solidified her drive to practice and improve. When she was younger, Lynn took multiple styles of dance during her time as a student and has experience dancing on a competitive team. With her team, she travelled to Whistler and Seattle and has even taken classes in New York City.
As she got older, Lynn began focusing solely on tap, intertwining her love of music with her love of the dance style and beginning to choreograph her own pieces. She’s always thinking of rhythms and steps, and is always eager to further hone her skills and techniques. Now entering her 11th year as an experienced and well-trained tap dancer, she’s ready to step into the world of teaching and excited to share her knowledge and experience with others at VIREO!