Haley Toal is an award-winning choreographer, instructor, adjudicator, mentor, and business owner based in Courtenay, BC. She holds certifications with the ISTD (Tap), Acrobatique/Acro Dance Teacher’s Association, Acrobatic Arts, and the Shumka Dance Syllabus Academy, and is a certified adjudicator through both the Dance Leadership Institute and Acrobatic Arts. With over a decade of teaching and business experience, Haley has earned numerous accolades for her choreography, including top overall scores, choreography awards, studio excellence awards, and special judges’ recognitions at competitions and festivals across Canada and the U.S. Her choreography is celebrated for its innovation and musicality. Haley brings a unique and inclusive approach to teaching, with experience working with dancers of all ages—from preschoolers to adults—as well as individuals with diverse needs and abilities. Her classes are known for being positive, structured, and supportive, helping students develop not only strong technical foundations but also confidence, discipline, and resilience. She is passionate about mentoring young people and using dance as a tool for life skill development and personal growth. Her students have received prestigious convention scholarships, overall titles, and more, recognized for their performance quality, technique, and versatility. Many have gone on to perform in community theatre productions, attend elite summer intensives, and pursue post-secondary programs in dance and theatre. Several are now successful dancers, performers, teachers, and choreographers themselves. Haley’s own dance training began at age 3, with over 10 years at Brian Kruse School of Dance training under Brian Kruse, and Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers, where she was mentored by her mother, Carrie Toal, and Artistic Director “Auntie” Janette Martin-Lutzer. She was recognized for her performance abilities at the BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival and received scholarships at the Dupree Dance Convention in Seattle. In 2015, at just 17, Haley founded VIREO School of Performing Arts Ltd. to provide the Comox Valley with a studio rooted in inclusivity, technical excellence, and community spirit. As an adjudicator, she continues to travel across Canada, sharing her knowledge and passion with dancers at all stages of their journey.

Ava is a dancer and teacher who brings over 10 years of competitive dance experience, a few years of teaching and years of business to Vireo School of Performing Arts. She began dancing at just three years old in her small hometown in Saskatchewan, where she grew up competing and developing a strong love for performance. Throughout her training, she completed multiple ADAPT exams as well as RAD ballet exams, gaining a strong technical foundation in both syllabus work and performance. At 14, she traveled to Toronto to complete her ADAPT Assistant Teacher certification, further building her knowledge in technique and dance education. After moving to Vancouver Island at 18, she continued to stay connected to dance through both adult classes and teaching, gaining experience from multiple perspectives and continuing to grow as both a dancer and educator. At Vireo, she works alongside Haley, the owner, to help create a studio environment where kids can truly be themselves, feel supported, and grow both as dancers and individuals. She is involved in both the studio and behind-the-scenes operations—teaching, supporting dancers, and managing administrative work and social media. She is known for her bubbly, positive energy and is passionate about creating a space where dancers feel happy, confident, and excited to be in the studio. She loves building connections with dancers and strives to be a positive role model, encouraging them to have fun, work hard, and truly enjoy their dance experience while growing as both performers and individuals.

Affectionately known by her VIREO family as Wooly, Carrie Toal brings decades of business and customer service expertise to the studio, as well as years upon years of dance knowledge. From sewing costumes, to chaperoning competition and field trips, to preparing dancers for the competition stage, to teaching valuable life lessons to young dancers, to ensuring that the studio runs smoothly, Wooly does it all! 

Rebecca received exceptional training at the Parksville Ballet School under the direction of Linda Klassen during her youth. Rebecca fell in love with traveling as soon as she moved to England to dance. She studied all dance styles at Laine Theatre Arts. Returning to Canada Rebecca graduated from the Contemporary Division of the School Of Dance in Ottawa, Canada. She worked with Canadian dance luminaries such as Brian Webb, Peter Boneham, Massimo Agostinelli, Sarah Bild, Serge Bennathan, Yvonne Coutts, Sylvie Desrosiers, Tedd Robinson, Meagan O Shea and Cathy Kyle Fenton. After graduation she created her first professional piece while being mentored by Peter Boneham. Performing professionally in the Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto area, Rebecca decided to pick up and see more of the world. Traveling to Melbourne Australia, Rebecca performed in Adelaide’s Fringe festival, A collaboration of music, art and dance all improvised. To add to Rebecca’s diploma in Contemporary dance She then went on to complete a 500hr Yoga Teacher Training at the Australian Yoga Academy. After 4 years of working, learning and teaching in Australia it was time for a change, Rebecca took the long way home and stopped in India to complete a 200hr Vinyasa yoga teacher training. Upon returning home Rebecca continued her Cecchetti studies with Linda Klassen. Rebecca’s award winning choreography has had an impact up and down Vancouver Island. Rebecca keeps learning and training in order to continue to share her passion and love of movement with the dancers of her home community.

Katherine is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher with over 10 years of teaching experience. Katherine grew up dancing in Toronto, Ontario and received many awards, training, and performance opportunities. Upon graduating high school, Katherine moved to Vancouver, BC where she pursued her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at SFU School for Contemporary Arts studying contemporary, modern, and ballet dance styles. During her time at SFU Katherine was an avid member of the Dance Student Union and trained and performed works by renowned choreographers and teachers. At SFU, Katherine apprenticed with Vancouver based companies and produced the show Ascension in collaboration with the SFU music, theatre production and visual arts students. After her time at SFU, Katherine had the opportunity to dance, train and work in Canada and abroad. Katherine has worked with choreographers based in Vancouver, Brussels and Berlin and her own choreographic works have been performed and presented in Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Brussels. Katherine has trained internationally with David Zambrano (Brussels), Company 605 (Vancouver), Helen Walkley (Vancouver), Toronto Dance Theatre, EDAM Dance (Vancouver), Billie Hanne (Berlin) and in Fighting Monkey Practice (Amsterdam).  Katherine is also a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor!

Jessica Carter is an award winning choreographer and passionate teacher with more then10 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.

Alexis Dueck is an accomplished gymnast and dancer. Alexis did competitive dance and gymnastics for several years, receiving accolades for her solo, duet, and group performances at various competitions across British Columbia and Washington State. She has always loved training hard and performing on stage, but Alexis’ most special memories from her time as a competitive dancer at VIREO are all the strong bonds she made with her teammates over the years while travelling and performing together.  Aside from her many years as a dancer and gymnast, Alexis is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor as well as a certified Alixia Flexibility instructor. As a teacher, Alexis is very nurturing and creates a fun and exciting environment for her students to learn and achieve new skills. Her favourite thing about teaching is helping young dancers accomplish something new, and celebrating them along the way! Alexis’ favourite thing about dance is moving her body and being in a hard-working environment with like-minded individuals. Outside of dance, Alexis loves to spend time with her friends and family. She is so excited to share her passion for dance and acrobatics/gymnastics with the next generation of dancers at VIREO this season!

Danielle has been dancing for over 10 years and teaching for the past 3. She specializes in jazz and lyrical and loves helping her students grow stronger, build confidence, and feel comfortable expressing themselves through movement. Her choreography has earned multiple special awards at competitions, with many of her solos placing first. Danielle focuses on creating dances that are fun to perform, tell a story, and highlight each dancer’s unique strengths and personality. She loves being part of the VIREO community for its support and encouragement of both dancers and teachers. Danielle is excited to continue sharing her passion and inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Liss Fisette began her musical training at 11 years old with piano lessons and playing flute in band.  She quickly flew through levels of piano exams.  At 16 she was offered the opportunity to start teaching piano students of her own.  Liss had always wanted to teach even as a small child, so the job came naturally to her.  At the same time an interest in singing started to emerge.  She had always loved musicals and the desire to sing was strong.  Although she started out at university in sciences it quickly became clear to her that music and teaching were what she truly wanted to do.  In 2000 she began her bachelor's of music degree with a major in piano.  She graduated in 2004 with the highest grades in her graduating class.  Although piano was always her major she found teachers and opportunities to advance her voice training.  When she moved back to the Comox Valley in 2004 she started teaching private lessons and continued to study voice.  Her passion for teaching and music is obvious in her students and their love of what they have learned. We are so excited to have Liss join us again for the 2025/26 season to share all of her musical expertise!