School

2023 Summer Masterclass Series 

Our past Summer 2022 Program Teachers

Stephana Arnold
Ballet / Pointe

Stephana Arnold attended the National Ballet School of Canada, where she received the prestigious Peter Dwyer Award and Honours standing on her Intermediate
and Advanced Cecchetti Ballet Examinations. Upon graduation, she danced and worked closely with choreographer Xing Bang Fu and several small companies before joining the National Ballet of Canada in 1992-95. In 1996, Stephana joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, dancing Principal and Soloist roles in Concerto Barocco, Nutcracker, Queen of Spades, Giselle, Pillar of Fire, Without Words and Symphony of Songs to name a few. She has worked with such names as James Kudelka, Eduoard Lock, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, Shawn Hounsell, Septime Webber, Gioconda Barbuto, Kevin O’Day and many others. Stephana has danced at many Gala evenings such as tributes to Celia Franca and Evelyn Hart and has toured extensively throughout Canada, the U.S. & Europe, Brazil, Israel, Mexico and Asia. While still dancing she became a Ballet B.C. Company Teacher from 2004-09. Stephana came out of retirement to dance in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

With a dance career spanning 22 years, she loves to bring her wealth of knowledge to her coaching. Her students have been finalists at prestigious competitions such as YAGP, NYCDA and the Margot Fonteyn Awards (formerly the Genees), have been accepted to world renowned training programs, and have gone on to their own dance careers. She is former Director of the Dance Conservatory, Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Dance Conservatory West Vancouver, Resident Choreographer for CatchingArt Contemporary Ballet Theatre and was Senior Teacher at Pro Arte Centre. Currently, Stephana is an Award winning Ballet and Contemporary Choreographer, and a highly respected Guest Master Teacher/Coach at Arts Umbrella and Ballet BC, as well as an Adjudicator for many national festivals and the 2022 YAGP Semi-finals.

Sarah Sankovic
Ballet/ Pointe/Nutcracker Repetoire

Sarah trained in Vancouver, completing all her Royal Academy of Dance exams including Advanced 2, earning her Associate with the R.A.D. and levels 1-3 in both Classical and Character of the Dance Education Syllabus. As well as classical ballet she has been trained in contemporary, lyrical and jazz. She has worked with many international guest teachers at various workshops, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, the Alberta Ballet School of Dance, and soloist with Royal City Youth Ballet.

Sarah’s professional credits include touring and performing with the Alberta Ballet Company and Ballet BC’s mentor program. Sarah was awarded a mark of Distinction in the 3 year teacher training program through R.A.D. and has been a mentor for the program helping train new RAD teachers. Sarah has received certifications in Pilates Mat training as well as Progressing Ballet Technique. Sarah is now part of the Artistic Staff for Royal City Youth Ballet and rehearsal mistress for their production of The Nutcracker.

Pam Young
Jazz / Lyrical / Contemporary

Pam started dancing at 8 years old and knew instantly this would be her passion. Pam trained and competed in the Fraser Valley, studying jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, stage and hip hop. One of the highlights of her dancing years was when she was chosen to be a representative at the BC Provincial Festival of the Arts. In later years, Pam frequently travelled to Seattle and L.A. to further her dance training. Locally she has performed in and choreographed for many shows and fundraisers throughout BC including the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, Jail House Rock, a fundraiser for Haiti and many more performances. Pam’s students have won many awards and scholarships and some have gone on to have successful careers in the dance industry.