Stacy Cole, Technical Director + Jazz, Tap, Lyrical & Stage 
Miss Stacy is a passionate, diversified and reputable instructor and adjudicator whose love of dance began at age two and half and continues to this day.  She has studied Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Chinese Dance, Polynesian, Voice and Acting; her passion for teaching was ignited at the age of sixteen when she was asked to teach a Jazz routine for a P.E. class!

As a dancer, Stacy has performed at local favourites like the Pacific National Exhibition, The Vancouver Show, The Rene Simard Show, and the Rick Hansen Homecoming. She was a dancer and choreographer for the "Cotton Club" dinner theatre in Nagoya, Japan and was the Canadian representative for the Miss World Asia Pageant held in Taipei, Taiwan.

She has choreographed for the Miss Vancouver Chinatown Pageant, Abracadabra Show Productions and the National Lacrosse League's Ravens Junior Dance Team who performed for crowds of 12,000 at GM Place.  Her dances have been seen on stage in Disneyland, on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, at Queen Elizabeth Theatre and of course at local events such as Golden Spike Days. In 2010 Stacy received Mentor of the Year Award in 2010 at Shine Dance Festival and her choreography has won numerous awards.  She is currently a member of the Canadian Dance Teachers' Association, BC Branch, co-owner and Technical Director of Encore Dance Academy and adjudicates across Canada.

Stacy's philosophy on dance is . . . "you never stop learning" . . . as a dancer, teacher, or even adjudicator.  Stacy dedicates her life to her "kids" at Encore and is amazingly compassionate and encouraging, which has greatly influenced all dancers she has trained who have gone on to careers as professional dancers, performers and even doctors. She is a crazy animal lover especially to her dog, a black lab named Seyla!

Janice Wharton, Administrative Director
A positive and experienced leader, Janice has had numerous successful careers that have given her a wealth of experience that she draws from when leading her companies. These  include Encore Dance Academy,  that she owns with her partner Stacy Cole, and Wharton Event Management that she runs with her two daughters, Barbie and Sydney.  Her unique and approachable style make her an individual that people in all areas of business can't wait to work with.

Currently,  in addition to Encore and WEM, Janice is President of the British Columbia Dance Educators Association which was formed to create a business community for dance studios.  In her life "pre children" she was on the Board of Directors for the New Westminster YM-YWCA and was Director of Camp Garibaldi, a summer camp for youth.  She continues in her business education taking many courses and seminars related to the world of dancing.

At Encore, which she has owned for 18 years, Janice's hands on approach has resulted in our dancers performing in Disneyland, at GM Place, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  Encore dancers are highly respected and perform in many prestigious Lower Mainland events. She has worked hard to create a culture where parents feel relaxed and confident in the training their children are receiving. 

The most important job she has ever had was been being a mother – and she is now thrilled to call herself "Granny" to four grandchildren!

Laurel Cabrita, Ballet
Known for her infectious enthusiasm for Ballet, Laurel has been teaching in the Lower Mainland for 25 years and is certified with I.S.T.D. Cecchetti branch at an Licentiate level. She is President of the Cecchetti Association and is a leader in the progress and advancement of the Cecchetti ballet method in Canada. 

Laurel has also studied Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University allowing her to help dancers understand anatomy, development and physiology.  Dancers she trains consistently achieve top marks in their examinations and she leads by example – setting professional standards.  Many of the dancers she has trained have gone on to careers as ballerinas, performers, dancers for cruise ships and even business students – like Miss Barbie!  They have always been driven by her contagious  passion and acute dedication to their progress.

After beginning her dance career at age 4 with Tap and Baton in Calgary, AB she went on to become one of the original Kidettes which later became the Young Canadians.  As a teen, Laurel studied the Royal Academy of Ballet method, Jazz and Contempoary  with Lynette Fry Abra and completed her Advanced exam before moving to Vancouver at age 16.  Her extensive Ballet training includes The Banff School of Fine Arts Summer Schools with Arnold Spohr, Frank Borman and Larry Hayden and the Pacific Ballet Theatre Company under the Direction of Maria Lewis and Renald Rabu.  She performed and toured with PBT Company throughout BC before being given the opportunity to travel and dance in Asia (where she met Miss Stacy!).  Laurel continues to train every summer travelling across North America studying with renowned Ballet Masters such as Glenn Gilmore, Susan Brooker, Kate Simmons and Veronica Tennent to name just a few.

Creating a life as a dancer, performer and choreographer has been Laurel’s passion to date but her new favourite” role” is as teacher and role model to her dancers as well as Grandma to her three beautiful grandchildren!

As a performer, Breanna's long list of Television and Film appearances includes Warner Bros. featured film “The Fantastic Four”, “The Sixth Man” with Marlon Wayans, the Disney production "So Weird” and the one hour TV special with recording artist Love Inc. Although you might not recognize her Breanna also appeared as the principal character in the movie “Scooby Too Monsters Unleashed” as the dancing Scooby Doo. She also has worked on Commercials such as “Coors Light” and “Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines” among others.

Breanna’s credits include performing with Charo, Ben Vereen, Boys 2 Men, TV series “Instant Star” Alexz Johnson, Base is Base, the Country Music Awards, the Las Vegas Legends, BMG Germany recording artist Sarah Connors and the Vancouver Grizzlies Extreme Dance Team. Her enthusiasm for entertaining has given her the opportunity to also perform for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and as a lead at Disneyland in Tokyo, Japan.

As a choreographer, Breanna has won numerous awards for her unique and creative style as well as has been given the opportunity to choreograph for some of our National Sports Leagues such as NLL Vancouver Ravens Fly Girls and CFL B.C Lions Dance Team.  Her list of accomplishments also includes modeling for Miss Sixty, New Balance, Tommy Hilfiger, Westbeach, Killah, Polo, Revlon, MAC and Joico.  Breanna hopes all of her students will benefit from her commercialized style and sassy upbeat attitude for dance.

Barbara began her professional dance career in 1981 with the Vancouver based group “Gypsy, a touch of Vegas” dancers.  Their vivacious, high energy troupe entertained at numerous exclusive clubs and hotels throughout the B.C. and the Pacific Northwest.  During her extensive dance, modeling and singing career, Barbara has been featured in nine TV commercials, the movie “Runaway” aka, “She’s leaving home” with Morgan Fairchild and was honoured to have had the opportunity to perform in two entertainment tours for the Canadian Armed Forces in Germany, Israel, Cyprus and Labrador and the Northwest Territories.   

Most recently she has been seen tapping in Vancouver’s newest, smoking hot and creatively brilliant shows produced by Peggy Giesbrecht and Jennifer Bishop called ‘Tap Stew, buffet style’ featuring tap icon, Jim Hibbard. From the Variety, the Children’s Charity Telethon to old “Vaudeville Revisited” from dance recital to showgirl, Barbara can still be seen at various events and venues either with our without a “cause” dancing from the heart with love and passion for the art of dance, which you will soon find contagious when you experience one of her dance classes.

Having had a long standing professional and personal relationship with the directors and owners of Encore Dance Academy, Barbara is delighted to be invited to their faculty and to work with their professionally trained and highly acclaimed students. 

 At age 10 Tina added dancing to her busy schedule as a competitive gymnast where she won the BC Gymnastics Provincials with Gold.  She has trained in dance extensively at The Edge in Hollywood, LA Millenium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, Harbour Dance centre in Vancouver, BC and has been moulded by some of the best instructors in the Industry including Belinda Sobie, Sherrie Scherger, Stacy Cole, Moe Brody, Jocelyn Peden and Laurel Cabrita.  She went on to be a featured dancer in the movie Reefer Madness starring Neve Campbell, a BC Lions dancer, Captain and Choreographer from 2003-2005 including Choreographer for the Grey Cup in 2004.  Tina has been a featured dancer for the Vancouver PNE's night Shows, and has performed/choreographed for the musicals Annie, Westside Story, Scrooge, Grease, Romeo & Juliet, Oliver and Les Miserable by Delta and South Delta Secondary Schools, Delta Youth Theater Productions and The Arts Umbrella Granville Island. She can can also be seen in films and on television on Millenium, X Files, the L word, Sandlot 2 and Jumanji! 

Currently, Miss Tina is enjoying her ninth year teaching at Encore, attending conventions such as Triple Threat and GSP, learning  techniques and ways to help drive her passion through her students.  In her spare time, she enjoys working at local preschools and elementary schools sharing her love of dance and fun to young students, volunteering as Coach for the Delta Secondary Dance Team - Winners of three Provincial Championships!!  When you see her next, ask her how much she loves Hello Kitty..

She is currently working on her Advanced 2 Cecchetti and her Associates degree in Ballet and is thrilled to be back again this year to teach at Encore. She is absolutely passionate about dance and performing and hopes to share this love of dance with her young students.

Aldeana Bawtinheimer, Acrobatics
Aldeana was trained at a young age in the specialized arts of Acrobats and Adagio. Aldeana enjoyed competition success at an early age, and has brought that successful attitude to her students. Her students have excelled at all levels of competition in Acrobats, Adagio and Fitness. Her Surrey troop, of 20 Acrobats, earned a reputation of having a fierce, highly competitive team spirit. 

Her talented students and unique choreography have combined for many routines that have successfully competed in both local and international competitions, receiving many Honour Awards.  Aldeanas students have gone on to a professional level, performing in many corporate events. Her students have also been afforded opportunities to participate in Vegas workshops with Cirque Du Soleil performers.

Aldeana now looks forward to continued challenges and successes with students throughout the Lower Mainland.      

She has been teaching here at Encore for the past 9 years and is excited to share her love of dance and teamwork with all of her students.  She currently lives with her husband Kevin and her favourite Disney character is Goofy.

Elizabeth Tookey, Contemporary & Jazz Technique
Elizabeth’s professional career has allowed her to travel all over the world for the past 10 years. She began with Princess Cruises where she performed roles as Judy Garland and Cyd Charisse on the Sea Princess. She then traveled to Tokyo Japan where she was part of a featured pas de deux couple in “Encore!” at Tokyo Disney Sea. Elizabeth was then hired by Big Fish Management to perform alongside Lisa Brokop for the Canadian troops in both Israel and Egypt.

Wanting to settle down Elizabeth moved to Vancouver, B.C where she began as Co-Director and Choreographer for the Source Dance Company. Finding her love for choreography Elizabeth set many pieces all around Vancouver and the lower main land. She was hired as part of the creative team for the film “Reefer Madness” where she helped create dance sequences for the film. Elizabeth also travels around Canada adjudicating in many competitions including Dance Power finals in Kelowna, B.C. She has also worked in Stratford and Edmonton where she lends her expertise in lyrical, jazz, ballet, tap, musical theatre and contemporary. 

Most recently Elizabeth returned from Toronto where she just completed performing as Ensemble Dancer and 1st “Baby” understudy in Dirty Dancing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. After an 18 month run Elizabeth went on to play the role of “Baby” 52 times. Elizabeth can now be seen on the CW TV Series Hellcats which is currently being filmed in Vancouver, BC.

Tammy’s production credits include Stage Manager/Cast Manager for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Mascot Launch, 1 Year Countdown to 2010, IOC Opening Gala, The Great Big Boo, Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Visit, 93rd Annual Grey Cup Parade and the CFL Western Final 1/2 time show. For the past nine years Tammy has been Venue Manager at the Pacific National Exhibition for productions such as Bring on the Night, Zydeco Jam, Toonrock Parade, 100 Years of Fun Parade and Kaboom. The highlight of her career has been her involvement as the Dance Coordinator and performing in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Most recently she recruited candidates for the games presentation of the 2011 Whitecaps soccer season and is the "Kicking with the Caps" supervisor during all regular home games.

Tammy is the proud Co-Owner of Fusion Dance Company who created the productions Fusion Unplugged and Opening Doors. Fusion has operated a successful summer dance camp for the past sixteen years at the Rocky Mountain YMCA in Alberta and Camp Chehalis in Harrison Hot Springs, BC. She has also been active in the teaching community in Vancouver since 1994 and has adjudicated across Western Canada for the past seventeen years.

Tracy Dekker, Pilates & Body Rolling
Tracy was introduced to Pilates as a student over 10 years ago. As a dance teacher she fell in love with the classical pilates method of balance of body, mind and spirit. In 2009 she made the plunge into the world of Joseph Pilates,  studied under Matilda Christensen and Veronica McClurg, the only 2 teacher trainers  of Claasical Pilates in Canada, and graduated the Teacher Training Program which is a one year program and requires over 950 hours of intense training. This program is recognized as one the most well respected and thorough programs in the world who’s headquarter are at “The Pilates Centre” in Boulder Colorado.

Tracy continues to explore Pilates by taking classes and workshops and believes that there is no end to the depth of the work. She truly believes that Pilates is the best form of exercise and considers it to be life changing not only physically but mentally. Tracy brings both energy and enthusiasm to her classes and enjoys watching clients feel the wonderful benefits of movement done correctly.

Barb Quinn, Marketing Manager
Barbara Quinn (Wharton) is a highly sought after Marketing Management, Public Relations and Event Planning professional in British Columbia, known for her infectious passion, energetic leadership style and exceptional organizational abilities.

Educated at BCIT and holding a highly-regarded diploma in Marketing Management and  Entrepreneurship, she also prides herself on the invaluable education she has earned working with her parents, both thriving entrepreneurs.  She has also worked closely with many other successful business owners and management professionals, learning various leadership and management methods and forming her own energetic style.  She is highly respected by the teams she has lead over the years. She demands consistently high results while creating a positive and team-oriented atmosphere with open communication.

Since graduating among the top of her class from BCIT in 2002, she is continually developing her talents and has taken various courses and seminars in Public Relations, Adobe Photoshop, Event Planning, Leadership and Management.  She continues to involve herself in the dance industry as her first memories include her love of dance; Jazz, Tap, Ballet and particularily Lyrical. Her amazing dance instructors taught her strong team skills, confidence, determination and the ability to take constructive criticism.  She enjoys remaining involved, working with and guiding those who are the next up & comers and encouraging them to shine in their own way.

Currently, Barbie is enjoying her role at Encore as Marketing Manager, as well as running her own successful company, Move Athletics, and enjoying life as a mom to two monsters!