Instructors

Meet your instructors for the Summer Sessions

Jessica Baudin-Griffin | CoreFusion

Jessica Griffin, B.ED, CEC, is a movement educator and coach with over 20 years of experience in developing programs designed to make dance and fitness accessible to everyone. She is the founder and former owner of the award-winning J'Adore Dance studio and the globally recognized Intellidance Method. Currently, Jessica offers FUN-ctional fitness and dance programming specifically tailored for mid-life women through her venture, Jessica Griffin Fitness & Wellbeing. In addition to her teaching roles, she serves as an education and business consultant and executive coach, helping organizations and leaders in the dance and fitness industry to elevate their impact.

Tia Kushniruk | Beginner Floorwork, Performance Practice in Dance

Tia Ashley Kushniruk (亚女弟) is a Chinese-Ukrainian Queer Woman based in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan) Treaty 6/Métis Territory of Edmonton AB. Since 2013 she has been affiliated with the Cirque Du Soleil and an artistic producer of Toy Guns Dance Theatre. She has had the pleasure of performing works of Antony Hamilton, Benjamin Kamino, Alyssa Martin, Heidi Strauss, Christopher House, Shay Kuebler, Christianne Ullmark - touring Nationally and Internationally since 2013. Her own work has been presented by The Beijing International Dance Festival, Springboard's Fluid Festival, Common Grounds Dance Festival, Festival Internacional Nomada, Dancing on the Edge, Fluid Festival, Found Festival, Mile Zero, and the New Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of TDT). Tia's illustration and animation work has been commissioned by mallo, Here for Now, Plastic Orchid Factory, Two Big Steps, and adelheid/The NAC. She is the first recipient of the Catalyst Confluence Fellowship and a 2023 EATF recipient. Kushniruk recently finished a mentorship with Toronto-based performance artist Bridget Moser.

Anastasia Maywood | Comedy in Dance

Anastasia Maywood is an independent choreographer, dancer and producer based in Treaty 6 territory in amiskwacîwâskahikan, colonially known as Edmonton. She is currently a Program Advisor at the Edmonton Arts Council and is passionate about Edmonton’s artists and community. She holds a BA Honors (Drama) from University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB) and an MFA in Choreography from York University (Toronto, ON). She was the recipient of the 2015 Good Women Dance Collective’s New Dance Award. Anastasia has had her work presented in Edmonton, Toronto, and Calgary in various festivals, self-productions and Orchesis’ annual show, where she has been a dancer and choreographer for over 20 years. She has performed for Brian Webb, Cori Caulfield, Helen Husak, David Flewelling, Peggy Baker, Krista Posyniak, Pyretic Productions (Bears), Just Breathe Theatre, Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy, Raena Waddell, Emily Noton and Janita Frantsi.

Anastasia’s work mainly focuses on combining contemporary dance, comedy and Pochinko clown techniques. Recent choreographic credits include 7-Minute Olympics, The Olympics Piece, Ballet Class: At Home Edition, and Morning, Mating, Flying.

Stephanie Lilley | Contemporary Jazz

Stephanie, 2017 Mayor's Award for the Arts nominee, is the Artistic Director of Viva Dance Company. Under their leadership, the company has performed over 300 times to date and is a staple in the Edmonton arts community. In addition to The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree, Fringe Festivals across the country, galas and charity events, the company also brings dance to new markets such as hockey arenas (Edmonton Oil Kings) and fashion shows (Western Canada Fashion Week).
Stephanie has a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology (BKin) as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Although an experienced teacher and performer, they continue to be a student themself. Stephanie underwent bilateral hip replacement surgery in 2020 and is dancing their way back to peak health. They are working towards another master’s degree in which they are writing a thesis about their experience with hip replacement and their return to professional dance. Some of their most influential teachers include their children, Jude (9) and Gloria (7).

Raena Waddell | Modern Cunningham, Garuda Dance Work, and Contemporary Floorwork

Fascinated with the human body communicating through movement, Raena has built a 20+ year career as a dancer, choreographer and movement instructor in Edmonton. She has premiered 18 of her own choreographic works in Alberta, recognized by the Edmonton Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and receiving Brian Webb Dance Company Award training extensively with both Heidi Bunting and Brian Webb. Raena has continued her education in Garuda Matwork, Barre and Apparatus with founder, James D’Silva. Raena holds her Pilates Method, Hatha and Yin Yoga certification studying with Tracy Friesen, Melanie Checknita and Joe Barnett. Away from the stage, inspired by numerous choreographers and body work philosophies, Raena teaches movement classes in hopes to encourage a sense of curiosity in her students as to how and what makes their body move. She has 15 years experience as an Instructor with the City of Edmonton working with students of all abilities and levels. Currently, Raena continues to train and perform as a dancer and teaches movement classes for students in person in Edmonton and online around the world.

Heather Taschuk | Creative Dance/Improvisation

Heather Taschuk (BFA, B.Ed) has been creating dances for as long as she can remember! As an educator she has choreographed for numerous dance shows and musicals, including the adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid that she wrote the book and lyrics for in 2012. Other choreography credits include Anne of Green Gables (2002) and Once Upon a Mattress (2003) forAlberta Lyric Theatre; The Trial of Salome for the Walterdale Theatre (2006), and Flint & Feather: The E.Pauline Johnson-Tekahionwake Project for Colour Wheel Theatre (2004). She first danced with Orchesis in her teens, and has participated in classes, summer workshops, and other Orchesis events over the years. Heather started choreographing for Dance Motif/Motif Moves in 2020. Heather is the owner of Creative Kinetics Dance, and is a Certified Instructor in the Garuda® Method (MatWork, Dhara and Seated/Standing Work).