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Artist Bios

Frank Augustyn

Frank Augustyn trained at the prestigious National Ballet School of Canada and was invited to join the National Ballet Company of Canada in 1970. He became Canada’s most renowned male ballet dancer of the 20th century. In 1973, he and Karen Kain won a special award for the best pas de deux at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Augustyn has performed as a principal dancer globally, including Boston Ballet, Berlin Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Beijing Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Talin Ballet and Dutch National Ballet among others. He has toured globally with the National Ballet Company of Canada dancing on nearly every major stage around the world including The Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Covent Garden, England and Caracalla Teatro, Italy to name a few. He has been decorated with

three honorary degrees and in 1979 was bestowed the most distinguished title of Canada, Officer, Order of Canada (O.C.). He co-produced and hosted the television series, "Footnotes, The Classics of Ballet", first aired on Bravo Television and authored the accompanying book, "Footnotes, The World's Best Loved Ballets". From 2000 to 2024 Frank Augustyn was a tenured Associate Professor at Adelphi University, NY where he led the Department of Dance as Chair. In November 2024 he was inducted in the Canada’s Dance Hall of Fame, Danse Collection Dance. Currently, he is co-producing arts events, teaching, adjudicating and consulting. In 2024 he returned to Canada and resides in Saint John, New Brunswick, with his wife.

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Clair Ahearn

Swing dancer Claire Ahern is a dynamic performer, charismatic instructor, and passionate champion of swing dance in New Brunswick. Claire learned to swing dance in Halifax, NS, where she also began teaching and competing; she has since danced across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. In 2019, Ms. Ahern moved to Saint John NB, a city bereft of a swing dance scene. Claire quickly took matters into her own hands to create a swing dance community from scratch, and founded Saint John Swing Dance. Since then, she has hosted many swing events, a lesson series, live band and outdoor dances, and has taught hundreds of folks how to dance. A keen collaborator, Claire is thrilled to be teaching at the Adult Dance Conference!

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Melissa Feltus

Melissa has been tapping for over 4 decades. Her initial training was with Eileen McGrath School of Dance where she completed the Al Gilbert tap technique exams up to and including grade 6. Melissa taught the Sussex branch of this school for 2 years. Throughout university she continued to take tap lessons and was involved in choreographing high school and university musicals and various dance related events. She also has experience in Jazz, Irish hard and soft shoe, Highland and ballroom dancing. Melissa continues her tap training through workshops and classes from Shawn Byfield in Toronto and Steps on Broadway in New York as well as working through the intermediate advanced Tap syllabus offered by unitedtaps.com. She is currently looking into pursuing a CDTA certification in tap education. Melissa also teaches tap to the competitive groups at D.A.T.A.

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Ian Gibson

Ian C. Gibson is the Percussion Teaching Artist for the Saint John Centre of Sistema New Brunswick. This internationally acclaimed program is operated by the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Inc., across the Province.  With over twenty years of professional experience, Ian is able to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge to become outstanding percussionists. From 2005-2017, Ian was the Head of Percussion Studies at Cambrian College, Classical Percussion Instructor at Laurentian University and the Principal Percussionist/Timpanist of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.  Since moving to New Brunswick he has quickly established himself performing with Symphony New Brunswick and numerous musical theatre productions.  He is a member of the Tutta Musica Orchestra, and Percussion Coach of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. Ian is currently a certified Remo HealthRHYTHMS Facilitator and a member of the Percussive Arts Society. He is also sponsored by Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums & Adams Percussion.
Ian holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music Degree in Music Performance from the University of Toronto

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​MacKenzie Greenwell

MacKenzie Greenwell has spent the last 20 years dedicated to the art of tap dance. Originally from Alberta, he has performed for audiences across the globe while also always sharing his passion for the dance mentoring his students. MacKenzie’s career has led him to be a part of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies, a touring member of the internationally acclaimed show Tap Dogs, a principal dancer in Toronto-based Rhythm & Sound Tap Co., and a Choreographer for the Canadian National Team. Most recently, he was a guest performer for the 2022 Votive Dance show Whodunnit and continues to be a member of the band Game.Set.Trap. Now calling Nova Scotia home, MacKenzie is continuing to immerse himself in the thriving music scene as he continues to bridge the worlds of dance and music. 

Meredith Kalaman

Meredith Kalaman is a two time Chrystal Dance Prize recipient, dance educator and enjoys both dancing in and creating new works. She has choreographed pieces about; giraffes, girl guiding, exploring constellations, superheroes, female identity and the impacts of gender socialization. She is now grateful to reside on the land of the Mi’kma’ki in Nova Scotia. Past presentation highlights include sharing the stage with the Good Women Dance Collective, Dance in Vancouver 2017, Dancing on the Edge and New Works and Island Fringe with Nostos Collective performing Enchantress. Her first full length work Femme Fatales toured to Victoria, Edmonton and was presented at Uferstudios in Berlin in 2017. Meredith also curates an immersive speakeasy performance event called, The Underground in Halifax. http://www.meredithkalaman.com/

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Kristina Lemieux

Kristina Lemieux (she/her) is a contemporary dance artist, arts manager, and gardener. A relative newbie to Saint John, Kristina has danced and lived in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto before settling near to the Kennebecasis River. Her dance practice is rooted in improvisation and the democratization of dance. One of the things she is most proud of in her dance career is Polymer Dance. She started Polymer Dance in 2012 with Miriam Esquitín in Vancouver. Polymer Dance is a contemporary dance performing group and class for non-professional adult dancers with the goal to provide a space for continuous training and to cultivate an improvisation collective. Often making use of natural space and performing in public venues, this work allowed artists and audiences to meet in unexpected places. She also works for arts organizations and performing artists coast to coast making ideas happen.  In all that she does, Kristina works to support artists across performing disciplines in finding ways to make art outside of the currently prescribed modes.

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Jamie Mario

Originally from Indonesia, James started his dance training in 2014 upon moving to Canada for his post-secondary education. He had his start by taking hip-hop classes and workshops around many dance studios in Toronto. In 2015, James joined Foreal Dance Company (@torontoforeal) to train and compete in various post-collegiate dance competitions in Ontario. In time, he became one of Foreal Dance Company’s lead choreographers and proceeded to choreograph for showcases and competitions such as Hit The Floor and Final Stretch Dance Competition. As he continued to train, he also had the opportunity to teach drop-in classes and workshops in several dance studios and universities in Ontario.

Upon graduating from the University of Toronto in 2019, James moved to Saint John in 2020. Although James had his start in hip-hop, he eagerly explores many other styles and enjoys incorporating elements from different styles into his works. He is passionate about using dance as a medium for storytelling and introspection.

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Sarah Power

Sarah has been working as an independent dance artist and teacher since graduating from the Dance Performance Program at Ryerson University in 2001. She is the artistic director of Connection Dance Works, the company she co-founded in 2010.Her classical teaching accreditations include Intermediate level R.A.D and Cecchetti Advanced 1exam certificates. Sarah’s teaching philosophy centres on creative movement, age-appropriate anatomical alignment, and healthy self-image.Her artistic career has included collaborations with musicians, dancers, filmmakers and visual artists from across Canada. She has received grants for Professional Development, Residencies and Creation projects through the Canada Council for the Arts and artsnb.Sarah continues to learn and develop work through her practice of Authentic Movement, a way of discovering movement inherent to the body. 

SalsaSJ

SalsaSJ was formed 6 years ago and grew organically out of a desire for more Latin dance in Saint John. Brett and Chelsea learned cuban salsa in a previous life in Australia from a Peruvian. A truly global experience. SalsaSJ is the result of a desire to build a community who loves this dance as much as we do.

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Steffi Retzlaff

Steffi’s strong, yet playful teaching style and explorations into movement and breath coupled with a good sense of humor is appreciated by beginners as well as students who are in for a challenge or two.Her classes are inspired by her background in dance and martial arts and explore and cultivate flexibility, agility, mobility, strength, and stability. Over the many years of teaching Nia - a fusion of dance, martial arts, and mindfulness as well as teaching in an academic setting, Steffi has become very adept at sensing the energy in the room and flowing with it. She also knows that as we flow through life we find ourselves sometimes in very habitual patterns. We get very rigid and set in our ways. Steffi invites her students to embrace the change from the way they might have moved and to allow the joy of movement to emerge with ease.Steffi has practiced and taught Nia and yoga for over 18 years. Yoga, dance, meditation, and breathwork have helped her to work through back injuries from two accidents as well as academic burnout. She is a multi-skilled human, always exploring and embracing it all. https://breathemovelearn.ca/

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James Smith

James Smith is excited to be teaching at the 2025 Adult Dance Conference. A performer originally from Hamilton, Ontario, he is now based in the Saint John area. James’ passion for dance began at a young age, but it was his deep love for Musical Theatre that truly shaped his career path.  In 2018, James graduated from St. Clair College’s Music Theatre Performance Program, where he trained under industry professionals. This extensive education in acting, singing, and dancing has helped him become a "triple threat" performer, excelling in all three disciplines. James is eager to share his passion for dance at the conference and inspire others to discover their full potential. He will be teaching choreography from the iconic musical Wicked, bringing its vibrant energy to life for his students. 

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Darryl Tracy

Darryl Tracy is a Toronto-based independent dance artist: choreographer, interpreter, teacher, and producer. He was a senior faculty member and a Resident Choreographer at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre from 2003-2021 under Artistic Director Patricia Fraser. As a dancer, he has created roles by many of Canada’s leading choreographers. Tracy was a member of the company Sylvain Émard Danse in Montreal. He has created over 44 of his own works through commissions and self-produced events. Most recently, he has choreographed for Connection Dance Works (New Brunswick), L’École de danse contemporaine de Montréal, Sawdon Dance (Winnipeg), and George Brown Dance (Toronto). He guest-teaches across Canada and in the United States. In September 2017, his new solo, All the Patsys, that he choreographed and performed (alongside Connection Dance Works’ with far arms), premiered as part of Saint John New Brunswick's Imperial Theatre season. Tracy teaches anatomy at the Teachers Training Program at The National Ballet School in Toronto. Tracy works part-time as a neuro-based rehabilitation physiotherapist at Alpha East Health Services and Lyndhurst Centre in Toronto.

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Chris Van Green

Chris Van Green took his first class in jazz at 13 and ever since he was hooked. He started his dance training in Nova Scotia at Truro Dance Academy where he trained in Ballet, Jazz and Modern. Green decided to pursue dance further after high school and received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre Dance Performance at Ryerson University in Toronto. He showed huge growth and outstanding passion and was rewarded the Kenny Pearl Award in his graduating year. 

Since Graduating he has worked and collaborated with many other dancers & choreographers. Performing in Dance Productions, Musicals, Flashmobs, Weddings, Galas, MMVAs, Television Shows and Music Videos to list a few. Working with choreographers & collaborators such as Hanna Kiel, Kenny Pearl, David Earle, Robert Glumbek, Darryl Tracy, James Kudelka, Andrea Penã, and Fernando Melo. Green continues to dance professionally and has expanded his styles of movement to not only Ballet, Jazz & Modern. He dabbles in most styles including Acro, Heels, Improv, Hip Hop, Urban, Cuban Contemporary, Swing, Salsa, Musical Theatre, Zumba and many outlets of Fitness. He also has been teaching full time for half a decade in all styles and all age demographics. Working hard to inspire and progress the development of the next generation of artists. He has taught workshops and Master Classes all over Canada and is excited to share his knowledge to inspire others.

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Julia Whalley

Fredericton, New Brunswick born and raised, Julia has had passion and drive for dance, choreographing and sharing the art all her life. She set out to Toronto for 5 years to train under a multitude of styles and choreographers including companies Sensual Heeling (Kaela Faloon) and BOSS (Leah Totten). Since moving back to Fredericton she has opened SOLE Collective: a home for the dance and movement community, where she trains adult dancers of all levels in Heels and Commercial dance. She has recently formed two advanced level training and performance companies, soleBODY and soleACADEMY and presented their first show FROM THE SOLE in August of 2023, a first of a kind in Fredericton. Julia fuses together her training in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, heels and commercial dance and creates soulful, expressive pieces of work meant to grow versatile and passionate dancers.

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