Monica Proenca
Senior Ballet & Senior Modern

Monica was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She began her dance  training at an early age and graduated from the San Francisco School of the Arts. As a professional dancer Monica has worked in many  international dance companies such as Bale De Brasilia directed by  Gisele Santoro, Deeply Rooted Productions directed by Kevin Iega Jeff  and Gary Abbot and Don Lavy Dance Company directed by Samuel Don Lavy  and in many other productions with world renowned choreographers. Most  recently Monica has taught in Germany, Japan and Spain and her  choreography has been awarded in Canada, France and Australia and  performed by BallettAufTakt (Germany). Monica returns to Brazil yearly  as a guest teacher, dancer, adjudicator and choreographer in  Brasilia?s acclaimed International Dance Seminar. She currently calls  Vancouver, Canada her home where she continues to teach, perform and  co-direct Lamondance with passion, strength and elegant technique  uniquely combined with her own Brazilian flair.

Julia Jensen-Colton
Senior & Intermediate Ballet, Pointe

Julia's training includes Ballet, Modern, Neo Classical, and Lyrical Jazz. With the completion of all major R.A.D. examinations, Julia continued on to receive her Solo Seal Award. Her summers were spent in Seattle on scholarship, attending The Pacific Northwest Ballet School Summer intensives, studying the Balanchine Technique. A strong passion for dance led Julia to Toronto where she graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada's Post Secondary Program. While there, she had the pleasure of working with known choreographers James Kedelka, Lindsay Fischer, and Rudi VanDanzig.

Julia's professional career has taken her all over the world including Beijing and Shanghai, China, where she performed Esmeralda and Don Quixote grande pas-de-deuxs. In Canada, Julia danced with the National Ballet of Canada, The Ottmann Viennese Dance Ensemble, and the Vancouver Goh Ballet Youth Company.

Rachelle Dyer
Ballet & Jazz

Rachelle Dyer has been dancing for over 15 years. Starting out at the age of five at Boswell Dance Academy she completed all of her RAD syllabus grades from primary to her grade eight award as well as Intermediate foundation through Advanced 2. This strong ballet background was supplemented when she began training at Danzmode Productions under the critical eye of Rachael Poirier. Her years at Danzmode were successful some of the highlights being winning the overall award at the Surrey Festival no borders competition. Dancing with Rachael Poirier also gave Rachelle the opportunity to perform in industrial shows and work closely with other local artists.

Upon leaving Danzmode Rachelle ventured on to perform with Royal Caribbean cruise lines on the Radiance of the Seas where she had the opportunity to visit countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile and many more. She also began her aerial training under the instruction of Mista Fallen and Nathan Soanka. It was here that she was introduced to and fell in love with aeiral silks, hoop/lyra, handloop, halo harness and net.

Since debarking from the Radiance Rachelle has cruised with Princess Cruise lines on the Coral Princess and is now teaching ballet at studios throughout the lower mainland.

Curtis Foley
Senior & Intermediate Ballet

Curtis Foley started his dance training locally at The Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts and the Royal City Youth Ballet.  At the age of 15 he moved away to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School on scholarship and graduated with honours in 2004.  During his final year at the school he performed with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet in numerous productions and was featured in live performances of the popular children's television show, The Toy Castle as The Goblin.  Following 3 summers in the Banff Centre's Professional Dance Program, Victoria Simon from The Balanchine Trust scouted him out to the New York based ballet company Les Ballets Grandiva, where he has currently held an ongoing contract since 2007. It has taken him all over the world, on the stages of Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others.  Last summer he was featured in The Chicago Dance Festival along side the stars of American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey and Lar Lubovitch.  His teaching experience has been extensive as well.  He has taught all over the Lower Mainland, coached a finalist for the International Ballet Competition in Mississippi, and will soon be guest teaching for Ballet Jorgen Canada.  He looks forward to continuing his work in ballet, and coaching the next generation of the extremely talented dancers at Danzmode.

Tiffany Carlson
Reception

Tiffany Carlson began her dance training at the age of 3.  With more than 20 years of experience, she has trained and excelled in many forms of dance  from Polynesian, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Contemporary to Irish.  At the age of 15, Tiffany was chosen as the BC Provincial Representative for the Surrey Festival of Arts in the Musical Theatre division, and had previously been awarded the Runner-Up position for 3 consecutive years.   Tiffany trained at numerous studios throughout the lower mainland but found a home at Danzmode in 2001.   In training with Rachael,  Tiffany was given a multitude of performing opportunities ranging from local industrial shows to working with World Championship Magician, Julianna Chen in Athens Greece, where she acted as a magician’s assistant and a performer.  Tiffany used to teach Junior Tap and Hip Hop at Danzmode back in 2005 but had to discontinue teaching in order to maintain her full-time job.  Tiffany is very happy to be back at Danzmode working as the Receptionist and looks forward to being part of the dance community again.