Ballet Faculty
Renee Salsiccioli (2023)
Graduating from RWB's Professional Division, Renee danced with the RWB Company, the Bannff Centre for the Arts, Alberta Ballet and Ottawa Ballet. After completing the RWB Teacher Training Program, Ms. Renee taught in the Professional Division for 8 years. Now owning her own dance studio, Ms. Renee's students have been accepted to many major schools and companies around the world. Ms. Renee recently guest taught for CSB's Pre-Professional Program.
Chris Larsen (2023)
Chris is a graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada. Dancing with Ballett-Art François Klaus in Switzerland, the Hong Kong Ballet and the prestigious Birmingham Royal Ballet where he danced for 10 years and retired in the position of Soloist. He danced in a large range of roles from corps de ballet through to principle parts in many of the great classics as well numerous new works, and also had the opportunity to have roles created on him. Throughout his career he had the opportunity to be on many international tours and dance in international Galas. Since retiring from professional dance, Chris received The Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance and returned home to British Columbia.
Chris has adjudicated for Danceworks Festival in Victoria, and the Kootenay Festival of the Arts in Trail, B.C. Often called upon by the RAD to guest-coach workshops and seminars, Chris has also guest taught for intensives in Vancouver, Toronto, LA, and Prince George and most recently was invited to guest teach at the Victoria Academy of Ballet.
Chris started teaching at The Canadian School of Ballet in 2014 and is part of the artistic staff for CSB's Nutcracker and along with Emma Donley, created CSB's Pre-Professional Program and Dance Training Okanagan.
Kira Hofmann
Ms Hofmann graduated from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School with distinction, and was accepted into the Akadamie at the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany. At the age of 18 she was offered a contract with the Stuttgart Ballet. With the company she performed numerous ballets including John Cranko's Taming of the Shrew and Onegin. Ms Hofmann has travelled extensively, touring with the Stuttgart Ballet and working as the artistic assistant to choreographer, Jera Wolfe. She has recently helped to set ballets on Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, School of Contemporary Dancers, and Canada’s National Ballet School. Ms Hofmann has returned to Canada to pursue teaching, and is currently teaching in the professional division at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She received her teaching certificate from the RWB in the Russian ballet system, and continues to pass on her skill and professional experience to students.
Modern & Contemporary faculty
Matthew Cluff (2023)
Matthew Cluff started his dance training at Judy Russell’s Enchaînement Dance Centre in Prince George, BC, where he studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, musical theatre, modern, acro, and lyrical jazz. After completing his training there, Matthew moved to San Francisco to further his dance studies at the San Francisco Ballet School before graduating in December 2012.
In January 2013, Matthew received his first contract from Ballet Victoria, where he quickly rose through the ranks and performed many lead roles in both classical and contemporary repertoire, including title roles in "Romeo and Juliet", "Amadeus", "Dracula", "Frankenstein", "The Nutcracker", and main roles in excerpts from "Don Quixote" and "Le Corsaire".
In April 2016, Matthew performed the role of Older Billy in the Vancouver Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of “Billy Elliot”, an opportunity that combined his love of dance (ballet and tap) with singing and acting.
In July 2016, Matthew joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal as a Corps de Ballets member, and was later promoted to a Demi-Soloist in 2020. There, he danced numerous featured roles, such as Albrecht in Giselle, Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty (excerpts), and the Chaneteur Populaire in Vendetta, amongst others.
Matthew has taught workshops and dance classes at studios in Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, and Montreal. He is thrilled to be returning to the Okanagan this summer to teach for the Canadian School of Ballet.
Yuichiro Inoue
Mr. Inoue is a dancer and choreographer and has danced with the Toronto Dance Theatre for the last eleven years. He studied on a full time on scholarship at the John Cranko Ballet School in Stuttgart Germany. He performed with Staatstheater Braunschweig, Badisches Staatstheater, and Saarlaendisches Statts Theatre in Germany, and has also danced across Europe, Asia and America. He has since worked with choreographers including Christopher House, Deborah Hay, Simone Orlando, and many others.
Mr. Inoue completed the Teacher Training Program for Professional Dancers at The National Ballet School of Canada (NBS), and is an RAD certified teacher. In addition to teaching at Canada's National Ballet School, Quinte Ballet School, and numerous schools and dance companies throughout Japan, Yuichiro teaches ballet and contemporary classes for TDT. As a choreographer, his works include commissions for award winning short film, festivals and international competitions in Japan, Toronto and USA.
Jazz faculty
Paige Parkhill
PAIGE PARKHILL was born and raised in Kelowna, B.C. Training: Canadian School of Ballet, Banff Centre for the Arts, National Ballet School of Canada, and the Canadian College of Performing Arts. As a performer, Paige worked for Holland America, Tokyo DisneySEA, Hong Kong Disneyland, on an Eminem music video, and Showtime’s Reefer Madness, the Movie Musical. Additionally, Paige has worked for Disney Cruise Line as a performer, dance captain, resident choreographer, and choreographer, launching the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy cruise ships. Currently, Paige is based in New York City and has most recently worked in choreography at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Arena Stage, Busch Gardens, TheaterWorksUSA, Hersheypark, Theatre Aspen, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Celebrity Cruises, and Theatre Calgary. Paige was thrilled to be making her Stratford Festival debut this year, but…perhaps another time!
Kristen Helfrich
Kristen is an accomplished performer, teacher and choreographer. Her love of dance began at the young age of 5 at Sonia Fabian Dance Studio and she continued her dance education at Judy Russell’s Enchainement Dance Centre in Prince George, B.C.. Kristen’s training has led her to Vancouver, Broadway Dance Centre, Alvin Ailey, and Tremaine Dance Centre Professional Program in Los Angeles.She has been a guest teacher and choreographer for various studios in B.C. and has had the opportunity to adjudicate in B.C. and Alberta.
Kristen has performed and choreographed numerous Judy Russell Productions (Jesus Christ Superstar, Nunsense, Producers, Spamalot), and is well known for her role as the original “Flying Russian” in the Nutcracker. Performing in commercials, Movie Magic, B.C. Summer Games, conferences, and the PNE is only a few of her experiences. In the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Kristen was First Dance Captain for the Opening Ceremonies. She was also part of creating Canada wide curriculum for the Winter Games called “Catch the Spirit”. Kristen has worked with other educators to assist in creating a Performing Arts Program at a high school level for those students who dedicate their time to work on the Performing Arts.
A dance educator for over 25 years, Kristen teaches various genres of dance to all ages. She has trained in RAD, performed her Solo Seal, and has acquired her RAD Teaching certificate. Kristen has received her teaching accreditation from the CDTA and continues to encourage her students to participate in CDTA examinations. Teaching is a passion for Kristen as she has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, a Bachelors of Education, and has recently achieved her Masters in Special Education.
Currently, Kristen has focused her energies on sharing her love of dance with children of all ages in a dance studio and in the educational school system. She establishes positive relationships with her students, motivating them to reach their full potential, and to develop their passions.
Hip Hop
Sarah Podollan (2023)
Sarah started dancing at the age of 4 in Troy, MI. It was love at first pirouette! She trained all through her childhood and decided to make commercial dance her career. After completing a year scholarship at the world-renowned dance studio, EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, Sarah kicked off her dance career in a small but memorable role in the movie Austin Powers : International Man Of Mystery. From there she’s worked on other movies such as the next two Austin Powers, She's All That, Scream 2, Not Another Teen Movie, Orange County, Like Mike, Down With Love, Click, Year One, Spring Break Down and the animated movie Rango. She has worked on TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance”, “American Idol”, "The O.C.", "The Sweet Life of Jack and Cody", "That 70s Show", "Cold Case", "Drake and Josh", "What About Brian", and "CSI: NY". She has travelled the world with artist Paul McCartney, toured with Britney Spears and worked with artists such as Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake & Lenny Kravitz.
Throughout her career she has taught at conventions like LA Dance Magic and Showstoppers in US. She is the founder of a traveling dance intensive called The Los Angeles Dance Experience. The L.A.X. is an intensive that goes to studios for 2 days, they dive deep into different dance technique and then create and shoot a dance video. Sharing her love of dance and film with her students is the ultimate for her! Stay updated with what’s Sarah’s up to on Instagram @Sarah Smith-Podollan She’d love to hear from you!
