RULES PERTAINING TO THE ADJUDICATOR

With the exception of the Festival Committee, competitors, teachers, parents, and members of the audience are not permitted to speak to the Adjudicator before, during or after any competition.  This ruling must be adhered to due to the tight scheduling of the Adjudicator.

CLASSICAL BALLET

ADJUDICATOR

Katie Thomas

          Born and raised in Vancouver’s Dance Community, a graduate of Simon Fraser University Dance Program and a member of the CDTA, ballet division (Canadian Dance Teachers Association) and the Cecchetti Society of Canada Katie has performed across North America. 

          Her dance education and training began with Terri-Lynn Banfield of Terri’s School of Dance, and then with Maria Lewis founder of the Northwest Pacific Ballet Academy, Jacqueline Davidson from the Royal Winnipeg and Nancy Kilgour of the Alberta Ballet School.

          Each chance she has had to perform with amazing choreographers and dancers her love and appreciation for this classical art form has intensified.  Katie has worked with the Polonez Dance Society, Harbour Dance Centre, Sasko Despotovski and Cheyenne Kamran of Mad Salsa Productions and most recently with Carol Coulson for the 2010 Olympics opening ceremonies in Richmond. 

          As a teacher and choreographer Katie hopes that opportunities are created for dancers to develop a similar love for ballet with an understanding of its history and tradition.

CONTEMPORARY/MODERN  BALLET

ADJUDICATOR

Gillian Emily Gardner

                        Gillian's training began at a young age training locally in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap and Musical Theatre.  As a seasoned competitor she won trophies, awards and scholarships from the National High School Dance Festival in Miami, locally from Surrey and Coquitlam festival as well as Triple Threat, Dance Power and 5678 Showtime.  She went on to win Dancer of the Year in 1997 and was the winner of the Modern division at the 1999 Provincials in Nelson, B.C.  Gillian graduated as a dance major from the Langley Fine Arts School after performing abroad with the school’s modern based dance company, Esprit De Corps.  

                        Since then she has had the privilege of training across the United States, Scotland and Japan at internationally acclaimed studios where she has absorbed a diverse repertoire of styles and skills.  Positivity, hard work and dedication has provided Gillian with jobs that have taken her across the globe to countries such as Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, the UK and throughout the US.   

                        Throughout her career she has had the chance to work with professionals from shows such as The Rockettes, Alvin Aliey American Dance Theatre, The National Tour of “Rent”, The National tour of “Hairspray” and many more!  She worked as Dance Captain, Company Manager as well as Production Assistant for Broadway revue shows produced at Stiletto Entertainment in Los Angeles.  Gillian has been seen on the stages of the Jesse Awards, Royal Caribbean Productions, Holland America Cruise Lines, Mooncoin Productions and most recently flying 30 feet in the air at Tokyo Disney!  For these opportunities she is grateful and hopes to pass on her knowledge and inspire future generations of dancers.

TAP, STAGE AND SONG & DANCE

ADJUDICATOR

Amy Gardner

                                Amy commited herself early in life to extensive training in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre and hip hop.  By the age of 17, she had completed all levels of the ADAPT syllabus in jazz and tap and passed her R.A.D Advanced II ballet exam with Distinction.  She continued intensifying her training in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and New York. 

                                Combining her technical training, versatility and unique style, Amy has gone on to dance professioanlly throughout North America. Her credits include “So You Think You Can Dance Canada Top” 10 dancer, Pinup Saints National Tour, K’Nanna, Sarah MacLauchlan, MOVE: The Company, collidE and MADD Rhythms. 

                                On camera, Amy has worked as Hayden Panettiere’s body double in the movie “Lies My Mother Told Me”, on the TV series “Baxster” and has performed in numerous commerials.  She can be seen in 3D in one of the upcoming major dance films, “Cobu 3D” choreographed by Nappy Tabs, as well as dancing beside Julia Roberts in the 2012 rendition of “Snow White”. 

                                As Amy continues establishing herself as a professional dancer, she also focuses a great deal of her energy on her passion for creation and choreography.  She has choreographed for several corporate shows for companies such as Lise Watier Cosmetics as well as the “Bing Bang Show” and the “Rock Circus” TV pilot.  You can also see her perform some of her own choreoraphy in the Montreal based dance film, “Sur le Rhythm”.

                                Amy is grateful for all the amazing experiences she has had thus far and all the incredible artists she has worked with along the way.  Eager and excited to continue growing as a professional dancer and creator, Amy travels the world undeterred in her quest to define herself and refine her art.

JAZZ & LYRICAL JAZZ

ADJUDICATOR

Stephanie Sy

                          Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Stephanie Sy began honing her dance skills in ballet, jazz, hip hop, street jazz, contemporary, modern, and salsa at age six.  Her passion,  talent, and drive earned her scholarships at world-renowned dance schools.  Stephanie garnered dance techniques from masters at the prestigious and largest ballet troupe in Canada, The National Ballet of Canada; Royal Winnipeg Ballet; and her most significant scholarship to date from Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles.  Stephanie also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia and is also a certified personal trainer and kinesiologist

                           Stephanie has over 15 Years international experience in the dance and performance arts industry and is currently working as an award-winning choreographer, instructor, performer, and competitive judge.  Her extensive body of work includes television, film, and live performance having worked on a Campbell’s Soup Commercial, Slice Network’s Instant Beauty Pageant, CW Network’s Smallville, 20^th Century Fox’s John Tucker Must Die (2006), Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Warner Bros. Picture’s Sucker Punch (2011), and most recently a recurring role on the CW Network’s Hit TV series, Hellcats and Nickelodeon Movie Rags (2012). 

                           In 2009, she founded a unique dance program aimed at empowering women she branded SexyStilettos Dance®.  Stephanie’s creativity and budding entertainment empire has attracted media attention from FMA Weekly, local newspapers, Internet lifestyle magazines, and numerous featured interviews. In between performing, auditioning, filming, and adjudicating at dance competitions, Stephanie is working on the launch of her new  instructional dance-fitness DVD line, a certification program for SSD, and instructing her SexyStilettos Dance® Classes at the Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, BC.  Stephanie strives to share her passion.

STREET DANCE

ADJUDICATOR

Josh Beamish

                        Josh Beamish, Artistic Director of MOVE: The Company, began dancing under the direction of his mother Loretta Lachner in Edmonton, Alberta and continued his training in Kelowna, BC.  

                        Outside of MOVE: The Company, his works have recently been performed by Toronto Dance Theatre, Sylvain Brochu, Halifax Dance, Ballet Kelowna, Dance Saskatchewan, the Universities of Alberta and Missouri, Ballet Jorgen, the Bellingham Repertory Company and Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance in Kansas City.  

                        He is the recipient of a 2009 City of Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award, a 2008 Globe and Mail Dance Award and of artistic residencies at the Dance Centre, Drive Dance Centre, the Shadbolt Centre, the Sunshine Coast Dance Society, the University of Alberta, the Norman Rothstein and Clarke Theatres, Odyssey Dance Theatre in Singapore, the Djerassi Program in San Franciso and the Banff Centre.  

                        Josh also recently participated in a choreographic session at the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of New York City Ballet, collaborating with the students of the School of American Ballet.  His work with MOVE: The Company has recently toured to the 15th Anniversary of the International Ballet Festival in Miami, the Quinzena de Danca Festival in Portugal, the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC and to WORLD EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, China, performing the Closing Gala of the Canadian Pavillion with Cirque du Soleil.  Most recently, Josh choreographed the 2011 International Children’s Winter Games Opening Ceremonies event and in Fall 2011 he will premiere work for MOVE: The Company at the Bangkok International Festival for Dance.