Livea Gill Harding, Owner, Director of Performing Arts
Jazz, Contemporary/Open Modern, Lyrical
Livea is Co-Owner and Performing Arts Director of Triple Heat Dance – Academy of Performing Arts and has been a choreographer and dance educator for over 25 years in the Comox Valley.
Music and choreography has been a driving force and passion for Livea from a very early age. Her love, appreciation and respect for dance and performance art encompasses many forms of expression from jazz, contemporary, improvisation, lyrical and street dance. She strives for excellence in story telling, clean technique, strength of movement, passion, and most importantly artistry with in her work. Livea is well known for her innovative and quirky choreography, her work has received many accolades and awards. Livea was honored to hold the role of Artistic Director to True Colours Youth Company of Performing Arts for 6 seasons. Livea combines her extreme passion for dance and music with her positive energy and creative flare to design dance classes that are always challenging and inspiring – seeking to share her expertise and love of dance with others.
Michelle Hillier Owner, Ballet Director, RAD-RTS | B.Ed
RAD Ballet, Pointe, Open Ballet & Modern Stage
Michelle received her classical training at Canada’s distinguished professional ballet schools – studying Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti methods of ballet at the National Ballet School of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division. Michelle also trained in Toronto at the Randolph College for the Performing Arts and the Equity Showcase Theatre studying acting, voice and stage dance. Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia and taught kindergarten through to grade 12 before focussing on dance. Michelle is a registered and certified ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Silver Swans Licensee.
In addition to her professional dance training and performance work with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Akimbo Dance Company and One World Actors Centre Michelle has extensive experience running dance faculties and directing dance and stage productions in Canada, the UK and Middle East.
Michelle makes it a professional priority to participate in yearly continuing professional development activities in order to ensure she is up to date on current teaching practices. Having taught dance for over 25 years, Michelle is a passionate instructor who seeks to develop a strong technical foundation in dancers as well as nurture each students creativity and love of classwork and joy of performance.
Tamara Ryan Telford
Musical Theatre, Voice, Jazz, “Little Feet”, Kidding Around Yoga
An award-winning choreographer and teacher, Tamara has taught dance and vocals for over 25 years. She attended Simon Fraser University and received her associate degree in theatre from Vancouver Island University. Tamara brings to the table a great deal of professional performance experience both in Canada and the US. She was involved in the first productions at the Chemainus Theatre and performed with the Victoria Operatic society, Vancouver Operatic Society, Thunder Bay Theatre and Showcase theatre. She created the musical theatre program at Gemini Dance studios and has worked as a director for Rainbow Youth Theatre. Tamara is known for her amazing work with children. Her staging, creativity and imaginative pieces draw out the uniqueness of each dancer while producing well-rounded and confident performers both on and off the stage. Several musical theatre students have gone on to excel professionally which has been so inspiring to watch and know that Tamara has played an important role in their success.
Sandra Barker, AIDT Advanced
AIDT Tap, Performance Tap
Sandra studied ballet, tap, musical theatre and jazz at Kirkwood Academy while growing up in Nanaimo. Sandra has been teaching dance on the island for over 25 years and received her Advanced Associate Level 3 teaching degree in Tap in 2014. Sandra loves working with students to help them strengthen their technique and find their rhythm, whether it’s preparing for tap exams, festival or during open classes and choreography. Sandra is loved by all her students!
Grace Harvey
Ballet, Open Ballet, Contemporary
Grace Harvey grew up in the Comox Valley receiving training in various different styles of dance. With a hunger for more performance knowledge, Grace moved to Toronto in 2016 to attend Ryerson University. After completing the four-year dance program under direction of Vicky St. Denys, Grace graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Performance Dance. While at Ryerson she received instruction in Ballet, Modern and Jazz among other styles. Under the alias of Ryerson Performance, Grace has worked with choreographers such as Anne Plamondon, Jera Wolfe, Metamorphosis Dance and stager Dylan Crossman from the Merce Cunningham Trust. She has also had the privilege of performing at Toronto’s Fall for Dance North Festival in two works, one from choreographer Charles Moulton and the other a work by Anne Plamondon.
Grace moves from a place of personal depth — her research reflects a need for human connection. Grace is thrilled to be teaching with Triple Heat Dance and cannot wait to share her knowledge and love of movement with students as she believes deeply in the importance of creative nurturing in conjunction with technical growth.
Jacksun Fryer
Hip Hop/Street Dance
Jacksun is a 20-year-old from Vancouver Island who is a world-renowned dancer known for his exceptional skills in hip-hop, animation, popping, and funk. As a part of the well-known dance/social media duo “Funkanometry,” he has performed on popular TV shows such as JLo’s NBC’s World of Dance season 3 and America’s Got Talent season 17 in 2022. With over 14 years of experience, he has battled internationally and
won accolades, demonstrating his expertise in freestyle, battling, and choreography. He has learned from various international choreography/freestyle dancers, including Mr. Wiggles, Link, Castro, Slim Boogie, Poppin John, AJ Megaman, Carlo Atienza, Eric Malapad, Natasha Gorrie, Jeri, Chrybaby, Boppin Andre, etc… He has represented Canada at the International Dance Organization’s competitions in Europe, where he brought home a few silvers and a bronze in a variety of categories. In addition, Jacksun’s crew, “Megabots,” took first place at World of Dance Vancouver in 2019. He has showcased his talents at various battles, including the invite-only popping 7 to smoke “Groove Gauntlet ” in Seattle, where he placed second in 2018. Jacksun has also had success at Nanaimo Battle Zone, specifically in the hip hop category where he emerged as a winner. Over the past two years, he has also made it to the semi-finals in the open styles 2v2 category, and in 2023, he secured a top 8 spot in popping.
Jacksun has also made an impact in the world of choreography through his teaching.
His students in his crew “mmmmm” secured the second position at the prestigious KAOS 2023 dance competition/convention. Furthermore, in 2023, Jacksun’s expertise in choreography was recognized at the highly respected dance competition “Artists Emerge,” where a solo he choreographed placed first overall and received the most outstanding solo award in the whole competition. As a young teacher, Jacksun is passionate about helping hard-working dancers improve quickly and have fun while learning. He aims to create an encouraging environment for his students where they
can thrive and learn to master hip-hop.
Megan Welsh
Musical Theatre, Lyrical and Hip Hop
Full bio to come.
Madison Lagan
Jazz, Lyrical & Hip Hop
Madison was born and raised in the Comox Valley. She started dance at the age of four years old, focusing originally on Highland Dance. During this time, Madison won the Aggregate Award while competing in Oahu Hawaii. She then diversified the following year to pursue various genres of dance including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and musical theatre. In 2018 Madison was the recipient of the Gold Higher Tap Award for Canada. She also achieved Advanced Level 1 in RAD Ballet exams and advanced modern.
Throughout Madison’s 14 years of student dancing, she successfully competed in Canada and the USA. She succeeded in qualifying and performing at the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 BC Performing Arts Provincials.
She was a student teacher and choreographer at Triple Heat Dance Academy for 4.5 years, which solidified her choice to make dance her profession. From September 2018-2020 Madison attended the Dance Performance Program at Centennial College, Toronto, Ontario. This was an intense, thorough and detailed program in all aspects and genres of dance. It prepared students to be knowledgeable and ready to join the dance performance world.
Madison’s two passions, dance and love of children is her reason for choosing to become a dance teacher. We welcome her to Triple Heat Dance!
Kayla Lemon
Little Feet Ballet, Tiny Feet & Me
Full bio to come.
Jennifer Walsh
Little Feet, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Tap
Jennifer has an extensive background in dance, performance, choreography, instruction and mentorship. Jennifer trained from the age of 3 in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Receiving her teaching certification through the British Association of Teachers of Dancing by the age of 16. She began her professional performing career at the age of 15, becoming the youngest cast member ever to be hired by Paramount Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, where she spent two seasons. She continued her performance career in Industrials and Musical Theatre productions in the Toronto area before attending Ryerson University and Randolph College for the Performing Arts to study Theatre/Dance. Jennifer turned her focus to teaching and choreography in 1995 and that has been her path ever since. She has held membership with the British Association of Teachers of Dance, The Canadian Dance Teachers Association and is currently a member of the Performing Arts Educators of Canada. Jennifer has developed wonderful and creative ways to teach any student, of any age and ability. She has a flare for recognising individual learning styles and coming up with imagery and analogies to help dancers understand techniques and performance skills. Jennifer loves helping her students to feel confident, empowered and proud of their accomplishments, no matter how big or small. She loves breaking down technique and helping dancers improve in strength and skill. Her love of music and ability to “see” the dance helps her create stories through her pieces and come up with imaginative and often quirky numbers. Award-winning competition choreography and direction/production of entertaining shows are among her most proud moments. Jennifer has adjudicated numerous competitions and festivals and still enjoys guest teaching and master classes also. Individual pre-performance adjudication/feedback is one of her favourite offerings to competitive dancers. Jennifer’s goal in teaching is to provide a place for dancers of all ages to connect to self, others and their community. A place that they feel safe and confident to explore, create, express and grow. She strives to nurture a lifelong love of dance and is happy to say she is still connected to many of her former students and their families. Jennifer is also the Owner/Director of Cumberland Movement Connection, a studio for dance, barre and yoga in Cumberland.
Liv Garrett
Hip Hop/Street Dance
Liv has been dancing since she was three years old and has been training at Triple Heat Dance since she was 5. She thoroughly enjoys all genres of dance, but a few years ago fell in love with hip hop. Liv is excited to be part of the faculty this year and looking forward to teaching not just teaching moves but also some history of hip hop. She is pumped for season 12!
Savannah Kunz
Hip Hop/Street Dance & Lyrical
Savannah has been dancing since she was two years old training in every style from ballet to hip hop and has such a passion for the art of dance. She loves choreographing and working with other students in a way to improve dancing skills and technique for both myself and the other dancers. She adores hip hop and lyrical and is very excited to be teaching those styles during season 12!