Faculty, 2011-2012

Rebecca Reynolds – Artistic Director, Ballet, Pointe, Modern

Rebecca is the artistic director and ballet master at the Northern Lights School of Dance where she teaches ballet, choreography and modern dance.

Rebecca began her Cecchetti Ballet training at the age of 3 at the Red Deer School of Ballet under the instruction of Irene Weatherilt. She began teaching at age 14 and went on to obtain her Dance Diploma from Grant MacEwan in Edmonton. Rebecca joined the cast of the Frantic Follies where she worked her way up to dance captain and later became the show’s choreographer. She collaborates annually in numerous choreographic endeavors within the Whitehorse community. She choreographs and dances professionally in various productions in the Yukon including Nutcracker, Brave New Works, Varietesse, Guild productions, Link Dance Company and the Rendezvous Cancan Dancers.Rebecca recently took a year’s leave of absence from NLSD to train and work in Montreal where she took classes in various forms of dance and was accepted into company classes with LaLaLa Human Steps. In addition to her work with NLSD, Rebecca has remained active in the commercial dance scene.

Deborah Lemaire – Ballet, Pointe

Established as one of Canada’s top dancers, Deborah Lemaire danced professionally for 15 years with a number of internationally renowned companies. These included Principal dancer with both Theatre Ballet of Canada and Ballet British Columbia and as Soloist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Deborah performed principal and soloist roles in their repertoire including the leads in such ballets as Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Giselle and has worked with world-renowned choreographers and dancers. Deborah has performed extensively throughout Canada, U.S. and Central and South America. A graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada, where she also trained in the art of flamenco, she has also studied at the Northern Ballet School, England; with Melissa Hayden and David Howard in New York City; with Les Grande Ballet Canadien; and at the Banff School of Fine Arts with international choreographers and teachers. Deborah retired from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1992 and has been teaching for the Northern Lights School of Dance since September 1995. Deborah has been the recipient of several awards for choreography and to attend training initiatives in Toronto, Vancouver and most recently in The Hague, Netherlands.

Dale Cooper – Jazz, Musical Theatre

Originally from Montreal where she began her dance training, Dale has been teaching dance and performing as a dancer, singer and actor for 25 years. She is currently the Artistic Consultant for the Northern Lights School of Dance.  She has taught at various schools in Toronto, Victoria, Saskatoon and Dawson City. As well as teaching at Northern Lights School of Dance in Whitehorse, she is resident dance teacher/choreographer for the Music, Art and Drama Program at F. H. Collins Secondary School in Whitehorse. Dale has taught through the Artist in the School program, Arts Ed-venture, and has been involved in many summer dance and drama camps. Although Dale specializes in Jazz, her secret love is Musical Theatre. She has performed in many musical productions and has choreographed both professional and amateur shows. Dale is also a singer/songwriter, and during the summer months she can be found on the stage of the Frantic Follies as one of the leading ladies.

Mary Ann Annable-Roots – Creative Ballet & Pre-School

Mary Ann is a dance specialist who has been teaching, choreographing and performing in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon for 29 years. She received her Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Calgary in 1980 with a major in Dance Education and a minor in Fine Arts Dance. She graduated from Rudolf Steiner College, in Fair Oaks California, in 1990 as a certified Waldorf teacher and taught in a Waldorf school in Duncan, BC for 2 years. She received an Alberta Culture Arts Award in 1985 to study at the Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Centre in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2000 she attended the “Dance and the Child” international conference in Regina, Saskatchewan. In the summer of 2001 she enrolled in the Summer Dance Institute for Teachers at the Creative Dance Centre in Seattle, Washington. Mary Ann has taught dance classes to students from preschool to adult levels in schools, community centres, day cares, and private dance studios. She has choreographed “Children in Dance,” “Voices in Motion,” and was an original Co-Artistic Director and choreographer for Dancers with Latitude. In 2003, Mary Ann received an Advanced Artists Award to attend the Dance and the Child International Conference in Brazil. In 2006, she again attended this conference in The Hague, Netherlands. Mary Ann brings to her classes a love of movement, creativity and imagination, and the joy of working and sharing with children.

Annie Pelicano - Flamenco

Annie started dancing Flamenco in 2003 in Scotland. She was immediately seduced by the music, the singing, and the very unique dance style which together make flamenco an art and a way of living. She has since continued learning in many festivals and workshops in Europe, and more recently in Canada.  She is happy flamenco is growing stronger in Whitehorse.

James McCullough – Tap

James has been an avid tapper for over 10 years. He continues to study from Tap masters at summer intensives in Vancouver, BC and in the United States every year. He has performed with Dancers with Lattitude, Link Dance, and Northern Lights School of Dance. James has been teaching tap with NLSD for the past 4 years.

Bob Mackenzie – Ballroom, Social Dance

Bob has been dancing for 17 years. He studied the International Style of Ballroom as set out in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance with Pat Nikleva, Vancouver; Claire Perron, Ottawa; and Maureen Shargey, in South Africa. Bob continues to upgrade his training whenever he leaves the Yukon. Bob has been teaching Ballroom Dance at NLSD since 1995.

Dianne Homan - Tap

Dianne earned her Masters Degree at the University  Oregon in 1985. Since ten she has been teaching all forms of dance to all ages. She loves tap dancing with folks who love rhythm and has been sharing this passion with dancers at NLSD for the past several years.

Irene Weatherilt – Resident Guest Ballet/ Pointe Instructor

Irene was the founder and director of the Red Deer School of Ballet from 1982-1990. Then, she acted as Artistic Director at Red Deer College Conservatory of Ballet from 1990-2002. She is Licentiate, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Cecchetti Faculty, and is currently teaching at the School of Alberta Ballet, in Calgary. Irene has vast knowledge and experience in the ballet world, and has choreographed numerous full-length story ballets with original scores.

Carrie Anne Bruton – Acro Instructor

Carrie Anne started gymnastics when she was out of diapers and started dancing at the age of nine.  She studied jazz, modern, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical and acro for ten years in Ontario, until she moved out of the country to pursue a dance career. She danced for two years in resorts in Mexico, learning dance styles such as salsa, meringue, tango, samba, flamenco and Mexican folkloric dance.  Her last year dancing professionally was onboard the Carnival Cruise Lines ship the MS Ecstasy.  Carrie Anne moved to the Yukon in 2005 and has returned to the world of theatre, performing in plays here in Whitehorse.
Carrie Anne has taught dance since she was 15 years old and received her CDTA dance teachers certificate at the age of 18.  She is very excited to start teaching dance again, particularly acro, which has been a passion of hers since she first saw it performed.