Faculty
All of our instructors are qualified and highly skilled at their craft. They are trained to provide safe and structured classes to students of all ages. We at WAPA understand that no two bodies are alike and will work with each individual to create beautiful technique and artistry.
“Miss Dana is a wonderful teacher - encouraging, patient, fair yet disciplined, holding her students to high standards because she knows that they can achieve them. Miss Dana takes a balanced approach of both pushing her students to where she knows they can go - which she intuitively senses - and supporting them until they can go where they are not yet ready. I know that my daughters are not only getting an excellent teacher of dance but also, and perhaps more importantly, someone who is helping them to develop as people as well as dancers”
- Catherine Poole, parent
Dana Fry Blanco
Royal Academy of Dance Global Ballet Examiner, ARAD RTS, AISTD Dip, Dip in Dance Ed.
Owner, Artistic Director, Instructor
Specializations
RAD Ballet Vocational and Solo Seal
ISTD Modern
Progressing Ballet Technique
Dana is the mom to a spunky daughter and is born and raised here in Victoria. With over 20 years of dance teaching and studio directing, she has come to understand the most important aspects of dance training: care, confidence and consistency.
While dance training (ballet in particular) used to be overbearing and hard on the body, Dana has transformed all of the current knowledge about body mechanics and success psychology to create a safe, positive environment where dancers can grow to professional levels with care and respect.
Dana dreamed of being an examiner all her life, and her dreams came true in December 2017 when she was invited to complete training to become a Royal Academy of Dance Global Ballet examiner (one of only 200 in the world). Daily she shares her wealth of knowledge with her students.
Dana has directed WAPA from 2004 (it’s founding year) until 2007 when she purchased the business, making WAPA a name to remember within the dance community. Her students have gone on to SEAD Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, the National Ballet Teacher training program, Modus post grad modern program, RAD certificate in ballet teaching studies, RAD BA Honours in Ballet, physiotherapy masters, medical school and law school. With high expectations, individual approach and a positive manner she is able to get the best out of each dancer she works with.
in 2015 Dana founded Convergence Contemporary Ballet Company, Victoria’s premier contemporary ballet company. By connecting her love of teaching with her desire to see more professional dance in Victoria, Convergence provides a perfect stepping stone for her pre-professional dancers to launch their careers.
As a young dancer Dana trained in RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco, Voice and Drama here in Victoria BC Canada at Sinclair Academy of Performing Arts until the age of 18. After graduating high school she moved to Vancouver and danced with the Goh Ballet Youth Company training for RAD Advanced 2 and Solo Seal with accomplished RAD examiner Lynette Kelley. Dana danced in the Nutcracker for 7 consecutive years (one of which she danced the role of Clara), in the musical Carousel with the Victoria Operatic Society and competed at the BC Performing Arts Festival 6 consecutive years for Ballet and Stage.
Dana’s dedication to each individual process and goals makes her an amazing instructor for all dancers.
Gina Sinclair Davis
ARAD RTS, BBO, AISTD, Adjudicator
Specializations
RAD Ballet
Open Ballet Classes
Teaching qualifications include:
Royal Academy of Dance Associate (Advanced Certificate), Registered Teacher Status, Life Member and CBTS Mentor.
BBODance Registered Teacher Status in Ballet, Modern, and Musical Theatre.
Canadian Dance Teachers Association Registered Teacher Status with Licentiate in Ballet, Modern and Multicultural Dance.
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Associate in Ballet, Modern and National.
Gina is also a registered member of Healthy Dancer Canada, and BC Dance Educators' Association for Dance Professionals and is also an Adjudicator at dance competitions in all dance styles.
Gina Sinclair Davis is a Ballet and Dance Major graduate of Arts Educational college in London, UK which at that time fed into the London Festival Ballet Company which is now called English National Ballet.
She grew up not far from London attending a stage school from the age of 7, and first performed professionally in a London UK west-end show at the tender age of 8 years old.
Gina later danced in professional shows as well as ballet and modern dance companies both in the UK and in Canada.
She is also a Guest Master Teacher working in both University and studio settings in Mexico, UK, Europe, Canada, and USA.
Studio director and proud owner of Sinclair Academy of Performing Arts for over 20 years, Gina also spent many years as a Rehearsal Assistant for Russian, American, and Canadian ballet companies teaching roles for Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Cinderella and The Nutcracker.
Gina was named as one of the world’s 17 finest and most respected master ballet teachers by Dean Speer in his book ‘On Technique’.
With such a huge love and passion for ballet and the performing arts Gina enjoys every moment in the studio, backstage, at the side of the stage, in the audience or even on-stage dancing in mature character roles. She feels blessed both to have had such a wonderful lifelong career and to still be learning and sharing.
Olivia Widenmaier
Acrobatic Arts Certification
Specializations
Acrobatics
Youth Dance Classes
Olivia Widenmaier is a lifetime dancer through WAPA and has been with the studio since she was 2 years old. She grew up dancing RAD ballet and ISTD modern, along with more competitive styles of dance such as jazz, hip hop, and tap.
She went to Spectrum Community School for grades 9 through 12 where she was a part of the Advanced Dance program led by Lia Shannon. In the program, Olivia was able to learn specialized styles of dance such as Fosse jazz, Street Jazz, Bollywood, Waacking, hip hop, Lyrical, and Acrobatics. She was also the teacher's assistant for different levels of classes where she was able to create her own choreography, which was entered into competitions where she won 3 specialty awards for her choreography. She graduated from Spectrum with Honours, a Fine Arts award, and a Service with Distinction award.
During her years at WAPA, she completed many exams with distinction and has won specialty awards from multiple competitions for her outstanding passion, and performance skills. Olivia is excited to continue her education in the UVIC Psychology program as well as Teacher Diplomas from multiple institutions of dance education. She is currently certified in acrobatics up to pre-professional level and is excited to bring in new tricks to the studio.
Olivia’s passion for teaching is what drives her to ensure that every student she works with leaves the studio with a positive mindset and strong confidence in their abilities.
Angela Mousseau
BA Modern Dance
Specializations
Horton
Limon
Choreography Composition
Born and raised in Victoria, BC, Canada, Angela Mousseau is a contemporary dance artist, living and working on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees) peoples. Ms. Mousseau has been teaching and choreographing contemporary and modern dance for over 20 years She is a 2002 graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she majored in modern dance focusing on Horton, Limon and Taylor techniques. At the University of the Arts, she studied with directors, choreographers and dancers from The Paul Taylor Company, The Limon Company, PHILADANCO, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Koresh Dance Company, Momix and many others. Angela has performed in Philadelphia and New York Fringe Festivals, at the National Dance Day in Philadelphia, and with The Next Stage Project (directed by Jana Hicks) and AKRNYM Dance Company in New York City. Following graduation, Angela travelled between Canada and the US to continue training and performing in New York, studying at the Taylor school, Peridance, The Dance Space, Dance New Amsterdam, Steps and Broadway Dance Center. After settling back in Victoria, BC in 2007 she began to shift her focus from performing to teaching and choreography. Angela is currently on faculty at Westcoast Academy of Performing Arts, the Victoria Academy of Ballet and is the co-director of Convergence Contemporary Ballet. She is a guest choreographer with the Nanaimo Contemporary Ballet and at The Landing Dance in Vancouver. Many of her students have gone on to join the company or study at The National Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Toronto Dance Theatre, Ryerson University, Modus Operandi Contemporary Dance Program, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Alvin Ailey, Lines Ballet in San Francisco, SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance), Kibbutz Dance Company (Israel), Trinity Laban in London, Ballet Oklahoma, Ballet Edmonton, Orlando Ballet and The University of the Arts. In 2017 and 2019 at Dance Victoria, she was one of 3 choreographers selected to participate in a 2 week choreographic lab directed by Wen Wei Wang (2017) and Justine Chambers and Susan Elliott (2019). In January 2018 and February 2020, Angela was invited to do a Choreographic Residency at Dance Victoria where her original work was presented as a part of Rough Cuts at the Metro Theatre. She continues to train in Counter-technique with Charles Slender White, Artistic Director of FACT/SF in San Francisco.
Angela’s work is based off of an inquisitive and curious look at the world. She gravitates towards patterns found in everyday life and tries to enhance or bring light to moments that are part of our everyday routine. She values the creative collaboration between artists and loves to play and discover happy accidents. In June of this year she went to study with the Trisha Brown company learning one of Trisha's early works, Solo Olos (1976) and diving into the many layers of Trisha Brown. Solo Olos covers it all: integrating the simple directive, “line up,” creating movement from a written score, working through complex retrogrades, and live composition of a form, all in Trisha’s iconic language of movement.
Alicia Gauthier
International Dance Teachers Society Teacher Certification
Specializations
Youth dance classes
Born and raised in Victoria, Alicia has loved dancing since her first performance in her elementary school's annual musical theatre production. After this, she could be caught choreographing dances with her friends for anyone that would watch. This quickly became choreographing for school productions and as a "Young Choreographer" for Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival (GVPAF). Alicia has trained at multiple studios and school dance programs in both Victoria and Vancouver. She has experience performing a variety of styles including jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, modern, and tap; excitedly taking her passion to stage during annual recitals, studio company tours, and festivals like GVPAF and Danceworks. As a dancer, she is known for her hard work, dedication, and attention to detail. Alicia prides herself on being a lifelong learner and enjoys furthering her knowledge of dance techniques and keeping up to date with science-medicine-based learning, strength, mobility, and injury-prevention practices. As an instructor, she strives to pass on her love of dance through a creative, positive, and welcoming class experience. She is passionate about encouraging a supportive environment where each dancer feels seen and respected. Having chosen to spend the beginning of her teaching career in recreation, Alicia has experience with many different types of learners, stages, and abilities. She brings a strong desire for trying to make dance as accessible to everyone as possible. Though most of her studio time is now spent passing her knowledge on to others, she can still be seen taking classes at a variety of local studios and performing when possible. Alicia has completed her Standard Dance Teaching Certification through International Dance Teaching Standards (IDTS).
Suzy Vining
Graduate of Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Cecchetti Associate Teacher
Specializations
RAD & Cecchetti Ballet
Open Ballet & Pointe
Progressing Ballet Technique
At the young age of 5, Suzy trained in the Royal Academy of Dancing and completed her exams with honours. Growing up in Victoria BC, Suzy performed in competitions and received multiple certificates and awards, being awarded a provincial winner at age 12. Within these years, she danced distinguished roles with professional companies including, The Alberta Ballet, The Eugene Ballet, and the Sacramento Ballet. As a teenager, Suzy continued her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division, with the guidance of world renowned artistic staff studying the Vagonava method of ballet.
Suzy danced professionally from 2013-2019 as a soloist and principle dancer with Ballet Etoile Canada, where she performed many ballets including The Nutcracker, Les Sylphide, The Firebird and many more. Her favourite roles include The Dying Swan and Vivaldis Four Seasons. Suzy joined Convergence Contemporary Ballet Company in 2015 for their premier performance, where she dance for two seasons.
Teaching at local studios for over twenty years, Suzy is fortunate to share her love for ballet to her students in Victoria, and many of her students have continued to have successful careers in dance all around the world. Along with her expertise of the R.A.D syllabus exam preparation and Progressive Ballet Technique, Suzy has received her Cecchetti Associate teaching diploma in classical training.
Suzy's teaching style is to inspire passion for ballet with professional technique and safe training for all her students, but mostly to instill the love of dance.
Candace Bruce
Specializations
Pre School Dance
Circus Arts
Personal Training
Candace is a performer and educator based in Victoria, BC. As a professional dancer, she has worked for companies such as Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Disney Cruise Line, and Netflix, where she was able to gain experience in many different approaches to contemporary and commercial dance. Currently, Candace is an active participant in the contemporary community and is a member of the dance company Broken Rhythms Victoria Society. In her classrooms, Candace emphasizes creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. By blending her passions for functional movement, artistic freedom, and play, Candace is able to create a fun and collaborative atmosphere.
Accomplishments:
International Sports Sciences Association Personal Trainer & Youth Education Specialist (2020)
Cast Lead & Touring Dancer with Disney Cruise Line (2018-2020)
Completed the Emerging Leaders Leadership Training Certificate Program (Disney Cruise Line, 2019)
Trained at the highly acclaimed Decidedly Jazz Danceworks & Toronto School of Circus Arts (2017-2020)