Our Faculty

Monique Salez

Owner & Artistic Director, Flamenco, Groove, Improv, Rust

A mulit-talented performer/teacher, Monique is incredibly passionate about the potential for the human spirit to speak through the body in motion. A teacher of Flamenco, Efunk, Pilates Fusion & Vinyasa Yoga, Monique moves & instructs from the inside out. Awarded multiple grants from The Canada & BC Arts Councils she travels to Spain refreshing her studies with the flamenco greats. Artistic director of Raino Dance, Flamenco Rebelde & The Dream Cab Monique performs extensively: The Butchart Gardens, Symphony Splash, & Ballet Victoria’s Queen of Hearts to name a few.

Dyana Sonik-Henderson

Contemporary, Jazz

Dyana is a choreographer, instructor, and the Artistic Director of Broken Rhythms Dance Company. She is a staple in the local dance community with weekly classes at the iconic Raino Dance studio, Victoria Academy of Ballet, Canadian College of Performing Arts and is a popular guest choreographer/instructor at many studios across Canada. She has been recognized for her choreography, community work and artistic direction and is continuously collaborating with artists and arts companies across disciplines. She continues to study, evolve and is in the final stages of completing her Master’s degree in Sociology at UVIC on the themes of gender, race and embodied movement. Dyana is a passionate, high-energy instructor dedicated to challenging the mind-body connection through dance.

Amanda Zink

Hiphop, SASS/heels, Barre

Amanda Zink started training at 3 and began teaching dance at 16 years old. A student of hiphop, sass, jazz funk, heels, commercial, ballet, lyrical, and tap, recently Amanda is a sought after choreographer and performer in music videos and at many outdoor music festivals, concerts and performances including: Rifflandia; $BBNO; Method Man; Redman; and opening for Shaggy and Aqua at Lake Down Shake Down. A huge advocate for self love and acceptance, Amanda is about making movement fun for everyone and providing a safe place where everyone can feel encouraged, motivated and excited. When not dancing, Amanda is a mom, Certified personal trainer through BCPRA.

Miyouki Jego

Ballet

A student of The Edmonton School of Ballet professional program at the age of 14 studying musical theatre, jazz, modern, tap, character dance & choreography Miyouki’s main focus has always been ballet - RAD and Cecchetti Dance Theatre Instructor program. She has performed in ballets including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Don Quixote, among others. Since 1999, Miyouki has been teaching & developing ballet programs at dance schools, arts centres, and recreational programs, in Western Canada. She holds a degree in Nutritional sciences from the University of Alberta and is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

Mira McConnell

Bellydance

Mira has been sharing her passion for Bellydance as an instructor since 2003 and as a performer for over 30yrs. Her mother, Asmira, was a professional dancer in Cairo, Egypt bringing her experience to teach in Canada in the 1980’s.  Mira was raised with Arabic music and dance in the household. She holds utmost respect for the history and cultural significance of this art form. Her classes are fully inclusive and open to EVERYBODY!

Sophia Harrington

SASS, Hype Heels, Jazz, Lyrical Contemporary

Sophia Harrington is an award winning dancer/choreographer with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology/Sport and Fitness Leadership. Best known for her sexyjazz and heels, Sophia has been featured in film, tv, and performed for various musical artists such as bbno$, Prism, Juelz, and Darren Day Jr. She has received high level training in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, HipHop, and Heels, and is excited to share her passion for dance in her classes this coming season.

Mark Alexander Valencia Carrillo

Ballet

Mark Alexander holds a Bachelor degree in Classical Dance from the Escuela Superior de Musica y Dance de Monterey. He has toured Brazil with the Ballet Folklorico de la Universidad Monterey & had the opportunity to perform at the Auditorio Nacional & Palacio de Bellas Artes amoung others. After two years at the Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver he has moved to the island and is super excited to find a school that focuses on teaching adults.

Join Our Dance Family

Listen to your bodies longing to move, to express, and to connect with others in the dance.