Our Dance Instructors

Rheannon has studied various styles of dance since the age of 3 and has developed an enthusiastic, musical, and detailed teaching approach. Inspired by her experiences in both recreational and competitive settings, she hopes to share her passion and artistic expression through dance! As a student at Campus Saint-Jean studying Education, she is excited to be able to share her love of dance with the young students at La Girandole.

Olivia is very excited to be a teacher this year for the very first time! She has been dancing with La Girandole since she was two years old and has dreamed of becoming a teacher ever since. She has a deep love for musical theater and French-Canadian dance, and has been assisting early childhood classes for a few years. Olivia is currently studying education at Campus Saint-Jean and is looking forward to starting the 2023/24 season!

Aline, the former artistic director and choreographer of Zéphyr for three artistic seasons, has amassed ten years of training with the Zéphyr troupe and nineteen years with La Girandole, where she pursued studies in French-Canadian dance and step dancing. She also studies modern dance, classical ballet, jazz, and lyrical dance at the Edmonton School of Ballet. Aline is a music teacher at École Père-Lacombe. She is married to the fiddler Daniel Gervais, and together they have four children: Félix, Théodore, Éloïse, and Lucas.

Monique has worn many hats at La Girandole over the years. Dancer, volunteer, parent, teacher. This year, she is thrilled to share her love of French-Canadian dance with the little ones in Les Étincelles! She started with Les Étincelles because it was the youngest group at the time. Later, she continued with Les Alouettes, Les Arcs-en-ciels, La Girandole's adult troupe and finally as a founding member of the Zéphyr troupe. Those who know her know that it is rare that she does not jig while walking, or in the hallways of the school where she teaches. She probably jigs even in her sleep!

Manon made her debut at La Girandole at the age of five, and she continued her journey as a dancer up to the Zéphyr troupe, where she participated in several shows and international tours. Furthermore, she has also made her mark as a teacher for the Lucioles, Kangourous, and adult group, as well as a host for dance gatherings. Manon is excited to bring her love for dance to the Alouettes group this year.

Hailing from the greater Montreal area, Francis began dancing at the age of 14. He started with the dance ensemble "Les pieds légers de Laval" and later joined "Réel et Macadam". His journey led him to perform across Quebec and in Europe. In 2006, he moved to Alberta to teach traditional dance and become a choreographer for numerous groups throughout the province and in British Columbia. He was also a part of Zéphyr for a few years. Subsequently, he danced for Vinok Worldance while also calling dances in various places.

Amélia is delighted to be returning to La Girandole this year! In terms of her dance experience, Amélia has been dancing for 16 years and is trained in various styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, Ukrainian, and musical theater at Dance Unlimited, as well as at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. She choreographed a musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," with the Elope company, as well as "Frozen" at Holy Family School in Edmonton. Amélia is excited to share her passion for musical theater through her teaching.

"Dancing is like speaking in silence. It's saying a lot of things without saying a word." - Yuri Buenaventura

When she was young, Dalia was an extremely shy and reserved girl. When her mother finally convinced her to start dancing 11 years ago, Dalia found her confidence and a new way to express herself. She is part of a Lebanese dance group that specializes in folkloric and oriental dance. However, her favorite dance styles include Latin American dance, Hip-Hop, and of course, K-pop! Dalia is thrilled to share her love of dance with La Girandole this year.

Olivia is teaching her 9th season at La Girandole. She specializes in step dancing, French-Canadian dance, and children's dance. From the age of 6, Olivia wanted to explore various dance styles, but it was at the age of 14 that step dancing caught her interest the most. Olivia joined Zéphyr in 2013 and the Al-Jabal Dance troupe in 2014. She has performed in shows in the Alberta region, France, and Lebanon! With a general love for folkloric dance, it's step dancing and French-Canadian dance that attract her the most with their rhythms and melodies.

At 15 years old, Rita decided to pursue a similar path to her mother’s. Rita teaches belly dance and traditional lebanese folk dance. She is a member of the dance troupe Al-Jabal dance since 2011. This allows her to dance professionally at various cultural events such as the Heritage Festival. In 2014, Rita earned her Zumba certification. Rita is also certified in other fitness genres, such as Pound Fitness and Barre Above.