Festival

Julia Cosentino – a dance artist, educator, collaborator, choreographer and performer, received her BFA Honours Degree in Dance from York University in 2012. Since graduating, Julia has had the pleasure of working with companies/artists including TranscenDance Project, Jasmyn Fyffe Dance, Rodney Diverlus, Guillaume Cote, Rock Bottom Movement, Frog In Hand, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and On the Rocks Films, to name a few. Julia’s vision is to marry all of the things she loves most about dance: music, rhythm, physical prowess, artistry, expression, healing and human connection. This is at the heart of her practice, and she is grateful to be deepening her work and voice through research, conversation, play and discovery.

Julia has been teaching dance for many years, with many students, and across many borders. Julia deeply believes that her experiences in teaching have been equally educational for her. Each class and each student comes to her with a lesson to be learned. Additionally, having collaborated with an array of artists throughout her career, it has given her the opportunity to study leadership and the creative process from different angles.

As an educator, it is Julia’s ultimate goal that students can leave with a deeper understanding of dance, a deeper connection to their personal voice, and a set of useful tools that they can continue to cultivate and utilize in their training and performance for years to come. She hopes to inspire them to experience MUSIC, passion, freedom, joy, vulnerability, individuality, community and success through dance.Type your paragraph here.

Shayne Johnson began his dance training at the age of 5 in Vancouver, BC and by age 12, launched his professional career as a guest tap dancer on the “Super Dave Osborne” TV show. Career highlights include being a member of the Canadian National Tap Team, Grizzlies Extreme Dance Team for the NBA and working as a dancer, dance captain and choreographer for Norwegian Cruise Lines from 2003-2008. Shayne spent 13 years (2008-2022) dancing, choreographing and touring as a professional company member with Canada’s Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (DJD). In May 2022, Shayne returned to Norwegian Cruise Lines Creative Studios as Associate Choreographer and Director for the award winning shows “Noise Boys” and “Choir of Man”. Shayne is an established performing artist, choreographer and teacher throughout Canada.

Karyn Way is very active in Vancouver as a singer, adjudicator, director and music instructor. Some of her favourite performances include Madame Giry in The Phantom of the Opera, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Eva Peron in Evita and the Second Lady in The Magic Flute. As a director, Karyn most recently staged and music directed productions of Frozen, Jr., Dear Edwina and Shrek, Jr. for the Kay Meek Youth Conservatory in West Vancouver. She has also directed Amahl and the Night Visitors for the Vancouver Academy of Music as well as several evenings of opera scenes. She was on faculty at Capilano University as a voice instructor for four years and was head of voice for Stagecraft Theatre School for eight years. Karyn currently teaches voice, piano and music theory at her home studio, Vocalis Music and also teaches singing for Lights Up Theatre School and the Richmond Academy of Dance. Karyn continues to adjudicate and give masterclasses in voice and musical theatre at festivals across Canada. At the University of British Columbia, Karyn earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance and a Master of Music in Opera. She also earned Diplomas in Musical Theatre from Grant MacEwan College and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Karyn is a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She also has advanced certification as a voice teacher for the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a member of the RCM College of Examiners.