Workshops + Intensives

2019 Summer Intensive August 26-30

Join us for Alchemy Dance Collective’s Summer intensive August 26-30. We have an incredible line uo of teachers + choreographers joining us this summer!

Stephen Agisilaou is coming all the way from New York City, Taylor Kiryluik from Edmonton, Amanda Desousa from Edmonton, and Carrie Tetreau- Robbins from Grande Prairie.

You can choose to enrol for the week, or take drop in classes. Please note: this intensive is for competitive or serious dancers only. Email us at info@alchemydance.ca to register.

EARLY BIRD Pricing is available until June 15th. Save 10% when you register for the full week! Pre-Registration is required. Space is limited.

Stephen Agisilaou ~ Guest Choreographer + Teacher

Stephen Agisilaou is an Australian-born choreographer and creative director employed by some of the world's largest companies and organizations.

Stephen began his dance journey at the late age of 17, with his only movement experience being self-taught hip hop & improvisation. He would go on to teach hip hop all over the world, and choreograph and dance in countless music videos. Stephen would soon graduate with honors with his Diploma in Performing Arts, specializing in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Ballet, Tap, Modern and Contemporary Dance. His signature style of intricate movement meshed with technique quickly became renowned and admired as unpredictable and mesmerizing.

In his early career as a performer and choreographer, Stephen worked for national televised shows, commercials, and served as a choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance. He traveled to Los Angeles to continue his education, and once completed, spent 3 years as a principal dancer for MOVE: The Company in Canada. Working alongside acclaimed choreographers such as Joshua Beamish, Amber Funk-Barton, and Amy Gardner, his exploration of movement would continue to change.

In 2009, Stephen created Vertical Shadows - a contemporary dance company that crosses genres through it’s direction to create a cinematic theatre experience. Under Vertical Shadows, Stephen directed The White Prince, which brought former principal dancer of The Australian Ballet, Damien Welch, and former Senior Artist, Marc Cassidy, out of retirement. Vertical Shadows has continually created to five-star reviews, and employed dancers who now dance for such renowned companies as Zurich Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Ballet Lab, and Chunky Move. As a creator of movement, Stephen has been employed extensively in the realm of musical theatre and plays. He choreographed the Melbourne premiere of the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, Blood Brothers and the revival of the Green Room Award-winning musical, Prodigal. His choreography has been seen internationally in productions of Good Morning Hong Kong, Black Diva Power, and The Pajama Game. Stephen was employed by Opera Australia to assist them in casting the Broadway revival of South Pacific. Additionally, Stephen was brought on as Co-Director and Choreographer of artist Anthony Breslin's immersive experience, TRYBE: An Opera In Paint.

His choreography has been commissioned by some of the world's biggest organizations, such as Samsung, Red Bull, The Australian Open, P&O International, TXU Electricity, The Venetian/Sands Hotel Macau, Stereosonic Music Festival, and Dance2XS. Throughout his career, Stephen has been bestowed with incredible honors and awards from The Institute of Classical Dance, Short and Sweet Dance Festival, and WIND International Film Festival. He has been reviewed with accolades from such publications as the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Dance Australia Magazine, The Australian Stage, and the ABC National Radio program. Most recently, Stephen’s film, "New York City”, has been celebrated in over 12 international festivals. Stephen also directed and choreographed “The Dime Series”- a collection of music videos that demonstrated high quality film visuals on a tight budget.

Stephen is currently working as Operations Supervisor for The Institute Of Classical Dance, and Technical Director for The Palm Springs Dance Festival. He currently resides in the United States, working as a faculty member with NYC Man In Motion conventions, Broadway Dance Centre, and is still active as Artistic Director of Vertical Shadows Dance Company in Australia.  In 2019, Stephen will be premiering 3 new works in both the USA & Australia.

Taylor Kiryluik ~ Guest Choreographer + Teacher

Taylor started dancing as soon as she could walk and has trained extensively in many genres of dance. She is a highly creative and versatile performer, teacher, and choreographer with a quirky and fun approach to her craft. Born and raised in small town Alberta, Taylor branched out in highschool and graduated from Victoria School for the Arts where she studied contemporary and jazz dance intensively while also learning the history of modern and tap techniques. She continued her study of contemporary and jazz through University and was scouted to the University of the Arts inPhiladelphia. Dance has allowed Taylor to travel the world performing and training in cities across Spain, as well as London, Paris, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

Taylor has chosen to stay true to her Canadian roots and grow with dance in Edmonton where she competed professionally and worked with BBM, YEGrBombz, and is one of the original members of Mod Contemporary Company through the University of Alberta. She has opened for Hip hop artists KYLE (iSpy), Kirko Bangz, Jadakiss and Jay Sean. Though she loves performing Taylor maintains her career and has found her niche as a teacher. She has been inspiring students with her creativity, style and passion for dance for the past 9 years and is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with everyone!

Amanda Desousa ~ Guest Teacher

Amanda Desousa started dancing at the age of 3 and has never stopped. She spent her dance career training under the direction of Shelley Tookey and Teresa Gibeau at Shelley's Dance Company, competing and performing across Canada and the United States. Amanda has completed her Al Gilbert Tap Exams and also has her Junior ADAPT Syllabus Teaching Certificate.

At the age of 15 Amanda started teaching at a small community league in the South Edmonton area and successfully grew the program into a full dance program. Amanda's Academy of Dance opened September 2001 and Amanda is thrilled to be entering her 18th season!!!!

Amanda's dancers have had tremendous success in Edmonton, as well as across Canada and the United States. Her dancers have performed and competed in Las Vegas, Disneyland, Disney World, New York City and most recently made a repeat trip to Disneyland to participate in the 15th Anniversary of Dance the Magic in the summer of 2018. Many of Amanda's students have moved on to professional careers, and can be seen on and off Broadway in New York City and in many plays and shows in Toronto and Vancouver. Amanda has also created an Elite Team Program at her studio which encourages dancers to perform in and around the city for charity events. This includes many Oil King events and attending numerous workshops and dance educational classes across North America. Amanda's dancers are known for being strong competitive dancers and have had huge successes at local and out of town competitions. Amanda has been recognized for over 50 choreography awards, been awarded multiple "Choreographer of the Day" awards and "Choreographer of the Competition" awards. She also was nominated for the Woman of Distinction Award by the YWCA.

Amanda has most recently started, and is directing, an "All Star" dance program. This program is designed for any dancer with disabilities. She has currently welcomed over 25 dancers into the studio with special needs and is giving these amazing kids the opportunity to dance and compete with her studio. She is excited to develop this program and is working hard with her staff to learn and create the best opportunities possible for dancers with disabilities.

Amanda is an extremely dedicated studio owner, teacher, and is the leading force behind Amanda's Academy of Dance. She teaches Competitive Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Variety and Musical Theatre and also leads the Adult Dance Program at the studio. Amanda is very excited for this 18th season of dance and feels blessed to fill her days with all her amazing staff and students. Amanda is supported by her husband Chris and her two dancers Abigail and Cadence.

Carrie Tetreau-Robbins ~ Guest Teacher

Ms. Robins has been a member of the Northern Alberta dance community for many years. As a dancer she competed extensively as well as performed in several musicals such as Grease and The Buddy Holly Story. She was also a performer in AXIIS- a modern dance company. Ms. Robins’ love of dance then led her into a career of teaching and choreography. She completed all her requirements to become a fully registered and certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Following her accreditation,

Ms. Robins’ has been teaching all forms of dance for several years with great positivity and passion for this art form. She is presently Dance Director of The Academy Dance Program in Grande Prairie, Alberta. As well she has began her certification in ADAPT jazz and tap and Acrobatique. Past students of Ms. Robins have been accepted into The National Ballet School, The Alberta Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Young Americans, Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester, and Leon Dance Arts in NYC.

As a choreographer she does work for several competitive troupes as well as theatre companies featuring musicals such as Chicago, Mamma Mia, and Hairspray. Ms. Robins has formed a production company with the focus of bringing more performance and training opportunities to the dancers of Northern Alberta with repertoire and original works. She has also choreographed and produced an original full length dance performance to the music of Bryan Adams. Most recently she has been named Artistic Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Alberta Summer Games 2018.