Faculty

Lana Moller: Owner and Director – Head of Ballet Department

Lana Moller’s dance career has taken her throughout Canada. In her own career, Lana has been recognized as a performer, choreographer, and educator. Locally, Lana has danced with many companies and independent choreographers. Lana’s Choreography has been presented in festivals such as Vancouver’s Kiss Festival, Dancing on the Edge, and Toronto’s Fida festival. Lana holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University. The biggest rewards in Lana’s career have been reached through teaching at Langley Dance Academy. She has been teaching dance for over 25 years. Lana is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and in 2011 was appointed a teaching mentor for the Royal Academy of Dance. Creating Langley Dance Academy and nurturing its exceptional environment has been her lifelong dream and passion.

Seina Singleton: Director – Head of Jazz Department

Seina has been teaching at Langley Dance Academy since 2007 and was thrilled to take on a Director role in 2013. Seina’s love of dance began at the age of 7 and has continued to grow from there. Her training includes the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Harbour Dance Centre, The Edge Performing Arts, and Millennium Dance Complex, as well as countless local conventions and classes. During her studio training, she completed her Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams from Grade 4 to Advanced 1. Outside of the studio, Seina has choreographed musicals, taught high school and adult classes, and worked with various athletes to help achieve their physical goals. Seina has her Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, which helps connect her entrepreneurial spirit to her passion for dance at Langley Dance Academy. Seina truly loves teaching dance and sharing her enthusiasm and passion for movement with students of all ages.

Reid Colton: Ballet

Reid is currently residing in Langley and teaches at various studios in the Lower Mainland. He has been teaching ballet classes at Langley Dance Academy since 2009. Reid specializes in teaching Ballet Technique, Men’s Variations, and Pas De Deux. Reid began training with Philip Fuller in Los Angeles at the age of 8. As a student at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, he attended summer sessions on scholarship with American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and the Royal Ballet. He received a scholarship to the Post Secondary Program of Canada’s National Ballet School, where he studied with Lindsay Fischer and he had a brand new piece choreographed for him by James Kudelka. Reid represented NBS in an international showcase, dancing Rudi van Dantzig’s “Third Song” at the Stuttgart Ballet. Upon graduating from the Post-Secondary Dance Program Reid joined Ballet West in Salt Lake City, and performed ballets such as “Giselle”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes”. In 2008, Reid joined The Orlando Ballet and danced roles in Fernando Bujones’ “Don Quixote”, “Bolero”, and Robert Hill’s “Le Corsaire”.

Heather McBride: Ballet

Heather McBride is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance with her Advanced Dancers Certificate. She has over 30 years of teaching experience and attends R.A.D. Teaching Refresher Courses. She has trained under the direction of Sheila MacDonald, Bill McGrath, Mara McBirney, Marcia Caple, Ellen Andrews, and Josephine Slater. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts intensive dance training program in Classical Ballet, Repertoire, Modern, Jazz, Pas de deux and Production. She has Modern Contemporary Dance Training with Norbert Vesak, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, and Ted Shawn. She has done Jazz & Lyrical Jazz Training with Eva Von Gencey of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Co. Jazz Division. She has performed with Vivaldi Concert Dancers, E. Andrews, J. Slater, and Norbert Vesak, Ballet Horizons with Morley Wiseman from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Co., the Vancouver Opera Society with Franklin White from the Royal Ballet Co. from England, and Ozma’s StepOut with fellow dancers and choreographers.

Alivia Villadiego: Hip Hop

Since starting at Langley Dance Academy in 2009, Alivia has played an integral role in cultivating the hip hop program into what it is today. Alivia has been dancing since the age of 3, exploring different styles eventually discovering her passion for hip hop. Alivia’s performance accolades include performing alongside K-os in the 2010 Winter Olympics and appearances in a music video for local hip hop artist IG. Her love of dance and teaching can be seen as she choreographs and coaches classes from a beginner level through to competitive. She is currently studying as a Special Education Teacher and dreams of starting a dance program for those with exceptionalities and wants to see dance available to everyone. Additionally, she’s taught at many Elementary schools for gym classes and spring recitals, and has done choreography for wedding first dances and bridal party dances. Alivia continues to attend workshops and conventions to bring students what is at the forefront of the hip hop community while maintaining her own distinct style.

Kiyomi Kato: Ballet

Kiyomi started dancing at the age of 3. Her dance training includes Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Kiyomi has successfully completed all of the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet examinations from Pre-Primary to Advanced 1. During her training at Langley Dance Academy, Kiyomi had the pleasure of participating trips to St. Petersburg, Russia and to New York City for dance. While in St. Petersburg, Kiyomi trained with the Mariinsky Ballet, one of the world’s leading ballet companies and is also known as the Kirov Ballet. While there Kiyomi, took daily classes, including a Pas de Duex with principal dancers from the Mariinsky Ballet. In her final year of training at LDA, Kiyomi joined fellow students and her teachers in travelling to New York City. There she received unforgettable dance training in Ballet, Contemporary, Broadway, and Jazz. Travelling and training abroad was a highlight of her dance training! Kiyomi is a certified Ballet Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. She has been an instructor at Langley Dance Academy since 2011. She aims to inspire and nurture a love of dance in all of her students.

Paris Zondag: Ballet and Jazz

We were thrilled to have Paris Zondag join our faculty in 2015, after dancing with Miss Lana since the age of 3. She attributes this as the reason she has developed a passion for dance over the years and quickly grew a love for dancing competitively. Paris teaches Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre classes at LDA. She has completed the RAD Ballet Program up to Advanced 2. During her own dance career, she travelled to New York and trained with world renowned choreographers. She continues to expand her dance career by attending workshops and intensive summer camps, such as though offered at Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver. She is currently attending Kwantlen University working on a General Arts Degree. Paris is successful member of the Vancouver Stealth Lacrosse dance team where she is a part of the Bombshell Squad. She is currently working on her teacher certification with the Royal Academy of Dance. She is excited to teach to other young dancers what she learned from Miss Lana at such a young age.

Paige Harrison: Tap

Paige says Langley Dance Academy is like a second home to her, where she has been a student since the age of 7. She has completed her Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams from Grade 3 to Advanced 2. Paige has also completed her Grade 3 to Advanced 2 ISTD Tap Exams and is currently enrolled in the ISTD Teaching Program for Tap. Paige loves children and is studying to become an Education Assistant. Any student is lucky to have Miss Paige as their teacher! She has been assistant teaching since 2011 and also is an integral part in running all of our camp programs throughout the summer months. Paige says she loves teaching young dancers at LDA because it gives her a sense of accomplishment when she sees the student succeed. Paige loves watching the relationship grow between dance and the dancer.

Andrea Gibson: Jazz and Musical Theatre

Andrea is a multitalented dancer, teacher and choreographer trained in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet(RAD), hip hop, tap, voice and musical theatre. She grew up on stage winning over $15,000 in personal scholarships and competing as a provincial representative. Andrea has performed in numerous stage productions as well as being cast as a principal dancer in the Warner Brothers movie Scooby Doo 2. Over the last decade she has taught at both recreational and competitive levels, with her students winning numerous high-score and choreography awards yearly. She personally received the “Mentor” award at Shine Dance Festival for her positive attitude and work ethic with her students in 2010 as well as being selected as Shine Dance Festival’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2015. She is always invested in furthering her education as an instructor attending conventions throughout the lower mainland and travelling as far as LA to take part in the Dance Teacher Summit. She recently completed Level One and Two of the International Dance Teaching Standards as well as two intensive workshops with West Coast Choreo Lab. Andrea’s passion for performing is contagious and her focus in class is not only on building dancers but confident and passionate individuals.

Abi Vilio: Ballet and Jazz

Sara Williamson: Ballet

Sara is passionate about ballet and dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams. A Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance with 20 years experience, she grew up in Kamloops where she began dancing with Regina Bittner-Rothbart. Further study in the Lower Mainland led to in-depth training with Heather McBride. Sara is also a UBC graduate (B.Sc. Chemistry), and holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and Certified Financial Planner designations, in addition to teaching certifications from Acrobatic Arts and various conditioning systems. Sara was part of the worldwide group of teachers piloting the new Discovering Repertoire program during its development phase, and is excited to bring it now to LDA students!

Robbie De Val: Hip Hop

Robbie Del Val also known as Jan Robert Del Val, started dancing at a very young age due to his school curriculum in the Philippines. Moving to Canada in 2009, he started to take dance seriously and has auditioned for various teams and has ended up competing internationally with PraiseTeam, TwoFourSeven Company, Bakery, Illustrative Society  and many more. His passion continuously grows as he constantly wants to perfect his art in Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, etc. Robbie, now the age of 21 continues to strive for more and he dreams to be a back up dancer for an artist one day. He wants to use his talents to share the love and joy he feels for dance and wants to be able to influence the world to become a more positive place.

Heather Furlong: Jazz

Heather started dancing at the age of 4, and was trained in RAD and some cecchetti.
She has taught all over the Lower Mainland, specializing in jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop. She is known best for her creative and exciting choreography which has received countless awards. Heather is recognized for her unparalleled ideas, use of costuming and music originality. She has over 18 years of teaching experience, and over 20 years of choreography experience. It is Heather’s belief that every student brings something special and unique to each of her routines. Heather has found the best way to inspire is to find the inspiration in each dancer.

Miss Rusch: Ballet

With a passion for dance and education, Heather has devoted her life to moulding younger generations through the art of ballet. Having studied dance, first with ballet through The Royal Academy of Dance, one of the foremost authorities in ballet, Heather has added to her understanding and love of dance with additional training in Russian and Hungarian folk, ballroom, modern, jazz, yoga, tap, pressure release stretch, square and round dancing, and Shaun Work – a technique of modern and ballet developed in the 1930’s. Heather has danced across Canada, as well as overseas in Spain, Alaska and in London at the Pineapple Studios. She has continued to add to her training through workshops, lectures, and seminars that enable her to provide the highest level of instruction to her students. Heather’s training, certifications and experience have allowed her to expand and sharpen her talents so she can share her love and respect for dance with her students and the world.

Heather has ardently given her self and her time to provide instruction and choreography for annual dance competitions, holiday performances and year end reviews for all her students. She believes that direction, practice and determination are best married together when students can take what they have learned and offered to an audience on the stage. Her greatest desire is to see young lives changed by the power, discipline and freedom that dance can offer. Heather looks forward to continuing to broaden her knowledge and appreciation of dance so that she can impart this transformative awareness to her students and community through teaching and choreography.

Ed Tiojanco: Breakdancing and Hip Hop

Kortney Story

Kortney’s own dance career consisted of two short years of ballet and one year of jazz before finding her own passion in Figure Skating. After retiring as a competitive athlete after 22 years, Kortney took on a position as a Figure Skating Judge, which keeps her busy in her free time away from Langley Dance Academy. Despite her own passion for Figure Skating, Kortney always had a love of dance, particulary ballet, and after having her first daughter in 2008, she hoped her daughter would fall in love with dancing. Sure enough, Kortney gets to watch both of her girls dance at Langley Dance Academy now, where they’ve fallen in love with dance. Kortney is glad to see her ability to apply fake eyelashes and make perfect ballet buns get put to use. Outside of her artistic passions, Kortney is a trained medical and legal transcriptionist and has just welcomed a son to complete her family at home.

Emily Kivinen

Emily’s love of dance has taken her all throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. Originally from Southern Ontario, she moved to England at age 15 where she fell in love with Street Dance and Hip Hop. Emily has danced on all of London’s most prestigious stages and was a backup dancer at the Disney Channel Kids Awards, where she danced for over 15,000 fans. At age 16, Emily auditioned for and was selected to be a backup dancer for British pop band Atomic Kitten. Emily began teaching at 17 and feels most at home teaching in a studio. Her most famous students are Nathan Sykes of the British boy band “The Wanted” and British singer FKA Twigs. Emily has taught all over Ontario, Alberta, and now in BC she has found her home at Langley Dance Academy. Emily has two young girls who she hopes will fall in love with dance like she did.

Amanda Ho

Hannah Wilson

Hailey De Leeuw

Anja Graham 

Anja has been dancing with Miss Lana for 13 years, taking a wide variety of styles including jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop. She has completed all Royal Academy of Dance Ballet exams up to Advanced 2. Anja has travelled to New York and has trained with the New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Broadway Dance Center. She has won many awards and titles including “Star Performance”, “Outstanding Solo”, “Most Promising Dancer”, scholarship to Triple Threat Dance Convention, and was included in the Shine Dance Festival’s Top 10 Dancers. Anja continues to expand her dance training and knowledge by attending Harbour Dance Centre’s Summer Intensive.  She has taken workshops with world famous choreographers Kelly Konno, Tara Jean Popowich, and Napolean and Tabitha. Anja is a dance major at Langley Fine Arts, and has been assisting at Langley Dance Academy since 2011. She loves teaching dance because she loves spreading passion and drive for dance with younger students.

Morgan Blair

Morgan’s love of dance has been with her since the age of 3, when she took her first ballet class. Awarded “Distinction” in all her ballet exams with Royal Academy of Dance, including her Advanced 2 exam; her passion does not stop there. Along with a strong classical background in Ballet, Morgan has had extensive training in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Salsa, Irish and Hip Hop. Morgan has trained and performed with some of the best in North America including San Francisco’s Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School, Banff Centre for the Arts, American Academy of Ballet in New York, Royal Winnipeg and Alberta Ballet. She has performed in the 2010 Olympics, a dancer on the tv show “Once Upon A Time”, a representative for the BC Performing Arts Provincials and was Clara with Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker. Morgan has danced in Vancouver with The Source, Lamondance and Lovers Cabaret companies. She presently teaches ballet, contemporary dance, Zumba and Barre Fitness throughout the lower mainland.

Angella Slaunwhite

Angella is an emerging Vancouver-based dance artist who’s passion for dance started at a very young age. As an adult performing is the heart of her career while she wows the audience through her passion for the art form. She loves telling her story through movement and feeling the adrenaline rush when hitting the stage. Angella has performed in The Nutcracker with the BC Ballet and Alberta Ballet, represented BC in the CDTA solo national competition held in Toronto, awarded Senior Prodigy at NRG Tacoma and travelled to Italy last October to represent Canada at the IDO Worlds competition for hip hop. Angella currently trains with Kill The Lights Co, and performs with The Lovers Cabaret. She has always shared her love and knowledge for dance teaching at various studios, and currently teaches hip hop for the surrey district high schools. Angella has also toured throughout BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan for Dance Power Enterprises along side Darryl Hodgins as his tour assistant. Angella’s great deal of ambition always pushes her to strive and be the best she can be!

Emily Nieken

Born and raised in Surrey, B.C, Emily Nieken has been dancing from the age of 5. She has trained in RAD and Cecchetti ballet, ISTD tap, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre. Emily has successfully completed all of the Royal Academy of Dance ballet examinations from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2. In her younger years, Emily successfully competed in festivals and dance competitions, attended the Arts Umbrella Summer Dance Intensive, and worked as a performer during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Emily has also had the opportunity to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia with the Vaganova Dance Society to train at the Eiffman Ballet Studios.

After graduating high school in 2012, Emily entered the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School where she attained her Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance, her Associate in National Dance from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, her Associate with the Cecchetti Society of Canada, as well as a diploma. As a teacher, Emily has worked for various studios in both Vancouver and Toronto. Currently, Emily is on faculty at Canada’s National Ballet School as a ballet and jazz teacher in the Associates Program; as well as teaching RAD ballet and competitive ballet at Star Dance Academy in Scarborough. In 2016, Emily also became a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance.