Our Instructors

MISS GENEVIEVE

Miss Genevieve was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba where her passion for dance began! At the age of three she started her training in Ballet and Tap at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She further extended her training adding Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre to her repertoire at the Winnipeg School of Performing Arts. While training she performed in several musicals including, Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Wizard of Oz and Bye Bye Berdie. She also workshopped and competed extensively throughout Canada and the USA, taking home several top awards for both solo and group performances, including ranking 6^th in Canada for a group tap number at the Canadian National Dance Championships in Toronto. Miss Genevieve has also had the privilege to workshop with such Tap Masters as Savion Glover, Regio the Hoofer and Brenda Bufalino. After graduating high school, Miss Genevieve began teaching at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and in Portage La Prairie, MB, as a part of their outreach programs. As her desire to open her own studio grew, she decided to further expand her training at the University of Calgary in the Dance and Drama programs. Through the department of Drama, Miss Genevieve studied everything from theatre design and history to make-up and costume design. However, her main focus was completing the advanced acting program where she had the opportunity to perform in several plays including The True Life Fiction of the Mata Hari, Twelfth Night and was hired on as a children’s theatre performer through a company called Wagonstage. Double majoring in the department of Dance, Miss Genevieve was also busy training through their Contemporary Dance program, expanding her knowledge in everything from dance history and conditioning for dancers to music and choreography.  Upon graduating, the desire to be in a smaller town and closer to family brought her to Medicine Hat. In the fall of 2008, the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts opened it’s doors! Miss Genevieve is blessed to say that her dream has come true. She is extremely proud of all her students and of the many successes they have had so far. She hopes to continue growing together through passion, dedications and an undeniable desire to dance!!!

MISS WHITNEY 

Miss Whitney began dancing at age 4 in her hometown of Shaunavon, SK where she began her training in Tap, Jazz and Ballet. When her family moved to Lumsden, SK she continued to dance with Dance Plus Lumsden, where she added Hip Hop and Pointe to her dance repertoire. She further extended her training at Dance Plus Regina and has successfully completed her RAD and C.D.T.A. Exams. While dancing with Dance Plus, Miss Whitney participated in several dance competitions, attended Triple Threat dance conventions, including Dance Jam 2003 (Regina, SK), and various workshops given by Sean Debiden. Along with her training, Miss Whitney began teaching at Dance Plus Lumsden. While there she choreographed several dance pieces, including competitive groups, prepared dancers for examinations and helped organize events within the studio for the final recitals. Upon moving to Medicine Hat she continued teaching Hip Hop for children and adult Belly Dancing lessons at Heartbreaker Dance & Fitness. One of the highlights of her dancing career, was when she had the opportunity to attend Ballet and Salsa lessons at the Nicole Davoust Escuela de Danza in Barcelona, Spain, in 2006.  Miss Whitney has been a part of the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts both as a student keeping up with her dancing alongside Miss Genny, and as an instructor. She looks forward to the upcoming season and hopes everyone had a fantastic summer!

MS. ANNE-MARIE

Anne-Marie was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, and has been dancing for over 20 years! She is trained in both Cecchetti and Balanchine and has danced throughout Quebec and South America professionally with Ballet Ouest de Montreal. She has performed in numerous classics such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Copelia, Cinderella and many more. Anne-Marie began her teaching career in Montreal, choreographing and managing over 150 children during performances of The Nutcracker. For the last four years Anne-Marie has called Medicine Hat “home,” with her wonderful husband Trent Roset and their have a beautiful son Gibson! She is so excited to be teaching at the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts and knows everyone will have a fun and amazing dance year!

MS. SHANNON (CLISH) WELSH

Shannon has been involved with theatre in Medicine Hat over the past 17 years! She has taken on several roles as an Actress, Director and Make-up Artist. Her most notable performance was playing “Sister Hubert” in a series of Nunsense plays and as “Sally Bowles” in Cabaret. She also won an award for Best Director at the One Act Play Festival in 2002 and co-directed the Medicine Hat Musical Theatre production of My Fair Lady in the same year. Shannon has worked with children on numerous occasions with the Theactrics group and the Linack Theatre Company and has also worked with young singers in their preparation for the Rotary Music festival. Shannon is excited to be able to share her passion for theatre and singing with the students of MHSPA.