Faculty

Ken Guan A.R.A.D., R.A.D, TC – Instructor

Mr. Guan studied at the Guangdong Dance Academy, the Beijing Dance Academy, and the Goh Ballet Academy’s professional training program. He received distinction on all RAD Vocational examinations, as well as receiving the highly coveted Solo Seal showing his excellence in the art of ballet. Mr. Guan is an extraordinary performer. His passion and artistry are visible through the extensive list of principal roles he has performed including Don Quixote, La Corsaire, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Flower Festival Pas de Deux, Nutcracker, La Sylphide, The Conservatory Ballet Master, Modern Dance, and Jazz. In 2005, he joined the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company as a soloist in Don Quixote. Following his performing experience, Mr. Guan received his RAD Major Examinations Teaching Certificate.

Tanya Phelps R.A.D, RTS – Instructor

Ms. Phelps has an extensive background in Classical ballet as well as Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hip hop and Flamenco. She received her professional training at Kirov Academy of Ballet, Goh Ballet Academy and Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal before joining the Goh Ballet Company in 2001. Having completed examinations with honours in the Royal Academy of Dance and the Ukrainian Academy of Dance, Ms. Phelps has also toured throughout Asia and Canada with the Goh Ballet Company performing in a varied repertoire such as Giselle, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Fairy Doll, Balanchine's Serenade, La Fille Mal Gardee and a number of neo-classical pieces. In 2005 she was part of Guangdong TV's "Future Stars of Tomorrow", where she performed and choreographed pieces for them and toured throughout Asia and Europe.
Ms. Phelps has choreographed award-winning dances in a variety of styles for competitions and performances. Her many accolades extend to a wide array of genres, including Dance, Body conditioning, Gymnastics, Musical theater and Drama.
Ms. Phelps completed her ballet teacher training with the Goh Ballet's 3-year certificate teacher's course working closely with Mrs. Lin Yee Goh and Professor Xu Ding Zhong of Beijing Dance Academy, where she studied the Vaganova teaching methods and syllabus. Conscientious of the need to continuously upgrade her skills and embracing a fuller knowledge of various teaching methods, Ms. Phelps is also is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum in 2011. She has been a certified teacher with England's Royal Academy of Dance since 2009.

Vera Solovyeva – Instructor

Ms. Soloveyva has extensive experience as a former Principal Dancer for 18 years of the Leningrad State Ballet Company. A Graduate of the Vagonova Ballet Academy Teacher’s Course, in St. Petersburg Ms. Solovyeva also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education. Previously a Teacher and Repetiteur for Eifmen Ballet and for Leonid Jacobson’s Fund, she rehearsed and staged numerous ballet performances. Ms. Solovyeva later taught at the St. Petersburg Liberal University of Arts and following, became a Principal Teacher of Universal Ballet (Seoul, Korea), Colorado Ballet (Denver, CO), and Festival Ballet Theatre (Los Angeles, CA) staging performances such as Spartacus, Le Corsaire, Paquita, Don Quixote and La Bayadere. Her students successfully competed in the Prix de Lausanne, Varna International Ballet Competition, Moscow International Ballet Competition, Seoul International Dance Competition and the Youth American Grand Prix. Her dedication was rewarded with a Best Ballet Teacher of the Year Award in 2004 and 2005.

Nikolay Levitsky – Instructor

Mr. Levitsky received his dance training at the Kiev Ballet Academy in Ukraine. After graduating, he toured with The Opera and Ballet State Theatre of Ukraine as a Principal Dancer and later for 18 years with The Leningrad State Ballet Company of Russia. In St. Petersburg, Russia he held the position of Assistant Ballet Master and Repetiteur with Eifman Ballet and Ballet Master and Repetiteur with the Leonid Jacobson’s Fund. He also taught at the St. Petersburg Liberal University of Art. He obtained his vast teaching experience at companies including The Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg Liberal University of Arts, Universal Ballet Theatre (Seoul, Korea), The Universal Ballet Academy (Seoul, Korea), The Korean National University (Seoul, Korea), Colorado Ballet Company (Denver, CO), and Festival Ballet Theatre (Los Angeles, CA). In 2004 and 2005, he received the Best Ballet Teacher of the Year Award at the Youth America Grand Prix. Mr. Levitsky’s wide knowledge in the ballet classics and talent for teaching character dance makes him a well sought-after instructor.

Meredith Kalaman – Instructor

Photo by: Sylvain Senez

Meredith Kalaman is a Vancouver based dancer, teacher and choreographer. Meredith has performed and toured with Movent, the Karen Jamieson Dance Company, Judith Marcuse Projects and Cori Caulfield, as well as understudied with Dancers Dancing. Her own work has been presented at Dancing on the Edge 2009 & 2010, the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival 2008 & 2009, BC Buds 2008 & 2010, Dances for a Small Stage 14 & 20, Winterfest, 12 Minutes Max both in Vancouver and at On the Boards in Seattle and the In the House Festival. Meredith is a graduate of the Ballet BC Mentor Program.