Laura Byron - Modern (Artistic Director)

Laura Byron has been studying dance at Creator's Arts Centre since 1999 and in her 11 years here has trained as a teacher, served on the Board of Directors and functioned as the Executive Director. From 2006-2010, Laura also expanded her training under many amazing dance professionals including Steven Wynn at Dance Ad Deum in Texas, Bill Wade at Inlet Dance Theatre in Ohio, and Rob Kitsos, Megan Walker-Straight, Marla Eist and Judith Gary at the Simon Fraser University Contemporary Dance Program in Vancouver.  

With a passion to see dance and the arts used as a vehicle for communication, connection and personal growth, Laura has spent the last 10 years teaching dance workshops throughout Canada, leading dance-mentorship groups for teens and collaborating with community programs such as the "Cool Arts" program, Sunshine Farms and the Parkinson Rec Centre to bring dance and art opportunities to adults living with disabilities. A member of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Laura is actively involved in promoting the growth and sustainability of the local arts community.

A strong believer in the vision and mission of Creator's Arts Centre, Laura seeks to assist CAC in continuing to be a place of excellence, community and creativity.

Emma Donely R.A.D R.T.S - R.A.D. Ballet (Ballet Director)

At age 4, Emma began to develop her love for dance. Training in the R.A.D. (Royal Academy of Dance) Ballet method, Emma achieved the highest level examination (Advanced 2) in 2002. She has also received Honours in I.S.T.D Advanced I Modern and Intermediate Tap exams, and the R.A.D. Grade 8 Award. With scholarships to train at summer schools with the Alberta Ballet School, Ballet Magnificat!(Jackson, Mississippi) and the Banff Centre for the Arts, Emma continued to seek the art of excellence in dance. Emma has had the opportunity to work with many great instructors such as Lisette Salgado and David Lucas (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Susan Toumine (Banff Centre for the Arts), Annette Av Paul (Banff Centre for the Arts), Mel Brown (Canadian School of Ballet), Loretta Lachner (Pacific Interior School of Dance), Tanya Bakala, and David Lahay (Ballet Kelowna) and has performed with Velocity Dance Company, Josh Beamish, a demi-soloist role with Ballet Kelowna in "La Sylphide", and the role of Sugar Plum Fairy at the Canadian School of Ballet's Nutcracker. Emma has also danced and toured with Y.W.A.M. Fort Langley, taking dance to many different churches and to the streets across Canada and France.

Emma began teaching ballet at Creator's in 1997, and was inspired to enter the R.A.D. Teaching Certificate Program under the direction of Penny Hudson (Dance Works Academy), and Mel Brown (The Canadian School of Ballet), attaining her R.A.D Teaching Certificate in 2001. Emma has also overseen the dance department at New Life Church since 2004. Emma's passion is to encourage good technique as a tool to express the heart of a dancer.

Bev Colbow - Jazz, Tap (Artistic Projects Coordinator/Artistic Mentor/Former Dance Director)

“Miss Bev” began dancing at the age of 5 and was hooked!  Her early training consisted of tap and baton studying in the exam and competition stream in Calgary, Alberta.  Deciding to pursue dance with more intensity, Bev added the disciplines of: ballet, jazz, tap, modern, musical theatre and character.  This training period of her dance education involved exams in RAD, ISTD, Al Gilbert and ADAPT as well as on-going competitions in solo, duo, small and large group work.  In her later teen years, Bev studied, performed and competed in Canada and the US in a variety of venues including local and traveling troups, The University of Calgary’s Dance Montage, etc.  Bev loves the relationships that come with teaching in addition to watching the students grow – personally and in their talent.  She has a passion for encouraging Christians in the performing arts and says, “I am so excited for what God has in store for Creator’s Arts Centre.  The possibilities are limitless!”  Bev feels privileged to have parented her 4 lovely daughters and has called Kelowna home since 1987.

Bev has been teaching at Creators Arts Centre for many years and now serves as the Dance Director.

Naomi Bothe - Tap, Jazz (Founder/Former Dance Director/Artistic Mentor)

Naomi began studying dance in 1982 with a foundation of jazz and tap; in more recent years she has added modern dance and creative movement to her own training. Naomi began teaching in 1988 and teaches all age levels from children to adults, teaching jazz, tap, creative movement, and creative/modern classes.  With a passion to see increased creativity, personal expression, and integrity in the arts Naomi has led and performed with dance teams that have a worship, teaching and evangelistic ministry. She continues to work with dance teams developed out of Creator's Arts Centre to help shape tomorrow's generation of artist and ambassadors for the Art Centre. She especially likes to work with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life and loves to see those that have always wanted to dance start doing so no matter what their age, and finding freedom in it.

Naomi is one of the original founders of Creator's Dance Centre and  was director of Creator's Arts Centre from 1994 - 2007.  She continues to share her creative talent and love of dance through teaching at the Centre.

Joanna Lige - Ballet, Modern, Jazz

Joanna Lige is a native of Kelowna and began her dance training at age six with the Canadian School of Ballet where she studied ballet, jazz, and modern attaining her Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced 2 level. After numerous summer intensive studies with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Banff Centre for the Arts, and performances at The B.C. Festival of the Arts; she decided to further her training at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s professional training program. As a scholarship student, she was exposed to many modern dance styles.  After graduation in 2002 she moved back to Kelowna and performed with the Velocity Dance Company for 2 seasons in conjunction with teaching at the Canadian School of Ballet. After taking a year off in 2005 to travel through New Zealand, Australia, China, Taiwan, and Thailand Joanna returned to Kelowna and was married in 2006. She began teaching at Creator’s Art Centre that fall and is thrilled to dance and to see the spirit of God through her students. Joanna’s goal is to inspire each person to dance their true self, how God views them, and for each dancer to feel blessed in the gift of sharing spirit through movement. Joanna continues to attend workshops and programs, loves the outdoors and being active. It is a love of nature that keeps Joanna inspired, connected, and growing in her movement vocabulary.


Cheryl Weidman -Tap

Cheryl has been involved in dance and the arts since the age of four. Her training includes, ballet, tap, jazz, national character, Hawaiian, acrobatics, musical theatre, modelling, piano, clarinet, and baritone saxophone. She has been awarded numerous dance bursaries, and scholarships including scholarships to train with the Anna Wyman Studio of Dance (Vancouver), Brian Foley Dance Studio (Toronto), and the Nilo Toledo School of the Arts (Florida). She has also trained and performed throughout the lower mainland, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco and has represented the Surrey Festival of Dance in the BC Provincial championships. Her television performances include, “Sesame Street”, tourism Canada commercial, the award winning CKVU production “Sleepless Nights”, and other local station appearances. In addition, she was a member of the Liturgical Dance Group, “Life”.

Cheryl taught dance for 8 years in the lower mainland and worked with the BC Lions Football Club as a cheerleader and dance captain for 4 years. With a BSc in Kinesiology and a Teaching Certification she also taught high school Science and Math for 6 yrs before relocating to the Okanagan and starting a family.

Cheryl has been drawn back to her love of dance with a deepened desire to see dance make people smile. 

Charesa Bach - Jazz, Tap

Charesa began dancing at the age of four and there was no turning back! Training from the age of 4 at the Canadian School of Ballet, Charesa  studied tap, jazz, ballet and musical theater.   Over the years Charesa's dance training included participating in numerous dance competitions as well as several workshops.  These included dance conventions studying under Mayuko Kitayama (dancer with Gwen Stefani), Christopher Jones (You Got Served), Canada's Tap Dogs and many more.  In the summer of 2001 Charesa toured British Columbia with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in a large stage production and that spring was part of the opening act for the BC Seniors games.  In  2008 she started teaching at Creator's Arts Centre, and has loved every minute,  learning,  teaching and growing with the Creator's Arts family.  Charesa married the love of her life in 2009, has enjoyed travel and continues to foster her other artistic talents having come in third in a contest across Canada for a Rememberance Day Project.  In the last few years Charesa has enjoyed  the funk of hip hop, the vibes of Zumba and the grace of lyrical.

Charesa's teaching goal is to bring excitement  and  joy to the classroom and for each student to know that they are blessed with God's wonderful gift of movement.  “There is a time for everything, ... and a time to DANCE” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4)

Delayne Cama Moroka - Drama 

Delayne's exploration of Theatre began at the age of 12 when she played one of the ugly stepsister (Anastasia) in “Cinderella”.  That year, her passion for theatre was released and from that moment on Delayne felt she knew where her career path would take her. Delayne has been an Educator and Fine Arts Department head for Heritage Christian Schools for 6 years and currently is the Executive Assistant for BC Online School.  Delayne has produced and directed for “Heritage Theatre”, for several years, working with casts as large as 60 students not including technical crews and staff .  Delayne says, "My desire is to disciple and teach young students, igniting the passion that lies within by enriching their lives with theatre".  Delayne was born and raised in Kelowna BC, has been married to her wonderful husband Viliame for 15 years and they have three beautiful daughters.  Delayne says, "I am thrilled to be part of Creator’s Arts Centre and look forward to a wonderful year."

Raelynn Heppell - Ballet

Raelynn began her training early and her talent and natural ability were apparent.  She trained at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and completed her training at The School of the Alberta Ballet where she performed in "Napoli", "Paquita" and "Swan Lake".  Raelynn also performed as Fritz in "The Nutcracker" with The Alberta Ballet and danced the role of The Sugarplum Fairy in "The Nutcracker" with The Canadian School of Ballet. Raelynn is now a professional dancer with Ballet Kelowna. Raelynn brings her joy of dance and her gift of teaching to Creator's Arts Centre.

Chelsey Neveu - Pre-school Ballet and Hip Hop

Born and raised in Lloydminster Alberta, Chelsey began her dance training at age 5 when she has studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, modern, and tap. Some of the highlights of her dance life include choreographing a church Christmas production "Simply Christmas", performing a t BC Lions halftime show and performing at the United Nations on World Water Day. Chelsey brings to The Arts Centre a special gift in the way she teaches our tiny dancers.  Chelsey is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology at UBC Okanagan and feels blessed to have been given the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of dance with a new generation of dancers.

Yaw - Hip Hop

Yaw's inspiration came at a very young age, after seeing Micheal Jackson do his moon walk.  Yaw says "I just knew that I had to dance!" Since then he has dedicated his life to learning his own style as well as studying the moves of other hip hop artists.  At the age of 16, Yaw made his first dance crew where they "battled" other groups and it was here that Yaw learned the art of choreograph and showmanship.  Yaw feels that this not only made him a better dancer but that this was also what lead to his first teaching job in France.  From France, Yaw moved to Chicago where he continued his dance studies, then to Calgary and Vancouver.  Yaw continued to study Hip Hop as well as teaching in Vancouver for 3 years and believes that this experience help mold his theatrical style and has sharpen his choreographic talents.  Yaw says "I feel as a dancer that I'm always growing - always getting better.  My students inspire me to be a better artist".

Bios coming soon....

Marlee Roed - jazz

Jordan McAlpine -ballet

Wendy McAlpine - photography

Mayling Fennell - preschool ballet

Christel Davidson - musical theatre

Janessa Worsfold - hip hop

Candace Hildebrandt - ballet, jazz