Laura Fleming
Owner & Instructor
Miss Laura has more than twenty-five years of teaching experience throughout BC and Alberta, in Vegreville since 2005. She has studied many disciplines including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical and swing. Miss Laura’s passion for dance has taken her to New York City where she studied at the Martha Graham Institute, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Centre, Alvin Ailey and Peridance Centre. Laura has attended the Teacher Training Program at the Edmonton School of Ballet where she studied the RAD and Cecchetti methods of Ballet as well as anatomy, music theory and dance history.
Miss Laura completed Module 1 of Acrobatic Arts in 2017. In 2019 Laura completed Module 1 of Alixa Flexibility as well as Progressing Ballet Technique. in 2020 she completed Module 2 and 3 of Alixa Flexibility as well as the Sugarfoot Therapy Teachers Certification, which combines Physiotherapy exercises with athletic training designed to keep the dancers at optimal health and prevent injuries. In 2022, Laura achieved certification with Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA), as well as Module 4 of Alixa Flexibility.
In January, 2023 Miss Laura achieved a Diploma in Graphic Design (with Honours) and has been thrilled to apply her knowledge to improve communication at VSB. And in February of 2023, she completed Module 5 of Alixa Flexibility.
This year Miss Laura will continue to pursue further credentials with ADTA, and is hoping to add a few more tools to her belt. She believes strongly in the importance of continuing her own education in this always-changing dance industry so that her students receive solid and broad training.
Acadia Rudyk
Instructor
Miss Acadia started dancing at a young age of 3. While it began as a social outlet, Miss Acadia’s love of dance flourished. Miss Acadia trained in Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, and Ukrainian Dance. She attended training in Ukraine with Virsky professional Ukrainian dancers. In her dance career she has toured and performed in Bosnia, Croatia, Disney World, Slovenia, and Ukraine.
Miss Acadia danced with VSB until she graduated high school. Following some travel Miss Acadia began teaching for Vegreville School of Ballet in 2018.
Miss Acadia completed her Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in History and Minor in Early Childhood Education. Her degree has aided with the development of student’s understanding of movement and dance.
With her charismatic personality, Miss Acadia is enthusiastic to be back in the studio with the VSB family.
Abbe Kratko
Instructor
Miss Abbe has been a part of the VSB family for over 15 years training in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She started assisting Miss Laura’s preschool classes when she was only 6 years old, and has continued ever since. Abbe has been passionate about teaching dance since knowing it was a possibility. She has been mentored by Miss Laura as a teacher as well as a dancer for several years and has gone through both VSB’s Assistant and Junior Instructor Programs.
This summer, Miss Abbe took part in a live training session in Calgary, AB with the Acro Dance Teacher’s Association (ADTA) and is currently in process of receiving her ADTA Junior Acro Teacher Certification to teach Acro at our studio. She is also furthering her own dance training in Edmonton as she attends University this year.
We are very excited to have Miss Abbe as a full team member this season.
Jorja Taylor
Instructor
Jorja began dancing at the age of 3 and soon developed a love of all genres of dance. Her career began at Gravity Dance Force Studio when Jorja started teaching at the age of 14, and an instant love of teaching blossomed.
Miss Jorja's fortes are Tap, Jazz, Lyrica, Ballet & Hip Hop, but she is trained in all genres. Miss Jorja has taken every class and training opportunity possible throughout her schooling and studio years at GDF with multiple instructors across Alberta.
Competing from the age of 6, Jorja has won many awards and accolades, not only as a dancer herself, but also as a choreographer - including several dance titles, scholarships, and top awards as a soloist. A highlight of her tap career was being a member of YEG Kinesis Dance Project under the direction of Thomas Boivin and dancing with 21 members of her studio in Disneyland.
Miss Jorja always loves the anticipation of beginning a new dance season with her returning and new students. She wishes VSB and all the dancers a wonderful 2023-2024 season!
Clarissa Strickland
Instructor
Miss Clarissa started dancing at the age of nine and has been trained in the styles of Jazz, Ballet, Acro, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre. Clarissa started her training with a year of dance at Bianca's dance company in Fort Saskatchewan, then moved to LA Dance Moves in Lamont, where she met her mentor and trainer Miss Lauren. Clarissa trained under Miss Lauren at Xpressions dance studio for the following 8 years in Bruderheim. Here she learned her favourite style of dance was hip hop, although she loves all other styles as well. Clarissa even danced past her high school graduation because she wanted to extend her competitive career and continue training for as long as possible.
At the age of 13 Clarissa began to develop a taste for her future, as she began to assistant teach preschool dance classes at Xpressions. As the years went on, she was given more teaching opportunities and developed a true passion for teaching dance. The year 2022 hits, and Clarissa now teaches at two separate studios. Xpressions Dance Studio, and Smoky Lake School of Dance. Clarissa plans to attend post-secondary school to study business, so she can open her own studio.
Clarissa has completed her teaching certification in the Acro dance syllabus Acrobatic Arts and plans to obtain her Alixa Flexibilty training this fall. She also has participated in many online and in person classes to further her education in the last year such as, ADEA Dance Teachers convention, hip hop teaching classes taught by John Barella, and Acro classes through the ADTA. Overall, Clarissa has such a love for the art of dance, and she wants to pass it to kids so they can have an amazing childhood growing up doing something they loved, just like she did.
Sarah Wormsbecker,
CPA, CGA
Administrator
Sarah has been an accountant for over 15, or shall I say she dances with numbers because once a dancer always a dancer. Sarah has worked in oil and gas, not for profits and small to medium sized business.
In her spare time Sarah volunteers for Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta, takes photos and crafts.
"Dance me to the end of love" - Leonard Cohen