MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Classes offered by The ACT Arts Centre are lead by qualified and experienced instructors. Passionate about the skills they teach, they bring their own experiences into the education space to create a fun and engaging learning environment. Click on any of the instructors below to find out more.

Ali Rogers (West Coast Circus)

Shelly Davies-Conley

Talieh Vafadary

Tina C. Ranger

Sarah McEvoy

ALI ROGERS (SHE/HER)

**CIRCUS ARTS – WEST COAST CIRCUS**
Ali ran away to join the circus a decade ago at the age of 27 and hasn’t looked back since! After falling in love with aerial acrobatics – specifically silks, rope, hoop and trapeze – she soon branched out into other circus disciplines such as tumbling, trampoline, equilibristics, juggling and object manipulation. She’s even been known to dabble in (non-scary) clowning now and then!
These days, Ali teaches at West Coast Circus in Pitt Meadows, a small recreational school known for its well-rounded circus arts programming and for being the once and future home of Western Canada’s only flying trapeze rig! As an instructor, she believes in helping students set and achieve their own goals and express their unique interests and creativity in the air and on the ground. Above all else, Ali believes that circus arts should be fun, challenging, exhilarating and accessible for all bodies and minds.

ANGIE SAWYER

**EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC - ANGELIC VOICES**
Angie is the owner and head instructor of Angelic Voices Early Childhood Music and Movement Studio. A passion for music and young children and a gift in performance is what began this business over a decade ago!
Angie uses the Musikgarten curriculum, and fully believes in their philosophy of music being taught as a language - first we listen and hear, then we learn to echo and repeat, and finally we learn to play. By breaking music down into its simplest form, we enable even infants to hear and feel the power it has!
Along with teaching at daycares and preschools around Ridge Meadows, Angie is excited to be able to offer these wonderfully engaging music classes for young ones at The ACT Arts Centre! Angie is a wife and busy mom of 3 who you might also find walking with her dog and drinking a good coffee!

Arhea Robinson (she/her)

VISUAL ARTS

Arhea is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who works primarily with watercolours, ceramics, and printmaking. She grew up in Southern Alberta, where she studied Studio Art at the University of Lethbridge from 2014 – 2016 before moving to Vancouver, where she finished her BFA at Emily Carr University in 2019. In 2023 Arhea completed her Bachelor of Education, with Secondary Visual Arts as a focus, and spent the year teaching Art and Design in London, UK before settling back in BC.

Arhea’s art is inspired by the places she has lived, with her practice exploring the comfort of spaces in the world around us: from flora and fauna to architectural wonders. No matter the medium, her art seeks to transform mundane moments into whimsical experiences. As an educator, Arhea approaches her practice with a growth mindset and focuses on fostering interdisciplinary learning through inquiry-based methods to support student development. Through art and education, she hopes to inspire others to consider different ways of thinking and being in the world.

**Brittney Driver**

**EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC - ANGELIC VOICES**
Music has been a large part of Brittney's life for as long as she can remember. She truly believes that early introduction, and regular involvement in music has a lasting positive effect on people's lives. Brittney loves singing and thinks that everyone, given the chance, can sing.
Busy mom of two wonderful boys and one kitty boy, she still finds the time to do the things she loves. Mini dance parties in her kitchen and gardening are at the top of her list.
Brittney graduated from Douglas College with a diploma in performing Arts majoring in classical voice. She has been teaching early childhood music and movement with Angelic Voices since 2018.
Brittney is a kind, patient person who loves to share her knowledge of music with any and everyone.
She’s excited and grateful to be involved in this program, and to be able to instill a strong musical appreciation within the community's children.

dennis hixson

**CERAMICS**
“My pottery journey began when I decided to take a pottery class as a break from the rigours of my pre-med science degree in university. I immediately fell in love with clay. After a more than 40-year break, I started taking classes at the ACT in 2019 and that passion for clay was rekindled. I have so enjoyed the supporting ceramic community at the ACT. I greatly admire British potters such as Lisa Hammond which has inspired my work. My goal is to be set free from my tenancy for perfectionism and make pieces that are individual and functional, having fun in the process.
In addition to developing as a ceramic artist, I have had the privilege to be the ceramic technician at the ACT. I love the technical processes such as glaze chemistry and development and kiln firing.
*When I am not in the studio, I can be found in the kitchen baking Artisan sourdough bake goods, working in my garden or video chatting with one of my four children or five grandchildren.”*

**Derek Valenciano (He/Him)**

**GUITAR**
Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Derek Valenciano is an experienced and passionate guitar teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria. He was privileged to study with the late Alexander Dunn, a renowned classical guitar virtuoso. During his studies, Derek honed his skills in music theory, ear-training, pedagogy and music history as well as developing his guitar technique and musical notation.
Since graduating Derek has shared his love for classical guitar and worked in many schools throughout BC and Montreal, Quebec. He continues to broaden his musical horizons by developing techniques in other genres such as finger-style, rock, pop, jazz and metal. He believes music expresses feeling, mood, and culture unlike any other art form. As a music teacher, Derek strives to create a positive learning environment where students can discover their fullest musical potential.
**https://youtube.com/@DerektheGuitarist**

Elena Markelova

**WATERCOLOUR ARTIST**
Elena is well known for her double exposure animals, nature watercolour paintings, and the detailed city maps – all inspired by magnificent landscapes and engaging wildlife of Canada. She was born and raised in a small town in the middle of Siberia in Russia, and was often painting and drawing. Elena’s mom signed her up for art school when she was only 10 years old. She spent seven years there, then six more at Art University, learning different mediums and techniques while experimenting with subjects and ideas.
After moving to Canada in 2012, Elena was searching for her own style and inspiration. Family trip to Pemberton was a pivotal point in her artistic career – as she saw the very first bear in her life just a few meters away surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, she couldn’t resist the excitement she felt and painted that bear with a landscape inside. Since then nature and the wilderness have become her true love and inspiration. The beauty, peace, and truth she finds there have no equal.
Elena works with watercolour, the most challenging and magical medium, and shares her love and inspires others to paint with it. She's been teaching watercolour workshops and classes around the Lower Mainland for several years and can't wait to bring the joy of watercolour painting into your life!
**@elenamarkelova_art**
**www.ElenaMarkelova.com**

Emily Sheppard

**CERAMICS, INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST**
Emily Sheppard is an interdisciplinary artist currently, deeply, immersed in ceramics. With a diploma & BFA, both in fine arts with a focus in 3D materials & sculpture, Emily has a playful touch that resonates in her work. Many years ago, Sheppard’s work switched gears from primarily focusing on 3D work and began a self-propelled deep dive into & exploring functional ceramics & pottery.
“Over the years, I have had many types of studios. A small studio setting a few years back was shared with 2 other sculptural artists that dominated the space. The only part of the shop was a tiny corner by a window with a pottery wheel, so I sat and started throwing. I say self-taught when my students ask, although I did have some great instructors who are pottery masters during my degree. At that time, I was fairly stubborn and uninterested in functional art. Since then, I’ve changed my tune and pottery, has become a method to learn about the materials. There is so much to learn in ceramics and pottery teaches you a lot. Every week I sat at that wheel, re-taught and reminded myself the bits and pieces of things I had forgotten. I started attending workshops and volunteering for all sorts of things clay related. This true key to success in ceramics in my opinion, is determination and don’t stop attitude.”
To summarize, Emily Sheppard is passionate about art. She is driven and loves to share knowledge and techniques she has gleaned over the years. With many years of teaching under her belt she is excited to be invited to teach some classes at the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge.
Upcoming & for the last year, Emily has been working creating and sculpting the components for a large exhibit of ceramic pieces for another artist named Glenn Lewis who is a long time ceramics legend here in BC. These feature fruits, veggies, birds, dogs and who knows what else. Stay tuned to find out!
**@emilysheppardart**
**www.emilysheppard.ca**

ERIN LARSEN

**SOAPSTONE CARVER**
Soapstone carving is a hands on, tactile, creative outlet using tools to manipulate beautiful Brazilian soapstone into any shape you can imagine. Your imagination is the sharpest tool you will use to carve with.
Carving is therapy for the mind, body, and soul. In my experience I’ve realized it’s about enjoying the entire creative process and not just about the finished outcome.
My philosophy is……. Nobody Gets Left In The Dust, We Make It!!!

Hana Pauls (she/her)

**DANCE**
Hana loves being able to show her students how dance inspires her on a daily basis. As someone with extensive knowledge in a variety of styles, from Ballet to Hip Hop, she enjoys being creative in the classroom with her choreography and when instructing her students.
She has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop and Stage, completing many RAD Ballet Exams, AIDT Jazz Exams, as well as competing as a member of Team Canada Dance at the IDO World Dance Championships. Hana has many certifications, including her level one teaching certification with International Dance Teaching Standards and her level one certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). Hana is always looking for ways to further develop her training and her teaching methods so that she may provide students with a safe, fun, and encouraging classroom environment.
With Hana’s commitment to dance as a dancer herself and as an instructor, she is eager to continue to teach and grow alongside her students as dancers in the performing arts world

Katrina Smith

**DANCE**
Katrina cannot imagine her life without dance. Following in her sister’s footsteps, she began dancing at the age of 3. Since then her love and passion of dance has continued to grow, ultimately leading to teaching younger generations.
Katrina has been teaching dance for over 10 years and assisted/student taught beforehand. She has trained in Ballet (Cecchetti), Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Modern and Hip-Hop. Dance has always been a number one extra curricular activity for Katrina; however, she has also ventured in musical theatre, acting, background work and grew up with piano and vocal training. It is easily noticeable how prominent the performing arts are in her life and she hopes to share this passion with all students. Katrina loves to inspire children of all ages to explore their creativity and expand their knowledge through the movement of dance.
With Katrina’s extensive training, she has completed several Cecchetti and CDTA examinations in all genres of expertise and continues to further her dance education by attending seminars, intensives, workshops and courses with CDTA. Katrina annually participates in being an adjudicator for The ACT Arts Centre Excellence in Arts Awards.

megan tarris

**CERAMICS**
Megan has a degree in Design from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and worked as a graphic designer in corporate advertising before finding love in a bucket of mud.
She creates wheel-thrown, functional ceramics, fired in electric and wood kilns. Her work reframes familiar forms in a minimal way, with warm finishes and quiet details.
Megan lives near the forest outside Vancouver with her partner, 3 littles and Harold, the refugee pheasant.
**@heymegantarris**
**www.megantarris.com**

**Philippa Glossop**

**CERAMICS**
Philippa is a practicing artist and has been teaching visual art to children, youth and adults for over twenty years. She has taught in public and independent schools and has had fun inspiring creativity in students K through grade 12. She has spent time as an Art Educator for the Kamloops Art Gallery and the ACT Art Gallery coordinating engaging and interactive school tours and workshops for teachers and students.
Currently, she dedicates her time teaching from her studio, offering fun and educational art classes at the ACT and volunteers her time with special needs groups teaching art to children with autism. Philippa earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Education from Queen’s University in 1986, a Masters of Education from Thompson Rivers University in 2014 and Diploma in Special Education in 2020. She lives with her husband and two boys in Maple Ridge.

Sarah **Helten**

**MEDITATIVE MOVEMENT & ART EXPRESSIONS**
Sarah is a Mother of two sons, facilitator of mentorship, and arts. She has vast experience in using art for healing, and views art as a valuable resource for building a relationship for authentic self expression. She has training in CBT, DBT, Anxiety, and depression skills, RAD ballet, jazz, free movement, BCRPA Personal Training, and Reiki energy healing. She enjoys hosting weekly meditation circles, creating art, playing in nature with her children, and building community based on love & acceptance. She celebrates one of her greatest strengths is the ability to bring out the unique gifts of others so they can share them with the world.

Shelly Davies-Conley

**EARLY LEARNING VISUAL ARTS**
Shelly has a background in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching art based programs at the ACT Arts Centre since 2004. She graduated from Douglas College in 1985 and further studied at Seneca College in Ontario. Shelly pursued a career in Ontario working in daycare for 14 years until she moved back to BC with her husband and two sons in 1999.
Over the years, Shelly has expanded her education in the arts by experiencing hands on opportunities with different art mediums. She has continued to provide programs for children from preschooler to school age at the ACT, as well as after school art classes in public schools. Shelly offers a creative enriched learning environment which give children the opportunity to express themselves, learn, and grow through her art based learning programs.
“Through these hands on opportunities I experienced, I’ve learned the appreciation of art and how much it plays a part in the development of a child as a whole person. Seeing the joy on their faces when creating a masterpiece of their very own, speaks volumes for their self-esteem and growth. This is why I enjoy providing the art based learning programs at the ACT.”

Talieh Vafadary

CERAMICS

Talieh Vafadary discovered her passion for ceramics in grade 10 when trying a ceramics class at her high school. She continued to study ceramics through university which remained the one constant as she studied at 4 different universities in the US, eventually earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ceramic Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Talieh moved to Canada in 2016, and now lives in Metro Vancouver with her husband and 2 children.

Talieh mainly utilizes wheel thrown pottery and sculptural elements to explore concepts at the core of humanity. She draws on her own reality to analyze how her limited experiences can relate to others and ideally offer an empathetic perspective. Her work often represents relationships of an individual to their self and others. Examples of these relationships include motherhood, memory, trauma responses, and one's perception in society.

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