Angela Benson

Angela Benson is a top choreographer and dance educator who knows how to spice things up on and off the stage! Being recognized for her versatility, sassy style, and the ability to feature performers in their best limelight, Angela is not afraid of a challenge and has the finesse to work with all categories of talent including, dancers, singers, youth, actors, models, athletes, and recording artists.

As an accomplished choreographer, director, dance instructor and performer, Angela's passion for the arts makes her ingenuity limitless. Being the proud Co- Artistic Director of The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts in Calgary, Alberta Canada for the past two years has enabled Angela to cultivate a new interest of the stage for youth. Angela is able to explore new territory and offers her students the inside edge to superior performance and technical dance skills.

Angela has the opportunity to work alongside her mentor Mr. Brian Foley while being his Assistant To Choreographer on the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show for the past 8 years. Her other accomplishments in choreography and direction include, 2009 Gemini Awards, World Skills Calgary 2009 Opening / Closing Ceremonies, Labour Day Classic Half-Time Show, A Christmas Spectacular, a special production for HRH Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of the Alberta Centennial, the “Season of Wonder” presented by the Downtown Calgary Association, and the opening ceremonies for the Alberta Special Winter Olympics, February 2007. Angela has directed and choreographed for Altadore Gym Club, home of many Olympic Gymnasts, as well as co-directed and choreographed the 2006 season of the award winning NLL Roughneck Drill Crew and stunt team. Also, she has adjudicated at various dance competitions across Canada and has taught at many workshops.

Angela began her career in dance in Calgary Alberta, Canada at the age of three. She has studied and trained in all advanced levels of dance including ADAPT Jazz, Al Gilbert Tap and R.A.D Ballet as well as many different genres around the world. In her youth she was a successful competitor and scholarship winner in countless competitions in both Canada and the United States, and also was a top Scholarship Senior Female Dancer with The Young Canadians of The Calgary Stampede for three years. Angela’s professional performance career began at the age of 16 working with World Renowned Choreographer Sean Cheesman for the World Petroleum Conference. Then Angela toured with Magic n' Miracles, a Magic Show that ventured across Canada and the U.S.A. At the age of 17 she landed her first contract overseas as a dancer/singer with a British Cruise Line. For the next three years this energetic young woman entertained audiences throughout the world with her sassy stage presence! While along the way she was promoted to Dance Captain and Choreographer. Angela’s natural flare for performance then led to her stage debut on London’s West End as a performer in the award winning production of “Fosse”.

Being highly skilled at jazz, musical theatre, jazz-funk, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary and partnering/lift technique, Angela strives to offer her students the most up to date training possible by studying different teaching skills and dance styles from around the globe. In her eighth season as an ADAPT Certified Teacher with The Young Canadians School of Performing Arts and the Calgary Stampede, Angela's expertise and passion for the Arts makes her a sought after choreographer and dance educator across Canada.

Angela brings flair, enthusiasm, drive and professionalism to every venture she commands.

Mark Eriksen

Mark Eriksen is a well-experienced performer, dance educator, choreographer, and director. Mr. Eriksen has trained intensely with the American Tap Dance Institute to become a certified graduate of the National Tap Ensembles’ Diploma program. After graduating the program he joined the faculty involved in workshops throughout the United States. Mark has trained and instructed in New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, and Vancouver. Mr. Eriksen is highly skilled in Tap, Jazz styles, Lyric, Ballet, Musical Theater, and Partnering. His professional teachers training also includes qualifications of the ADAPT syllabus. By age 22 he had entertained professionally aboard Princess Cruise Lines for over five years performing in 14 full productions shows. These shows included premier casts directed by Gene Castle as well as with Gene Anthony Ray of the original movie “Fame”. He was able to travel to over 80 countries before beginning his teaching career in Calgary 10 years ago.

As Co-Artistic Director of the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts, Mr. Eriksen is currently working with the internationally known Grandstand Show of the Calgary Stampede. In addition, he has worked with the Calgary performance for HRH Queen of England, during the Centennial of Alberta. As Co-Director and Co-Choreographer Mr. Eriksen presented downtown Calgary’s first Christmas spectacular during the holiday season. Recently Mark co-choreographed the flash mob effect with over 300 people at the 2009 Gemini awards. Mark has won choreography awards from the American Dance Awards, and Can Dance competitions, as well as has film credit with ”TUM BIN” a Super Cassettes Industries Production. Mr. Eriksen is also a Resident Artist for the Calgary Board of Education where he is an instructor of dance education workshops and performances. Mr. Eriksen has choreographed for Altadore Gym Club, home of many Olympic Gymnasts, as well as Co-directed and choreographed the 2006 season of the NLL Roughneck drill crew and stunt team. Mr. Eriksen is also the Senior Tap instructor with McDonald Wilson Dance Academy. During the World Skills competition in Calgary, Mark was Co Director and Choreographer of the opening ceremonies, the closing award ceremonies, and the half time Labour Day classic show. Apart from his extensive dance training he is a graduate of Business Administration, with a major in Marketing. Mr. Eriksen is a member of the International Tap Association, Wild Rose Dance Arts Association and is currently President of the Bree Eriksen Memorial Dance Award Society, which annually presents one of the largest dance awards in Canada. Recently Mr. Eriksen has become involved with the International Dance Council an affiliate of the United Nations Eductional scientice and cultural organization.

Shannon’s many years with the Young Canadians include 10 years as a student and she is now entering her 14^th year of teaching. Her formal training includes ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics and partnering, as well as voice and musical theatre. Shannon spent a year in Vancouver teaching at The Dance Co dance school and 3 years teaching with Triangle Theatre School. Her performing credits include Theatre Calgary’s “Anne of Green Gables”, the 1993 Grey Cup Show and 12 Stampede Grandstand Shows. Film and TV credits include Disney’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and “Myth Quest”. Feature films include “Betrayed” and “Dudley Do Right”.

Scott Henderson has enjoyed commercial success as a performer and songwriter. His former pop R&B vocal group The Earthtones scored 5 top-20 hits, 2 JUNO nominations, and toured the world and worked with several of the music industry’s biggest producers. Scott is also one of the founder’s and instructors at Theatre Works in Calgary. He continues to be an in-demand and award-winning writer, producer, performer and teacher. Scott is a member of the Stampede Talent Search organizing committee, manages several local singer/songwriters, and is a member of the critically acclaimed soul/funk group Souls in Rhythm.

Chris Knebel

Chris Knebel is a native Calgarian who was an original Young Canadian. She spent five years in the group and performed is Saskatoon, Vancouver, Detroit and Toronto. She graduated from the University of Calgary with an honors B.A. in French and Spanish and a B.Ed. She began teaching for the Calgary Board of Education, has taught Junior High French for 28 years and was a recipient of the 2005 Excellence in Teaching award in Alberta. As a professional entertainer, she promoted Calgary and the Stampede for three years, doing over 300 shows in Western Canada, as well as presentations for the Calgary Tourist Bureau and Travel Alberta. She sang on local car commercials for five years, did gigs with a dance band and a magician, and performed at hundreds of private functions since 1972, two Grey Cup games and the 1988 Winter Olympics. Her choral experience includes participation in her high school choirs and grad choir, the University Concert Choir, several church choirs and a professional chorale in Camrose. She received her other musical training through the Royal Conservatory of Music in Piano, Voice and Theory. She also plays guitar and banjo. In the field of music education, Chris taught Choral Music in Junior High School, trained vocalists for many school musicals, ran extracurricular vocal ensembles, has taught private singing lessons for 32 years and has been a vocal instructor with the Young Canadians for 29 years. Both of her children were Young Canadians and Chris still believes even after 42 years that the YC Experience is second to none!

Michael Coburn

Michael Coburn, a native of Waterloo, Ontario, began piano lessons at the age of six. He obtained his A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2002 and in 2006 received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Calgary, where he concentrated on piano performance and conducting. At the university he studied under Marilyn Engle and also had the opportunity to work with artists such as Paul Badura-Skoda and Emanuel Krasovsky. In 2004 and 2005 Michael attended the Académie Musicale Internationale "Barbara Krakauer" in Vaison-la-Romaine, France, and in 2006 Michael was featured as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed with various solo artists and ensembles including The Firebird Chamber Singers and The University of Calgary Wind Ensemble. Michael currently teaches piano and music theory, and is Vocal Coach and Accompanist at the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts.