ILLUSION DANCE ARTS TEAM

AMEY RAHEY

Amey began her dance training in Cape Breton, NS at Dance Sync, and currently resides in Halifax, NS. She has trained extensively in numerous styles and has always sought out additional dance education. Having graduated in 2015 with a B.Comm. degree and a major in accounting, Amey is now a freelance choreographer, instructor, and the Creative Director of both Elite Dance Productions: a touring competition and convention company; and DFRNT Dance: an intimate artist development program. Amey has been chosen to take part in many renowned training programs, such as The Gypsy Project LA, the Dana Foglia Dance Training Program, the SoulEscape Company Intensive, and the RUBBERBANDance Winter Workshop.  She has also participated in The Galen Hooks Method Artist Development session, under the direction of Galen Hooks. Additionally, she has performed in multiple shows as a company member of Justin Giles’ SoulEscape in Dallas and Los Angeles, at the 2018 Raptor’s home opener, at Toronto’s Original Choreographer’s Ball 2020, and has taught at Arizona’s DancePlex and Toronto’s Underground Dance Centre. She is also a proud member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance.

ANASTASIA WIEBE

Anastasia Wiebe is a Halifax based dancer-choreographer. She began her dance career at home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia training at the Leica Hardy School of Dance and the Dartmouth Dance Academy. She was a member of KiDanCo from 2011-2013. She performed in Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker for four seasons and Gen-Y for Mocean Dance in 2011. She continued her dance training at the Peridance Capezio Center and graduated from their Certificate Dance Program for contemporary/ballet and commercial dance in 2015. Performance credits include Sonderlings, Second Hand News, The Great Big Boo (Dance Captain), Post Modern Jukebox (Good Morning America), and was a performer-choreographer on MTV’s Say it with Song. She has performed works by Victor Quijada, Robert Battle, Lar Lubovitch, Hofesh Shechter, Aszure Barton, Igal Perry, and many more. She is currently co-artistic director and dancer with Nostos Collectives. Anastasia is also an emerging choreographer and has had the pleasure of setting works throughout Nova Scotia and Toronto.

CHRIS KNOWLES

Christopher Knowles is a Canadian based creator, choreographer and teacher. He has had the chance to travel across Canada and the US creating works for many companies and events, sharing his love and knowledge of dance with the world. Christopher is a George Brown Dance College Alumni. In the past, he served as Artistic Director of Precision Dance Company and choreographed for George Brown Dance College. Christopher was honoured to create and perform works for: Millennium Dance Complex TO , SONY Music Canada, Mac Cosmetics CA, MTV UK, City Dance Corps Toronto, Choreographers Ball, Fever After Dark, Fall For Dance North as well as Dance Weekend for Dance Ontario! All events showcasing Toronto Professionals working talent. Christopher is currently a faculty member at City Dance Corps, Edge Studios and Edge High school. Chris' focus is working on the launch of his professional Contemporary/Modern based dance company @knowledgedancecompany.

JAYLA JAMES

Jayla James is a professional dance artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia, trained in Hip-hop, jazz, heels, contemporary, ballet and musical theatre. Jayla developed a love for the art at a young age, beginning her first dance class at the age of four. She continued dancing in studios in her hometown until her late teen years. At age 18, she moved to the city of Toronto to pursue her dreams professionally. Jayla is a graduate from George Brown College’s Commercial Dance Program (2019). Within the program, she studied such dance genres as hip hop, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre, as well as acting and singing. She has performed in music videos and danced with notable dance/performance companies such as Magan Boys Entertainment (2020), High Society Cabaret (2020), Toronto Babe Squad (2020), Nostos Collectives (2017), Voices (2017), and The Woods Hip Hop Dance Company (2016). Jayla’s most recent endeavour is establishing Rendezvous, a commercial dance training program within Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jayla plans to continue to grow the dance community in her hometown to provide more opportunities to young dance artists.