Christoph started his dance training at Arts Umbrella in 2007 and then went on to dance at Ballet BC for 5 years. He also freelanced in Vancouver working with many independent dance creators. In 2018 he moved to Sweden to join Göteborg Operans Danskompani where he danced for 4 years. He moved home to BC in 2023 where he began an anatomical study at Vancouver College of Massage Therapy. He has since graduated and is beginning to work as an RMT in the city and is building a treatment practice alongside many mentors in the field, while also dancing and performing on a project basis.

From Regina, Saskatchewan, Elle began her early professional training at the Alberta Ballet School in Calgary, Alberta. In 2020, she continued her studies at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver under the direction of Artemis Gordon. Elle had the opportunity in her third year at Arts Umbrella to dance in Ballet BC’s Annex, under the direction of Medhi Walerski. Elle has been fortunate to work with incredible artists such as Yvan Dubreuil, Alexis Fletcher, Sylvain Senez, Racheal Prince, Brandon Lee Alley, Marissa Wong, and Crystal Pite among others.

Based as a freelance dance artist in Vancouver, BC, Elle has been a part of Dance//Novella’s Emerging Artist Program and learned to dance tango for Phoenix Chamber Choir. She is a Fall 2025 EDAM scholarship recipient, training in contact improvisation under Peter Bingham, Anne Cooper, and Olivia Shaffer. Elle is a co-founder of dance-theatre collective, Paper Rabbits, with Nathan Coburn and Sophia Makarenko.

Erica danced professionally after her training with Goh Ballet with the National Ballet of Canada (apprentice), Oregon Ballet Theatre, Geneva Ballet and Gulbenkian Ballet. She freelanced basing herself out of Brussels, Belgium for seven years where she also began to teach ballet and contemporary dance as well as the Feldenkrais Method®. She has taught for many notable companies and schools such as P.A.R.T.S. (Belgium), la Raffinerie (Belgium), Carte Blanche (Norway), Cullberg Ballet (Sweden), Architanz (Tokyo), and Geneva Ballet (Switzerland). She has also taught for most schools in the lower mainland and Ballet BC. Erica now works predominantly as an Osteopathic Practitioner since completing her studies in Canada in 2019. Erica is also now a level 3 ELDOA™ practitioner. She is passionate about movement and dance and welcomes any chance she can to be in the studio with people who also love to explore.

Kaylin (she/her) is originally from Plano, Texas, and grew up training at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She achieved her BFA in Dance in 2020 from the USC Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles under the leadership of Jodie Gates. At USC, Kaylin had the opportunity to work closely with and perform works by artists such as William Forsythe, Barak Marshall, Aszure Barton, and Jodie Gates. She has also trained at summer intensives including Nederlands Dans Theater, Jacob’s Pillow, Arts Umbrella, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. In 2016, Kaylin was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar of the Arts and National YoungArts Winner in Modern Dance, where she performed at the Kennedy Center in a multi-faceted arts show directed by Debbie Allen. This is Kaylin’s third season as a full company member at Ballet BC, and she previously worked professionally with The DASH Ensemble directed by Gregory Dolbashian. Additionally, Kaylin is a certified Pilates instructor through the BASI Comprehensive Program (Mat & Equipment), and she teaches Pilates classes and private lessons during her time off.

Kenzie teaches across a range of modalities, including dance, yoga, Pilates, and barre. Originally trained in classical ballet and later in contemporary dance, she spent eight years working professionally with dance companies around the world.

After an injury prompted her to explore her own healing, Kenzie began studying yoga, Pilates, somatics, and psychology. Along the way, she discovered a deep love for teaching and for helping others develop a more connected relationship with their bodies.

Her teaching is inspired by the many teachers, practices, and experiences that have shaped her journey, and she is passionate about guiding students toward deepened awareness and connection between mind and body.

Kenzie’s classes are physically challenging while leaving room for softness, breath, curiosity, and playfulness. She invites students to meet themselves where they are, explore with intention, and find both strength and ease in movement.

Kiera (she/her) completed her professional dance training at Arts Umbrella with ballet foundations in the Cecchetti method. Kiera’s ballet classes draw from these early teachings and her 10 year career as a professional dancer. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of ballet technique in a welcoming and lighthearted environment. Kiera danced with Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal where she toured extensively for four years, performing internationally across Europe, Asia, South and North Americas. Kiera then joined Ballet BC where she had the privilege of performing the works of William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Johan Inger, Aszure Barton, Emily Molnar and Medhi Walerski among others. Kiera now works as an independent dance artist and teacher on the unceded and ancestral territories of of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She has recently performed in works by local creators Inverso Productions, Rachel Meyer and Dance//Novella. She is pursuing a degree in kinesiology at Simon Fraser University and is thrilled to be part of the MOVE team at Ballet BC.

Kylie Miller (she/her) is a contemporary dance artist and educator from Vancouver, based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She trained at the Modus Operandi Contemporary Dance Program from 2016 to 2020 under Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond, and Kate Franklin, developing a strong technical foundation and creative voice. Since then, Kylie has worked with Out Innerspace Dance Theatre, Company 605, and Ne. Sans Opera & Dance. In 2022 Kylie joined The Batsheva Ensemble in Tel Aviv, immersing herself in Gaga movement language and performing Ohad Naharin’s works locally and internationally. This is now her second year as an artist with Ballet BC.

Luca Afflitto (he/him) is originally from Genova, Italy where he started dancing at the age of 11. In 2014, he was admitted to the Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo under the direction of Luca Masala where he graduated three years later. At the academy, Luca had the opportunity to study with internationally renowned teachers and to dance works by Jiri Kylian, Marco Goecke and Mats Ek among others. In 2017, he joined Ballett Zurich under the direction of Christian Spuck and after two seasons in the Junior Ballet, joined the main company. While in Zurich Luca had the opportunity to dance works by choreographers such as Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Marco Goecke, Goyo Montero, Edward Clug, Johan Inger and Cayetano Soto. In 2019 he was awarded the “Dance Prize of the Friends of Ballet Zurich.” In 2022, Luca joined Ballet BC under the direction of Medhi Walerski, where he has the opportunity to explore, create and perform works of internationally renowned choreographers for Canadian audiences and around the world, dancing works by Medhi Walerski, Sharon Eyal, Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Fernando Magadan, Roy Assaf, Jiri Pokorny, OutInnerspace, Imre & Marne Van Opstal among many more. This is Luca’s fifth season with Ballet BC.

Marco Esccer is Manager of Education & Engagement at Ballet BC. He is a Mexican dance artist and movement facilitator whose work bridges the technical, creative, and relational dimensions of movement. Trained at Mexico City’s National Ballet and Contemporary Dance School, he also holds certifications in Contemporary Art Production, Dance Movement Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Yoga Teaching. His facilitation practice focuses on embodiment, emotional awareness, and creative expression as pathways for connection and shared experience.

Movement has always been an integral part of Marla’s life. After studying ballet at the school of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, she joined Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal and later danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 1998 Marla discovered Yoga, and while studying and teaching she completed over 12 yoga certifications in various styles from restorative practices to more vigorous Ashtanga. After recognizing her passion for helping people destress and feel free in their bodies, Marla continued to study so that she could empower her clients with more effective tools to stay healthy. She went on to study the Franklin Method, Pilates, ELDOA™ and most recently became a Buteyko Breath Educator. With over 25 years of experience, and a passion for helping her clients move better, Marla is a lifelong learner and continues to evolve and grow as a teacher. She teaches in a way that lays out an education, thus empowering her clients and students to achieve a level of self care that approaches mastery.

Michael (he/they) was born in McAllen, Texas. His early passion and ambition for dance led him to Dallas, Texas where he trained at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He received his BFA from The Juilliard School, under the direction of Alicia Graf Mack. After graduating, Michael was deeply grateful to have performed with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for their 44th season. He has been recognized as National YoungArts Winner, Alumni of the School at Jacob’s Pillow, and performed at iconic dance spaces such as The Joyce Theater. Beyond performing, Michael has many pursuits in teaching, choreography and modelling. He has received an Outstanding Choreography award from YAGP, travelled across the United States teaching, and appeared in campaigns for Bogner, FortyFiveTen, & photographer Mark Mann.

Sarah Rose Mercer is a yoga teacher and dance artist based in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Sarah has been teaching yoga for the past eight years, continually deepening her studies in yogic philosophy, anatomy, history, and somatic-based practices. In both her teaching and artistic work, Sarah cultivates space for non-judgmental exploration of movement, drawing from Buddhist philosophy. Her approach encourages a deeper connection to the body, mind, and the world around us.

Sid Chuckas (they/he) was born in Chicago, Illinois. They learn, create, and educate through their multidisciplinary art practices with a larger mission to dismantle the institutionalized marginalization of minoritized bodies. Dancing since the age of five at Dance Center Evanston and graduating from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and USC School of Architecture have all taught Chuckas to utilize their diverse experiences to thoughtfully engage in others’ work while engaging those around them in progressive conversation, practice, and change. Chuckas has performed works by Sharon Eyal, Crystal Pite, Marco Goecke, and Medhi Walerski and premiered roles in new works by Dorotea Saykaly, Shay Keubler, Johan Inger, Roy Assaf, and Out Innerspace. They have also danced for Brandy, Chance the Rapper, and Paris Jackson, and just recently was featured in VOGUE Mexico for a closing solo performance at Vancouver Fashion Week for Eduardo Fashion Studios. Chuckas also creates and produces their own choreographic works for stage and screen, with their most recent projects including a multi-platform solo titled ‘MANZANAR’ and world premieres for Arts Umbrella, LAMONDANCE, and Ballet BC 44. Their time at USC also led them to discover their passion for design, where they completed their undergraduate studies with a minor in Architecture and received an academic scholarship to attend the Pratt Institute of Design’s Master’s of Architecture program. In 2025/26 Chuckas is honored to be a part of the Ballet BC community for a fifth season and is humbled by the opportunity to continue feeding their passion for inclusive, collaborative innovation and creativity.

Shana 愛 Wolfe is a Japanese-Canadian freelance dance artist based in Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She has collaborated with local companies including Company 605, OURO Collective, and Inverso Productions, as well as independent artists such as Cindy Mochizuki, Raven Grenier, Anya Saugstad and Shion Skye Carter. Thanks to these amazing artists, she’s had the privilege to perform at festivals such as Dancing on the Edge, Vines Art Festival, Guelph Dance Festival, Dance Deck, Hold On Let Go, Dance In Vancouver, and Coastal Dance Festival. Internationally, she has performed at Sadler’s Wells (UK), the Autostadt Theatre in Wolfsburg, and the Tanzbiennale in Heidelberg, Germany. Shana has been a part of the What Lab team for 3 years as the Studio Operations Coordinator. She is also currently pursuing Kinesiology at Langara College.