Lesley Benham has been teaching dance in Delta for 20 years and is celebrating her 10th year as director and owner of Deas Island Dance. Lesley teaches her classes with kindness and professionalism, attentive to both the physical and emotional well being of her students, and motivating her students to strive for their best of their ability.

Lesley's own dance training and performing includes a vast array of dance forms including RAD and ISTD Classical Ballet, Jazz, Modern, National, Musical Theatre and Flamenco. Most recently, Lesley returned from a summer intensive program at the Alvin Ailey School in New York where she studied Horton modern dance technique.

Balancing her education in both dance and academics, Lesley has received Arts and Education degrees from the University of British Columbia. Upon graduation from post secondary education, Lesley completed her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Teachers Certification with Distinction and her RAD Teaching Diploma with Anatomy and Child Psychology. She has continued her professional development with yearly vocational and children's dance pedagogy courses with the RAD and for the past three years, Lesley has acted as a mentor and supervisor to new teachers enrolled in RAD CBTS teachers program.

Jamie has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has training in ballet, jazz and lyrical jazz, modern, hip hop and tap. After graduating from Deas Island Dance, Jamie has continued her dance studies at Calgary's Decidedly Jazz Danceworks summer programs, The Edge in L.A., Harbour Dance Centre, and she has also attended many conventions including Groove Street Productions. Also, Jamie spent two years studying and performing with the Source Dance Company in Vancouver under the director Joanne Pesusich. Jamie's is excited to be entering her sixth year of teaching Jazz and Hip Hop with Deas Island Dance.

Anton started tapping as a wee 4 year old, and hasn’t stopped dancing since. A recent graduate of McGill University, he trained for 4 years with Mosaica, the McGill Dance Company, in tap, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. A Theatre Under the Stars alumnus, he brings a keen awareness of performance and nuanced expression to the studio. His further experience as a senior teaching assistant at McGill has also afforded him expertise as an instructor and mentor. Anton is thrilled to join the faculty at Deas Island Dance.

Angela was born in Costa Rica and has studied dance all over the World. She is a choreographer, Dancer, Teacher, and Singer. Her technique ranges in many different styles such as Old Skool, New Skool, Locking, Popping, Street Jazz, Jazz and Ballet. Her many credits include Moka Only, Rascalz, MTV Canada, MTV US, Much Music and many more. Her Dance crew, Grandmaster C and the Funky 5+1 are the recent Hip Hop Champions in the West Coast of Canada. The group traveled to Los Angeles this summer to represent Canada in the World Hip Hop Championships.

 Morgan McQueen is a talented individual who has been emersed within the dance world since the young age of three. Through her training, she has excelled in styles such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. Morgan has achieved a variety of dance accomplishments throughout her life. A highlighted few include the popular teen comedy, “John Tucker Must Die”, featuring Ashanti and Jesse Metcalf. Morgan was fortunate to have the opportunity to work on set with the stars and dance in smaller roles throughout the film. Other exciting events Morgan has been involved in include, dancing as a BC Lions’ Felion for three years, being a part of the Vancouver Giants’ dance team for four years and dancing aboard Carnival Cruise Lines.
Aside from the many dance opportunities Morgan has been involved in, she was also asked to be a part of the 2005 Canadian National Tap Team at the World Tap Championship which took place in Reisa, Germany. Morgan was extremely successful in her endeavors at the competition, placing seventh overall in the Women’s solo tap category and second place in the group category.
On top of Morgan’s evolving dance career, she takes time to stay true to her love of dance by teaching at various dance studios. Morgan has had the opportunity to train at elite dance establishments in areas such as Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas and Vancouver. Morgan’s passion for dancing is evident in her many successes as a dancer and as a teacher. She now wants to pass on to her students everything she has learned throughout her years of training, and prepare those who might consider dance to be their profession one day. 

Lisa Metz is a talented choreographer and an energetic teacher. Lisa has trained in Tap and Jazz (Adapt syllabus), RAD Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Hip Hop, Acro and Steet Jazz - making her a versatile dancer, performer and instructor. She is currently studying contemporary dance with Tiffany Tregarthen’s company, Modus Operandi, as well as studying popping, locking, house, and breakin' with the Electric Boogaloos. Lisa has danced with many talented dancers and choreographers including the all girls hip hop group Velocity, the Seattle based dance group Phyzical Graffi-t, and a year with The Source Dance Company. Lisa is currently teaching tap, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and festival choreography at Deas Island Dance.

Bronwen Wilson has been teaching dance for 10 years in New Zealand. She has completed a Bachelor of Dance and as well as the RAD Teaching Diploma. Bronwen also holds a post graduate teaching diploma which qualifies her as a high school teacher. Bronwen is passionate about dance and in particular about teaching musical theatre. She has taught at several tertiary institutions in New Zealand as well as for many private studios. Additionally, she has performed in many shows including a solo performance for the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Bronwen continues to dance in Vancouver and to perform in musicals. Bronwen has become a regular face at Deas Island, teaching at our summer intensives, choreographing for our Disney performances and preparing students for festival routines.