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.

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.

Sarah Whyte is a passionate and energetic person and she brings these qualities to classes she teaches at Deas Island Dance. Sarah grew up studying RAD ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern dance and upon graduation has taught ballet, tap and jazz at various dance schools in the North and South Delta and White Rock. As a dancer, Sarah is a natural performer with a great sense of stage presence and musicality and as a confidant and creative teacher she passes these strengths on to her students.

Recently, Sarah was accepted in to the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS teacher's training program and is looking forward to continue her dance teacher training.

Moe Brody

Moe Brody is well known through the city as a talented choreographer and teacher and has over 20 years of dance experience and a background in Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. She is a twice-consecutive winner at Brad Rapier's Hard Lino for Best Female and Best Individual Hip Hop Performer. Moe teaches regularly at Harbour Dance Centre and acts as a guest teacher and choreographer at Deas Island Dance.