ICanDance!
Instructors
Natasha
Natasha Chichkine began her ballet training at Black Mountain Dance Company (now Southern California Ballet) under Sylvia Palmer-Zetler. She continued her studies in Vancouver, focusing on ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz. In 2012 she graduated from Vanleena Dance Academy in North Vancouver, after completing the Royal Academy of Dance vocational syllabus with her Advanced II examination. She recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with her B.Sc. in Kinesiology and Psychology focusing on Active Health and Rehabilitation. She also teaches rec dance classes at SFU, and works as a movement therapist with Club Aviva in Coquitlam. Natasha joined ICanDance! in 2015, and is continuing to apply curriculum designed by Marni Robson when teaching.
Jan Cooper
Jan Cooper is the head of Cooper Studios, Pump Records & Jan Cooper Publishing.He is considered one of Canada's top vocal coaches. He has worked with many of the industry's top producers and writers, including Loverboy, Whitesnake, Grammy award winning producer Bob Rock, Alex Wong of So You Think You Can Dance, Lisa Brockop, Madeleine Arthur( lead actress in the Oscar nominee film Big Eyes ) and US5 among many others.
Jan acts as a representative for bands at the world music trade show MIDEM in Cannes for the past 25 years as well as Berlin's Popkomm. Last year he signed over 20 acts to 8 labels which Included Warner Chappell.
He attended Julliard School of Music workshops and was a high school teacher for eight years. Jan also sang in his own band for 20 years and has been involved in musical theatre both on stage and as a director. He judged at international singer/songwriter competitions in Canada as well as in Belarus, Romania, Baton Rouge and Cairo.
Kevin
Kevin Mand is a professional working dancer in Vancouver, and has also trained, taught and worked in multiple cities across North America. With a talent for the camera, he loves to both dance and choreograph for Music-Videos, Movies, TV-shows and short-films. Kevin also has a strong passion for directing and filmmaking that he combines with his dancing to create multiple dance short films! Now along with his ICanDance! family, Kevin is excited to be teaching and working with all the lovely students here to help build their confidence, diligence and self-expression!
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Benji
Benji Epstein is a Pop Fusion instructor for ICanDance! He has been dancing for 12 years doing Hip Hop, Breakdance and Stage. Benji is the recipient of the Surrey Festival of Dance Mary Ledger and Honours Award, and group awards Dance Power High Gold and Peak Invitationals High Gold with RNB Dance groups. Benji has had vocal training and participated in the Vancouver Chamber Choir FOCUS program and was awarded Argyle Secondary Junior Jazz Choir Most Outstanding.
Grace
Grace Byman is a university student currently working on her Bachelor of Fine Arts at SFU in the Contemporary Dance program. Grace has been dancing since the age of two and her passion for dance began with the ICanDance! Program. She then went on to train in the Pre-Professional programs offered at Pro Arté, West Vancouver Dance Conservatory, and RNB Dance. Grace has successfully completed her ISTD Advanced 2 Modern Exam and Advanced I RAD Ballet Exam earning Distinction in both. Grace has experience in multiple genres of dance including jazz, lyrical, hip hop, modern, contemporary and classical ballet. She is excited to have rejoined the ICanDance! family teaching ballet and sharing the passion for music and movement she has developed over the years.
