OUR FACULTY

Sharon Boswell
RAD RTS RADTD

PRINCIPAL & DIRECTOR

Born in Malaysia, Sharon Boswell began her early training in classical ballet, jazz, national dance and musical theatre, before moving to Vancouver in 1988 to complete her dance training and to pursue a career in dance. Sharon has completed all levels of ballet examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance, with awarded Honours and Distinction. She graduated with RAD Teachers Certification in 1991 and awarded the RAD Teaching Diploma in 1993 and has been a Registered Teacher and member of the Royal Academy of Dance for over 30 years. She has taught throughout the Lower Mainland before forming the Boswell Dance Academy in 1994. Miss Sharon as she is most often referred to, teaches the Children’s Graded and Vocational Grades of the R.A.D. Syllabi, and also coaches the Competitive Division Ballet Teams which have received high score awards as well as choreography and judges choice awards. Over the past 3 decades, she has personally trained and mentored teachers for the Royal Academy of Dance CBTS program, and many of her graduated students are now dancing professionally or teaching within the dance industry.

Kathryn Carlberg
RAD RTS

Ballet, Pilates, Contemporary & Modern

Kathryn began her early training at the age of 5 at Boswell Dance Academy in 1995 and completed all 14 consecutive grades of the RAD Ballet Examinations with awarded distinction. She has also trained intensively in various other styles, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern. Kathryn performed with our top competitive teams and also excelled as a ballet and lyrical soloist. Graduating from BDA, she also trained intensively with Rachael Poirier before being accepted into S.F.U’s Modern Dance Program. She holds her Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts majoring in Dance and also the RAD RTS status as well as a fully certified instructor in Pilates. Miss Kathryn is one of BDA’s most committed and beloved teachers, a creative choreographer and a member of our Admin staff.

Michelle Warnock

Tap, Jazz and Lyrical

Michelle began her early training at the age of 4 at BDA, now an alumni member and graduate of the academy. She excelled as a soloist and leading member on our competitive teams in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Tap and Hip Hop throughout the years. She is a dedicated instructor who inspires her students with her solid technique and dynamic choreography, which have received several choreography awards and judges choice awards for her top scoring competitive routines each year. Miss Michelle is a beloved member of our studio for more than 27 years and we are so proud to have her guest teach and choreograph for our competitive dancers with her creativity, artistry and great passion for dance.

Emma Best

Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Ballet & Stage

Emma is a graduate of BDA and an accomplished dancer, highly trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap and Stage since an early age at BDA. As a performer and soloist, she competed at various competitions in the lower mainland and was an integral part of BDA’s elite competitive team awarded numerous high scoring team awards and solo high score awards each season. Emma now teaches in various community dance programs and is a highly committed instructor who joyfully shares her solid technique, artistry and skill with all her students. We are so happy to have Miss Emma as a dedicated member on our BDA Faculty and Admin team.

Amanda Hodges

Acro, Jazz, Contemporary & Lyrical

Amanda is a highly accomplished dancer from Vancouver, BC. She began dancing at the age of 3 and has had a strong passion for dance and a love for performing ever since. Over the years, Amanda has trained extensively in various disciplines of Jazz, Ballet, Acro, Modern, Tap, and Hip Hop, and has competed both locally and internationally. Amanda has also recently become an NCCP Level 1 trained gymnastics coach and has been coaching gymnastics under the direction of former Olympic athlete, Celestina Popa, since 2019. She has been in the classroom assisting and teaching dance since as young as age 11, and continues to be inspired by helping young dancers thrive and grow their passion for dance. It is a joy and honour to have Miss Amanda on our committed teaching team at BDA.

Vanessa Hodges

Tap, Acro, Jazz & Contemporary

Vanessa is a passionate dance instructor who trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, with a specialty in Tap & Acrobatics. Vanessa is also a former consecutive BC Provincial Champion in Tap & Stage, training extensively with renowned instructors including Racheal Poirier, Kristina Linden & Tanner Plecas. Having competed both locally and internationally, with a rich background in competitive performance, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her classes. Vanessa has also worked in film and television as both an assistant choreographer & performer. She is now starting her career as a circus performer, combining technique and artistry, inspiring her students to develop higher skills, explore their creativity and embrace the joy of dance.

Lynea Boswell Fung

Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical & Musical Theatre

Lynea began her training in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern & Stage since a very early age at BDA. As a performer and soloist, she competed at various competitions in the lower mainland each season and was a Company member of award winning BDA’s Competitive & Performance Teams. Lynea currently teaches dance education programs in the lower mainland. She is a highly committed instructor who joyfully shares her love of dance, fun imagination, artistry and skill with all her students. We are so proud to have Miss Lynea on our Admin team as well as an invaluable member on Faculty, nurturing BDA’s youngest classes and preteen dancers.

Chloe Ramos

Hip Hop

A BDA Alumni member, Chloe has trained in jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and hip-hop and has performed and competed in local, national, and international stages with Boswell Dance Academy, PraiseTEAM, and Elusive DF. She gained love for teaching after assisting in classes in BDA from 2018-2020. Chloe has created and choreographed 5 successful dance shows for the Hyacks Dance program from 2018-2022 and teaches high-school drop-in classes at NWSS. She is excited to share her love for the performing arts and is excited to continue to grow as an artist and as a teacher who inspires with creativity & high energy.

Steven Do

Hip Hop

Steven Do is an well established Hip Hop instructor and choreographer, working with high school and college dance teams, teaching choreography classes at UBC and is also the director of Unity Dance Co. & Elusive DF. He trains his students in a variety of street styles – hip hop, house, popping, whacking etc. and his dancers have placed in top spots and received high score awards in various hip hop competitions annually. Steven brings with him the most current and latest evolved styles to our energetic BDA Hip Hop classes. We are so thrilled to have him to our committed teaching team working with our Inter & Sr. Competitive Hip Hop Teams each season.

A personal message from Steven Do –  “My training program is designed to help young dancers find their confidence, my belief is that it is not just how you look when you perform but rather how you feel about yourself when you dance. The fun and motivation part is exceptionally important to me and I look forward to meeting and dancing with everyone!”