Faculty

Lisa Brandt

Owner and Artistic Director of Panorama School of Dance, Lisa has been classically trained through the Royal Academy of Dance. She has over 28 years experience teaching ballet to all ages. She has held a teachers certificate from the Royal Academy of Dance since 1991. Lisa Brandt is a Royal Academy of Dance Mentor, where she is employed by the Academy to work with young teachers and coach them with their study of the RAD Teacher’s Certificate.

Ms. Lisa’s greatest desire is to touch a life, building strong individuals, who not only benefit from being trained in dance but also gain many life skills through dance education that will help them for years to come. Lisa Brandt discovered the passion to dance at a very young age. It is her goal as a professional dance teacher to motivate or instill in her students the same passion that she has for the art form. Her goal is to make a difference in each and every life that enters the door to her classroom.

Over the years, Lisa has had many opportunities to enjoy teaching courses, for example the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Teacher’s Course, dance instruction in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Mussorgsky Theatre, and the many courses offered to our Royal Academy of Dance Teachers.

Lisa Brandt owns and operates her dance school with integrity and fairness to all her students. She believes that children of all ages will gain so much from their dance training.

Jenny Branham

Jenny has been teaching at Panorama School of Dance since 2005 but began dancing and performing throughout Canada and the U.S at a very early age. She studied at various local dance schools and was a member of the B.C Lions Felions Dance Team. Most recently, Jenny obtained her bachelors of Human Kinetics from UBC and was accepted into the UBC Teacher Education program. For the past 7 years, Jenny has been professionally teaching and choreographing dance for students of all ages and abilities. She views teaching as a rewarding experience and loves to see her students learn and grow from year to year. Jenny has done extensive work developing dance education (in particular hip hop) for P.E classes and community after school programs throughout the lower mainland. She teaches dance classes for many local elementary and secondary schools, as well as, professional development workshops for school teachers interested in dance. Her teaching is focused on beginners with an emphasis on fun and fitness. Jenny’s classes provide a new and exciting approach to teaching dance that is successful with both teachers and students.

Marisa Brandt

Marisa began her dancing career at a very young age of 2. Taught by her mom Ms. Lisa, Marisa quickly found her own love of dance. She has been classically trained in RAD Ballet and has completed exams up to Advanced Foundation level. Marisa also enjoyed training in modern, jazz, lyrical jazz, tap and hip hop.

She has competed at many competitions from the age of 5 up to the age of 18. She was awarded the Junior Ballet Champion Trophy at the age of 8 and has also won numerous trophies and scholarships.

Marisa performed in “The Nutcracker Ballet” with the Royal City Youth Ballet at the age of 7. She was a member of the Panorama Youth Company since the age of 7 and has danced in many places, such as, Disneyland, PNE, Cruise Ships, Whistler, Parades, and many other performances around the Lower Mainland.

At the age of 16, Marisa traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia to train in a 2 week dance intensive at the Mussorgsky theatre. Marisa will remember this experience for the rest of her life. She learned sections from different well known Ballets, as well as having the opportunity to work with the professional dancers in Pas De Deux.

Marisa has attended 3 summers in Los Angeles, California, training at the Edge for Performing Arts Centre, dancing under many well known choreographers and teachers from all over the US. She has also attended a number of dance conventions in Vancouver such as, Triple Threat Dance Convention, and the Coastal Dance Rage Convention, and has been taught by the well known, Benji Schwimmer, Blake McGrath, Napoleon&Tabitha from the hit TV series, “So You Think You Can Dance”.

Marisa has also been involved in community cheerleading and in her high-school dance team where she was the Head Coach during Grades 11 and 12.

Marisa started student teaching at Panorama at the age of 11, and gained her own classes at the age of 16 in 2004. She has been teaching Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, and HipHop.

She has had the passion of dance ever since she was a very little girl, and she feels that she is right where she is supposed to be, teaching kids to love dance the way she has her whole life.

Michelle Gisby

Michelle Gisby is one of the lower mainland’s most dynamic teachers/choreographers! Discovering dance at the age of six, by age ten Michelle knew that her passion for the arts would continue to be a part of her life, always. Trained by many top local and internationally known professionals, Michelle’s extensive training includes tap, jazz, musical theatre (stage&song and dance), lyrical and ballet. Michelle’s proficiency in tap led her to the opportunity to be selected for solo choreographed works by world-renowned tap legends William Orlowski and Malcome Gayle. As a student, the result of Michelle’s combined talents and studies won her numerous scholarships to train in Los Angeles, Florida, Las Vegas and more. Michelle was one of the lower mainland’s top competitive dancers, regularly participating in annual provincial level events that featured all competitive “overall” scholarship/award winners. Michelle now passes on her knowledge to some of the most talented dancers of the next generation! Several students under her guidance have performed shows in Disneyland, been hired by Princess, Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruiselines, become members of the Source Dance Company and followed their own dreams of professional success on many levels. Michelle has also been called on to offer her knowledge to a variety of projects in the theatre – movement training and/or choreography of musicals and dramatic plays. Michelle is loved by her students and colleagues for her vitality, creativity and incredible sense of humour she brings to each day in the studio and at every event! Her wit and enthusiasm has a way of motivating all around her with tremendous positive energy, and her musicality and keen eye for technique has brought her numerous awards for her choreography.

Kristen Licas

Kristen started taking ballet at Panorama at the age of 6. Within a couple years, she had added jazz, hip hop and lyrical. Through the years she has completed RAD exams to Grade 8 and Intermediate. Kristen has successfully participated in local festivals and competitions, winning numerous trophies and scholarships. With her dance school, she has taken part in Disney Magic Music Days, danced at the half time show for the BC Lions and was a finalist at the PNE’s Star Search talent contest.

During high school, Kristen was a dance T.A and a member of her school’s dance team every year, finishing off her senior year as a co-coach.

Since “graduating” from Panorama Kristen has joined The Source Dance Company and is loving the opportunity to work with so many new choreographers, and to perform with an amazing group of talented dancers.

As well as dancing Kristen is attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University, taking General Studies, with the goal of becoming a teacher.

She is currently in her second year of teaching dance at Panorama. She hopes to instill in her students the great love of dance that she has.

Ashleen MacPherson

More information to follow

Carly Roguski

Carly started her dance career at the age of three in Edmonton, Alberta. Carly has trained extensively in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Tap. She completed the Professional Training Program at Dance Alberta in 1998 and went on to dance in their Professional Dance Company for three seasons. In her last year with the company Carly took over as Co-Artistic Director, producing a brand new show called the “Off Centre Dance Project.” Carly has also trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Alberta Ballet, San Francisco Dance Centre, Broadway Dance Centre and the Edge Studio in Los Angeles. After leaving Dance Alberta, Carly took her training to California where she danced professionally with the Visual Rhythm Dance Company, a vibrant, eclectic jazz company that performed throughout the state of California.

Carly has been teaching dance for the past 9 years in Alberta and British Columbia and is in her 5th year at Panorama. In November of 2007, Carly completed her Certification in Ballet Teaching Studies and became a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.
At Panorama, Carly teaches R.A.D ballet, jazz and lyrical as well as continuing as the Director of the Panorama Youth Company.
Carly wishes to thank all her students who continue to surprise and inspire her on a daily basis.

Lauren Taylor

Lauren began her dance training at the age of 3 at the Caulfield School of Dance. She has trained and competed in ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop, and has completed the Intermediate Foundation Royal Academy of Dance ballet examination. Her performances include Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”, as well as various local performances and events. Lauren has been teaching and choreographing for students of all ages since 2004.

She is currently attending Simon Fraser University and working on a degree in Business Administration. As well as being a full-time student, Lauren enjoys teaching and continues her studies as a dancer.

Heather Price

Heather began her ballet training at the age of 4 under the Cecchetti Method, and continued on with the Royal Academy of Dance after the age of 8, achieving her Advanced 2 exam. Heather has been teaching Ballet and various other dance forms, including Modern, Jazz, and Tap since 2002, and has just completed the RAD’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies program, which grants her fully registered teacher status. Heather spent 3 years in London, Ontario teaching, training, and performing while attending university. She had the privilege to train with Dale Yoshida, a former principal dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and performed in many fashion shows and charity events throughout the London area. She is also currently enrolled in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC, as she trains to become a pharmacist. Heather has been a member of the Panorama School of Dance family since 1994, and is very happy to be back to pass on her knowledge and passion for dance to the students at Panorama.

Samantha Spasojevic

Samantha Spasojevic joined Panorama School of Dance at the age of 4, taking ballet classes. Her love for dance continued to grow, and she started taking tap, jazz and musical theater by age 6. By the time she was 12, Samantha was involved in all dance styles from Classical Ballet through to Hip Hop. Samantha has competed in many local competitions, winning various awards, as well as dancing at the PNE and at the BC Lions Half time show.

Samantha joined the Panorama Youth Company, and participated as a senior member for three years. As a member of the Youth Company she danced at various venues, Disneyland, and performed on cruise ships. She also participated in dancing at senior's centres, charity events, as well as the Santa Claus parade, and other events.

Samantha has been student teaching for three years, and at last is fulfilling her dream of teaching. She has come full circle, now teaching the classes she once took at age 3. Samantha wishes to share her love of dance with each and every student that walks into her class.

Samantha is also currently taking classes at Kwantlen Polytechnic University to further her education.

Stacey Spencer

Stacey’s love of dance began at the age of five. She started taking jazz and ballet and soon found herself adding Modern, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Stacey has studied and trained in both Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance ballet forms, successfully completing many exams.

Over the years, Stacey has competed in many different local and international dance competitions, traveling as far as Portland, Oregon with her groups. Stacey also has performed in many local venues such as Vancouver's PNE and the BC Lions Half Time show.

Stacey began student teaching at Panorama in 2004 and now is so excited to have classes of her own.

She is also currently enrolled in General Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and absolutely loves it.

Stacey cherishes all the time spent dancing, learning and making life long friendships at Panorama and is so pleased to now be able to pass that onto her students.

Jen Varney

Jennifer was born and raised in Vancouver, BC and has been performing and teaching professionally for 15 years.  She has had 20 years of extensive training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, and Hip Hop.  Her television and movie credits include the NBC series “Just Deal” and the major motion pictures “Saving Silverman” and “Dudley Do Right”.  Along with these Jennifer has been seen in commercials for Honeycomb cereal, Sniggle Sticks Toys, and a corporate video for Sony Corporation.  Jennifer’s stage credits include productions for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, The Canadian Armed forces show Tour in Africa, and Tokyo Disneyland where she performed as a featured dancer in “Once Upon a Mouse”.  She was also an original cast member and featured performer in the Broadway Revue “Encore” show at Tokyo DisneySea.  Jen Has trained with the best from Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, and Japan.