FORT McMURRAY
3-DAY EVENT
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
Miss Melinda & YMM Dance Company are proud to present a 3-Day Event full of top instructors from across Canada.
FEATURED INSTRUCTORS
JOANNE PESUSICH
Joanne’s dance career has led her all over the world as both a choreographer and a dancer. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Joanne has also lived and trained in Vancouver, New York and Los Angeles.
Joanne has performed with artists The Backstreet Boys, Prince, Kool & the Gang and Alanis Morissette. Joanne was seen on the NAACP Image Awards as a performer and assistant choreographer for “A Tribute to George Clinton”, performing with rap artists Busta Rhymes, Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, and rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
She has performed at Caesar’s Palace with STOMP, and at The White House for the President’s annual Easter Celebration. Joanne has performed with Conan O’Brien in “Live at The Roxy AIDS Benefit” in New York as well as on his late night show.
Joanne was nominated ‘Best Female Hip Hop Dancer” at the prestigious RAD (Recognition Awards for Dancers”) Awards in Los Angeles. She was the choreographer for the feature film, “Saving Silverman” and numerous national & international commercials.
Most recently, Joanne has been featured as a dancer on Paramount’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” and Mandy Moore’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”, Nat Geo’s “Valley of the Boom” and Disney’s feature film, “Freaky Friday”.
Joanne’s credits also include feature films “Kickin’ It Old School” with Jamie Kennedy, as well as “The Cleaner” with Cedric The Entertainer, the Nickelodeon Movie Musical “Ragz” and the TV series “Once Upon a Time”, “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” and “White Chicks” with Marlon and Damon Wayans.
Joanne was the assistant choreographer on the feature film TRON 2, and together with her husband Alex she choreographed the Finale for the “So You Think You Can Dance” Canadian Season 2 Tour.
Currently, Joanne is director of The Source Dance Company, a semi professional dance company based out of Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, BC. The company focuses on training and performance opportunities throughout the year, and offers aspiring professional dancers insight into the professional entertainment world and connections within the industry.
She is also co-director of Groove Street Productions Dance Conventions, together with her husband, Alex.
HALEY VAN RIJN
Haley Van Rijn is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Coaldale,
Alberta. Dancing quickly became a passion at a young age when she began training at
Dance Images under the direction of Gerry Unger. Upon graduation, Haley made the
move to Vancouver, BC to pursue dance as a career. She trained extensively in Harbour Dance Centre’s Intensive Training Program, along with The Source Dance Company. From there, she had many opportunities to perform in shows such as The Main Event, Brilliant Fashion Show, iYi Inspired, and the grand opening of Sephora. In addition, Haley began dancing with TwoFourSeven- a hip hop company led by Carlo Atizena, which provided her the experience to compete at many prestigious events such as Body Rock, Hip Hop International, Artists Emerge, and World of Dance. Haley had the chance to work as a professional dancer performing live for Janet Jackson’s “Unbreakable” Tour in her Vancouver show. In 2017, Haley moved back to
Southern Alberta to spread her love for dance in the community that raised her. She now teaches at Joy’s Dance Factory, and has become the resident hip hop instructor for LCI Dance Academy. She is excited to have the chance to spread her knowledge and energy with
students of YMM Dance Company!
ASTRID ECKERLE
Based in Vancouver, BC, Astrid is an accomplished performer and choreographer in the dance realm and has trained with Harbour Dance Centre’s ITP, The Source Dance Company, TwoFourSeven Co, and KTL Hip Hop Co. As a versatile performer she has transferred these skills to working with a variety of productions on and off screen. Recent credits include: Grease! Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount +), Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas (NBC), Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC), The Tunnel (Contemporary Dance Theatre), competing internationally with TwoFourSeven Co, and performing with artists such as Warren Dean Flandez.
As Astrid’s love of performing continued to expand, she began to explore the musical theatre industry and now trains in both acting and singing. Theatre credits include Assistant to The Choreographer in Crazy For You (RCMT), Dance Captain/Ensemble in American Idiot (URP Productions), Lil B/Ensemble in Newsies (TUTS), and Ensemble in Singin in the Rain (RCMT).
In addition to her training and performing Astrid has a love for teaching and choreographing. She has had the privilege of teaching students across Western Canada, assistant choreographing for multiple projects, and choreographing for companies such as The Source Dance Company and UVic Dance Team.
MINI (AGES 5-7)
JUNIOR (AGE 8-10)
INTER/SENIOR (AGE 11+)
$375 / DANCER
YMM Dance CO – SUMMER INTENSIVE 2023
AUGUST 22 – 24
MacDonald Island(Directions)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE AUGUST 14th
QUESTIONS? (ASK)