Jodie Rigazzi
Co-Director - Jazz / Hip Hop / Musical Theatre

Jodie began her dancing and singing career in 1986. A former student at Spotlight herself, she studied in various genres of dance including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Voice. Jodie was a successful competitor across Canada and the States and won many accolades for her performances, particularly at the Nationals in Las Vegas. She has performed in various musicals, recitals, and plays, including Vancouver's Theatre under the Stars. Along with teaching dance, Jodie completed her E.C.E (Early Childhood Education) and worked for many years running children's programs for the City of Burnaby.

Now a Teacher/Choreographer with over 20 years experience as well as the Co-Director/Owner of Spotlight, she manages a busy schedule at home with her husband and two children. She has a passion for life and dance which is contagious with her students and all those who meet her.

Jennifer White
Co-Director - Ballet / Modern / Jazz

Originally raised in Northern British Columbia, Jennifer is now based out of Vancouver where she is a dance instructor/choreographer and most recently co-owner for Spotlight Dance Centre, The Source Dance Company and nationally funded Arts Umbrella.

Jennifer's roots began with all genres of dance but slowly focused in on ballet and contemporary dance.  Her training began in Prince George, British Columbia and branched out to various professional schools including the National Ballet School of Canada, L'Ecole Superieur and Southwest Ballet Centre of Fort Worth. 

Her training and professional career continued into Vancouver with Ballet British Columbia's Mentor Program and the Vancouver Opera, as well as a transition into film.

Among dancing with various independent artists she has credits for various TV shows and commercials; X-files, Bleaker High, The Sixth Man, Alberta Gas and Bell. 

Jennifer continued her career in dance as a teacher/choreographer.  Known for being able to teach all styles of dance, she has been a teacher at Spotlight Dance Centre for 15 years. Continuing her love of movement, she began teaching at Arts Umbrella where she teaches ballet and modern.

Choreographically she has won awards from local festivals and collaboratives, she continues to work with independent dancers in Vancouver and works closely with The Source Dance Company.

Jennifer has been asked to guest teach at numerous schools across Canada and wishes to continue to pass on all the wonderful knowledge that she has accumulated in her career to her new dance family at Spotlight Dance Centre.

Angela Chow
AdministratoR, Tap/JAZZ

Angela began her dance training at the age of 7. A former Spotlight Dance Centre graduate, she trained extensively in all forms of dance for 12 years. After graduation, Angela continued her dance training around the lower mainland and became a member of the Vancouver Tap Dance Society. Angela has been teaching tap and jazz at other dance schools since 2001. Her unique and memorable tap choreography has been recognized and awarded at many competitions and shows throughout North America, including Whistler, Kelowna, Portland and Las Vegas. She has been teaching at Spotlight since 2007 and is honoured to share her love and passion for dance with her students.

Dana Cole-Luder
Voice / Musical Theatre

Dana is a graduate of the Classical Music Program at Douglas College and the 'Jazz and Musical Theatre Program' at Vancouver Community College. Dana has performed lead roles in many musicals with Theatre Under the Stars and Royal City Musical Theatre. Another longtime teacher at Spotlight, Dana is a much loved teacher and passes her experience on to each student. Her contributions towards the school have made Spotlight's musical theatre program one of the best in the lower mainland.

Jo-Ann Gordon
AISTD (CSB, NB), BSc.
BALLET

Jo-Ann received her Teacher’s Training at the National Ballet School in Toronto. Jo-Ann is certified in Cecchetti, Royal Academy of Dance and the National Dance Syllabi. She has taught for many years in both Toronto and Vancouver. Jo-Ann was the children’s Rehearsal Assistant for the Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet’s co-production of ‘The Nutcracker’ from 2000 to 2006. As well as having a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, Jo-Ann is also a Dance Therapist and has also taught pilates. We are thrilled to have Jo-Ann join Spotlight as our new ballet teacher.

Katrina Knauer
RAD RTS, Cecc AISTD, National Dance AISTD, TTP DIP. (NBS)
BALLET

A graduate (with distinction) from Canada's National Ballet School's Teacher Training Program , Katrina Knauer began her classical ballet training in Vancouver B.C. She has trained in both the RAD syllabus and the Cecchetti method. Upon her acceptance into the three year teaching program, Katrina had the pleasure of training under highly respected mentors such as Anuschka Roes, Evelina Ganina, Teresa Randall, Glenn Gilmour, Roselie Brake, Carina Bomers and Jane Wooding. 

Katrina earned the National Dance I.S.T.D Intermediate, Advanced one and Advanced two. She has also completed her Cecchetti ballet examinations for Intermediate, Advanced One and Advanced Two along with the Royal Academy of Dance Intermediate and Advanced One certificates.

Always continuing to learn, Katrina has worked hard to achieve Registered Teachers Status with the Royal Academy of Dancing, the Cecchetti Associate Diploma as well as the National Associate with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She has also done guest teaching in Nanaimo B.C and has been given the pleasure be a guest choreographer in Richmond, B.C.

Katrina has worked with dancers of all ages and levels, her love and passion of dance and teaching is evident when she is in the classroom. She believes that dancers should develop as artists and wishes to help them grow and explore the beauty of dance.

Deborah Marino
PIANO

Deborah Marino has been teaching for over 25 years and has been with Spotlight Dance Centre since 1989. She teaches a variety of styles, including theory, history and harmony. Deborah also conducts workshops for musical theatre students. She has performed in various festivals, church services, wedding ceremonies and receptions. Deborah enjoys the energy and enthusiasm her students bring to class and looks forward to the challenge of inspiring young musicians.

Melissa Medalla began dancing at the age of 13. After learning the basics to ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre she quickly found Hip Hop to be her favourite. Melissa has competed and performed throughout North America and Europe and has won numerous awards at competitions and dance conventions including a Monsters of Contemporary Scholarship and winning nationals at the International Dance Challenge in Boston, Mass. She has also furthered her training in Hip Hop with the Souldiers Dance Company. Melissa currently performs with Kinesix dance crew and teaches in dance studios in the lower mainland.  

Laura Cvitkovich
Office Administrator

Laura trained at Spotlight Dance Centre for 11 years in many different dance styles. Since graduating she has become an employee of the studio, working as Office Administrator.

Laura has taught and choreographed for Dance Imagination for the last three years. She has performed professionally at the PNE in the "Toontastic Celebration Parade" and Pyro-night show "Rollin' Thunder."

Currently, Laura is studying at Simon Fraser University's School for the Contemporary Arts, training towards her BFA with a major in dance.