_edited.png)
Junior Professional Program
Faculty
Who We Are
Gaile Petursson - Hiley
She/Her
Junior Professional Program Director
SCD Artisic Associate
Teacher
Gaile Petursson-Hiley has contributed to the Canadian dance community as a dance artist, creator and educator for nearly four decades. As a principal dancer with Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers, Stephanie Ballard and Dancers and Pacific Ballet Theatre, Gaile toured throughout North America, Europe and Australia. In 2018, Gaile was awarded the Dance Manitoba Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Dance.
Gaile is a Founding Director of Mouvement/Winnipeg Dance Projects. Her work has been presented both nationally and internationally in New York, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Whitehorse and most recently Mexico.
“Eclipse”, Gaile’s full-length work featuring the stellar artists of Drive Dance, premiered in September 2015 in Winnipeg. In 2016, Gaile was commissioned by Kathleen Hiley Solo Projects to create an original work for KHSP’s full length Solo Production, 2016. Her choreography, for this company premiered in the Cool N.Y. Dance Festival in New York.
In a review of Gaile’s 2009 “Bronte”, Holly Harris of The Dance Current wrote “Such is the beauty of this haunting work, with Petursson-Hiley’s mature artistry creating compassionate bonds that blur across generations of time and space.”
As Co-Founder and Co-Director of Dance Collective with Ruth Cansfield from 1989-1994, she created over twenty original works for the company.
Gaile has been awarded numerous grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council towards her creative practice. She was the recipient of the prestigious $25,000 Manitoba Arts Council Major Arts Award for the creation of ‘Waltz’, a collaboration with composer, Holly Harris and visual artist, Susan Chafe.
Gaile is Artistic Associate for the School of Contemporary Dancers and reveres her craft and role as a master teacher, creator and mentor, sharing her ongoing work with the School and Community.
Robyn Thomson Kacki
She/Her
General Program Coordinator
Teacher
Our General Program Coordinator, Robyn, was born in Winnipeg and some of her oldest and fondest memories are of SCD. She began dancing in the General Program at the age of 3, and went on to graduate from the Junior and Senior Professional Programs. Since graduating, Robyn has enjoyed a career as a professional dancer, working with many wonderful choreographers and companies, performing nationally and internationally.
In addition to her love of performing, Robyn has a passion for teaching. She is a certified ADAPT (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers) Jazz teacher and teaches a variety of ages, levels, and forms. Robyn teaches and choreographs in the Youth and Adult General Programs, as well as the Junior and Senior Professional Programs. She is a mother to two wonderful children and feels fortunate to share the love of dance with them and to be a part of this very special community at SCD.
Julious Gambalan
He/Him
Teacher
Julious Gambalan is a Filipino professional dance artist residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He holds both a 4-Year Bachelor of Science (2016) and 4-Year Honours Bachelor of Arts degree (2023) at the University of Winnipeg.
Julious started dance training at Sisler High School. He continued his training through The School of Contemporary Dancers Junior Professional Program and Senior Professional Program. Where he worked with many local and international artists.
He has also had the opportunity to perform nationally and internationally at the Stream of Dance Festival in Regina, , The 40 Dancer Project at the New Blue Festival in Toronto, Ontario, Vienna, Austria and Maputo, Mozambique, Africa.
Presently, Julious works with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (Jolene Bailie) and NAfro Dance Productions (Casimiro Nhussi).
​
​
Jayde Lytle
She/Her
Teacher
Jayde Lytle is a dancer/choreographer from Winnipeg, Manitoba who has been dancing for over 17 years. Competing for 10 years and gaining knowledge from various dance schools around Winnipeg. She has trained and competed in multiple different styles being most profound in lyrical, contemporary, jazz and hip hop.
​
Teaching all ages of dancers is a passion Jayde has and is determined to teach the next generation of dancers self confidence, perseverance and teamwork.
Most importantly Jayde wants to provide a space for dancers of all levels a healthy environment to learn creative expression through movement. She can’t wait to dance with you and is thrilled to continue with The School of Contemporary Dancers.
Ellice Kynman
She/Her
Teacher
Ellice Kynman is an independent contemporary dance artist who has worked and performed nationally and internationally.
Ellice has been attending the School of contemporary dancers since she was three years old. She went through the General Program and Junior Program, where she also obtained her RAD Advanced One through the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations.
Ellice graduated from The School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program in affiliation with The University of Winnipeg, receiving her BA Honours in Dance. She is looking forward to another year of teaching and choreographing.
Sienna Denys-Peters
She/Her
Teacher
Sienna Denys-Peters is a Graduate of the Senior Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers and holds a BAH in Dance from the University of Winnipeg.
As an independent Dance Artist. One of Sienna’s long-term projects has been to make dance lessons accessible to rural communities with a need for the art form through Inspired Movement with Sienna Denys-Peters.
​
Sienna’s training first began in Brandon, MB. Growing up a competitive dancer, Sienna also trained in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and completed her RAD Advanced 2 exams. In addition, she is a certified Al Gilbert Tap, and Mat Pilates instructor.
​
Sienna also moved to Toronto briefly and trained with many Toronto-based Contemporary and Hip-Hop artists.
​
Sienna has had the opportunity to perform with Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers in their Emerging Artist Initiative, Nafro dance production's 'Semba', and internationally in São Paulo, Brazil, and Paris, France.
Taylor Marks
​She/Her
Teacher
Taylor Marks is a highly dedicated and experienced ballet teacher with over a decade of active involvement in the Winnipeg dance community. With 12 years of teaching experience at local studios and nine years as a dance educator within the Winnipeg School Division, Taylor has established herself as a respected figure in the field of ballet instruction.
Taylor's journey in the world of dance began at the tender age of three in Thompson,Manitoba and she continued her classical training after relocating to Winnipeg at the age of eight. Her qualifications include certifications in Royal Academy of Dance Grades 1–8 and the Intermediate Vocational Exam, in addition to training in contemporary, jazz, and tap styles.
​
Continuing her commitment to professional development, Taylor recently completed a Master of Education (MEd) with a specialization in Guidance and Counselling. This advanced degree informs her holistic approach to instruction and mentorship, placing a strong emphasis on student-centered learning and individualized support.
Passionate about cultivating technique, musicality, and confidence in students of all ages and backgrounds, Taylor strives to create a nurturing and enriching learning environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential. Her extensive experience, qualifications, and commitment to ongoing learning make her a valuable asset to our SCD Junior Professional Program
Thomas Oberlin
He/Him
School of Contemporary Dancers School Administrator
Thomas Oberlin is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and consultant from Treaty One territory in Winnipeg Manitoba.
Thomas holds a BA Honours in Dance from the University of Winnipeg and is a graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers' Senior Professional Program.
Through SCD, Thomas has had the opportunity to perform in Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers' Emerging Artist Initiative for the past three seasons (2022, 2023 & 2024), perform in New Dance Horizon’s Stream of Dance Festival & Secret Garden Tour in Regina, and train professionally at the Summer Arts Blast Off intensive in Toronto (2023, 2024 & 2025)!
Before training at The School of Contemporary Dancers, Thomas trained at LA Dance Academy for over 10 years. Thomas' training focuses heavily on Modern, Contemporary, Improvisation, Partnering, Ballet and Tap. Thomas has also had the opportunity to train with artists from across Canada as well as with choreographers from France and Austria. Thomas continues to train as both a dance artist and a teacher, taking classes whenever he can!
Thomas is the Co-Founder of Aggregate Dance Co alongside Nat Sluis, a professional Contemporary Dance company with goals of connecting artists of the Canadian Prairies with each other and beyond! Thomas is passionate about sharing Contemporary Dance with people of all ages and skill levels, whether it’s through classes, workshops or performances.