910 Camosun Cres, Kamloops | 250.314.9974 | info@aodkamloops.com
Our Staff
Miss Cassie
Director/President | Acrobatic Arts Cert. | Progressing Ballet Technique Cert.
Team Canada 2017
Cassie Rigler has performed throughout the Interior and Okanagan, as well as taken many dance education programs in the Lower Mainland and Alberta. Miss Cassie has performed all over the world, including on Main Street in Disneyland, CA and the Minskoff Theater on Broadway NY, NY. She has also performed with the Moscow Ballet in The Great Russian Nutcracker, and competed in Riesa, Germany coming 8th in the Worlds. Miss Cassie is excited to be working at AOD and loves teaching children of all ages!
Miss Brie
Dance Teacher
Brie Larson danced with AOD for fifteen years and peformed and competed throughout the Okanagan. She has also performed with the Moscow Ballet in their Great Russian Nutcracker, and danced in Disneyland, California. Throughout her time dancing, Brie participated in various workshops at different competitions, as well as in Jasper, BC with the Rocky Mountain Dance Project.
Brie has taught at a studio in Ashcroft, BC and has been a substitute teacher for AOD in previous years. She now teaches Acro at AOD!
Currently, Brie is working towards completing her Bachelor of Science at Thompson Rivers University here in Kamloops.
Miss Jessica
Dance Teacher
Jessica Jolicoeur has grown up with us here at the Academy of Dance. She began at the age of two and quickly fostered a love dance! She has trained at AOD in many different styles including jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical and contemporary. She has competed throughout the Okanagan, has performed multiple times with the Moscow Ballet and is apart of AOD’s Disneyland team.
Mister Riley
Dance Teacher
Riley Schutz comes from Poirier Productions in Burnaby, BC where he trained under Rachael Poirier. Since deciding to devote his time and energy to his training at age 11, Riley has had the great fortune to train at many local and international conventions, learning from some of the most sought-after choreographers including Lane Napper, Doug Caldwell, Nick Lazzarini, Wildabeast, Paul Otterbein, Matt Cady and Travis Wall, to name just a few. Riley’s passion for dance earned him the Doug Caldwell inaugural “Passion for Dance” award at the 2018 Jump Dance Convention in Portland, as well as the opportunity to compete for Teen Male Best Dancer at The Dance Awards. Riley is looking forward to joining AOD this year and sharing his passion for dance with students of all ages and abilities.
Miss Maddy
Dance Teacher | Acrobatic Arts Certified
Maddy Howell comes to us from Ontario. Miss Maddy Started Dancing at the age of three and she has been competing since the age of six in Ontario. She has trained in Acro, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Open, Hip Hop, and Tap. Miss Maddy has taken class with Twitch (Hip Hop), Allison Holker(Contemporary), Emily Einsmann (Jazz Funk), and many more. She is Certified with Acrobatic Arts and has completed up to and including her Grade 5 B.A.T.D. She has received many scholarships over the years including workshops in Florida and Toronto.
Miss Josie
Dance Teacher
Josie Weightman grew up in Salmon Arm BC, training at Just For Kicks and fell in love with dance right away! Throughout her school years Josie competed all over the Okanagan, receiving high marks and provincial qualifications. Through her training she also completed numerous RAD Ballet Exams including her Advanced 2. Josie has danced at the Joffrey Ballet's summer program and was a member of Team Canada 2017 where she competed in Reisa Germany. After graduating Josie continued her training in LA at Millenium Dance Complex and in Toronto at Underground Dance Centre. Josie has been teaching all around the Okanagan including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Barriere and Kamloops. Josie has been teaching at summer intensives and enjoys sharing her knowledge with students.
We are excited to have Josie join us for our 23/24 season!