Artistic Director Patricia MacKenzie

A.I.S.T.D. (Assoc. Dip, Cecchetti Society Faculty); F.S.D.T.A. (Highland); S.O.B.H.D. Judges Panel

Patricia (“Pattie”) MacKenzie has devoted her life to the teaching of dance and the mentoring of young people. She has taught ballet and highland in her school in Port Alberni for over 37 years, producing numerous champion dancers, a multitude of enthusiastic and qualified teachers and legions of dance lovers. She has been a part of the Dancestreams Youth Dance Company since 1992, initially as Assistant to founder Bev Aitchison, and from 1996 as the Artistic Director. During her tenure, the Company has toured internationally, been granted a Creation Residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts, and many dancers have progressed to professional careers as dancers, teachers and administrators. She has worked closely with and rehearsed the works of renowned choreographers from across Canada and the USA. Her enthusiasm and encouragement have propelled young dancers to successful careers both in and out of the arts. As a Scottish Official Board Judge, she adjudicates at competitions and championships world-wide, and she continues to pursue more knowledge by attending teachers’ workshops, master classes and seminars throughout Canada & USA. Pattie also teaches for the Cecchetti Ballet Society of Nanaimo.

Assistant Artistic Director

Julia Carr

A graduate of Arts Umbrella and the Ballet BC Mentor Program, Julia Carr also holds a B.Sc. Biology from Acadia University, and MA in dance performance from Limerick University in Ireland. Formerly Assistant to the Director of Main Dance in Vancouver, Julia continues to pursue her professional dance career in Vancouver. She has performed in the works of Kathleen McDonagh, Peter Bingham, Caroline Liffmann, Rachelle Potoski, Sara Coffin and others. Her choreography has been presented at Co-Opted, Dance Centre, Bloom, Mascall Dance Society, Launch Pad , Inter-tidal Arts Festival. Julia recently completed an apprenticeship with EDAM dance for their 2007/2008 season and is currently working with Raven Spirit Dance Company, LINK Dance and in 2009 will be working with Aeriosa. Julia strives to be an active participant in the Vancouver dance community and has sat as a CADA/BC board member and fund raiser and was a steering committee member for the Dancer Transition Resource Centre’s BC office.