Debbie Calicetto is the owner operator of Can Dance Studio and has been for the past 30 yrs. She has taught thousands of dancers over the years . Debbie prides herself on bringing top working instructors to the Mission area. Everyone deserves the chance to dance; from Recreational to Advanced level. Here at Can Dance we provide the opportunity for all dancers to succeed. She has choreographed full musical productions as well as soloists routine for world championships. It was her pleasure to choreograph the opening for the B.C. Winter Games and work with numerous dancers from the Fraser Valley. Her passion and patience for her students creates a special bond. As the director of Can Dance Studio she is also dedicated to hiring a well trained and dedicated staff to bring a well rounded studio to Mission. Debbie looks forward to another year bringing dance to her students.

Regan Calicetto has been dancing since before she could walk. She has been trained at Can Dance for 14 yrs and is now working with several pre-professional dance companies in Vancouver to further her career as a dancer. Regan has trained with Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Lil C ,Twitch, the Beat Freaks and Fanny Pak .  Regan has trained with Move Dance Company, Modus Operandi  as well as Lux Dance Company. She has appeared in several music videos as a dancer as well as a choreographer. Regan has won over $8000 in scholarship and has represented Canada in the Dance World cup. She has won choreography awards every year since she began teaching and is a supportive and passionate instructor.

Sam Svensk is an emerging artist with a particular affinity for nature, dogs, and anything that moves her! She grew up training competitively in Ballet (R.A.D.), Modern, Lyrical, and Contemporary, where her passion for the art form was instantly apparent. These days she teaches, performs, and creates dance in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver areas whenever possible. Sam is a graduate from Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts where she majored in Dance with a strong focus in kinesiology. It was during her training at SFU where Sam acquired a deep knowledge of the Graham and Cunningham techniques, various Ballet techniques, on top of gaining invaluable choreographic and performance experience. Additionally, she has since trained with Catalyst Dance, as well as continuing to train and perform with ModernLee Dance Company. In 2011, Sam was the honoured recipient of the Mission Muse Emerging Artist Award, for having been a part of various creative processes within her community.

Sam’s experiences in dance have led her to see the art form as a powerful tool to heal the soul and build connections with others. This philosophy brought her to the field of Expressive Arts Therapy. Working as a certified Expressive Arts Therapist, Sam is thrilled to be able to integrate some of this work in her teaching practices as well. As a dance educator, she believes it is her responsibility to inspire her students as both dancers and young people, instilling within them a sense of confidence, as well as a passion and respect for the art of dance. She strives to connect with every student as an individual, always encouraging them to be the best they can be.
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Ryan Morrissette, is not only one of the most sought after choreographers but he is still one of the top Hip hop dancers around. As a member of the hip hop crew Freshh,  is a talented, charismatic dancer whose energy is well, … contagious, to say the least.  His hard hits, quick and clean moves, and overall enthusiasm on stage definitely draw the attention of his audiences.   But even off stage, Ryan seems to often be found smiling and sharing a positivity with friends and strangers alike that is truly refreshing.  So when I heard that this young dancer has been dealing with a serious health condition since the age of two, I couldn’t believe it. You’d just never know that Ryan has Cystic Fibrosis if you saw him out there – the way he always seems to be giving it his all- whether on stage dancing, or co-emceeing and event, or just hanging out with his friends.

But that’s what Ryan does- he gives his utmost to this passion he has for dance, and to life in many ways, it seems.  In fact, rather than letting CF stop him from pursuing his love of dance, Ryan uses dance as a way to heal his condition and to reach others out there to remind them to live life to the fullest. “I wasn’t supposed to be able to do a lot of cardiovascular exercise,” says Ryan. But if you saw him out there, training, leaping, doing flips and tricks- well, Ryan has pushed through many physical obstacles that might otherwise cause another person in his shoes to not even attempt any of it.  And that kind of perseverance is extraordinary .

Ryan recently said in a video that he never wanted to be treated differently for having CF.  And I just want to make it clear that Ryan, I am not singling you out here in this special feature because you have CF.  But I do admit to singling you out for having the courage, tenacity, faith and an excitement about life that some people may never find.  And here you are, finding it at age 18 or even earlier.  Ryan, you are such an inspiration to so many people out there… reminding them to follow their dreams, to HAVE dreams, and to let nothing come in the way of those dreams. And THAT deserves recognition, absolutely.

 
Ryan will soon be heading to the World Dance Championships in Germany as Canada’s co captain and lead dancer. Good luck Ryan.