Directors
Katrina Bois
Artistic Director
Born in Langley, Katrina received her formal ballet training at Pacific DanceArts under the direction of Li Yaming. She also had the opportunity to study with a number of reknowned dance artists including Karen Kain, Marquita Lester, Kathryn Warakomsky, Johnny Chang, Evelyn Hart, Peggy Baker, Margie Gillis, and Toru Shimazaki, among others.
As a professional dancer, Katrina danced with Stadtteatre Bremehaven in Germany under artistic director Joerg Mannes and with Texas Ballet Theatre, under Ben Stevenson. Ms. Bois toured internationally as the lead in Marius Petipa's ballet Paquita, performed numerous classical ballets dancing with Ben Stevenson's Texas Ballet Theater and recently participated in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics alongside Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet dancing in “Cathedral Grove”, choreographed by Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Maitre.
Katrina began teaching while also a dancer, in 2004, and quickly became known for her rehearsal skills. She has staged numerous classical excerpts including "Swan Lake" Act II, "Raymonda's" Grand Pas de Deux, "Paquita," and “Kingdom of the Shades,” among others and coached individual dancers for such international events as the USA IBC, the YAGP Finals and the Beijing International Ballet Invitational.
Katrina began working with Coastal City Ballet as Rehearsal Director upon its inception in 2011. Since that time, she has had the privilege to stage Gisele Bellot’s “Nuances”, Renata Pacheco’s “Monasterio”, and Elizabeth Alexandre's "La Barre" as well as rehearse classical excerpts and world premiere choreographies from Li Yaming, Farley Johansson, and Wen Wei Wang. In addition, Katrina has rehearsed and staged full-length ballets such as Irene Schneider's Hansel and Gretel, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Coppelia, Cinderella, Swan Lake and Giselle.
Ana Paula Oioli
Company Director
Ana Paula Oioli was born in Barra Bonita, Brasil where she started dancing at Academia Roda Viva at the age of 4. By the time she turned 16, Ana Paula was training away from home, in São Paulo, in order to focus more in ballet. After only one year, Ana Paula was accepted at the Heinz-Bosl Stiftung ( Munich Opera House School) in Munich, Germany at the age of 17 and graduated within three years.
Ana Paula danced with the Munich Opera House in such ballets as Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Le Corsaire. She also performed with Magdeburg Ballett in their production of Giselle. After graduation, Ana Paula received a contract with the Thuering Ballett where she danced for 2 years. Ana Paula returned to Brasil as a guest artist and met Mr. Li Yaming, founder and then artistic director of Coastal City Ballet. She was personally invited to join the company in 2012.
Ana Paula's repertoire includes principal roles in classical ballets suchs as Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Cinderella and A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as works by Ben Stevenson, Wen Wei Wang, Erica Trivett, Li Yaming and many others. She continues to dance as a principal guest artist all over the world and has since joined the artistic staff of Coastal City Ballet.
After graduating from BCIT while dancing in Vancouver, Ana Paula has combined both her passions to manage Coastal City Ballet as the Company Director. She looks forward to using her skills in business and in dance to aid in the company's continued success.
Founders
Li Yaming
Company Co-Founder / Artistic Staff
Li began his ballet training at the Beijing Dance Academy at the age of 11 under Mr. Cao Jingrong. Upon graduation in 1979, Li was invited to join the resident ballet company (The company merged with Central Ballet of China in 1984). During that time Li performed numerous leading roles in classical ballets as well as neo-classical and contemporary works, toured across China and to Tailand. In 1988, Li immigrated to Canada and was invited by Lawrence Gradus to join the Theatre Ballet of Canada. Li has since performed extensively across the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.
As a dancer, Li had the opportunity to perform an extensive repertoire of roles and world premiere choreographies. Some of his most notable roles include: Franz in Coppelia, Colas in La Fille Mal Gardee, The Jester in Swan Lake, The Bronze Idol in La Bayadere, Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty, Le Spectre de la Rose and Paquita pas de deux. Li also had the unique opportunity to perform in pieces choreographed by: Anton Dolin, Ben Stevenson, David Earle, Anthony Tudor, Choo San Goh, Lawrence Gradus, and Anne Wolliams.
Li has also studied and worked with international artists such as Ben Stevenson, Lynn Seymour, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Celia Franca, Anne Wolliams, Sulamith Messerer, Karen Kain and Olga Evreinoff.
Li begin his teaching at the Beijing Dance Academy while he was enrolled in the Dance Education major under the academy's Ballet Department. He has since taught in Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and the USA. He was the company teacher for the Ottawa Ballet and was invited to teach for the Quinte Ballet School, Simon Fraser University and the National Ballet of Canada, among others.
Andrea Allen
Company Co-Founder
Ms. Allen received her ballet training at the Vancouver Academy of Music under the direction of Soonee Lee. She was also trained at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. During that time, Ms. Allen had the opportunity to study with a great number of renowned dance artists such as David Earle, Laura Alonso, Marquita Lester and Lambros Lambrou.
As a professional dancer, Ms. Allen has danced with the Theatre Ballet of Canada under the direction of Lawrence Gradus and the Ottawa Ballet under the direction of Frank Augustyn. Ms. Allen has performed in Asia and throughout North America and has worked with many international artists, among them Lynn Seymour, Karen Kain, and Christopher House.
Ms. Allen's repertoire ranges from classical ballet to original choreography. She has performed in many classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Paquita and La Fille Mal Gardee, as well as numerous pieces from renowned choreographers. These pieces include Bella by Danny Grossman, Cecilia by Lawrence Gradus, Glass House by Christopher House, Tin Soldier by Timothy Spain, Inching by Danny Gossman, and Sleep Study by David Parsons.
Ms. Allen began teaching ballet in 1990 in Ottawa, and has since been teaching in Canada and the United States. In July of 1999, Ms. Allen co-founded Pacific DanceArts in Vancouver, Canada alongside Li Yaming. Ms. Allen takes pride in creating a strong and well rounded base for students. She believes that technique and creativity as well as the enjoyment of dance are equally important for a student's success.
Artistic Staff
Beverley Bagg
Artistic Staff
Ms. Bagg began her training in both RAD and Cechetti in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has transitioned from a dancer into a master teacher. She was accepted at the Royal Ballet School in London, England, and danced soloist and principal roles with the PACT Ballet Company in South Africa for 15 years.
Ms. Bagg has a diploma in biomechanics and physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand and integrates this knowledge into her teaching. She is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique, a unique exercise programme designed to strengthen and address areas of weakness in ballet technique and her teaching has been endorsed by the founder of the programme.
Ms. Bagg has been invited as a guest teacher to various companies and schools in the US, Canada and internationally. She was Ballet Mistress of Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet and has been instrumental in staging Swan Lake, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet for South African Ballet Theatre and Washington Ballet. Spanning over 40 years of a passionate and very successful career as a professional dancer, teacher and coach, Ms. Bagg is able to draw on this experience and offer a rich and insightful approach to teaching and coaching. She establishes an environment of positive energy and demands excellence in a nurturing and inspiring manner.
Justine Fraser
Artistic Staff
Justine was born and raised in Penticton BC, where she was introduced to dance at age three. Mentored by numerous great teachers and guest artists, Justine developed a movement foundation deeply rooted in both classical and stage dance. At the age of 14, Justine's passion led her to move to Vancouver BC, where she would begin her professional training at Pacific DanceArts.
Justine spent her summers training at the Banff Centre for Performing Arts, Boston Ballet School, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Under the mentorship of Li Yaming, Justine represented Canada as a finalist dancer in the 2009 New York Grand Prix, and as a semi-finalist in Beijing’s International Ballet Competition in 2008.
Justine completed her formal training in 2012, under the mentorship of Alonzo King in San Francisco CA, and has since performed as a guest artist with numerous Canadian and American dance companies. In 2012, Justine joined Ballet Jorgen as a soloist in the 25th anniversary tour of Swan Lake. Throughout her time with BJC, Justine was fortunate enough to perform principal roles, featuring Contemporary and Classical dance works, with both Danza Corpus and Les Petit Ballet under the direction of Jose Carret and Mercedes Bernardez.
It was during this time that Justine developed a hunger for new movement and an interest in alternative approaches to her classical foundation which led her to return to Vancouver where she would continue to investigate and research new ways to expand her classical training as an educator, choreographer, and freelance dance artist. Currently, Justine teaches and choreographs throughout Western Canada. She is also the Artistic Director of Reforming Art Productions - a Contemporary Dance Company dedicated to creating innovative dance works and further developing high caliber training opportunities for the next generation of professional dancers.
Kostyantyn Keshyshev
Artistic Staff
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Kostyantyn began his ballet training at the age of 11 With Odessa's Ballet Academy. In 2003 his family decided to move to Vancouver, Canada where he continued his formal training with The Goh Ballet Academy. In 2007, Mr. Keshyshev was awarded the silver medal at the Genee International Ballet Competition and joined The Hong Kong Ballet at the young age of 19.
Kosytantyn received his first principal role in the Nutcracker at the age of 21. Since then his repertoire includes, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty, Albrecht in Giselle, and Siegfried in Swan Lake. He has also worked with many contemporary choreographers such as Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, and Alexey Ratmansky, among others. In 2015 Mr. Keshyshev started working with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet where he preformed roles such as Dracula, Gordon in Going Home Star and many more.
In 2017 Kostyantyn moved to Vancouver to pursue a career teaching ballet and participated in the Vaganova's Teachers Training course in Riga, Latvia. He has taught at such schools as Ballet Russe, Simply Ballet, West Coast Ballet and Vancouver Academy Of Dance. Kostyantyn is excited to bring his experience and skills to the dancers of Coastal City Ballet.
Joy Munk
Artistic Staff
Joy Munk began dancing at age 4 at Barry's School of Dance in Abbotsford, BC. At age 9, she attended Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet Summer Program,
and joined their professional school by age 12. After graduating from the RWB School in 1993, she received several grants from the Manitoba Arts
Council to continue training in Europe, most notably at the Royal Danish Ballet School.
In 1994, Joy took first place at ABT's Russian Seminar hosted by Audre Deckmann Mendel, where she worked with Mikhail Lavrovsky and travelled to
Moscow, spending two weeks with the Bolshoi Ballet. Also during this time, she performed and toured internationally with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
in their classical productions of Giselle, Swan Lake, and John Neumeier's Nutcracker, among others. In 1996, she joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
as a fulltime company member where she enjoyed performing the company's versatile repertoire, ranging from Balanchine, to van Manen, as well as the large classics.
Joy is honored to support the dancers of Coastal City Ballet.
