Originally from Tottenham, Ontario, Jordan knew she wanted to become a performer when she was eight years old. She started training in dance at the age of 5 in various style’s such as Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Acro, and was teaching by the age of 12. Shortly after winning the title of “Canada’s Favourite Dancer” on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Jordan immersed herself in acting classes and singing lessons. Her studies quickly paid off when she landed a starring role on the hit Television Series The Next Step.

Constantly wanting to explore all areas of performance, Jordan has also appeared on stage in Pantomimes at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Jordan then reprised her role of “Giselle” on one of Family Channel’s series Lost & Found Music Studios, a spin-off of The Next Step, which premiered in January of 2016 and is distributed worldwide by Netflix. In February of 2016, Jordan departed on The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour, a live-on-stage production showcasing the amazing talents of The Next Step dancers. Along with performing in this popular tour, Jordan and co-star Trevor Tordjman have taken on the monumental task of choreographing/ creative directing this exciting production, which would have been seen in Canada, U.K, Northern Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand and Australia. Since then, Jordan has now choreographed/ creative directed three of The Next Step Tours and has just made the move to Los Angeles, California to pursue her dream of working in film and TV. She’s recently got the opportunity to work with Canadian Star Jason Priestly on Private Eyes as a guest star role “Raven” and more recently just finished filming on a new tv series which will be seen on Family Channel and CBBC so watch out for the show Spring Board and a character named Miss Allister!

Max Ratevosian graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia and from the State University of Lunacharsky G.I.T.I.S. in Moscow with a degree major of Ballet Master, Teacher and Choreographer. During his 20-year tenure at the Moscow State Ballet Theater, he was Principal Dancer, Teacher and Ballet Master. As a professor at the University of Shepkin, Theatrical Division, Max taught Stage Movement and Dance for Dramatic Arts. At the University of Luncharsky G.I.T.I.S., Theatrical Division in Moscow, he also taught Methodology for Classical Dance. Max’s former students have become dancers in major ballet companies throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia. While some have achieved great success in various international dance competitions in Moscow, Varna, Paris and Denmark. In 1991, Max was invited to Canada to teach at L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec, in Montreal. Later he taught at the National Ballet School and the National Ballet of Canada, in Toronto, as well as McMaster University, in Hamilton. Over the years, he has been invited as a guest teacher to a variety of schools and companies throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. Max has staged classical ballet productions such as Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Paquita, and Les Sylphides. In 2001, Max co-founded the Hamilton City Ballet. In 2009, Max Ratevosian became Founder and Artistic Director of the Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts in Dundas, Ontario, an independent elementary and secondary day school with a special focus on the classical arts of ballet, music, vocal, and drama with an enriched academic curriculum. Max is Artistic Director of the annual Nutcracker ballet presented in December at the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre in Hamilton. Max received the City of Hamilton Arts Award for Dance in 2008, the Vancliffen Arts Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and was appointed Dean of the International University of Ballet Arts for North America. Max is the recipient of the 2015 Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club – Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his artistic contributions in the community. Max is a member of CID – UNESCO and an Honorary Member of the Vancliffen Arts Foundation.

PT, MScPT, BA Dance

Dani West holds a BA in Dance with Distinction (Contemporary Stream) from the University of Calgary, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta and her Teacher Training Certification in Classical Pilates. Her dance training has included a wide variety of genres including tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary and African dance and has been an instructor in the Calgary community since 2007. She currently holds her Grade 9 Al Gilbert Tap Certification as well as her Intermediate Level in the RAD Ballet Syllabus. Dani is the owner of Indepth Physiotherapy in Canmore, AB; a practice that prides itself on “using movement as a modality” with a strong interest in dancers and chronic pain patients. She also is the author and creator of the YouTube Channel, THE SOAPBOX- an online physio-based platform she designed for the purposes of educating patients and colleagues about movement tools, treatment ideas and injury prevention topics that she uses daily in her practice. Dani is a strong advocate that more studios should model themselves around a multifaceted approach to pre-professional training.

Quality- not quantity- of dance training- is a key concept that is often overlooked can be one of the main precursors to overuse injuries. Dani is adamant that by introducing other elements of training- such as anatomy, injury prevention and cross training- that it will not only aid in the reduction of injuries but add to the efficacy of a dancer’s training regime.

Valley Dance Convention is grateful for the support of the Drayton Valley Hospitality & Tourism Authority and invite you to visit their website above for recommendations on local accommodation.