Elizabeth Ferns completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary in June of 2018. During her time in the program, she was able to learn from professors and guest artists such as Melanie Kloetzel, Marie France Forcier, Iris Heitzinger, Wojciech Mochniej, and Sasha Ivanochko. She also had the opportunity to perform for esteemed choreographers such as Gerry Trentham, Davida Monk, and Melissa Monteros. Since graduation, she has been establishing herself as an emerging artist while creating and collaborating on works for Nextfest, Ignite! Festival of Emerging Artists, and Fluid Festival. Elizabeth is thrilled to join Corps Bara Dance Theatre this fall.

Kathryn Lee has a zest for life and aspires to share the gift of movement with the young, the old and everyone in between! She is a passionate advocate of the great joy and fullness that dance can bring both for the individual and the community. Kathryn began her formal dance training in Edmonton, AB and completed her high school years in Calgary at Crossings Dance, completing exams in RAD ballet and ISTD Modern and participating in a number of summer intensives including the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, School of Alberta Ballet, and Dance Ad Deum. She later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Kathryn has performed with a variety of contemporary companies including Corps Bara Dance Theatre, EnCorps Dance Collective, CIC Dance Theatre, Inlet Dance Theatre, and Cleveland Dance Project. Kathryn is excited to be back in the city of Calgary, instructing dance at Crossings Dance and performing with Corps Bara this season!

Emily Losier is an emerging artist currently completing the University of Calgary’s BFA Dance program. Within the university setting, she has performed in many of the dance department productions, such as Dance@Noon, Dance@Night, and Mainstage. Outside of the university, she has danced and trained with companies such as W&M Physical Theatre, Corps Bara Dance Theatre, and Ember Dance Company. Choreographically, Emily has delved into her interest for interdisciplinary and site-specific work through the IGNITE! Festival for Emerging Artists. In addition, she has self-choreographed a solo for the Springboard Fluid Festival, and also commissioned work for the Calgary Board of Education. Emily hopes to continue to investigate the possibilities of dance, taking inspiration from multidisciplinary work and practices, and to further connect and integrate herself into the arts community in Calgary. 

Taylor Ritchie is an accomplished performer, dance teacher and arts enthusiast from Calgary, Alberta. She attended the University of Calgary, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, with a concentration in choreography and performance with distinction. During this time, Taylor worked with distinguished choreographers and teachers including Melanie Kloetzel, Davida Monk, Wojciech Mochniej, and Sasha Ivanochko. Since emerging in the local arts scene, she has performed with Kloetzel and Co., Corps Bara Dance Theatre, Ember Dance Company, Esira Dance Company, and with choreographers Meghann Michalsky, Sylvie Moquin, and Jason Galeos. Taylor has had the opportunity to perform across Canada in Regina’s Stream of Dance, Calgary’s Fluid Festival, Annual Alberta Dance Festival, and Skylines Dance & Film Series, as well as Edmonton’s The Works Festival and Prairie Dance Circuit. Taylor is excited to continue her journey with Corps Bara, and is grateful for the emotional, spiritual, and physical outlet that this company provides.

Heidi Schmidtke began training at Crossings Dance, Calgary, in ballet, contemporary and modern styles. Heidi danced for seven seasons with Corps Bara's youth company, which offered her many opportunities to perform in various pieces and study with many experienced choreographers. Heidi achieved her Advanced 2 RAD ballet exam and competed in the Genée International Ballet Competition, which took her to London in 2015, where she was inspired by the Royal Academy of Dance to study ballet full time. Heidi attended the Goh Ballet Academy where, with the youth company, she performed in productions of The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, and in the Beijing Arts Festival. Heidi then joined Ballet Jorgen's junior company summer intensive where she studied under Ballet Jorgen faculty, company members, and guest choreographers Gadfly and Mafa Makhubalo. When Heidi returned to Calgary, she trained with the O2 Dance Company and performed at the Rocky Mountain Salsa Gala, the Albert Culture Days, and in a music video for an emerging pop artist. Heidi joined Corps Bara Dance Theatre in 2018, appearing in the production of Facing the Light, and she is excited to be back for her second season.