BREAKOUT CLASS PRESENTERS
AINSLEY SUDDS
(MA DANCE PEDAGOGY)
STUDIO DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR, CROSSINGS DANCE & CROSSINGS YOUTH DANCE THEATRE
DANCE CLASSES
Ainsley holds an Masters in Dance Technique Pedagogy from Middlesex University, London England and a BA in Contemporary Dance from the University of Calgary. She danced professionally with Corps Bara Dance Theatre and held the position of Artistic Director for youth company from 2008 - 2014. Currently, Ainsley is the Studio Director and dance instructor at Crossings Dance, is on the modern dance faculty at the School of Alberta Ballet, is a guest modern/contemporary dance instructor for the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks; guest teaches throughout the Calgary dance community; and is the event producer for Project Dance Calgary.
Ainsley is passionate about mentorship and as a strong believer of the potential of the human body as an instrument to express and communicate through movement.
DAVID KLOB
MUSIC PASTOR, FIRST ALLIANCE CHURCH
MUSIC CLASSES
David Klob currently serves as the Music Pastor at First Alliance Church in Calgary, AB, where he gives oversight to a varied tapestry of musical worship expressions including modern worship bands, choir and orchestra, kids' choir, songwriting and recording, and a thriving School of Music. Prior to coming to Calgary, David spent 14 years serving on the music staff and faculty at Kingswood University in New Brunswick. He loves helping and hearing the Church sing, and is passionate about seeing the whole Church – all generations and all cultures – worship together.
JOE ESSENBURG
BOARD CHAIR/BASSIST, NEW WEST SYMPHONY & CHORUS
MUSIC CLASSES
Joe has over 20 years’ experience as a recording bassist in worship, jazz, gospel and rock genres. He’s currently the Board Chair and bassist for the New West Symphony and Chorus. His technical background includes an MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and work with NASA, which in turn has led to a passion for understanding every element of his sound ranging from building his own basses and speaker cabinets to authoring a thesis on electric bass guitar design. Joe helps run the Canadian branch of Stroud International, an operations and capital projects improvement firm, and together with his music teacher wife Amy has three kids under five years old and already taking lessons.
KRYSTLE MOILLIET
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE OPERATIONS,
JASON HILDEBRAND CREATIVE ARTS
ART, LEADERS & DISCIPLESHIP
Krystle’s love of theatre started with acting in church productions and seeing musical theatre in Toronto as a child. She turned that passion into a career after graduating from Humber College’s Theatre Production program. Krystle's resume includes founding a theatre company in 2008 and being its Artistic Director for five years as well as managing concerts and music festivals. She has also taught theatre in specialty school programs, including running a high school theatre program for over three years. Krystle also runs the arts ministry at her local church focusing on building community and opening doors for creative expression. Joining “Jason Hildebrand Creative Arts” in 2013, Krystle currently works as its Director of Creative Operations and Producer to JHCA's newest productions Searching for Abraham and film breathe... Krystle resides in Kamloops, BC, with her husband and children.
REBECCA ELLISON
ARTIST-EDUCATOR/ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, FIRST ALLIANCE CHURCH
ART CLASSES
Rebecca Ellison has enjoyed developing her visual arts scope in a variety of media over the past 10 years, particularly in exploring with and creating mixed media pieces. She has created pieces using stained glass, archival ink, watercolour, acrylic and gouache painting, linocut prints, clayboard etching, polymer clay, alcohol inks, metal leaf and mosaics. Many of her commissioned
and purchased art works can be found in private collections. Her current series “Nautilus” demonstrates her fascination with the fear and awe inspired by the sea, dovetailed with her keen interest in the Steampunk genre. Rebecca works as a Calgary Board of Education artist-in-residence in numerous elementary and middle schools. She has instructed children and adults in the Inglewood Art &
Music School and has also collaborated with Studio C Art Recruits and Accessible Housing Calgary to benefit both mental health and “barrier-free” art creation. Rebecca is passionate about sharing the love of arts integration and has been co-facilitating the Faith & the Arts group at First Alliance Church since
2018.
CALUM REES
PASTOR, EPIC VINEYARD CHURCH
MUSIC CLASSES
Calum hails from the UK and has worked as a sessioneer for over 25+ years (…bit like a musketeer but less money). His musicianship is featured on many acclaimed musical projects, including from the last millennia; Come Now Is The Time To Worship and Hungry with Brian Doerksen and Vineyard UK, through to the more recent Songs for the Journey Psalms series with The Shiyr Poets (GMA Inspirational Albums of the Year 2015 & 2017). His recent touring life has seen him predominantly keeping the band in check for Paul Baloche, Brian Doerksen & The Shiyr Poets. Calum is a local pastor here in Calgary with Epic Vineyard church, overseeing and participating in creative arts & community development. He is married to Joyce, who together are parents to two rambunctious lads.
DEANNA WITWER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR,
CORPS BARA DANCE THEATRE
DANCE CLASSES
Deanna Witwer holds a BA in Dance from the University of Calgary, collaborative with Kinesiology and specializing in performance and choreography. She is the Artistic Director of Corps Bara Dance Theatre; a thriving contemporary dance company that explores life’s meaningful questions. Under her direction the company has co-produced Absence with Fire Exit Theatre, presented a multidisciplinary performance Bodies Aglow, shown short works for Project Dance Calgary, the Alberta Dance Festival and other local events, and she choreographed and directed the full-length work Facing the Light which premiered in 2018. Most recently the company has been Artist in Residence at Ambrose University, collaborating and performing with their arts department. As an artist, Witwer is committed to facilitating rich, formative experiences for dancers, choreographers and collaborators by encouraging engagement of the whole person in creation, holding the tension between artistic rigor and honest humanity, vocational excellence and transformational experience.
JUSTIN WELLS
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR,
FIRST ASSEMBLY CHURCH
AUDIO
Justin is the Technical Director at First Assembly Church in Calgary, AB. He oversees all things audio/video and assists in the creative vision at the church. Justin has been doing live sound for 7+ years, mixing gatherings, weddings, concerts and everything in between. He is a big believer in the local church and the community of believers. He see’s A/V as a great way to express creativity and ultimately make beauty in worship and inspire the masses.
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KAREN JANSEN SUDDS
MSc (DANCE SCIENCE)
STUDIO OWNER & CO-VICE PRESIDENT OF HEALTHY DANCER CANAD, CROSSINGS DANCE
DANCE CLASSES
Raised in Banff, Karen had the privilege of both working and studying at The Banff Centre. This rich exposure to the fine arts fueled Karen’s passion for art and led her to pursue a career in dance. Karen began her training at the University of Calgary and continued her studies in both Singapore and Australia where she focused her attention on “Liturgical dance”. Upon returning to Canada in 1990, Karen founded the Christian Dance Fellowship of Canada to network dancers and further develop dance as a faith-expressed art form. Recognizing the growing need for quality dance training, which embraced a spiritual foundation, Karen began Crossings Dance Ministries, Canada’s first dance training centre of its kind. To provide valuable performance opportunities for aspiring dancers, Karen founded Corps Bara Dance Theatre. Karen was awarded the 2011 International award for Dance Ministry for her outstanding contributions in the field of Dance and Faith. In addition, she is a Co-Vice President of Healthy Dancer Canada and a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.
WAYNE JESCHKE
LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER, TRUELIGHT GALLERY
PHOTOGRAPHY
Wayne’s love of photography reaches back nearly four decades. Besides working in the field professionally, he also pursued a Fine Art Photography career before God led him to join the staff at First Alliance Church in the mid 90’s. There he served in the Technical Arts until 2016. In 2017 Wayne sensed God’s opening the door again to pursue his passion of landscape photography which is where you’ll find him today. Finding inspiration in natural spaces, Wayne’s desire is to glorify the Creator of all things through camera and lens. He enjoys nothing more than to hear God’s whisper while out in His creation. Wayne is in the process of launching TrueLightGallery.com, with the intent of sharing thoughts on photography and faith in God with a missional focus, as well as offering for those interested in his work an opportunity to donate directly to a Christian charity, and in exchange receiving one of his fine art prints.
CHANTAL GANDAR (MFA)
SESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR & DANCE COORDINATOR, AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
DANCE CLASSES
Chantal Gandar holds a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance from the University of Calgary, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography from The University of Arizona. Her earlier training was through Crossings Dance and Corps Bara Dance Theatre, where faith and art were intertwined, and worship and dance were synonymous. She worked as Artistic Director for Corps Bara Dance Theatre from 2010-2014 and now sits on the board for the company. She is in her second year at Ambrose University as a Sessional Dance Instructor and is the Dance Coordinator for Ambrose Arts. Her recent choreography has been seen in Alberta Dance Theatre’s “Enchanted Toy Shop”, Crossings Youth Dance Theatre’s “Ripple” and “Psalms for Spring," an Ambrose Arts Fusion performance.
JULIE PEARSON
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY, MISSION HILL CHURCH
MUSIC CLASSES
Julie has presented vocal workshops at Sharpen Conference since its inception in 2012. She balances her time between her vocal coaching business and her role as Associate Pastor of Music Ministry at Mission Hill Church. Her workshops have taken her across Canada in churches, schools and conferences (including Sharpen and the Levite Summit), equipping singers in vocal technique, harmony, and worship leadership. Julie lives in Calgary, Alberta, where the mountains are always calling. For more info, visit www.jpvocalstudio.com.
KEITH MOLBERG
DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP ARTS,
ST. ALBERT ALLIANCE CHURCH
MUSIC CLASSES
David Klob currently serves as the Music Pastor at First Alliance Church in Calgary, AB, where he gives oversight to a varied tapestry of musical worship expressions including modern worship bands, choir and orchestra, kids' choir, songwriting and recording, and a thriving School of Music. Prior to coming to Calgary, David spent 14 years serving on the music staff and faculty at Kingswood University in New Brunswick. He loves helping and hearing the Church sing, and is passionate about seeing the whole Church – all generations and all cultures – worship together.
MATT BODA
LEAD PASTOR, ROCKPOINTE CHURCH
LEADERS & DISCIPLESHIP
Matt Boda is the Lead Pastor of RockPointe Church. He and his wife Jamie have five daughters. Matt loves his family, friendships, surprising people, eating sushi, watching movies, and reading great books. He is a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan, and has read every Sports Illustrated from cover to cover since 1988.
REVOLUTION ENGINE
NEW METAL BAND, EDMONTON
LEADERS & DISCIPLESHIP
Revolution Engine is a modern rock band drawing influence from acts like Rage Against the Machine, P.O.D., Audioslave and Project 86. The band's sound is built on a foundation of fat grooves and topped off with grinding riffs and compelling verse. Social Justice Wrapped In Nu Metal