2025 Dance Adjudiators
Stage - Amanda Mak
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Amanda has been dancing for more than thirty years. Growing up as a competitive dancer provided opportunities to perform world-wide, including in the USA, Germany, England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand. Amanda has formal training in many styles, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre, and specializes in tap. She has trained throughout Canada and the USA, study-ing extensively under tap masters in NYC. Amanda was chosen as a soloist and Cana-dian National Tap Team member to compete at the International Dance Organization's World Tap Dance Championships in Reisa, Germany. She has performed for tap shows in LA, and NYC, and was a dancer in the opening number for the internationally tele-vised Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Back in Calgary, Amanda has also dipped her toes into the vibrant theatre community. Amanda has been teaching dance to children of all ages and abilities for the past twen-ty years. From an early age, it was clear that she loved children and shared her passion for dance with them. She has known for a long time that teaching, interacting with her students, and watching them grow is where her heart lies. In addition to preparing her students for competitions and shows, Amanda has sat as an examiner, been on scholar-ship adjudication panels, and adjudicated at numerous dance competitions across Canada.
Ballet & Modern - Stephana Arnold
Born in Hamilton Ontario, Stephana Arnold attended the National Ballet School of Canada where she received the prestigious Peter Dwyer Award. Upon graduation, she worked closely with choreographer Xing Bang Fu and danced with several small companies before being asked to join the National Ballet of Canada where she danced for three years. Stephana, then went on to join Les Grands Ballets Canadiens for seven years and later, Ballet British Columbia where with both companies, danced a wide and eclectic variety of roles as a First Soloist and Principal dancer. She was also a favourite muse for many choreographers and worked with such names as James Kudelka, Eduoard Lock, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, Shawn Hounsell, Septime Webber, Jean Grand-Maitre, Giocanda Barbuto and Kevin O’Day plus many others. While still dancing she became a Ballet B.C. Company Teacher from 2004-09 and in 2010, came out of retirement to dance in the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver Winter Olympics. In the past several years, Stephana has won various ballet and contemporary choreography awards, the latest being the 2021 YAGP Best Ensemble in Canada and has recently created pieces for Coastal City Ballet and Arts Umbrella Dance Company. She has been Resident Choreographer for Catching Art Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Senior Coach at Pro Arte Centre in North Vancouver and Director/ Founder of the Dance Conservatory and the Dance Conservatory West Vancouver. Stephana is a sought after Guest Teacher, Master ballet coach and is currently on faculty at Arts Umbrella, Coastal City Ballet and an Adjudicator for many Canadian festivals and the Youth American Grand Prix since 2022.
