Faridae Mody - Founder & Executive Director

Acro, Contemporary & Jazz

Faridae was born and raised in Peace River, Alberta. She spent ten years training in jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, and modern. Faridae earned awards at festivals for her self-choreographed solos and completed her Intermediate 2 ADAPT Jazz exam. Faridae went on to study Musical Theatre at St. Lawrence College in Ontario, where she was named Dance Captain of her year. Since moving to Edmonton in 2014, she has continued to educate herself as a dancer, dance educator and business owner.

Faridae is a certified Jazz & Tap instructor (ADAPT), Junior and Intermediate AcroDance instructor (Acro Dance Teachers Association) and Kids Yoga Instructor (Wee Wild Ones), and still dances, trains, and performs as much as she can. Behind all the dancing, Faridae also earned her Bachelor of Commerce in Management at MacEwan University.

Faridae has over 18 years of teaching experience. As an educator, she is passionate about teaching dance, but she aims to teach dancers more than technique. Faridae is passionate about showing her students what they're capable of and helping them to develop the mental skills to achieve it.

As Founder of the Freedom School of Dance, Faridae believes every child should have the opportunity to dance and is working to make dance accessible to all families through sponsorships and community involvement!

Alia Walker-Janz - Happiness Hero & Dance Educator

Mini Ballet, Mini Movers, Mini Tappers & Tap

Alia is a dancer born and raised in Amiskwaciywâskahikan/Edmonton, Alberta. Focusing on early childhood Ballet, Jazz and Tap, her passion for dance was fostered at Victoria School of the Arts (2014). There she was able to train in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Tap. She also took advantage of all available master classes through her time at Victoria, learning the history behind traditional dances. Alia now holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science (2020), a certificate in early childhood education (Level 1, 2022) and a certificate in preschool dance education (OUB, 2025).

As an Instructor, Alia strives to support each child as they enter their dance journey, instilling confidence, coordination and proper technique through play. Alia works alongside the ADAPT and Al Gilbert syllabi to support her students' growth. Alia is committed to further pursuing her dance education and providing the same encouraging support extended to her by previous mentors.

Rebecca Bissonnette - Dance Educator

Jazz, Musical Theatre & Tap

A dance studio kid from way back - like, all the way back - Rebecca has always made it a point to have dance in her life. Trained in tap, jazz, ballet, highland, baton, musical theatre, lyrical, hip hop and contemporary (proudly Shelley Tookey trained for 15 years), Rebecca brings her fierce belief that every body is a dance body to every dance floor she has the pleasure of gracing.

Rebecca shines when she's telling a story. Whether through a song, a dance, a piece of writing, as an educator, or say, a radio host. She loves using her voice to empower others, and being part of the Alberta arts scene is important to achieving that goal. Rebecca believes in doing everything she can to showcase her work and, more importantly, to give others a platform to showcase theirs. 

Rebecca is a beautiful hybrid of educator and artist. You might have seen her passion as a committee member with SkirtsAfire, heard her voice on the airwaves of Turn It Up Radio, or found her laughing at her own stand-up comedy material. Rebecca runs her own theatre company DEPTH Perception Productions, as well as her own dance company cheekily titled Shift Happens Dance. Notably, Rebecca produces an annual festival called Living With, which brings audiences and artists together to share their stories about mental health. She also produces an annual showcase titled Dancing In Draft, which provides dancers who are workshopping pieces an opportunity to bring them to the stage.

Rebecca is always looking for ways to use her voice, and being an arts educator and advocate is an important piece of that. She has a unique way of addressing issues that we all deal with while being honest, sharing her experiences and letting people know they aren't alone. Students seem to gravitate towards her, and she's taught them all, from babies to young adults. If your voice is stuck, she'll support you in doing the work to find it.

Aisha Gutiérrez - Dance Educator

Hip Hop

Aisha is a professional dancer, choreographer, and musical theatre performer from Edmonton, Alberta. She has been dancing for 19 years, with 11 years of competitive and professional experience, turning a lifelong passion into a career both on and off the stage. 

In 2017, Aisha proudly represented Team Canada Hip Hop at the IDO World Hip Hop Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her career has taken her across North America, performing in Los Angeles, Mexico, and events at Rogers Place, where she has performed in front of crowds of over 21,000 people. 

She is committed to continually growing as an artist through elite training, having attended intensive programs in Los Angeles and continuing to study and take classes with leading choreographers in New York City and London, England. 

Aisha has been teaching and choreographing since the age of 13, creating choreography in both hip hop and musical theatre while working with dancers of all ages and experience levels. She is passionate about helping dancers build strong technique, confidence, and individuality, encouraging every student to grow both as a performer and as a person. 

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre Performance at MacEwan University, Aisha continues to expand her training in dance, acting, and voice while bringing fresh creativity and industry experience into the classroom. 

As a hip hop instructor at Freedom School of Dance, Aisha is dedicated to creating a fun, energetic, and inclusive environment where dancers feel supported, challenged, and inspired. She believes dance is more than learning choreography; it's about building confidence, self discipline, creativity, and a lifelong love of movement. 

Brooklyn Pattullo - Happiness Hero & Dance Educator

Ballet & Ukrainian

Brooklyn Pattullo started Ukrainian dancing when she was just 3 years old, and with that came a deep love for dance. At 8, she began competitive dancing in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles.

After graduating high school and moving to Edmonton, she chose to continue her dance journey with Studia Shumka. After two years with Studia, she was accepted to the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and is currently a member of the company. Aside from dance, Brooklyn is currently studying at the University of Alberta, working towards a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biological Sciences.

Lauryn Johnson - Dance Educator

Parented Ballet, Mini Ballet & Mini Acro

Lauryn has been dancing since she was two years old. Originally from Medicine Hat, she trained in styles including Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, and her absolute favourite, Ballet. Growing up, she took both the ADAPT and RAD exams, which gave her an appreciation for classical technique. Her love for dance led her to transition into creative leadership, earning several student choreography awards and choreographing for various musical theatre productions.

With five years of experience teaching and assisting in the studio, Lauryn has already completed the ADAPT Assistant Teacher Program (ATP) course and plans to pursue further teaching certifications. Currently, she is studying at the University of Alberta, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree while continuing to share her lifelong love for movement. Lauryn is excited to bring her technical expertise, passion for storytelling, and enthusiasm to the classroom, helping every student discover just how much there is to love about dance.