Colleen Gibson was born in Victoria and has studied ballet all her life. Gibson is the owner of Oak Bay’s Maresa Boutique and C G Designs (Interior Design Service). Says Gibson: “The discipline that dance training demands shaped a work ethic that has positively impacted my life. Dance continues to be one of the things that brings the most joy to my life and being involved with Dance Victoria is a way of sharing that joy and love with others.”

Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth holds a PhD from UVic and has been working in the child, family and community development fields for 32 years. Mother of two vibrant teen-aged daughters, she is currently Executive Director of the Federation of Community Social Services of BC. Charlesworth is an avid sailor and keen traveler, and she is passionate about community, believing the arts are a vital part of any healthy community. She is also pleased to work alongside the “talented” team at Dance Victoria.

Valerie Clarke is a Certified Management Accountant and is currently working for a Victoria based Pharmaceutical Company. She has deep roots in Victoria, as both she and her husband were born and raised here. Valerie has always loved music and dance, having her singing debut at age five. With eight years of vocal training, Valerie has been involved in a number of local bands and performance groups; the highlight of this involvement was singing a duet with her son, while her daughter played the Violin. Valerie is also a dedicated athlete and completed the 2009 Boston Marathon. .

Jane Tice grew up in Montreal and was too tall to be a ballerina so she watched dance instead. She was inspired by a constant stream of books about ballet from English relatives. Tice worked in retail management for several years until she felt she needed a change. She then returned to school to become a gardener. She’s currently Retail Director at Glendale Gardens with private gardening clients on the side so she can keep her fingers in the soil. Tice serves on the Board as a concrete way to support dance in Victoria.

Helen McAllister was born and raised in Australia and settled in Victoria in the late 1980s. After retiring from a 30 year career in nursing, McAllister started her own international wellness consulting company in 1997. When not busy volunteering for a variety of organizations, McAllister enjoys theatre, reading, boat cruising, swimming and spending quality time with her husband, two married sons and three grandsons. Helen’s interest in dance originates from the time her grandmother took her to see and meet the great Margot Fonteyn and her partner Michael Somes.

Carlos MacDonald, a lawyer with Cardinal Law, was born in New Westminster, but lived in Nicaragua, as a teenager. He completed his BA in Psychology in 1995 and a Law Degree in 1998 at University of Victoria. MacDonald studied hip hop at Lynda Raino Dance and some ballroom at the University. He also enjoys volleyball, mixed martial arts, home renovations, sport-bike riding and gardening although he says he manages to kill off many plants each year. Says MacDonald, “It’s exciting to be part of the organization that brings the best dance the world has to offer to Victoria.”

Jean McRae is Executive Director of Victoria’s Inter-Cultural Association. Raised in Vancouver, McRae holds a BA in English, a Professional Education Certificate, and an MBA (Leadership). Her interests include the visual and literary arts, and cooking from many cultures. Says McRae, “I love the human body’s capacity to express the complexity of life’s emotion and experience.” She has always loved the art and wants to contribute to strengthening the dance scene in Victoria.

Deborah Wakeham is the Regional Manager for Junior Achievement of British Columbia; the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring youth have the confidence and skills needed to become the next generation of business and community leaders. Previously, Deborah held the position of Director of Marketing and Communications for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and has worked for various notable arts organizations managing resource development and marketing campaigns. Deborah is honoured to be part of Dance Victoria and embraces her role on the Board as an opportunity to contribute to the growth and appreciation for dance in the Capital.