The Youth Pass is a FREE program open to any student registered in Grades 8 through 12 in the Greater Victoria School Districts. Home schooled youth in the equivalent grades are also eligible. Click here to learn more.

Colleen Gibson (President) 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 (Vice President) holds a PhD from UBC 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.

Carlos MacDonald (Treasurer), 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.”

Jane Tice (Secretary) 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.

Joan Athey (Director) is a marketing and communications strategist serving local and national clients. As president of Peaceworksnow Productions, Joan presents international exhibitions of the Gerry Deiter Collection of photographs of John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken at their 1969 Bed-In For Peace in Montréal. She is a proud resident of James Bay and in her spare time enjoys gardening, entertaining, and meeting new people. Athey says: “There’s always an energy of anticipation and appreciation in the people who come to Dance Victoria performances. It feels good to be there.”

Helen McAllister (Director) 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.

Jean McRae (Director) 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.

Kimberly Tuson (Director) is native to Vancouver Island. She was raised studying ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre. Her passion for dance led her to a successful professional dance career with some of Canada’s leading choreographers. She recently returned to Victoria teaching gyrotonic and gyrokinesis (yoga for dancers) at her own studio, Island Grace Movement. Kimberly is part of Dance Victoria because of the inspiration it brings to Victoria’s dancers. Local dancers not only have the opportunity to see North America’s most talented professionals but they can also participate in master classes and workshops taught by these amazing artists.

Sean Marshman, CMA (special advisor to the board).