Dance Styles / Lyrical
ABOUT ALYSSA
Alyssa (she/her) is a baton twirler, dancer & choreographer from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Alyssa has competed on Team Canada at 6 International Baton Twirling Championships, earning several Gold, Silver & Bronze medals. Passionate about teaching, she’s helped other local baton twirling athletes achieve their goals Provincially and Nationally. Alyssa is member of the Thunderbirds Dance Team and House of Eights’ Training Program. When she’s not training, Alyssa teaches for the DalDance Society, Halifax Dance, and is extremely grateful to be teaching at House of Eights. Passionate about inclusion and accessibility, Alyssa also teaches adapted dance classes for The Club Inclusion and Halifax NS Down Syndrome Society. Alyssa is a Nursing student and devoted cat mom.
What do you want people to get from your class?
My goal is to foster an encouraging and supportive dance environment where dancers feel safe enough to express themselves fully within my class. Everyone has a story to tell, and the beauty of dance is that you can tell your story with movement. I am passionate about inclusivity and accessibility, especially within the dance community. My personal motto is that “everybody has a body, and every body can dance”, and I wholeheartedly believe that dance is for anyone and everyone!
What motivates you to dance?
After being a competitive baton twirler my whole life, I began dancing in my early twenties to supplement my training. Needless to say, I was instantly hooked, and the rest is history! Honestly, it’s the incredible dance community that keeps me going. There’s no better feeling to me than signing up for a class, being excited to see my friends, and to also be inspired by the incredible energy of fellow dancers in the room.
What are some highlights of your career as a dancer/choreographer?
In the Halifax dance community, I am grateful to be a part of the DalDance Society, Halifax Dance, Halifax NS Down Syndrome Society, and The Club Inclusion as a dance teacher and choreographer. I am a former competitive dancer for the Dalhousie Black and Gold Dance Team and currently am dancing for the Halifax Thunderbirds Lacrosse Dance Team. Teaching at House of Eights has been a long-term goal of mine, and it still feels surreal to say that I am a faculty member. I am forever grateful for the House of Eights community and am thrilled to see what the future holds!