Gem Binstead - Director

Teaching since the age of 18, Gem Binstead has always felt the constant need to obtain her credentials and maintain them at the highest standards of the industry. While dancing with Ajax Lyric Theatre in Toronto, she trained at York University which progressively led her to obtaining her Teachers Certificate at the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto. In hopes to help grow B.C.'s dancing industry, Gem moved to Vancouver, B.C., Canada. While gaining experience teaching in Vancouver, Gem maintained her level of dancing knowledge and education by training further under Kay Armstrong, Bob Kidwalter, Norman Legett, Aida Hugesman, Maria Lewis and Sheila Kennedy. In the midst of her training and teaching she persisted to perform with Theatre Under the Stars, Vancouver Operatic Society and Richmond Theatre in Vancouver, B.C. Since owning The Abbotsford Ballet Studio for the past 21 years, Gem has been an active member of the International Society of Teachers of Dance (Cecchetti Division) as well as the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.

Her education and experience provides Gem with the ability to teach dance while maintaining its classic feel. Her advanced and detailed oriented training guarantees that her students will reach their potential with grace and class.

Bekky Meier - Instructor

Bekky, as she prefers to be called, has been a dedicated dancer since the age of 4. At the age of 12 she entered the Abbotsford Ballet Studio's Teachers Program. She began teaching at age 16 under the supervision of Gem Binstead (Owner/Director). As a dedicated individual to her students excellence, she jumps at any chance to learn new material as well as new forms of dance. Bekky has always been one of the Abbotsford Ballet Studio's most dedicated dancers and it shows through her teaching and choreography. As one judge commented at a annual dance competition, "Your choreography was refreshing." With her extensive excellence achieved through her dancing, this includes: Gold Standing in CDTA Jazz, attendance at a variety of dance conventions to broaden her knowledge (i.e. Triple Threat, Groove Street, & Cecchetti International Summer School), and her consistent participation in dance competitions (i.e.. Chilliwack Festival, Dance Power, Footloose, American Dance Awards, & 5678 Showtime). Bekky is also an active member of the Abbotsford Ballet Studio's Degas Company. Through Abbotsford Ballet Studio's Degas Company, Bekky was given the opportunity to dance, as well as choreograph numbers for the Degas Company's dance show aboard a Mexican Riviera Cruise during the week of March 14th. Bekky is among one of the Abbotsford Ballet Studio's most dedicated teachers to student achievement. We are pleased to have her on staff.