FRASER VALLEY ACADEMY OF DANCE604-826-0097

About us Lower mainland ballet and contemporary school

Our Story

Fraser Valley Academy of Dance offers superior training with specialized focus on classical ballet, contemporary dance and musical theatre.

Since 2008, Fraser Valley Academy of Dance has been owned by John C. Carney, Artistic Director, with his wife, Carolyne Carney, as School Administrator. Having trained full-time at the Royal Ballet School in London, England, followed by a 17-year career as a professional dancer with English National Ballet and Rambert Dance Company, Mr. Carney brings extensive experience to ensure the school continues to expand as a centre of excellence in dance training.

In October, 2009, John and Carolyne were extremely honoured to accept the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for Fraser Valley Academy of Dance at the Mission Business Excellence Awards event hosted by the Mission Chamber of Commerce.

In 2011, FVAD launched its Pre-Professional Academy Program, providing the most talented dance students with an exceptional opportunity to train on a daily basis while completing their high school academics. Pre-Professional students have attended the Academy from Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Japan.

Our Pre-Professional students have been invited into prestigious full-time professional programs at Canada’s National Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Rambert Academy of Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance, School of Alberta Ballet, Randolph Academy of Performing Arts and Joffrey Ballet School, as well as numerous international summer programs.

Fraser Valley Academy of Dance has developed its own ballet syllabus which incorporates the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus with the more advanced techniques taught by former professional dancers at the Vaganova Academy and Royal Ballet Schools.  Combined with internal assessments based on the FVAD syllabus which result in report cards twice each year, FVAD students receive the most comprehensive training possible.

In 2013, John and Carolyne Carney purchased the Masonic Hall, securing their main building for FVAD students for many years to come.

In 2015, the Academy introduced its new Musical Theatre School, a natural progression from the tap, modern and musical theatre classes. The new program offers a Junior and Senior Musical production every Spring at the Clarke Theatre.

An exciting new division of Children’s Choirs was introduced for 2016, as well as Choir and Musical Theatre Camps, further enhancing and complementing the Musical Theatre School.

The International Student Program was launched in 2016, attracting students from Mexico, France and Japan for FVAD’s summer intensives, as well as short-term training for post-secondary students, and full-year training with enrolment in academic programs.