Alena Widdup

Alena Widdup

Thanks to her upbringing in a family-run dance school, Miss Alena began dancing and teaching at a young age. Over the years she has studied various styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, musical theatre, and highland. Miss Alena is certified in the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) syllabus of Jazz and Tap. She has also attained her Acrobatic Arts and RhythmWorks Integrative Dance certificates.

Miss Alena has studied rhythm and New York tap styles from various instructors and took part in The Next Steps professional tap training program in Edmonton. She was also invited to participate in the TapIn YEG showcase where her students performed for the Tap Arts Community. Along with this Miss Alena has traveled to New York to take master classes with Dana Moore, the Rockettes, and the cast of Mary Poppins. She also frequently enrolls in classes in the Calgary area. Miss Alena supports a mindset of lifelong learning and growth and encourages her students to pursue opportunities to further their dance education.

Miss Alena has also participated in performance trips with her students to Disneyland, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and onboard Carnival Cruise Lines. She is a creative choreographer with a cheerful and positive personality in class.

Outside of teaching dance, Miss Alena works as program coordinator for a national non-profit organization that supports people with disabilities, travels as much as possible, and creates and admires art in all of its forms. Miss Alena hopes to instill in her students a desire to find purpose and a passion for movement and visual art. The world is full of stories with the power to connect humankind. With her students, Miss Alena can tell the stories waiting to be told.

Q & A with Alena

What inspires you?

• Everyday people

What song moves you?

• Time is Dancing by Ben Howard

What do you love about your job?

• I love that I get to learn while I teach. I love that I get to connect to so many hearts and minds

Describe Soul Connexion in one word:

• Bold