the Director
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Vanessa Cowan. I have lived in Lethbridge Alberta for over 30 years and have been the Director of VanDance Studio for this time. I am very grateful to now be the new Director of Gilbert Tap Exams.
I grew up dancing in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan under the direction of the Doris Sitter School of Dance. After moving to Alberta, I began participating in and teaching the Gilbert program and realized what a strong fundamental program it was. Being a true advocate of this teaching syllabus, I have seen just how the program has worked to make my own tap exam program successful, building a strong foundation for tap dancers.
I truly enjoy teaching and have a very strong love of teaching tap and musical theatre especially. Through my time in the dance industry, I’ve also have had the pleasure of adjudicating from Vancouver to Halifax for many different events such as Dance Power, Peak, Champions as well as for the C.D.T.A. eastern branch.
To bring this fantastic syllabus into the present is exciting! I am both humbled and grateful for this wonderful opportunity to continue to carry on the Al Gilbert Tap Exam legacy. The system works! It sets a high foundation and training standard for all tap dancers. It is a true steppingstone program that has proven successful for many dancers and studios over the years.
The History
The Previous
Director
Nancy Hays began to dance at the age of two and it seems she hasn’t stopped dancing since. Although she was trained in a wide range of dance genres, her long and abiding loves were in Tap and Highland dance. At 17 she became North America’s 1 st world champion highland dancer. It was, for her, the culmination of many successful years in competition, and the beginning of a wonderful new career in dance.
Nancy went on from competitive success to become a highly respected performer, teacher, choreographer, and judge. She has toured with Andy Stewart’s White Heather Club all over the globe and in 1970, she performed at the World Exposition in Osaka, Japan with Canada’s world-renowned Feux Follets.
After returning to Edmonton, Nancy focused her efforts on her own studio where she taught highland, tap, jazz, and ballet. A critical turning point in Nancy’s career was her involvement with Al Gilbert, who became her mentor and the most influential force in her dancing life.
Under Mr. Gilbert’s guidance, Nancy produced a series of Highland Dance recordings which became a staple learning tool for teachers all around the world. She continued her association with the Gilbert program as executive director and principal examiner for the Al Gilbert Graded Examination System from 1994 – 2020.
