Debra Cross
Owner & Studio Director

Debra manages the behind the scenes workings of the Creative Outlet, looking after the administrative and marketing side of the buisness as well as producing its performances.
Debra has stage managed dance recitals for Centre Stage and Footsteps Dance Centres, as well as productions and performances by The Chilliwack School of Performing Arts. She was Production Manager for Chilliwack Musical Theatre's
Bye Bye Birdie and King & I, produced Guys & Dolls for CSOPA and helped out with lobby displays, program design and stage crew for The Chilliwack Players' Guild.
She graduated from Agassiz Secondary in 1987 and went to UBC where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English Literature. After graduating from UBC Debra took an internship at a graphic design studio specializing in corporate communications and public relations. Debra 'semi-retired' and moved back to Chilliwack to raise her daughters in 1996.
She ran a home-based graphic design business and developed and ran Rodeo BC, an interactive web page for amateur rodeo associations in BC.
Debra has two daughters, Adrian and Alana, both of whom are talented actors and dancers, and very active in The Creative Outlet, on stage and off. Free time for hobbies is limited, but she enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking and camping with Larry and the girls. However, her favorite pastime is by far planning the next production for the Creative Outlet.
Debra's content to stay in the shadows backstage and let the actors do the acting. Besides, is a great excuse for buying yet another new black outfit.

Larry Hamm
Artistic Director & Drama Instructor

Larry has been the Artistic Director and Acting instructor for The Creative Outlet since its inception in 2004.
An 18 year veteran of the theatre with 5 years experience as a professional actor, Larry's recent TV and film credits include Killer Instinct, Butterfly Effect, Santa Clause 2, Dead Like Me, Battlestar Gallactica and Jake 2.0.
He has performed many times on our local stage, most recently for the Chilliwack Players’ Guild as Wily in Dearly Beloved and as Paul in Moon Over Buffalo and Dogberry in UCFV's Much Ado About Nothing. Larry has also been in major musical productions and variety-type shows with Chilliwack Musical Theatre (CMT).
Larry stage managed Peter Pan and Singing in the Rain for The Chilliwack School of Performing Arts (CSOPA), The King and I for CMT, and annual shows for the Rainbow Men of Harmony Barbershop Group. As a director, Larry has been responsible for bringing a number of shows to the stage. CMT's Bye Bye Birdie; Laundry & Bourbon and Ledge, Legend & The Ledger for UCFV; and The Creative Outlet's own Treasure Island and other student performances of one-act plays.
Larry is the Director of Learning at the Sylvan Learning Centre in Sardis. Ranking second and third on his list of favorite hobbies are hiking and camping. Theatre is definitely Larry's favorite hobby, and while he enjoys directing and instructing it, his first love is performing and you can bet we'll see him on stage again soon..

NIGEL FLOYD
Intermediate Drama Instructor
“Yet another British-born Canadian thespian wannabe”

Nigel is a familiar face to local theatre go-ers thanks to over 34 years as a member of the Chilliwack Players Guild, where he’s been active both on and off stage. Most recent roles were as Howard in Moon Over Buffalo, The Old Man in Christmas Story, Hero in Seduced by Moonlight, and Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace. He notes the role of John Merrick in The Elephant Man as one of the more demanding roles, because the character’s physical condition deteriorates as his intellect develops. DI John Ruffing in Ravenscroft proved challenging as it was 100% stage time. Winning his vote for most fun are Noises Off and Lend Me A Tenor.

Off stage Nigel has been involved in every aspect of theatre from stage managing and producing, to lights and sound and even official broom pusher.
Over the years Nigel has toured with PIT (Programme of Instructional Theatre) presenting children’s theatre, and was involved with CIC Video Production on a project producing training videos for Corrections and the RCMP. He has worked in film with Wild Zone Films and can be seen on screen in Unrecoverable Error and A Good Day for Pie.

Nigel spent time in Europe teaching English as a Second Language, positions which, (with a wink in his eye) he was awarded based more on his theatre experience than teaching experience.

Models, mentors and friends are important in the life of any actor, and topping Nigel’s list are Jane Logie, Santo Cervello, Clint Hames, Bob Forsythe and Judy Hill. Nigel brings an important mix of experience to his teaching; one part actual on-stage acting experience, one part experience working with and around children of all ages (including the adult variety) and a dash of life experience. We’re pleased to have him on along with us for the ride this year.

Madame Gabriela Bokros

Madame Bokros holds her RAD teacher certificate, as well as stage and teacher's diploma from the Czechoslovakian Conservatory of Dance. She has over 30 years of teaching experience, an additional 10 years of performance experience, a strong passion for and deep understanding of dance and how to help her students realize their vision.

She is co-founder of the Vancliffen Arts Foundation in Ontario which has as its main focus promotion of the arts, mainly the art of Classical Ballet.  Through scholarships, cultural exchanges and educational programs, it provides young artists from around the world with the possibility of achieving their professional goals.

Madame Bokros is known in Ontario for her innovative ballet choreography and insightful teaching style and we are very pleased to have her join our RAD ballet program.

Miss Kelsey Koller

Miss Kelsey is a returning Footsteps Dance program teacher.
She has been performing on stage since age seven, starting with ballet and after falling in love with dance, and progressed to different styles from there.
Miss Kelsey started competing at age ten with groups and a solo. She has competed in a wide variety of competitions in both Canada and the United States and received many trophies and awards. In the last three years of her amateur training, Kelsey was honoured to be a part of the Images Elite Team for three years training 12 hours per week. Being a part of the team instilled in her a lot about dedication and the importance of working together.
Over the years, she's grown into an accomplished dancer in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, song & dance, and hip hop, but has always listed tap as her favorite and in her words, is what she's best at.

Since working as an instructor with the Footsteps Dance program, Kelsey has recognized her growing passion for working with children, and will be pursuing a career as a school teacher… while continuing to be a dance instructor on the side of course!

Tanya Schwaerzle

Tanya graduated last June from the University of the Fraser Valley with a Bachelor of General Studies degree, extended minor in Theatre.  She has worked for many years as a Theatre and Dance Instructor, Choreographer and Stage Manager for many companies and non-profit groups,

Tanya has acted in several UFV main stage and D-Fest productions, including Biondello in "The Taming of the Shrew and The Robin in “The Secret Garden.”  She also appeared as Lady Merle in the Creative Outlet’s production of ‘Robin Hood’. On the backstage side, Tanya has directed two Director's Festival entries, including one show entirely done with sign language entitled "Deaf Day", choreographed many main stage and Director's Festival productions at UFV, and lent her talents to designing lighting, sound and stage management. 

She holds her Level I certification with the Canadian Dance Standards Association, and in addition to teaching dance and drama at the Creative Outlet also works as a lighting and sound technician for Mission’s Clarke Foundation Theatre.

Miss Deanna Limbert

Deanna joined the Creative Outlet faculty in January 2008 as dance instructor for the Little Steps short programs. Her sparkling personality and warm character quickly won the hearts of her little dancers, and we are pleased to have moved her into a regular faculty position in the Footsteps Dance program.

Deanna was part of the  Northwest Dance Project out of Dance in Motion studio in Abbotsford since 2005. She performed and competed with NWDP in groups and solos all over the Fraser Valley as well as Seattle and New York City, and represented the Surrey Dance Festival at the BC Provincials in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

She graduated with “A” honors from Sardis Secondary, and is now enrolled in the nursing program at UFV.  She is a frequent participant in dance conventions and master classes in Vancouver and New York, learning the latest technique and choreography.

Damien Carriere

Damien Carriere brings a spark of mystery and illusion to the Creative Outlet, leading young and old through the magic courses. He is an accomplished young International Award winning Canadian magician who has performed around the world from North America to The Great Wall of China! He has performed as the featured act to sold out night clubs and theatres and has also had the privilege of being the opening act for the well known Canadian children’s entertainer Fred Penner. He has performed stage shows, close up acts, special events, parties, aboard trains and much more. His full stage Magic and Illusion Show has been a favorite for all audiences.

Damien has won International Awards for many of his own original tricks and routines including his Award Winning emotionally moving “rose routine”, his Gold Medal Winning comedic “practical magic” series, his Gold Medal Winning “Imagination Vacation” routine and his heart stopping handcuff, chains, rope and shrink-wrap “mummification escape”!

Damien believes magic is 80% acting and only 20% trick. He graduated with distinction from the Acting for Screen program at The Victoria Motion Picture School in May of 2002 and is represented by Energy Talent agency.

In addition, he holds a black belt in martial arts, writes and composes for the guitar, and has numerous hobbies one of which is of course enjoying time with his wife and their two young sons.

Bryan Cutler

Bryan Cutlar in a member of our drama department (but will be crossing over to the music department with the pending launch of programs for guitar lessons for youth and adults.)

He is a recent UFV gradulate of the Theatre Arts diploma program, and recipient of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack Theatre Scholarship. He is continuing his studies at UFV this fall with the goal of achieving a B.A. with an extended minor in theatre. Bryan has acted in four main stage productions and had major involvement in over 6 Directors festival shows at UFV including one he directed called Destinations and the Harlequin Maneuver which was re-mounted in the summer of 2008 in Harrison. He has also stage managed in the past and will again for UFV's production of Les Belles Seours opening in the fall of 2008. Bryan's musical abilities are broad. Along with guitar(electric and acoustic), he also plays banjo, mandolin and can drum and has experience with both acoustic jug bands and rock bands.

Bryan is actively involved with the Harrison Festival of the Arts and is employed by the Chilliwack Arts Council.

Caroline Davies

Caroline has an extensive background in both musical theatre and classical voice. She has appeared in numerous musicals with Chilliwack Musical Theatre, The Chilliwack School of Performing Arts, and G.W. Graham School. This year, Caroline was recommended to the Provincial Music Festival for the fifth consecutive year, where she achieved first place in Intermediate Vocal Variety and runner-up in Intermediate Musical Theatre. She spent her summer teaching kids summer programs with the Chilliwack Arts Council, and is now taking theatre and language courses at UFV, before applying to the UBC opera program next year.

 
Rebecca Sutherland
(Drama department, bio to come)

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Molly Wilson
(musical theatre, bio to come)

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 Kara Engle

Kara began dancing at the young age of 3 years old in Chilliwack. When she turned 7, Kara started her first year of tap dance, and immediately fell in love. Since then, she has been passionately tapping under the prestige instruction of Bonnie Jean Anderson. 
 
In 2005 Kara became apart of the Canadian National Tap team, and began training in order to compete in the World Championships in Riesa, Germany. While in Germany, Kara’s team won a gold medal, earning her a ‘world champion’ title. Since 2005, Kara has travelled with Team Canada twice more to the compete at the world level both with her formation team, and her duo. Her and her team have performed for National Tap Dance Day, the Vancouver Tap Society festival, and many other events. 
 
Over the past 2 years Kara has been alongside Bonnie Jean at Dance In Motion Studios in Abbotsford, where she has discovered her passion for teaching, and working with dancers of all ages. She loves helping young dancers learn, and grow, as well as sharing with them her love, and passion for dance.

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Guest Instructors

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Law Roberts
Breakdancing instructor
( bio to come)