About YK Dance Arts
Meet Your Teacher
My name is Janyne Matthiessen and I am the Founder, Owner and Teacher at YK Dance Arts. I started taking dance classes in Calgary when I was 4 years old, and my love for dance grew immensely from there. I trained in many styles, focusing on Jazz, Tap and Ballet. In addition to dance classes I also participated in many dance competitions, conventions and exams. I completed RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Graded and Vocational Ballet Exams, as well as ADAPT (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers) Jazz and Tap exams. I have been fortunate to participate in multiple travel opportunities for dance, including travel for performances and workshops in Spain, California, and New York.
In addition to completing the exams, I also completed the ADAPT Teachers Training School to become an ADAPT Certified Dance Teacher. Other qualifications I have are a B.Sc and teaching certifications from Alixa Flexibility (M1-3) and Acrobatic Arts (Preschool & M1).
My Vision
Dance is such a fulfilling part of my life. I am so excited to continue sharing my passion and knowledge with aspiring dancers in Yellowknife. I intend to increase dance programming and look forward to offering dance examinations through ADAPT Syllabus and Acrobatic Arts in the future. I also look forward to creating future performance opportunities for my students. I aim to bring quality dance education to Yellowknife and increase opportunities for Northerners to experience dance.
Interested in dance but not sure about performing? No worries! Registration for the Fall session doesn’t include any commitment to the May recital. You’ll have until January to decide if you want to perform! The May recital will be included as a part of Winter/Spring 2026 class registration.
Follow us on INSTAGRAM!
@ykdancearts