Leanne Barden

AISTD DIP, RAD RTS, BFA DANCE, PBT, YTT 200H & YPAD Certified | RAD Ballet, Pointe + Progressing Ballet Technique

Leanne has over twenty years of experience in the classroom, and has an unquenchable passion for dance education.  At the age of 12 she received her Junior Teacher Training with Distinction from Edmonton School of Ballet, and she was hooked.  

Leanne went on to achieve Advanced 1 in Cecchetti and RAD techniques, and is a Certified teacher in both RAD and Cecchetti methods. She is also a Mentor for the RAD’s Teacher Training Program.  

Leanne is a Dean’s list graduate of Grant MacEwan College’s Dance program, and has her BFA in Dance and History from Simon Fraser University.

She has pursued opportunities to teach and train in Eastern Europe, from Romania to Russia.  Leanne works with the Vaganova Society in Alberta to facilitate biannual ballet training tours to St Petersburg, Russia for BC students, parents, and teachers.  Since 2002, she has trained with Russian ballet masters such as Anatoly Siderov, Regina Kumicheva, and the great Ludmilla Saffronova of the Vaganova Academy.  Leanne was invited to guest teach at the St Petersburg University of Art and Culture in 2008.

Most recently, Leanne was recognized by the Youth American Grand Prix with an Outstanding Teacher Award in 2020.

Always searching for ways to grow, Leanne continues to seek out teacher training opportunities and educational experiences to bring back to the studio for her students.  Progress, not perfection, is the goal in her class. 

Miss Leanne can’t wait for her fourth season with the Driftwood community!