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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
WORLD MEDAL HOLDERS
Learn Irish dance in Calgary and Okotoks! Our goal is to teach dancing to the best of each student’s ability, and to instill a real sense of joy in competition, performance and teamwork. The Possak Hampshire Academy provides professional, comprehensive and affordable instruction with an emphasis on fitness, healthy competition, and personal development. The academy is accredited by the largest global governing body of Irish dance (An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha) and proud to be based in the vibrant communities of southern Alberta.
The Possak Hampshire Academy was formed in 2016 as the result of a creative merger between two of Alberta’s top Irish Dance schools: the Possak School in Calgary and the Bhriomhar School in Okotoks. The Possak School was founded in 1997 by Linda Possak Anderson and Bhriomhar was founded in 2006 by sisters Ali and Cait Hampshire.
Possak Hampshire dancers are strong competitors on the local, national, and international stage. Our dancers have brought home Western Canadian regional titles, Canadian National titles, and ranked in the top 3 in the world. Possak Hampshire dancers are also experienced show dancers, performing at a variety of venues throughout the year and successfully auditioning for professional dance companies and performance workshops, including Studio2Stage, Take the Floor, and the Riverdance Summer School.
COMPETITION
Starting at a young age, our dancers train to compete regionally, nationally and internationally, making memories and friendships that last a lifetime.
PERFORMANCE
Dancers of all levels have many local performance opportunities during the year, culminating in a semi annual full-scale production at University Theatre.
LONDON WOOD
3x Western Canadian Oireachtas Champion
2nd place at the Canadian National Championships
RONAN CAMPBELL
5x Western Canadian Oireachtas Champion
Canadian National Champion
World Medal Holder
CALEB POPKO
4x Western Canadian Oireachtas Champion
Canadian National Champion
3rd at the World Championships
SHANNON EVENS
Western Canadian Senior Ladies’ Oireachtas Champion
MEET THE TEAM
OUR INSTRUCTORS
The Possak Hampshire teaching staff are a dedicated to each and every student, passionate about inspiring our dancers to be the best they can be, and a collective force to be reckoned with. Our team comes with decades of experience dancing, competing, teaching and adjudicating at the highest levels of competitive Irish dance, and provide a safe and supportive environment for our young athletes.
Linda Possak Anderson, ADCRG | Artistic Director
Linda began Irish dancing at a young age and competed at the Open Championship level throughout Western Canada, at the North American and the World Championships. Following a successful competitive career and completion of a Bachelors Degree in Communications, Linda completed her teacher’s exam in 1991 and was awarded her TCRG by the Irish Dancing Commission in Ireland (CLRG). She received accreditation as an adjudicator (ADCRG) in 2017. As an instructor, Linda has developed many championship students and teams. Outside the dance studio, Linda serves on the board of Western Canada's Irish Dance Teachers' Association as Regional Director. Linda is also proud to be one of Western Canada’s elected representatives to CLRG.
Ali Hampshire Bilcox, ADCRG | Artistic Director
A two-time Western Canadian Champion and six-time World qualifer, Ali began dancing at the age of 14. She competed at the World Championships four times, and also competed annually at the North American Championships, earning a top ten overall finish at her final North Americans in San Diego. Ali holds an Honours Degree in English Literature from the University of Calgary and is a past recipient of the Irish Dance Teachers’ of North America Scholarship. She received her TCRG qualifications in 2007 and her adjudicator qualifications in 2016. Ali has served as Co-chair and Treasurer for 6 regional Oireachtasi and for the North American Championships in 2019 and Canadian Nationals in 2021 and currently serves on the selection committee for the Cyril McNiff Scholarship.
Cait Hampshire, TCRG | Instructor
Cait began Irish dance at the age of 11 after an inspirational viewing of Riverdance. Just three years later, she won the Western Canadian Regional Oireachtas, a feat she would repeat for a second time two years later. Cait was an undisputed champion during her dance career, winning multiple Open Championships and qualifying for the World Championships a total of five times, competing in Glasgow, Belfast and Ennis. She also danced at the North American Championships in Toronto, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia and San Diego, earning a top ten overall solo placing in Boston. Cait holds a Bachelors of Interior Design from Mount Royal University and a Masters of Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. She received her TCRG qualifications in Calgary in 2017.
Kelly Ryan, TCRG | Instructor
Kelly began dancing at the age of 7. During the course of her competitive career, she won multiple Open Championships and attended 12 North American Championships, with a highest overall solo placing of 12th. Kelly also competed at the World Championships on three occasions. In addition to her competitive achievements, Kelly has served as a troupe member and collaborative choreographer in three southern Alberta tours of the Calgary-based dance show, Celtic Echoes. Kelly holds dual Bachelors Degrees in Anthropology from the University of Calgary and is also a certified massage therapist. She received her TCRG qualifications in 2012 and is currently completing her Masters Degree in Anthropology through the University of Calgary.
Amy Deyell, TCRG | Instructor
Amy began dancing at a young age and instantly fell in love with this unique dance form. She competed in her first feis in 1994 and retired from competition almost 20 years later to the day, following the 2014 North American Championships in Montreal. Amy is a World Qualifier, competing at the Worlds in Belfast, and she also competed at many Western Canadian Oireachtasi and North American Championships during her dance career. Starting at age 14, Amy began learning the ropes as an assistant teacher in Calgary and Lethbridge. In 2015, she joined the team at Possak Hampshire and received her TCRG qualifications in 2016. She holds a Bachelors of Mathematics from the University of Calgary and a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University.
Shannon Evens, TCRG | Instructor
Beginning her dancing career at the age of four, Shannon has been competing and performing for over 20 years. Over this time, she has competed in numerous high-ranked competitions, including eight World Championships, 13 North American Championships, and the All-Scotland, All-Ireland, and Great Britain Championships. In her final year of competing, Shannon was thrilled to win the title of Senior Ladies Western Canadian Champion. Shannon is a recent graduate from Mount Royal University, holding a Bachelors Degree in Child Studies, in which she received Honours. After acting as a student teacher with Possak Hampshire for several years, Shannon passed her TCRG exam in 2022 and is now a certified instructor.
Linda Possak Anderson, ADCRG
Artistic Director
Linda began Irish dancing at a young age and competed at the Open Championship level throughout Western Canada, at the North American and the World Championships. Following a successful competitive career and completion of a Bachelors Degree in Communications, Linda completed her teacher’s exam in 1991 and was awarded her TCRG by the Irish Dancing Commission in Ireland (CLRG). She received accreditation as an adjudicator (ADCRG) in 2017. As an instructor, Linda has developed many championship students and teams. Outside the dance studio, Linda serves on the board of Western Canada’s Irish Dance Teachers’ Association as Regional Director. Linda is also proud to be one of Western Canada’s elected representatives to CLRG.
Ali Hampshire Bilcox, ADCRG
Artistic Director
A two-time Western Canadian Champion and six-time World qualifer, Ali began dancing at the age of 14. She competed at the World Championships four times, and also competed annually at the North American Championships, earning a top ten overall finish at her final North Americans in San Diego. Ali holds an Honours Degree in English Literature from the University of Calgary and is a past recipient of the Irish Dance Teachers’ of North America Scholarship. She received her TCRG qualifications in 2007 and her adjudicator qualifications in 2016. Ali has served as Co-chair and Treasurer for 6 regional Oireachtasi and for the North American Championships in 2019 and Canadian National Championships in 2021.
CAIT HAMPSHIRE, TCRG
INSTRUCTOR
Cait began Irish dance at the age of 11 after an inspirational viewing of Riverdance. Just three years later, she won the Western Canadian Regional Oireachtas, a feat she would repeat for a second time two years later. Cait was an undisputed champion during her dance career, winning multiple Open Championships and qualifying for the World Championships a total of five times, competing in Glasgow, Belfast and Ennis. She also danced at the North American Championships in Toronto, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia and San Diego, earning a top ten overall solo placing in Boston. Cait holds a Bachelors of Interior Design from Mount Royal University and a Masters of Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. She received her TCRG qualifications in Calgary in 2017.
Kelly Ryan, TCRG
INSTRUCTOR
Kelly began dancing at the age of 7. During the course of her competitive career, she won multiple Open Championships and attended 12 North American Championships, with a highest overall solo placing of 12th. Kelly also competed at the World Championships on three occasions. In addition to her competitive achievements, Kelly has served as a troupe member and collaborative choreographer in three southern Alberta tours of the Calgary-based dance show, Celtic Echoes. Kelly holds dual Bachelors Degrees in Anthropology from the University of Calgary and is also a certified massage therapist. She received her TCRG qualifications in 2012 and is currently completing her Masters Degree in Anthropology through the University of Calgary.
Amy Deyell, TCRG
INSTRUCTOR
Amy began dancing at a young age and instantly fell in love with this unique dance form. She competed in her first feis in 1994 and retired from competition almost 20 years later to the day, following the 2014 North American Championships in Montreal. Amy is a World Qualifier, competing at the Worlds in Belfast, and she also competed at many Western Canadian Oireachtasi and North American Championships during her dance career. Starting at age 14, Amy began learning the ropes as an assistant teacher in Calgary and Lethbridge. In 2015, she joined the team at Possak Hampshire and received her TCRG qualifications in 2016. She holds a Bachelors of Mathematics from the University of Calgary and a Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University.
Shannon Evens, TCRG
INSTRUCTOR
Beginning her dancing career at the age of four, Shannon has been competing and performing for over 20 years. Over this time, she has competed in numerous high-ranked competitions, including eight World Championships, 13 North American Championships, and the All-Scotland, All-Ireland, and Great Britain Championships. In her final year of competing, Shannon won the title of Senior Ladies Western Canadian Champion. Shannon is a recent graduate from Mount Royal University, holding a Bachelors Degree in Child Studies, in which she received Honours. After acting as a student teacher for years, Shannon successfully completed her TCRG exam in 2022 and is now a certified instructor.
CONTACT US
Possak Hampshire Academy - Office
11116 Braxton Road SW
Calgary AB
T2W 1C6