Linda Possak Anderson
ADCRG
Ali Hampshire Bilcox
ADCRG
Cait Hampshire
TCRG
Kelly Ryan
TCRG
Amy Deyell
TCRG
Shannon Evens
TCRG
Linda Possak Anderson, ADCRG
Linda began Irish dancing at a young age and competed at the Open Championship level throughout Western Canada, at the North American Championships, and at 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 subsequently received accreditation as an adjudicator (ADCRG) in 2017. As an instructor, Linda has developed countless championship students and teams. Outside the dance studio, Linda has served as Regional Director for the Western Canada Irish Dancing Teachers’ Association for four years and has also served as one of Canada’s Vice Presidents for CLRG.
Ali Hampshire Bilcox ADCRG
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 and currently serves as Regional Director for the Western Canadian Irish Dance Teachers’ Association.
Cait Hampshire, TCRG
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. 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
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. 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 a PHd in Anthropologie through the University of British Columbia.
Amy Deyell, TCRG
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
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.