Wendy Chiles
B.F.A. Dance, York University, 1975
Wendy Chiles began her dance training in Edmonton, studying ballet, flamenco, jazz, and tap, which became the foundations for her modern dance career. Her first modern teachers were Jacqueline Ogg and Charlene Tarver. After moving to Toronto, she received a B.F.A. in dance from York University in 1975. She continued to study at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, as well as throughout Canada, in London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Following her graduation from York University, she was invited to join Toronto Dance Theatre. She later worked as an independent, and as a guest artist with Katherine Brown, The Clichettes, Danny Grossman, Gabby Kamino, Judith Miller, Regina Modern Dance Works, Holly Small, and TIDE (Toronto Independent Dance Enterprise). She has choreographed for DanceWorks and for Sheridan College, and she acted as choreographer and rehearsal director for the Nylons in 1994-95. She also expanded her professional horizons studying and working in the film and theatre industries.
Chiles has taught dance since her graduation from university. She is a gifted teacher and has worked with beginners, children, adolescents, and adults. For a number of years, she taught at Hart House, University of Toronto, and she developed and directed the U. of T. Summer Dance Camp. She has taught at the Grossman Studios, the McGill Club, Pavlychenko Studios, and Sheridan College. She has been a guest teacher and choreographer for Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, the Claude Watson Arts Program, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, the University of Waterloo, and York University. In 2002, she was invited to South Korea to teach at three universities and for the Kim Bock Hee Dance Company. She has taught for The School of Toronto Dance Theatre throughout her career.
Currently, Chiles teaches modern dance history and Graham technique at the School of TDT, and grades 10, 11, 12, and the dance company course at Unionville School for the Arts.