About Us
The Northern Institute of Dance is a charity ballet school located in Prince George, BC. We provide comprehensive training and support to young, aspiring dancers to help them become professional ballet dancers. We instill discipline, professionalism, and a strong work ethic in our students, and create professional ballet productions in northern BC. We offer a cultural exchange program, and support our dancers' international ambitions. We rely on donations to fund our productions and bursary programs. Our goal is to cultivate global citizens who embody the positive culture and professionalism of ballet.
NID Artistic Director - Constanza Aguirre Hayes
Constanza Aguirre Hayes was born in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina. Starting her dance education at a young age, she grew a passion for the performing arts and spent her formative years studying in Argentina. After training in Chaco, Constanza received a full scholarship from the cultural minister of Buenos Aires to attend Teatro Colón in 2003. While studying in Teatro Colon, Constanza worked specifically with Lidia Segni, a world-renowned teacher, director, and international judge of the Prix de Lausanne. Constanza completed her Master of Classical Dance degree in 2007 through the guidance of Lidia.
Constanza Aguirre Hayes was born in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina. Starting her dance education at a young age, she grew a passion for the performing arts and spent her formative years studying in Argentina. After training in Chaco, Constanza received a full scholarship from the cultural minister of Buenos Aires to attend Teatro Colón in 2003. While studying in Teatro Colon, Constanza worked specifically with Lidia Segni, a world-renowned teacher, director, and international judge of the Prix de Lausanne. Constanza completed her Master of Classical Dance degree in 2007 through the guidance of Lidia.
Motivated to continue improving her studies, Constanza would complete courses with the Foundation of Julio Bocca and the Academy of American Ballet, as well as extracurricular classes at Teatro Colón. In 2006, she auditioned and was accepted into the Ballet Contemporary Institute of San Martín, where she completed her Bachelor's Diploma in Contemporary Dance Technique. Passionate about dance, she spent four hours at Teatro Colón and four at San Martín daily; with her dedication and motivation, she was considered one of the hardest-working dancers of her generation.
During her time in San Martin, she would also immerse herself in other courses such as music and movement, functional autonomy, improvisation and composition, and dance history. While in San Martín, Constanza became certified in contemporary techniques, including Cunningham, Graham, Laban, Flying Low, contact improvisation, contemporary partnering, and jazz. After spending over 15 years in her dance education, she competed and won a soloist contract with Ballet Centro del Conocimiento in 2010. She would spend her next eleven years dancing with this company leading to career highlights as Aegina in Spartacus, Mercedes in Don Quixote, Suite of Angels, and Myrtha in Giselle. As well as having a successful career as a dancer, Constanza was constantly travelling as a desired choreographer. She worked with Brazil's Cultural Minister in 2012 to promote contemporary dance, and is currently working with Promodança as a consultant and Contemporary Program Director.
In 2014, Constanza was invited to Grupo Corpo in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to take classes and expand her knowledge of contemporary dance. She was a guest teacher and ballet mistress in the Contemporary Ballet of Chaco in 2016. She was invited to the Netherlands Dance Theatre in 2017 by Thiago Bordin to study contemporary techniques. From 2012 to 2018, Constanza was the Contemporary Program Director for Academia Ballet de Moscú del Parque del Conocimiento. In 2018, Constanza opened her studio, Posadas Ballet Studio, where she trained professionals and aspiring dancers till 2020. Constanza currently lives in Prince George, Canada, with her family and is looking forward to nurturing and educating future aspiring dancers.
Constanza Aguirre Hayes: Career Highlights Gallery
Ballet Master - Miguel Nguyen
Born in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Miguel Nguyen began his journey in the performing arts at a young age, training in hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, and ballet. He studied at several prestigious institutions, including the National Ballet School of Canada and Goh Ballet, as well as local studios such as Affinity and Danzmode.
After training for a year in Goh Ballet’s professional youth company, Miguel competed in the finals of YAGP New York under the guidance of Yao Ping Zhu.
After completing high school, Miguel represented Canada at the IDO (International Dance Organization) in Oslo, Norway (2008), where he won gold for his contemporary solo choreographed by Rachael Poirier and silver for self-choreography in jazz. In 2009, he was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York and received an invitation to join Orlando Ballet II. Under the direction of Peter Stark, Miguel danced roles in Cinderella, Bolero by Fernando Bujones, The Nutcracker, Battle of the Sexes, and Le Corsaire by Robert Hill. He later won first place at YAGP Orlando for his self-choreographed contemporary solo and earned a scholarship to Jacob’s Pillow, where he trained under Anna-Marie Holmes, who helped him secure his first professional contract as a soloist with the State Ballet of Georgia, directed by Nina Ananiashvili. From 2010–2011 in Tbilisi, Georgia, he performed works by Yuri Possokhov, August Bournonville, Alexei Ratmansky, and George Balanchine.
Returning to Canada in 2012, Miguel freelanced with various companies, including the Ballet of Montreal under Eddy Toussaint, touring Mexico with both classical and contemporary repertoire. Later that year, he joined Coastal City Ballet, refining his artistry under Li Yaming, and was invited to adjudicate for Brazil’s Institute of Culture, Promodança.
In 2013, Miguel moved to Argentina, where he danced for seven years as a Principal Dancer with Ballet del Centro del Conocimiento, also guesting throughout Paraguay and Brazil. Renowned for his strong technique and charismatic stage presence, he portrayed leading roles such as Basilio (Don Quixote), Albrecht (Giselle), Siegfried (Swan Lake), Lucien (Paquita), and Solor (La Bayadère). He continued his collaboration with Promodança as a consultant, judge, and guest choreographer. In 2015, Miguel competed at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition and appeared as a guest dancer at the Seoul International Ballet Competition, training at the Korea National University of Arts during his stay.
After years of performing internationally, Miguel discovered a deep passion for teaching. In 2018, alongside his wife Constanza Aguirre Hayes, he co-founded Posadas Ballet Studio in Argentina, serving as Associate Director and training pre-professional students in classical, jazz, and contemporary dance.
From 2021 to 2022, Miguel was the Artistic Director of Pro Arte in North Vancouver. In 2024, he served as an assessor for the BC Arts Council, supporting the development of dance across British Columbia.
In 2025, Miguel toured Argentina and Paraguay, performing at various festivals, including the Japanese Cultural Centre in Asunción for the Asunción Baila Foundation. He was also an invited guest artist at the Los Andes Ballet Company Gala, performing the Don Quixote Pas de Deux and a contemporary piece by Joaquín López, and a guest teacher for the Los Andes Ballet Company in Mendoza, Argentina.
Miguel Nguyen: Career Highlights
Brianna Godsoe - Hip Hop Instructor
Brianna began dancing at the age of 9. Beginning her training in hip-hop, she expanded into many styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Acrobatics, and Musical Theatre. She began competing at the age of 10, participating in numerous dance competitions and festivals across BC. As a competitive dancer, Brianna achieved awards as a soloist and group dancer, including overall high score solo placements, junior choreography
overalls, JUMP dance convention VIP dancer, as well as Shine dance festival top 10 dancer and honourable mentions at the BC dance provincials. Brianna has attended multiple dance conventions during her time as a dancer, where she has participated in masterclasses from
Stacey Tookey, Travis Wall, Michael Keefe, Lex Ishimoto and Mark Meismer. Attending these conventions allowed Brianna to experience new teaching styles, which surged her motivation
and inspiration as a dancer and young choreographer. In 2017, Brianna competed at the IDO World Showdance Championships representing Canada in Riesa, Germany. This competition allowed her to meet dancers from across the world and experience various dance and training styles from different countries.
Brianna began her teaching Career at the age of 19, teaching both competitive and recreational dancers in Quesnel, BC. Her students have received placements and overall awards at local dance competitions and have competed at the BC dance provincials. As a dance teacher, Brianna believes it is important to create a nurturing and
comfortable environment for her students to learn and grow in. She wants every dancer to feel confident and motivated in her classes, as they learn new movements and choreography.
Brianna wants every student to succeed and be proud of their accomplishments as artists.
Brianna Godsoe: Career Highlights
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Our Studios
At Northern Institute of Dance, student safety and long-term physical health are a top priority. Our studio is equipped with a professionally engineered sprung floor, specifically designed to absorb impact and reduce strain on dancers’ joints, muscles, and bones. This specialized flooring system provides the ideal balance of support and flexibility, helping to prevent injuries while allowing dancers to train at a high level with confidence. Whether in ballet, contemporary, or acro, our floors ensure a safer and more comfortable environment for every dancer.
Studio 1
