Coaches

 Karen started doing rhythmic gymnastics when she was about 6 or7 years old and living in   Manitoba. You name it, she has done it. Recreational, competitive, group routines, solo   routines. She competed at many local competitions and started her coaching career as an Assistant Coach before she moved to BC. In 1996, Karen started coaching in Chilliwack at Majestic Rhythmic Gymnastics. She built a great reputation within the community and in 2003 Illusions was born! Since then, Karen has had 18 successful years and has taken her teams on many great adventures. These include two World Gymnaestrada’s (Sweden & Portugal), Canadian Gymnaestrada’s, Alberta GymFest, Challenge Cup, just to name a few. Karen is the heart and soul of Illusions, and you can see her passion for the sport in the way she teaches and interacts with her staff and gymnasts. She loves making memories, friendships that last a lifetime and traveling to perform near and far.

  Jocalyn started her journey at Illusions in 1998 when she was 8 years old. She grew up being at the gym every week and experienced every class from Beginners to the Senior   Display Team. Jocalyn loved performing and got to attend many events like GBC, Alberta GymFest, Western/Provincial Gymnaestrada, The Challenge Cup, Canadian Gymnaestrada and many community shows. At age 14, Jocalyn started assistant coaching with Karen with the younger classes. It didn’t take long to notice how good she was with the kids, so by the time she was 16 she was running her own classes. 17 years later, Jocalyn has become a key member of the Illusions family and has built a great reputation. She loves the lifelong friendships that she has made over the years and really enjoys watching the girls she coaches do the same. Jocalyn says “I love Illusions inclusive environment. There is a spot for everyone, and this is shown in the attitude of the gymnasts and staff. All of the girls celebrate each other's accomplishments, big or small.” Her favorite memory as a coach is attending the World Gymnaestrada in Austria where she could see how happy the gymnasts were when performing and cheering on other countries. 

Classes: Monday Intermediates, Intermediate Advanced, Novice Display, Provincial Display

 Amberlea started dancing recreationally at the age of 10 and at age 13 she went on to dance competitively for 5 years. She has performed in parades, 2010 Olympics opening ceremonies, at car shows, and most recently with Team Canada at the World Gymnaestrada. Amberlea’s journey with Illusions started in 2010 when she came to teach acrobatics once a week. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the sport and start coaching multiple classes. She has her Acrobatic Arts Module 1 Certification and oversees all of the Acro Technique classes. She is always eager to learn new tricks and safe spotting techniques and is looking forward to do some more learning. Over the years she has become a very lovable coach and loves to try new things with routines. Amberlea’s favorite part about coaching is watching the kids grow and become more confident in their skills and within their own skin. One of her fondest memories is traveling to Austria with Team Canada for the 16th World Gymnaestrada. 

Classes: Acro Technique Classes, Tuesday Intermediates, Intermediate Advanced, Novice Display, 

Provincial Display

 Shaelyn joined Illusions when she was 8 years old. She has always been a fast learner   and great at technique, so she moved up quickly. She has performed at many GBC   events, local competitions, The Challenge Cup in Regina, Canadian Gymnaestrada’s and   she was on our World Display Team when we attended the World Gymnaestrada in 2019. Shaelyn started assistant coaching 5 years ago with our head coach Karen. Shaelyn loves seeing the friendships form within the classes, just like she experienced when she was their age. Her favorite moments include attending GBC weekends, Canadian Gymnaestrada’s and being a part of Team Canada when we traveled to Austria for the World Gymnaestrada. 

Classes: Jellybeans, Tuesday Little Gymnasts, Intermediate 9+, Thursday Little Gymnasts, Thursday Intermediates

Jaylene started Gymnastics in 2012 on the Performance Display team. She was very new to the sport but quickly caught on and she was hooked. She worked hard throughout the years and in her grad year she left a grad event in the very early morning to attend the Canadian Gymnaestrada. Her favourite memory is going to Austria on the World Team and watching everyone perform. It was truly an honour representing Team Canada. Jaylene loves to coach children, and has found a passion in doing so. Her favourite part of being with Illusions is the community. Everyone is so supportive, and passionate about the sport. We are like a family, everyone cheers one another on. Her favourite apparatus is Hoop or Ribbon! 

Classes: Thursday Little Gymnasts, Thursday Intermediates

 Tori started artistic gymnastics at a young age and she was 10 years old when she joined Illusions in 2003. She has always shown her love for the sport as she moved her way up through her classes and continued to come back after graduating. She did some assistant coaching for a few years as well as performed on our Senior Display Team.  Performances she has been apart of include local competitions, GBC's, GymFest, Canadian Gymnaestrada, Challenge cup and World Gymnaestrada. Tori's favorite memories from gymnastics has been getting to travel with her teams to perform and attending the 2019 World Gymnaestrada in Dornbirn, Austria. 

Classes: Monday Little Intermediates, Monday Intermediates

  Kearra joined Illusions in 2010 at the young age of 10 years old. She started as an Intermediate and worked her way up to Provincial Display. As her time as a gymnast she competed in many local competitions, performed at GBC’s, Canada Day celebrations, Canadian Gymnaestrada’s, and the 16th World Gymnaestrada in Austria. She took some time off, and now is back with Illusions as an Assistant Coach! Kearra helps with our Acro Technique classes and whenever we need a helping hand in other classes, she is always willing to jump right in. Her favourite thing about Illusions is how supportive everyone is to one another and how everyone becomes apart of the family, whether they’ve been around for years or a short while. Her favourite memory as a gymnast was attending Canadian Gymnaestrada in Calgary in 2014. She also loved the day we got to explore a little town in Germany in 2019 during the World Gymnaestrada. A fun fact about Kearra – her favourite apparatus are clubs!

Classes: Tuesday Intermediates, Acro Technique Classes, 8 Week Program

 Mylee was 7 years old when she joined Illusions in 2013. From day one, Mylee has   always been an eager learner with great technique. The past 9 years she has   performed in local competitions, Canada Day, GBC’s, Canadian Gymnaestrada, World Gymnaestrada, and most recently in Florida at Disney World. While Mylee is currently on our Provincial Display Team, we are so excited to take on the new role of Assistant Coach. Mylee’s favorite part about gymnastics is the different events she has gotten the opportunity to perform at. One moment that she will never forget is performing in Dornbirn, Austria at the 

World Gymnaestrada. If you give her any apparatus and a challenge, she is quick to conquer it - but clubs are her favourite to try new skills with.

Classes: Monday Little Gymnasts, Display Acro, 8 Week Program, 

  Adrianna joined Illusions in 2014 on our Performance Display Team, and quickly worked her way up onto the Provincial Display Team. She has always been one of the ones on the team we can rely on having the biggest personality and bright spirit, and that shows in her coaching. Adrianna has performed at many local competitions, Canada Day celebrations, parades, Canadian Gymnaestradas, GBC’s, World Gymnaestrada in Austria, and recently in Florida at Disney World. Her favourite memory from her time as a gymnast is travelling to see different teams perform and meet new people. She has joined our coaching staff this season as an Assistant Coach and helps with different kinds of classes. What Adrianna loves most about Illusions is how uplifting everyone is and seeing the kids progress not only their rhythmic skills, but seeing them gain confidence with themselves. If you ask her what is her favourite apparatus, it’s a bit of a toss up, but clubs take the win for her!

Classes: Jellybeans, Tuesday Little Gymnasts, Intermediate 9+