Nela Hallwas

Nela Hallwas was born and raised in former Yugoslavia. She is the founder and owner of XBa School of Dance in South Surrey.

I was born in the former Yugoslavia and grew up in Quebec, where I studied classical ballet with L’Ecole de Danse Lacasse-Morenoff and classical piano performance at L’Ecole de Musique Marguerite-Bourgeoys.  Growing up in an Eastern European family, an education in the arts was an absolute necessity.  Though I was being groomed as a classical pianist, my inability to stand still, and unending love for dance and the visual arts took over.  I discovered modern movement and contemporary dance in my late teens,  pursued my post-secondary education in the visual arts in California, and then back in Canada to complete a Bachelor degree at SFU, majoring in contemporary dance, and film.  My visual art and my film work were always inspired by dance movement:  as much as I loved to dance myself and felt an almost impossible need to perpetually move, it was always most gratifying when I performed in a choreographer’s or directorial role.  My passion was to CREATE movement, be it live, still, or filmed.