Meet the leaders
Miss Truus
Artistic Director
Truus Verkley is an artist and educator who has been working with children for more than 17 years. She has had the pleasure of working with students of all ages! (Her youngest student ever was 1 month old in one of Puddle of Mud's mom and baby programs and her oldest was 93 in POM's Awesome 50's, 60's and 70's dance fitness class) Truus has created and implemented arts education programs in schools in both Calgary and Edmonton and often works as an artist in residence with students. Creativity and fun is very important to her and the programs she creates, and this what she builds the 'fun-first' foundation of Puddle of Mud programs on.
Truus is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Professional training program and she has also performed all over Canada and abroad with shows such as Planet of the Senses (Bahrain, UAE) many seasons with the Edmonton based company Vinok Worldance, 9 seasons of work performing, choreographing and artistic directing with the Fort Steele Follies, and large scale productions such as The Wizard of Oz with Kimberley Summer Theatre.
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Miss Claire
Calgary Manager
Kim is a born and raised Calgarian who grew up with a passion for gymnastics, dance, yoga and theatre.
Her passion for performing began at a very young age with her family’s involvement with Pumphouse Theatre.
Kim's love for all arts led her to leave the corporate world, where she worked for 10 years, to go back to school and pursue a degree in Drama and Education at the University of Calgary.
Kim has always loved leading, inspiring, and encouraging others and looks forward to where this next chapter takes her!
She is thrilled to be the Calgary Manager for Puddle of Mud Productions!
Miss Claire truly is a jack of all trades! She can dance, act, sing, stage manage and organize anything!
Her love of sharing her craft with young minds has resulted in her teaching students in schools, fields, and computers over the last decade or so.
Claire also works with Quest Theatre and Calgary Opera’s Let’s Create an Opera Program.
Claire has traveled the province and shared her love of theatre, dance, and music with young people and has been with Puddle of Mud for many years!