B.C. dance teacher charged with historical sex assaults

Brock Jellison is pictured in this 2015 file photo performing at the Calgary Stampede. Photo by Colleen De Neve Colleen De Neve /Calgary Herald

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Investigators are searching for more potential victims after a B.C. dance teacher and tap dancer was arrested earlier this month on five counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation.

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Nigel Brock Jellison, who goes by Brock Jellison and has an extensive resume in dance, is facing the charges in relation to offences that occurred between 2006 and 2011 and involved four victims.

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All four victims were underage at the time of the alleged offences and there is a publication ban protecting the victims’ identities.

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“We believe there may be people within our community who were taught by Brock Jellison or attended the local dance studio who have information and have not yet spoken with police,” said White Rock RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Dixon, urging people to come forward with information.

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Brock Jellison is pictured in this 2006 file photo, taken in White Rock. Photo by Arlen Redekop /Province

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According to White Rock RCMP, the investigation began after an individual came forward in 2021 to report a historical sex assault involving a dance teacher and a student at a local White Rock dance studio.

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Investigators who looked into the report later identified more victims, all of whom were connected to Jellison through studios where he taught.

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After the charges were approved in February, police found Jellison in Alberta and he was arrested April 15 in Magrath, a town 38 kilometres south of Lethbridge.

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“Based on the investigation, it is believed that more recently Jellison was teaching in Alberta,” said police in a statement.

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The name of Jellison’s most recent studio isn’t being identified “to avoid any unintended impact on current studio operations,” according to police.

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According to past media coverage, Jellison was born and raised in Fort St. John where his mother ran a dance studio.

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The 45-year-old had also co-choreographed dance segments for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and performed as a lead tap soloist alongside Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac. He was an associate choreographer for Theatre Calgary’s Billy Elliot and a former principal dancer of Tap Dogs.

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Online, he remains listed as being a part of Team Canada Dance’s Dancer Hall of Fame. In years past, he has performed at the Calgary Stampede as part of the Grandstand Show Barnburner production.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact White Rock RCMP at 778‑545‑4800.

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