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Linda Googh
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As a Choreographer, Producer, and Dance Judge, Linda Googh has over 30 years experience, evaluating, and hiring professional dancers and entertainers. Since her days on the Tommy Hunter Show, she has been a pioneer in the dance world. Linda was the first Canadian to earn a scholarship to the prestigious Dance Masters of America, the first white dancer to receive membership in The Black Dance America Company, the first Canadian to choreograph and produce for Kings Productions at Canada’s Wonderland and she was also the Co- creator and long time Choreographer / Director of the Argo Sunshine Girl Cheerleaders.
Linda produced and choreographed many annual Armed Forces tours to Europe, the Middle East, as well as the Canadian Arctic for 10 years.
Over the many years in Entertainment & Events Linda has also written and choreographed many Dance Fashion Shows, including the Sears Canada 3 year Retro store openings, Kid Vantage (Sesame Street Live) at the Air Canada Centre, CSGA and all major fashions shows for Rothman’s Craven A Foundation touring Canada, Toronto Eaton’s Centre, Welcome to Thailand for The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), shows at the Bandshell, and all major hair and fashion shows including the International Beauty Show, and L’Oreal Hair, Product launches to name a few. Linda maintains her commitment to dance through judging, guest teaching, and her signature dance wellness workshop, “Danceflexology “ which launched In Dubai at the 2010-11 DIDC where she was the first invited Canadian Dance Adjudicator. Proud to be part of Pop Culture…Linda played the lead (Cold Ethyl) for the ABC Special “Alice Cooper Welcome To My Nightmare”. She has performed in numerous specials for CFTO, CBC including the Juno Awards and the Circus series. She was a member of the Charlottetown Festival Company for 4 years and a dancer in Las Vegas. From the beginning Linda combined Teaching with her Professional Dance career starting with The Brian Foley Studios and The Len Gibson Academy. Her teaching skills include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Musical Theatre, Cheer-Dance as well as Stretch and Strength.
Linda’s journey to Reflexology was an unexpected calling. Ten years ago, while
choreographing and producing Yamaha Canada’s Product Launch and Live Stage Celebration Gala, both her feet were traumatized becoming paralyzed. Today she is not only a Reflexology Therapist but also one of Canada’s top Teacher / Examiners with the Reflexology Associatioof Canada. She was honored to be a Keynote Speaker and workshop presenters at this years Reflexology Association of Canada’s National Conference in Ottawa. Practitioners from across the country were introduced to her signature method Danceflexology“ + her new audiovisual book titled “Reflexology 2go” self-healing recipe fordailywellness, www.reflexology2go.com Today Linda has seamlessly introduced wellness to the worlds of Dance and Corporate Events.
Morgan Guigue
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Morgan Guigue grew up in Ottawa, Ontario where she trained with the Linda Jamieson School of Dance for 12 years. A graduate with distinction from Canada’s National Ballet School’s prestigious Teacher Training Program, Morgan is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She is trained in a number of dance styles including, but not limited to R.A.D, Cecchetti, and Vagonova styles of Ballet, National dance, Character dance, Jazz, Tap, Hip hop, Acro, Contemporary, Modern, and Musical Theatre.
Morgan is a full member of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England A.R.A.D, and also holds her registered teachers status with the academy. Morgan currently resides in Toronto, Ontario where she teaches all levels of students from recreational to professional with ages ranging from toddlers to adults. She is very experienced in competitive coaching and her students have had the privilege of competing regionally, nationally, and internationally earning many prestigious titles for their technical proficiency and artistry.
A proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, Morgan will bring her extensive pedagogical background, and versatility to any panel.
Tamerra Herres
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Tamerra Herres is an accomplished professional dancer, instructor and choreographer born in Toronto Ontario. She has diligently trained and performed in the dance industry for over 20 years in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acro, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Urban styles of dance. She continues to perfect her craft as an artist by constantly immersing herself in dance culture, dance education and training and in the creation of her own works.
Striving to continue expanding her training as a professional dancer, at 18 years old, she took the opportunity to train in multiple disciplines of dance for 3 years in Los Angeles California. Soon after she relocated to the United States, Tamerra was awarded a dance, voice and acting Scholarship with the well acclaimed EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood California, and is now a proud alumni member. Under the direction of Bill Prudich, Randy Allaire and Carol Connors, she built upon her solid technical foundation and developed her own flare of style from some of the top working professionals in the industry. Tamerra's successes in her professional career have lead her to perform and choreograph in multiple music videos by leading musical artists, cruise ships, theme parks, television shows, live performance events, fashion shows and documentary film sets.
Tamerra has taught cultural dance classes for charity in South Africa, as well as Master Classes in Tokyo Japan, Los Angeles California, and locally within Ontario Canada. She also instructs and choreographs for dance studios across North America. Her students have gone on to win numerous top over-alls and she has received many choreography awards in Canada and the US for her work. Tamerra has just completed a second season as a dance instructor and choreographer at the prestigious Mather Dance Company in the State of California. She is also a proud new member of the Professional Adjudicator's Alliance (P.A.A.) under the direction of Scott Kufske and Rob Jensen. Her mission is to educate and mentor dancers into their true artistic calling. Tamerra's true passion is for all artists and people alike to find their inspiration and take the risks necessary to reach their fullest potential. You never know what you can achieve with a little faith.
Liz Haupert
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Liz Haupert is the Director of Center Stage School of Dance now celebrating its 20th year. Liz is an Instructor, Examiner, Adjudicator and a mom. As a Full Member if the Canadian Dance Teachers’
Association, Liz has sat on the Board of Directors for over 12 years. She is certified in Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Modern with the CDTA. Liz is also a proud member of Dance Masters of America, Canadian Chapter #38 where she is also an examiner in Tap , Jazz and Ballet. Most recently Liz became a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
Liz attended Sheridan College for Musical Theatre and also has her degree in Business, Marketing.
Liz continues to study and attend seminars across North America including Pulse, Rhee Gold Dance Teachers Summit, and DMA . Liz’s students have competed locally and international with IDO and won many overall awards
Graeme Goodhall
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Graeme grew up competing in all styles of dance from tap to ballet, and at the height of his competitive career in 2005, he represented Canada at the IDO World Dance Championships in Germany where he received 3 Gold medals including one for Male Showdance Soloist. He choreographed ‘Cabaret’ for the University of Toronto Follies and ‘Footloose’ at the Randolph academy.
He is a sought after guest teacher/choreographer at studios throughout Toronto and Ontario, is a certified gymnastics coach and has adjudicated festivals and competitions from coast to coast. As well as being a passionate choreographer and educator, he is an experienced performer on stage and screen across the country. Favourite theatre credits include: ‘Les Feux Follets” (Charlottetown Festival), ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (Niagara Falls, Silvermist)‘ The Nutcracker’ (Toronto Ballet) and ‘West Side Story’ (Stratford Festival).
Favorite Screen credits include: ‘The Music Man’ (Disney), Series regular on college cheerleading drama ‘Hellcats’ (CW Network), ‘Mirror Mirror’ staring Julia Roberts, and the series finale of ‘Warehouse 13’ as tap dance double for lead actor Aaron Ashmore. Select commercial credits for Graeme include ‘Del Monte’, ‘Milk’, ‘The Source’, ‘Tim Hortons’ and ‘Zantac’ as well as stunt credits for ‘KFC’ and ‘Spike TV’. Graeme is performing in dance movie ‘Full Out’ in fall of 2014 and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with this generation of competitive and aspiring dancers!
Chelsea Gibbs
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Chelsea Gibbs started her dance training at the young age of four. At the age of six she joined a competitive team, where she won numerous special and overall awards for her performances. She also successfully completed her B.A.T.D. Tap and Jazz Exams, R.A.D. Ballet Exams and her P.A.E.C. Tap Exam. At age eleven, she was the youngest to audition and become a member of the semi-professional tap company “iTap Youth Company,” based in Hamilton, Ontario, under the direction of, the late, Kimberley Timlock.
Over the years, Chelsea has appeared in numerous commercials and on television shows such as “The Next Step”, “IIFA Awards”, “Breakfast Television”, “Motives and Murders” and “Voice of a Child” to name a few. Chelsea is extremely passionate when it comes to performing and choreographing. Her performing highlights include: the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) in New York (own choreography), the Olympic Torch Relay Performance Team, the Canadian National Tap Team, Chicago Human Rhythms Project and Montreal Tap Fest.
She also had the wonderful opportunity to perform with professional tap companies at the Tap Dance Centre and has taken Master Classes with Shawn Byfield, Savion Glover, Jason Janas, Chloe Arnold, Travis Knights and Lisa La Touché, to name a few. Chelsea has received and continues to receive the finest training and is privileged to teach, adjudicate and conduct intensive workshops which allows her to impart her knowledge and creativity to students in the GTA and surrounding areas.
In June 2013, Chelsea obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. With her knowledge, expertise and passion for dance, Chelsea’s goal is to continue to inspire and ignite the passion of dance within her students, as well as living her dream as a performer.
Chelsea is also a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (PAA)
Robin Henderson
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Robin Henderson is from the Toronto area. She has been dancing ,teaching and choreographing for the last 30 years. She has been trained in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Highland and Musical Theater. With many choreography awards and DMA pageant winners she is known and recognized throughout Canada and United States. Her personal love of tap has been an inspiration to all in the dance world. She has received her degree in business and teaches for The Toronto District School Board. We welcome and are pleased to have such a well rounded adjudicator on our roster.
Jamie Hodgins
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Originally from Ottawa, Ont. Jamie, known on stage as "Jammer," has been a refreshing force on the International dance scene, as a choreographer, instructor, adjudicator and performer for over a decade. On screen you can see Jamie dancing alongside the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato as a featured dancer in Disney's CAMP ROCK 2. Additional credits include one of the leading roles in the award winning History Television feature, "Death or Canada," TVO’s “Explore my World,” and CBC's "Breakout!" Commercial appearances include playing the blue ranger in the Electro-Power Ranger promo for "America's Best Dance Crew (MUCHMUSIC)," Best Buy (CTV/A CHANNEL), Elections Canada (MUCHMUSIC) and many more. Jamie also landed the role of “Fender” in the last professional Broadway production of HAIRSPRAY where he shared the stage with George Wendt (Norm from CHEERS). His biggest accomplishment to date has been appearing as one of the top 5 male triple threat finalist on CBC's hit TV series, "Triple Sensation," where he became known as "the urban animal" of the musical theatre world. Other credits include appearing as the street dance guru on the Australian Broadcast Corporation's hit TV series "Strictly Dancing", a backup dancer for recording artist Shiloh, and choreographer for the new kids' TV show “Miss Persona and the Marvelous Melodies.” Over the past 5 years Jamie has adjudicated more than 7,500 routines across North America and continues to serve as an ambassador for the CHANCE 2 DANCE Foundation with colleague and friend, Tara-Jean Popowich. Jamie is a member of ACTRA, the Professional Adjudicator Alliance and a strong advocate for Clean it up Canada.
Kate Hanson
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Born and raised in Calgary, Kate began dancing at an early age and developed strong dance fundamentals by competing in the disciplines of jazz, tap, ballet, musical theatre, street jazz, hip hop and lyrical. During her high school years in Calgary, Kate attended and graduated from the School of Performing and Visual Arts, further developing her skills while concentrating on Modern, Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet. While in Calgary pursuing her passion for dance, Kate was able to complete all levels of the ADAPT syllabus and her advanced in the R.A.D syllabus. Kate embraced the competitive nature of dance and competed in Canada and Unites States receiving various awards and scholarships. Upon moving to Toronto to pursue her professional dance career Kate attended George Brown Commercial Dance Studies Program. She not only studied dance but theatre performance, acting, and singing under the direction of Stephen Findlay, Stephen Gray, Louisa Burgess Corbett and Suzanne Bennett . Since graduation, Kate continues to challenge herself on a daily basis in both improving her technical abilities and as well as her creative framework. She has had the privilege to train under such respected artists as Megan Lawson, Faye Rauw, Siona Jackson and Derek Sangster. She has earned a reputation as a respected dancer and teacher in the GTA. Kate has developed into a skilled and innovative choreographer, receiving several accolades in the past years. Her dedication and drive to better herself and those around her is noteworthy. She is passionate about her career and is actively involved in the Toronto arts community with her teaching and performing throughout the city.
Corey Gayadeen
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With over 18 years of dance experience, Corey Gayadeen has always sought out ways to continue learning and improving as a dancer, instructor and choreographer. Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Corey danced at a competitive dance studio in addition to attending Cawthra Park Secondary School’s regional arts program as a Dance Major. Throughout his career he has received extensive training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acrobatics, swing, and even Indian Dance. Corey has had the opportunity to work with a number of world-renowned choreographers and has danced for large companies such as Mary Kay intl., CIBC and Miss Canada intl. He has competed throughout Canada, the United Sates and even in Europe, winning various high score awards and titles. While representing Canada at the IDO World Dance Championships, Mr. Gayadeen earned two gold medals and was ranked 2nd in the world for tap dance.
In addition to his dance education, Corey Gayadeen has obtained an Honors Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. It was at this time that he truly found his passion for teaching dance. Corey has had the opportunity of teaching and choreographing for numerous competitive dance studios, theatre companies and university dance teams. He has also been on the faculty of a number of intensive workshops throughout Ontario. Corey understands the importance of safe and efficient dance and challenges himself to use his Kinesiology background as much as possible while dancing, teaching, and adjudicating.
Lee-Anne Galloway
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Lee-Anne has been a working performer, teacher, and choreographer for
over 15 years. A graduate of the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts,
she is a triple threat. She travelled the world as a lead singer dancer with
Holland America and Carnival Cruise Lines, working alongside John
Charron, Patti Colombo, and Chase Brock with Stiletto Entertainment.
Lee-Anne has performed in numerous theatrical and magical productions
across Canada and Asia. As a teacher, she has studied and taught the
CDTA and ISTD tap, jazz and modern syllabi for the Simcoe Dance
Academy as well as choreographed and performed for the competitive
team. Lee-Anne wrote, directed and choreographed the Musical Theatre
production “In My Dreams” for Turning Pointe Academy of Dance.
Currently, she teaches jazz, tap and musical theatre for the Randolph
Academy Kids Program, is choreographing for the Dance Crew, and teaches
across the GTA with the Traveling Stage. Lee-Anne is a professional
speaker and certified life coach, leading workshops for dancers on
performance, confidence, and overcoming fears. She is an active member
of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
Melissa Hart
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MELISSA HART is a dancer, choreographer and teacher from Toronto and is trained in Classical Ballet and Pointe, Graham and Contemporary Modern, Russian Character, Flamenco as well as street dances Hip-Hop, Salsa and Argentine Tango. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance, with Honours, at York University. In her final year of studies Melissa produced, directed and choreographed her own contemporary modern show “End(less) Ways”, at the Maclean Performance Studio. Five months after graduating, she co-produced, choreographed and performed in “After Now”, a two-part contemporary dance performance showcasing her latest work “the things I love”, at the Scotiabank Studio Theatre.
Melissa’s versatility as a performer has been showcased dancing for international festivals such as Glastonbury and Wireless 2011 UK music festivals, APTN’s 2012 Aboriginal Day Live festival and has been seen dancing for artists such as Jodie Connor (UK), Aelita (Latvia) and Black Thought of the Legendary Roots Crew (USA) and Canadian music sensation Dragonette.
Melissa is member of Toronto’s all female Hip Hop Dance Crew DEUCEnDIP, and has danced for major companies such as ROOTS, TARGET, IOGO, HEART & STROKE and has made several appearances on MUCHMUSIC for their New. Music. Live shows “Best Dance Crew Battles” and “Electric Circus”.
Not only has Melissa performed for well-known acts but she had the opportunity to be an assistant choreographer to international Hip Hop choreographer Lenny Len (FlavorShop) and accomplished dancer Miles Faber (SYTYCDC –Season 1).
Lastly, Melissa is a proud member of UNITY charity, whose mission is to empower the youth to be role models and leaders in their communities, using Hip Hop as their tool to find a voice and build life skills. With UNITY charity Melissa has taught many dance workshops across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, and her goal is to inspire, welcome and share with others, the art of dance.
Monica Christina Gottardo
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Monica Christina Gottardo is the founder and leader of Master Dance
Academy. Her new facility opened in September of 2016 where she is excited
to 'bring together' her knowledge and best experiences as an accomplished
dance educator , mentor , director and award winning choreographer . Her
outlook and guiding principle for her dance academy is based on providing
a professional atmosphere, fostering childhood development and nurturing
sheer enjoyment of dance. Monica has been committed to the art form for
her entire life. Monica graduated from Cardinal Carter Academy for the
Arts with honours in 2002 majoring in Dance.
Monica has been dancing since the age of three. She has studied with some
of the most well-known dance instructors/master choreographers as well as
professional schools throughout Canada and the United States. Monica
trained and taught at various schools dedicated to the arts in her later
years as a dance professional.
Her training has led her to dance professionally performing as a
professional dancer with the first team of 8 dancers who danced for the
major league baseball team-The Toronto Blue Jays , she has also danced
professionally for the major league football team The Toronto Argos and
the major league basketball team The Toronto Raptors.
prior to opening her dance academy in 2016 Monica taught dance for 12
years as a freelance dance choreographer. She has been named a top
choreographer in the industry throughout dance competitions .
Monica’s passion for teaching and love for kids led her to open Master
Dance Academy (also known as MDA) she is MDA’s main Progressions
Instructor as well as the schools Director.
Monica continuously is studying new teaching techniques and finding new
ways to collaborate the classic techniques with the most cutting edge
acrobatics arts. She prides herself in her teaching techniques as she
has developed a way to break down each movement so that her students
have a better understanding of their bodies and how to use them. Her
students have been featured in film and television, won top awards and
scholarships as well as agent representation and have begun making a mark
and turning heads in the industry in as little as a 2 years. Monica has
also trained dancers who have been top 10 finalists on So You Think You
Can Dance Canada.
Currently Monica is on her way as a new young choreographer/rising up as
a popular director / teacher/studio owner and offering a high level of
dance education to many young dancers in North York,Ontario ,Canada !
Monica is proud and excited to share her love and knowledge of dance, art
and life with all the talented dancers and competitors while judging local
dance competitions as well as her dance students and families who attend
her dance studio- Master Dance Academy!
Monica feels that dance will empower all of her students and any
child/teenager who participates in learning the art of dance -to move
forward in life and succeed in whatever lies ahead for each one of their
bright futures!
Brynn Girard
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Dance has been a part of Brynn's life for as long as she can remember. She trained in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She has choreographed numerous routines, including competitive routines for groups, solos and duets and loves judging dance competitions.
Brynn has been teaching for 14 years and is the proud owner and director of Xtreme DanceWorks Performing Arts Academy which not only offers programs in dance, drama and music but also is home to the Xtreme Competitive Dance Team and the International Ballet Theatre - Windsor's only pre-professional ballet training program.
Aside from dance, Brynn is also sings, plays piano and writes and records music. She attended the Toronto Film School (International Academy of Design & Technology) and graduated with honors in Entertainment Business Management. In her modeling days Brynn has done several photoshoots and fashion shows as well as planned several events including fashion shows and concerts. Brynn is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America, Professional Adjudicators Alliance, Acrobatic Arts, and Austalian Teachers of Dancing. She is constantly looking for new ways to improve herself as both a dancer and teacher and strives to create a positive, encouraging atmosphere and learning environment for her students.
Caitlin Goguen
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Originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, Caitlin’s passion for dance and performing was sparked at a young age. Having trained extensively in Jazz, Ballet (R.A.D.), Lyrical, Tap and Contemporary dance, she competed across North America and was honored to receive many awards and scholarships along the way. Training highlights include time spent with American Ballet Theatre as well as The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City. A graduate of the Music Theatre – Performance Program at Sheridan College, where she was the recipient of the Triple Threat Award, Caitlin has appeared in many theatrical productions across Canada. These include: How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, West Side Story, The Wizard of OZ, High School Musical (Canadian Premiere), The Producers and in 2010 she had the joy of performing a lead role in Fayez1 Productions’ Grief: Another Common Bond. Film and Television credits include: Hellcatsand Nikita as well as the Warner Bros. feature film Sucker Punch. Caitlin has taught at studios in Kitchener-Waterloo as well around the GTA and brings a strong technical aspect to her classes while encouraging her students to take risks. Caitlin is proud to be a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance and strives to inspire young dancers to follow their dreams and express themselves truthfully and passionately.
Jessica Horn
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Jessica is an accomplished performer and teacher. She is a musical theatre
graduate from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, a former
Miss Dance of Canada and a member of the Professional Adjudicator’s
Alliance. She has judged and sat on audition panels throughout Canada,
including the casting team for the North American debut of the musical
Dirty Dancing. Jessica’s career has taken her from North America to Europe
and even Asia. Her resume includes over a dozen musicals, cruise ships and
reputable dance companies, such as the Helix Dance Project and D’Neuve
Contemporary Dance Theatre. She has performed with such artists as, Carly
Rae Jepsen, Fefe Dobson, Suzie McNeil, Kreesha Turner, Rob Base and DJ
E-Z Rock, C&C Music Factory and Eric McCormick. Favourite theatre
credits include: the U.S. National Tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 42nd
Street and Much Ado About Nothing at The Stratford Festival; the world
premier of Dance Legends; West Side Story; Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat; Sweet Charity; Evita and White Christmas. Most
recently, Jessica was a cast member of the inaugural production of Mary
Poppins at the new Dunfield Theatre. Jessica’s film and television credits
include, CTV’s sitcom Satisfaction, Ghostly Encounters, Hearts of War,
Killing Zelda Sparks, Repo! The Genetic Opera, numerous commercials and
print ads. As a dancer, Jessica’s love for performing began on the
competitive stage. She hopes to encourage all competitors this weekend by
guiding them with constructive criticism to help better themselves as well
rounded performers.
Dr Stephen Gray
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Dr. Stephen Gray has performed across North America in over 75 cities including several seasons with the Stratford Shakespeare and Charlottetown Festivals, and the Broadway tour of Mary Poppins (with performances as the lead Bert in Las Vegas). Stephen can also be seen in Degrassi Goes Hollywood, and Save the Last Dance II on DVD. Stephen is the proud recipient of a Broadway World Toronto Award, an Alan Lund Memorial Scholarship, two Tyrone Guthrie Awards from the Stratford Festival, and a Top Choreography from Show Choir Canada. As a choreographer, Stephen has worked at several theatres in Canada including choreographing two musicals for Sandals Resort Turks & Caicos, and his work onBeauty & The Beast at Neptune theatre where he won a Robert Merritt Award for Best Choreography from Theatre Nova Scotia. Stephen has adjudicated countless competitions from Surrey, BC to Sydney, Nova Scotia, including a dance and music festival in Taipei, Taiwan. He has written over 15 articles for Industry Dance Magazine and Dance Canada Quarterly. He is also the co-founder of Canada’s only agency for dance educators, Quick Ball Change Inc. where he works with over 250 studios representing dance educators across Canada. As a dance educator himself, he has worked as an adjunct professor for Ryerson University, Sheridan Institute, George Brown College, and guest lectured for Cornerstone University, University of Manitoba, DUBO Force (Mexico City), and the National Dance Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to his bachelor degree in Music Theatre Performance, he also has his Doctor of Chiropractic degree (CMCC, Magna Cum Laude), completed his Pilates teacher training, Functional Range Conditioning, U of Calgary’s Concussion Management & Detection certification, Progressing Ballet Technique, Benesh Notation through U of Waterloo, Athletic Movement Assessment, and is a proud graduate of McMaster University’s Medical Acupuncture program. (You may also recognize Stephen from The Morning Show(Global TV), as one of their health and fitness experts!) For more information check out www.madetomove.ca or follow him on Instagram @madetomove.ca
Silvia Graffi
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Silvia Graffi received part of her formal training at the National Ballet School and the Royal Winnipeg School. She was also awarded a full-year dance scholarship at Florida Ballet Arts in Sarasota, FLA. She then returned to Toronto and received an Honours Graduate Diploma for successfully completing the dance training program at George Brown College.
Experiencing a diverse and extensive professional career in ballet, jazz and tap, Silvia has literally performed around the world, incuding Japan, Bermuda, Haiti, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Arctic and throughout North America. Her C.B.C. television credits include, Rita and Friends (The Rita MacNeil Show), Today's Special (dancer for Jeff Hyslop), and Chasing Rainbows. She has appeared in commercials for Lee Jeans, Borics Hair Salon, and the P.C. Party. Silvia's vast experience as a professional dancer has allowed her to be an exceptionally creative and innovative choreographer. Her accolades include the Canadian Armed Forces Middle East Tour, cruise ships in the Caribbean, the Magic of Rossini American Tour, various industrial shows, musical theatre productions, and fashion shows.
Silvia has enjoyed being an adjudicator at numerous competitions such as the Surrey Festival of Dance, the C.N.E. Rising Star, Rhythm, D-Force, Champions and Dance Dance Canada to name a few. Originally from Toronto, Silvia moved six years ago and now teaches and choreographs in beautiful Nanaimo, B.C
Stephanie Graham
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Originally from Waterloo, Stephanie Graham is an accomplished performer, choreographer, producer and educator.
As a perfomer her theatre credits include Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma!, Snow White in Into the Woods, Liane D’Exelmans in Gigi, My One and Only, Hello, Dolly! and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at The Stratford Festival of Canada, two seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as Belinda in Johnny Belinda and as Josie Pye and Prissy Andrews in Anne of Green Gables and many other shows at various theatres across Canada including: You Can’t Take it With You, The Crucible, West Side Story, Ragtime, A Chorus Line, Nunsense, Peter Pan, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and The Music Man. She has also performed in four operas including Siegfried (part of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ring Cycle.)
Her television and film credits include, the Gemini nominated pilot of Getting Along Famously (with Colin Mochorie), Shania-A Life in Eight Albums, Fancy Dancing, Stormy Weather, Happy Christmas Miss King and Wind At My Back.
Stephanie’s choreography credits include She Loves Me, Oklahoma!, A Sentimental Christmas, Pregnant Lady Dancing and Impulse-An Evening of Original Choreography. She recently choreographed a foxtrot for the first annual Dancing with Canadian Celebs Fundraiser, a celebrity dance contest in support of Dancing with Parkinson’s. Stephanie served as Assistant Choreographer for pre-production on the new musical Ha’Penny Bridge under Director/ Choreographer, Donna Feore. She has also assisted on many theatre, film and television projects including Cadet Kelly with Hilary Duff. She was an Assistant Choreographer on the first two episodes of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Stephanie is currently the Program Director and Choreographer for the Charlottetown Festival Young Company
As a producer, Stephanie worked as the assistant producer on the Canadian Premiere of David Hare’s Stuff Happens with Studio 180. She led the production team for Impulse-An Evening of Original Choreography at the Stratford Festival, which raised almost $20,000 for Aids Action Perth and Equity Fights Aids (The Actors’ Fund of Canada). She has also produced two benefits for the YMCA of Greater Toronto, two Dance Cabarets at the Stratford Festival, Mamm-o-rama for The Womens’ Committee of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, a workshop reading of a new musical, Noah and acted as Producer Liaison for the reading of Turvey during the Canadian Musical Theatre Week. Stephanie worked as an intern in the Creative Affairs Department under New York Producer, Marty Bell (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, LoveMusik, The Last 5 Years) at Livent Inc. Stephanie has various projects in the works including The Shakespeare Dances, a collective dance piece that uses the themes in William Shakespeare’s plays and features the choreography of several up and coming Canadian choreographers.
She is a graduate of Sheridan College's Music Theatre Performance Program and has trained at the National Ballet School, Banff School of Fine Arts, Broadway Dance Centre (New York City), in London, England and Sydney, Australia.
She has been on the faculty at Sheridan College, Randolph Academy of Performing Arts and has guest taught and adjudicated across Canada. She is a member of CAEA, ACTRA and the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (PAA)
Heather Laura Gray
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Heather Laura Gray as been an adjudicator since the year 2000. Her credits include: Terpsichore Dance Celebration (Various Canadian locations), Greater Victoria Arts Festival (B.C.), Pacific Northwest Music Festival (Terrace B.C.), Dance Odyssey Competition (Ontario), Quill Plaines Dance Competition (Saskatchewan), Shiane Dance Festival (Alberta), 5678 Showtime (Quebec). She has performed and trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip hop and is versed in acro and breaking. She has experience in Flamenco, Chinese Dance, traditional ballet character and African.
Heather Laura Gray is an emerging urban contemporary choreographer who is eager to bring new audiences out to experience dance. Pulling from urban dance arts such as hip hop and house, Heather’s drive to create dynamic movement and intriguing concepts makes her choreography accessible to many. She is currently Artistic Director of Urbanflow Productions which is dedicated to presenting the highest quality independent urban dance theatre in Canada. Go to www.urbanflowproductions.com
Heather received her training at L’ecole Superieur de Danse du Quebec (Montreal), The Goh Ballet and Randolf School of Performing Arts (Toronto). Heather has produced plays; dance showcases, co-produced a film and is a published author. She has choreographed, performed and taught dance for over 10 years. Selected performance credits include: “Dances For a Small Stage 15, 2007“ (Vancouver) “Gabrielle and Evangeline”(PEI), “Disney Cruise Lines” USA (Musicals), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” (T.O.), “The Score” (CBC Movie Musical), “The Lizzy Mcguire Movie“(Feature Film)”,The Chris Isaak Show” (TV), “Dead Like Me” (TV), “The Legends of Earthsea” (Miniseries).
Melanie Heddon-Perron
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Melanie is the owner and director of Rising Star Performing Arts Studio in Waterdown, Ontario. Melanie has been performing and teaching for over 30 years and brings with her an extensive knowledge of the Performing Arts. She is a graduate of the theatre program at Sheridan College after which she began an intense study of dance with teachers as diverse as Roland and Romaine, Brian Foley, Luigi, Jerry Ames, Gus Giordano, Charles Kelly and many more. As an actor Melanie has appeared in plays and musicals ranging from The Diary of Anne Frank to No, No, Nanette and recently narrated a major documentary. In 1986 she toured with The June Sweeney Dancers and was a featured performer at Expo '86. Melanie also has performed in nightclub revues, industrial shows and on television. She has been honored with several awards throughout her career for her performing and teaching and most recently has been honored with choreography awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Her students have won many regional and national titles. Students from Rising Star have won Gold Medals at the World Tap and Show dance Championships and have attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Canada’s National Ballet School and she has students furthering their studies at RAPA, Ryerson and York Universities. Many of her students have appeared in films, commercials and videos. Under Melanie's direction Rising Star students have also won awards for their Spirit, by demonstrating sportsmanship and commitment to their craft. She is an associate member of the C.D.T.A., D.E.A. and is a certified fitness instructor. With her outgoing, enthusiastic personality and her belief in a balanced, positive critique Melanie will be a welcome addition to your judging panel
Stacey Gondar
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With over 24years of dance experience, Stacey is a successfully established instructor, performer, choreographer and adjudicator. She is currently on staff at various schools in the Greater Toronto Area and has taught many exciting classes with The Toronto District School Board. She has taught with the Canadian National Ballet School and their “Dance in Schools” program in Durham Region. Stacey is also known to lead high energy and innovative workshops as a guest choreographer/teacher for various studios, in her fun, funky and unique style. Her dynamic choreography at both competitive and recreational levels has led many of her students to award winning results in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. Many of Stacey’s students have successfully completed their B.A.T.D examinations with exceptional marks and gone on to participate in scholarship programs. Stacey loves to teach and watch her students grow and become well-rounded dancers and performers. As an Adjudicator for various reputable dance competitions and a member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance, Stacey has found a passion for assisting young dancer’s in their personal and creative process.
Continuously performing professionally throughout her dance career, Stacey’s credits include live theatre, industrial shows, and music videos. As well as participating in various tele-thons and television commercials. Highlights include NBA half-time Show, Tropicana Dinner Theatre, Canadian National Exhibition and Paramount Canada’s Wonderland. As a choreographer Stacey’s work can be found in numerous theatre productions throughout Ontario.
Stacey’s training is extensive; formally trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Modern, and Hip Hop. To continue training Stacey attended York University as a dance major, also studying with Debbie Wilson (Cincinnati Ballet, les Ballet Jazz de Montreal), Amanda Paris (les Ballet Jazz de Montreal), K’aeja de Danse, and continuously attends workshops, seminars and enjoys creative development.
Stacey also operates a successful Costume and Apparel business, Flash Design Company, which specializes in custom design for competitive dancers. She is a graduate of the International Academy of Design and Technology in the art of Costume Design. Flash Design Co. also constructs costumes and clothing for many films, theatre productions and independent works
Chelsea Gibbs
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Chelsea Gibbs started her dance training at the young age of four. At the age of six she joined a competitive team, where she won numerous special and overall awards for her performances. At age eleven, she was the youngest to audition and become a member of the semi-professional tap company “iTap Youth Company,” based in Hamilton, Ontario, under the direction of, the late, Kimberley Timlock. She also successfully completed her B.A.T.D. Tap and Jazz Exams, R.A.D. Ballet Exams and her P.A.E.C. Tap Exam.
Chelsea’s performing highlights include: the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) in New York (own choreography), the Olympic Torch Relay Performance Team, the Canadian National Tap Team, Chicago Human Rhythms Project, Montreal Tap Fest and Corporate events. She also had the wonderful opportunity to perform with professional tap companies, as well as taking Master classes from tap enthusiasts such as Savion Glover, Jason Janas, Travis Knights and Lisa La Touché. Chelsea’s mentors are Emmy award winner Ted Louis Levy, and sisters Chloe and Maud Arnold- of the Syncopated Ladies. Over the years, Chelsea has appeared in numerous commercials and television show…“The Next Step”, “IIFA Awards”, “Breakfast Television”, “Motives and Murders” and “Voice of a Child” to name a few.
Chelsea has and continues to receive the finest training and is privileged to teach, adjudicate and conduct intensive workshops that allow her to impart her knowledge and creativity to students in the GTA and surrounding areas. With her knowledge, expertise and passion for dance, Chelsea’s goal is to continue to inspire and ignite the passion of dance within her students, as well as living her dream as a performer.
Chelsea obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Leadership at the University of Guelph.
Chelsea is also a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (P.A.A.).
Kendra Hughes
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Kendra Hughes started dance at a young age and found her passion in life. Trained in Modern dance, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Jazz she was able to continue with her passion at George Brown College in their Dance Performance Foundations. Since graduating George Brown College, Kendra has performed across Canada, also throughout the world including India, the Middle East and the United States.
Kendra has been a member of many dance companies around Toronto. She has also been a guest choreographer for the Toronto Hot Rock Dance Team as well as a performer and choreographer with the Hamilton Modern Dance Company under the direction of Dave Wilson. Kendra is the artistic director and choreographer for the performance company Kinetic Elements. Some of their works include two full length shows for the Toronto Fringe Festival, the Guelph Dance Festival, The Bazaar, Dance Ontario’s International Dance Day and Fashion Alternative Week in Toronto. Her choreography has been called powerful, electric and dynamic.
Kendra is a fully certified teacher in Modern and Urban dance through the Performing Arts Educators of Canada (PAEC). She has worked with PAEC Urban dance committee to create a syllabus for their association. Over the years, Kendra has taught in many studios across Canada and has choreographed many award winning routines for competition. Kendra has developed her own program called Decipher which uses movement and dance as a tool to help young dancers recognize their strengths, build confidence and develop their self-esteem. She is proud to be a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
Ashley Harju
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Ashley Harju is a talented, energetic and technically trained dancer with over 19 years of dance experience and comes from a diverse dance background. Training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Pointe, Acrobatics, Modern, Hip Hop, Improvisation and Heels. She is also an experienced Teacher and Choreographer, originally from Thunder Bay Ontario. Ashley has received training from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and has graduated from the Commercial Dance Performing Arts program at George Brown College. Currently based in Toronto, Ashley dances on the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak and also works as a Freelance Dancer and Choreographer. Her performance credits include Splash N’ Boots on Tree House Television, The Toronto Fringe Festival, NBA All-Star Game 2016, Fever After Dark, The Bazaar, Rapid Eye Movement, King Ryan Events and The Nutcracker. Ashley has taught Zumba and dance fitness classes at the Viva Wyndham Maya Resort in Mexico and has also choreographed and taught both competitive and recreational dance classes for the past 5 years. Prior to her teaching experience, Harju was a teachers assistant for 8 years. Ashley’s objective is to bring her knowledge, experience and love for dance to the judging panel in the hopes of inspiring young dancers to grow, learn and reach their goals.
Pat Gabel-Yablonski
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Pat is an accomplished Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer and Adjudicator well known in her dance community. With over 35 years of experience teaching and choreographing, her love and passion for the fine art of dance and commitment of sharing this knowledge with her students is her inspiration. Pats teaching and dance education style and innovative choreography has led her students and herself to many award winning results at local competitions.
Pat has obtained certification and accreditation in all areas of dance and music in order to be a diverse and knowledgeable teacher. She is a graduate from the Dance program at Ryerson and is a member with Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) - ballet, Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) – ballet, tap, jazz, acro, modern, Associate Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) – tap and jazz, has studied many dance styles in the syllabi of Cecchitti, Vaganova, ISTD and BATD, Acrobatic Arts – Modules 1 &2, CBTF/SBTF – Canadian and Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Federations, Stott Pilates, pianist exams under CCM (Canadian Conservatory of Music), Music for Young Children (MYC) and Kindermusik as well as being an Early Childhood Educator. She has performed, taught, choreographed and adjudicated all styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, song and dance, acro, baton and ethnic or National dance.
In recent years,Pat has devoted her time to attending workshops and seminars and considerable online study to further develop the creative and developmental process and stay current in the ever changing world of dance. Many of her students have gone on to become accomplished teachers and performers in the industry. Pat is a member of and is a qualified dance adjudicator with the Professional Adjudicators Alliance and looks forward to sharing her knowledge, experience, passion and expertise at every event.
Nicole Garrett
From choreography to performance, Nicole has spent the previous 19 years of her life happily immersed in the world of dance. Since enrolling in her first dance classes at Centre Stage Dance Studio (New Hamburg), Nicole has studied extensively in various genres, including acro, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, pointe, ballet and hip-hop. Nicole’s acro training is supplemented with several years of experience as a gymnast at KW-Gymnastics. Throughout her teaching career, Nicole has pursued numerous credentials, including: Acrobatique Acrodance teacher’s training, Adapt jazz and tap teacher’s training, and membership to the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance.
It is a firm policy of Nicole’s to seize all opportunities to enrich her knowledge and skill in the art of dance. As a part of her training, Nicole spent several years dancing at Unlock Unleash Control: a professional development program for dancers that focuses heavily on practicing the Paula Morgan Technique, located in Kitchener. Nicole has trained personally with Paula Morgan over a number of years, allowing her to develop an in-depth understanding of the stretch and strength training required to develop a dancer with exceptional facility. Nicole’s performance experience includes a guest appearance on a Carnival Cruise Line, Wilmot Canada Day festivities, various charity events, University of Waterloo frosh week activities, a Waterloo Choreographer’s Ball, a Sandvine company event at Pearl Night Club and a Toronto Raptor’s basketball game. Additionally, Nicole has been an actress for Busy Bee’s Parties since 2013. Fascinated with the creation of movement, Nicole has choreographed both for herself and professionally for several years, consistently acquiring overall awards for her students and herself at competition.
Today, Nicole is continuing to indulge in her passion for dance as a member of and choreographer for the University of Waterloo’s Competitive Dance Team, a drop-in guest teacher throughout the tri-city, a professional choreographer and a faculty member at ‘Bringing Tap Back’ dance studio in Kitchener as well as Dynamic Dance Force dance studio in Cambridge.
Mike Glenney
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Mike started dancing at the age of 6 and realized his love of the art shortly thereafter. Throughout his career, Mike has trained intensively in tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet and partnering as well as performing in musical theatre and modern.
Mike was the 2016 World Tap Dance Champion in the “Battle of the Feet”. Along with his title win,he has won a total of 7 medals in his appearances at the World Tap Dance Championships in Germany, spanning across solo, duet, and group categories. The students Mike has trained have also had their share of success; winning Silver at the “Commonwealth Dance Cup”, and Gold at the“World Tap Dance Championships” for solos he choreographed.
Throughout his career Mike has been fortunate to train and take numerous workshops, master classes and residencies with many of the greatest dancers and educators of our time including: Mia Michaels, Anthony Morigerato, Denise and Travis Wall, Savion Glover, Francisco Gella, and Michelle Dorrance to name a few. Mike recognizes the benefits of continued education in dance, and travels every summer to further his training. In that pursuit, Mike has trained in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, and Germany, among other local and international opportunities.
Mike has performed with Shawn Byfield’s “Funk Factory”, was a founding member of EverettSmith’s tap company “Bringing Tap Back” and was a member of the “ONE Movement” anti-bullying performance company. Furthermore, he was recently offered a full-time artist position with the prestigious “Tapestry Dance Company” based in Austin, Texas. Other projects have included: “The Miss America Pageant”, “The Humber River Hospital Benefit”, industrial events for “McDonald’sCanada”, “Geosyntec Consulting”, and “Delta Hotels International”, and a guest solo performance with the “True Jive Pluckers” and the “Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra”. He is also the Canadianrepresentative for the “House of Tap Project”; a collective with the goal of uniting the tapcommunity worldwide.
Mike began teaching dance in 2009. He then went on to spend two years dancing aboard the“Disney Dream” and “Fantasy” cruise ships, before returning home to reignite his teaching career.Mike’s passion for guiding young dancers has been a driving force in his career, leading him to become a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (PAA). Most recently Mike has become a choreographer for the “Canadian Dance Organization” (CDO) for the “World DanceChampionships” in Germany and the “Commonwealth Dance Cup” in South Africa, and “World Performers Canada” for the “World Dance Cup” in Spain.
Mike is proud to have become sought after performer, instructor, choreographer, and adjudicator throughout the GTA and beyond. Mike cherishes his time spent encouraging and inspiring his students, and imbuing them with the same love of dance and performance that has him shuffling down the street.
Madison Haste
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Madison Haste is a versatile professional dancer, singer and actor based out of Toronto, Ontario. She has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, and contemporary dance beginning her training at the age of 3 and danced competitively for over 10 years. Madison is trained in RAD (Royal Academy of Dance), C.D.T.A., B.A.T.D., as well has completed the Improv Program at The Second City, and holds a Triple Threat Diploma from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
Madison is an acclaimed choreographer and teacher, having choreographed and taught throughout Toronto and Durham Region. She has performed in various stage productions across the GTA, as well as appeared in front of the camera in music videos and films. Madison has also a produced several projects, having created, produced and directed her own touring Musical Theatre Revue called Serial Lovers in 2017. Other credentials include Dancing with Parkinson’s(Featured Dancer), The Teddy Bear Affair Benefit Performance(Featured Singer), An Elton John Tribute Performance (Featured Dancer) and The Harlem Globetrotters(Featured Dancer). It is a passion and a privilege for Madison to be able to contribute to the dance community while pursuing her career in the performing arts.
Finally, Madison is very excited to be able to share her knowledge with and influence the up and coming generation of dancers.
Rachel Hunter
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Rachel has been dancing since the age of two and has trained extensively in a variety of dance styles including Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical. She competed with The Dance Shoppe in Milton, ON and received many awards at both Regional and National competitions. Rachel recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics). During her final years at Laurier, Rachel held the role of Dance Coordinator for Laurier’s Recreational Dance Program which is a highly regarded program among Canadian Universities. This role involved managing a team of 27 dance instructors and coordinating a program of over 400 dancers. Rachel participated in the dance program in classes including advanced jazz, contemporary, lyrical, open and burlesque. In addition, she was a Tap instructor within the program for 4 years and has been a teacher and guest instructor at a variety of dance studios across Ontario. Rachel is currently a student at Arizona State University pursuing a Masters of Sports Law and Business, and is also working on her Level 1 and 2 International Dance Teaching Standards Certification.
CARINA HOLLAND
AA, BFA, PDg, MA PAA, PBT
Since her first exposure to dance at the age of five, Carina has crafted her style and passion across more than 15 years of professional experience with both performing and teaching. She developed her core skills in her hometown of Mississauga, training in a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, modern and tap. Carina pursued her studies in dance to travel internationally to the United States of America and the United Kingdom. She successfully obtained her Arts Associate, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with highest honours from New World School of the Arts in Miami Florida. Following this, she continued her dance education by completing her Postgraduate Degree and her Master's Degree in Contemporary Dance from the London Contemporary Dance School in London, United Kingdom.
Throughout her career, Carina has performed internationally for audiences across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom working personally with Daniel Lewis, Peter London, Gerald Ebitz, and Darshan Singh Bhuller. She has performed for companies, with her primary focus on her work as a freelance performer. This has led her to perform works by choreographers such as Hofesh Schechtor, Robert Battle, José Limon, and Paolo Mangiola. Alongside performing, Carina has shared her passion for dance with students of all ages, beginner to advanced levels in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, modern and tap across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. As an instructor, her students have won various awards, scholarships and received recognition for their achievements, including getting accepted to programs such as the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre.
Carina continues her development in her professional teaching career with a certification with Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT), as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (PAA) and is currently in pursuit of obtaining her full membership with various teaching organizations.
Carina's passion for dance continues to thrive as she inspires the next generation of young dancers and professionals to find the same passion that was instilled in herself at such a young age. She looks forward to seeing everyone explore and shine through their movement and love of dance.
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Kim Hurley
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Kim is a very versatile Dancer, Instructor and Choreographer. Trained in many styles such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Acro, and Hip Hop. Kim has won many awards and recognitions in Canada and the US for her choreography and training. She has had the opportunity to train with some of the best teachers and dance professionals in the industry.
She is a graduate of Dance Educators of America, current Society of Russian Ballet Member, member of The Professional Adjudicators Alliance and Acro Dance Certified Adjudicator.
Kim has been a part of the Adjudicating process in areas of Dance, Theatre, and Voice for over 10 years. She offers excellent feedback to all performers and enjoys Competitive Dance. She has been teaching Dance and Choreographing for over 20 years in Alberta, Canada. She has worked on Community Theatre and has been the Artistic Choreographer for “A Chorus Line”, “Fame , "All Shook Up", "Cabaret", "Footloose", and recently finished a successful run of “Flash Dance The Musical”. She has worked on choreography for neighboring Alberta schools and is sought after across the province for her teaching skills. She has been recognized by agents who represent Dance Educators for her choreography. She has been featured in Dance Studio Life Magazine for her Artistic Direction and Business Operations. She prides herself on her dancers’ accomplishments. Many graduating students under her training have become Entrepreneurs in all facets of Health and the Arts as well, working Professionals in the Film and Music Industry. Kim Hurley is also the Artistic Director for "Northern Dance Off" Festival, Director of “The Post Dance Experience Convention”, Artistic Director of “Young Choreographer Ball” and was the Artistic Director for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Alberta Winter Games. She has pushed through many obstacles during her career. Specifically, losing her entire studio to flooding, Kim has been able to persevere and bring inspiration and strength to her dancers and others. Her extensive knowledge and years of dance teaching have made her one of the most successful dance business owners in Alberta. Kim loves dance and she loves training strong healthy dancers!
Rhonda L Gillrie
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Rhonda began dancing at the age of two and has never stopped. She has studied and continues to study many styles of dance. Rhonda owns and operates the Rhonda McCulloch Danceology that began over 35 years ago. She has trained dancers who are now professionally performing and/or pursuing Fine Arts Degrees in Dance, as well as those students who are now teaching themselves. Miss Rhonda's dancers have won numerous awards for high scores and choreography. Beyond that, her greatest thrill is still to see the growth in self-esteem and self confidence dance brings to her students.
Rhonda is pleased to be able to provide quality dance instruction in a fun and non-threatening environment
Some highlights of Rhonda's dance career are as follows:
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•Holds a Dance and Dance Teaching Diploma from Grant MacEwan University.
•Holds BFA in Dance
•Holds a Full Membership Status in Ballet, Jazz & Tap and Associate Status in Modern With the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association
•Associate membership in Acrobatics with the Canadian Dance Teachers' Association.
•Holds Teaching Certification with Acrobatique, and Acrobatic Arts
•Is an Examiner of Ballet, Tap & Jazz Amateur and Professional levels for the CDTA.
•Holds a Full membership in Highland with the Scottish Official Board.
•Is familiar with RAD, Cecchetti, and Vagoniva methods and terminology
•Has served on the executive of the Alberta Branch of the CDTA, President for six of those.
•Former Director and Coordinator for the Ballet Division of the CDTA and helped to create the original National Syllabus.
•Former Ballet rehearsal Mistress for the children's roles in Alberta Ballet's "Nutcracker"
•2006 Alberta Summer Games Opening Ceremonies Choreographer.
•Has choreographed many major musicals for various community and High School programs.
•Dance 15,25,35 teacher at her Willieam E Hay Secondary Campus
Rhonda is the Artistic director for Alberta Prairie Steam Train’s “Polar Express”. Ranked #1 in the world for Railway Excursions. With a Cast of over 45, the company performs for 12000+ passengers each holiday season.
Miss Rhonda continues to study and train in order to stay on top of the new developments in technical execution of movements, the safe and proper training of dancers and the physiology of teaching young people. She loves to teach and feels that every child deserves the right to dance and feel good about themselves through movement and music. She also believes that all children deserve the right to proper, ethical and safe dance instruction. She looks forward to sharing ideas and knowledge with dancers and their instructors and learning from them as well.
Erica Herridge
Erica fell in love with dance and expression through movement at the young age of 4. At the age of 6 she began her competitive dance career and competed in many different dance styles over the years such as Jazz, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Tap winning several special awards, overall scores, and scholarships for her performances. As a studio dancer Erica also completed, with honours, the Jazz, Acro, and Ballet PAEC exams from the pre-primary to pre-professional level. Miss Erica has trained with Brian Friedman from the PULSE Dance Convention faculty, Amanda Cleghorn from SYTYCD Canada, as well as many other successful instructors and choreographers in the dance industry.
Erica graduated from her competitive dance program in 2016 and went on to compete with the University of Guelph's Genesis Dance Program for two years of her university career. Erica graduated from the University of Guelph with a Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree in April 2020 and is excited to continue learning and growing as a dance teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator.
Erica has been teaching dance classes professionally for 7 years now. As a teacher, adjudicator, and choreographer in the dance industry Erica has committed herself to growth and ongoing education. Erica is Module 1 & 2 certified with Acrobatic Arts, Preschool Dance certified with Acrobatic Arts, and Module 1 certified with Alixa Flexibility. Erica also attends dance teacher master classes and workshops to ensure that her students get the most out of every class and every dancer she adjudicates receives high quality feedback. Erica takes immense pride in every single class that she teaches, dance routine she judges, or piece she choreographs and ensures that she makes a difference in that dancers’ life. Erica loves to see her students grow not only as a dancer, but as an all-around person.
Ally Hopps
Ally is a dedicated dancer, choreographer and instructor. She fell in love with dance at the age of 3 when she spun right into the studio. She has trained in all styles of dance at a Bowmanville based Studio; Spotlight Danceworks and is now a certified teacher (A.B.A.T.D). Ally has always been a passionate dancer but her love for creating was ignited when she began choreographing for her her high school dance team. There she was recognized not only in school but received many choreography awards at competitions. Ally now instructs and choreographs all styles of dance, with her routines getting recognized at competitions throughout Canada and the United States.
Over Ally's years of dancing she has received many awards and scholarships including the "Dancer of the Year" and was also selected to compete for the North America B.A.T.D Scholarships with dancers across Canada. Ally travelled to Poland to proudly represent her country competing in ballet, modern and jazz as a member of the Team Canada Dance. Ally is a member of multiple Toronto based dance companies, notably appearing in music videos behind multiple vocal artists and performing in a pantomime production of the Wizard of Oz. Her versatility ranges from dark performances at Canadas Wonderlands Halloween Haunt to immersing in unique choreography at the Chinese Canadian TV festival in Toronto.
She has performed at many sporting events such as Raptors, Harlem Globetrotters and Toronto Marlies, but recently Ally debuted as a Cheerleader for the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Team and is honoured to not only represent the team in the community but dance at all home games for over 10,000 fans.
Ally is passionate when it comes to inspiring performers of any age with her dedication to dance, instruction, and versatile artistry. While she follows her own dreams she wants to prove that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to when it comes to their ambitions.
Claire Gunderson-Dance
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Claire is originally from Ontario but moved out to British Columbia at age 3, to the seaside town of White Rock. She has been an ocean loving west-coaster ever since. As a child, Claire experimented with gymnastics and skating before discovering dance at age 8. Claire fell in love with the forms and discipline of classical ballet and studied the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus for 10 years receiving honours scores in her exams and including a scholarship to the National Ballet School in Toronto. As an adult, Claire continued to dance, expanding her study and repertoire to Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip
Hop, Tap, Stage and National dance. She has had the great pleasure of attending master classes with several prominent teachers and choreographers such as Chan Han Goh and Erik Bruhn.
Some of Claire’s favourite performances were the Grey Cup Parade in Vancouver and video collaborations with performing and visual artists such as Robert Genn. She also enjoys the opportunity to contribute her choreography and performance talents for BC charity and community showcases.
Throughout her dance journey, Claire attended the Margaret Perry Ballet Studio, The Lower Mainland Dance Centre, Panorama School of Dance and Studio West Dance. She is inspired by the evolution of the dance as an art-form and shares this with her students when she teaches community and private ballet classes. She is a member of the Vancouver Ballet Society.
She brings a wide variety of knowledge, experience and love of dance to her judging.
Marlea van Grinsven
Marlea van Grinsven has a diversified background within the arts. She is a
member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, as well as certified through the Progressing Ballet Technique program and holds a teaching certification in Tap and Modern through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. She has trained in multiple genres such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical. Marlea has grown her passion for dance through teaching syllabus
and technique to dancers age three to adult in various styles.
Marlea has also choreographed for local theatre companies and productions in Calgary, AB. She has been featured as a choreographer and film director in two film festivals showcased throughout Alberta and still performs herself with cultural wedding groups. Marlea helps share her love and passion of the arts by working as a teacher and choreographer around the Calgary area with the school systems, community centres and dance studios to ensure that dance is
being brought to as many individuals as possible.
Jasmine Goulet
Jasmine began her dancing career in her hometown of Banff, AB and quickly found her passion. She travelled between Calgary and Banff to train in multiple styles of dance including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, pointe, tap and hip hop. She achieved her Advanced 2 with the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as with the International Dance Teachers Association in jazz, modern and tap. Jasmine continued on to gain Registered Teachers Status (RAD RTS) and Licentiate Teaching Status (IDTA).
Jasmine is passionate about professional development and continual education. She is also certified with Acrobatic Arts, ADAPT and Progressing Ballet Technique and is also an active member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Jasmine's choreographic works are unique and innovative, challenging her students both in their technique and performance, and has received top scores and awards. Jasmine is a dedicated teacher who prides herself on fun, challenging and positive classes that inspire the next generation of dancers. As an adjudicator she strives to encourage all competitors to push themselves and reach their potential by providing constructive feedback and guidance.
Jasmine is excited to see the dancers bring their best to the stage and to share her knowledge, passion and expertise with the dancers hitting the stage at your event.