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Dani Kagan
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Dani is a passionate, motivated choreographer, dance teacher, adjudicator and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She has extensive training in many genres including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and contemporary. Dani competed and trained at Vlad’s Dance Company and then at All That Dance where she taught for 6 years. She currently teaches at the competitive program at Rhythm in Toronto. Winning numerous dance and choreography awards throughout her years within Canada and the US, Dani has continued to bring dance into her adult life.
Dani was a member of the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak in 2013-2014. She was a back up dancer in Billy Blanks Jr. and Sharon Blanks’ DVD called Dance It Out (DIO). She was also a back up dancer for Hedley at the 2014 MMVA’s. Dani was the co- captain of the U of T Dance team for 2 years where she lead the team to 1st overall championships.
Dani has performed and choreographed for shows such as Dance Ontario, Fever After Dark, Toronto’s Next Bombshell, Choreographer’s Ball, and Bazaar. Dani is the co-producer of Raise the Rhythm, a charity fashion, dance and music event that raises funds for different Canadian charities. Through this initiative Dani has helped raise over $15,000 for Canadian charities. Dani is a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. She is known for her expertise in various dance styles and she is always excited to bring her knowledge and passion to the judge’s panel. She has the capability to judge all levels of dance with professionalism and aptitude.
Dani has a mature understanding of what competition owners, parents and students need and considers herself to be a team player. With her versatile background and well roundedness, Dani aims to make the adjudicating and overall competition experience successful for all parties involved. As an adjudicator and full time instructor, Dani continually strives to inspire dancers with her positive energy and hopes to grow and gain more knowledge within the field.
Trisha Jeffers
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Trisha Jeffers had a wish; to have her own dance studio. She had a dream; of injecting the same passion for dance into the students she taught. She just had to do it; and she did. TJ’s Dance Troop started in 2004, and in 2007, she opened the doors to her own studio space. Since then, Trisha carried on her passion for the art form, nurturing talent, providing a positive influence and taking her students to new heights.
With over 20 years in the industry as a competitive dancer and instructor, she has performed all over Canada, the U.S. and Europe, and has received numerous awards as a competitive dancer and choreographer. Most notably in 1998 when she was asked to represent Canada at the World’s Competition in California, competing with dancers from across the globe. At that competition she was awarded “Top Female of the World” for ages 16-20.
Currently, Trisha has earned her Elementary RAD certificate, completed her RAD Exam for Ballet, and received her ADAPT Advance Tap and Jazz certificates. She is now working towards her ADAPT Teacher Certification, and her Acrobatique Certification (A.C.D).
In addition to her tireless work professionally and at the studio, Trisha works with the Newcastle and Bowmanville highschools creating choreography for their dance programs. She works hard to create an embracing and familial environment at the studio, in an effort to contrast the highly competitive dance industry. To further reinforce the all-embracing culture at the studio, Trisha has poured countless time and energy into producing an anti-bullying piece with her students. Having taken this piece on the road with her troop, she has even used it to support a national anti-bullying organization.
Ultimately, Trisha’s passion for dance, love for her students and desire to impact others positively are what set her apart from other instructors. She continues to impart her years of experience, dedication and penchant for hard work to everyone she works with. Trisha knows that if you can wish it and if you can dream it, you can do it.
Mandy Kerr
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Mandy began dancing, singing and acting at the age of three in her hometown of Edmonton, AB, Canada. After moving with her family to San Diego, CA and graduating high school, she then moved to New York City where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and began her professional career. Since her move to the United States she has performed and toured with some of today’s top musical artists such as CHER, *N SYNC, NICK CANNON and the 2004 United States Olympic Gymnastic team. She also was the assistant choreographer for MICHAEL JACKSONS “Miracle on 34th Street” at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Some of her television appearances include DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, SEX AND THE CITY, SESAME STREET, and VH1’s Big in ’05 Awards with DEF LEPPARD. Mandy shot a pilot for Fox with comedians Bob Sagat and Jeffery Ross as well as the pilot for the CBS television series SMITH starring Ray Liotta and Amy Smart. She has also worked with such companies as AFLAC and TJ MAXX and can currently be seen in commercials for both PROGRESSIVE and MAC IPOD SHUFFLE. As well as dancing professionally she can currently be found choreographing and teaching both nation and world wide at multiple conventions, workshops, studios, intensives, and companies such as ELITE DANCE CONVENTIONS, FUSION, SURREY DANCE FESTIVAL, HARBOUR Dance Center, SOURCE DANCE, and SKIP Entertainment. Mandy just finished as the in house choreographer for ADIDAS Asia-Pacific working on numerous Pre-Olympic events as well as co-creating an instructional Hip Hop DVD called ADIDAS STREET HOP. She just recently returned from China, Canada, Guam, and from Holland where she was added as a judge at the 2006/2007 World Hip Hop Championships. Some of her most recent accomplishments include choreographing for the Netherlands new artist “Eva” and TUG’s new artist Ashley Rose. Mandy has been teaching Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical/Contemporary, Ballet and Musical Theater for almost a decade and loves to inspire and share her passion for dance to anyone who wants to listen!!!
Samantha Ippolito
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Samantha Ippolito began dancing at the age of three, and quickly knew that teaching dance was her passion. Following many years as an award-winning competitive dancer, Samantha was accepted into the OIP Dance Company in Toronto, Ontario. She has worked with renowned choreographers including Danny Davalos, Heather Leslie, Luther Brown, and Faye Rauw, among others. Most recently, Samantha was part of the Canadian National Tap Team that represented Canada at the World Dance Championships in Reisa, Germany; the team brought home the Gold and Championship title. As a certified teacher with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD), Samantha has been teaching for more than five years at high profile studios throughout York Region. She has also completed and achieved an honours BFA degree in Dance at York University. Samantha is a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, and as a professional promises to bring all her knowledge and experience to every event.
Katherine Kasprzyk
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Katherine is a very accomplished dancer and has been dancing since the early age of five. She is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical and acro. Katherine has held various titles such as National Champion Soloist for Hall of Fame and America’s Junior National Dancer of the Year for American Dance Awards. She made ADA history by being the first to win four audition classes: modern, jazz, ballet, and acro. Katherine has also had the prestigious honour of holding the National title of Teen Miss Dance of America 2011 for Dance Masters of America and was a former and current Grand Champion of the Youth Rising Star Competition for the Canadian National Exhibition.
Her highest achievement was winning Miss Dance of America 2013 for Dance Masters of America, where she was given the opportunity of travelling to different states to teach as well as perform. Katherine is proud to be a full member of the Dance Masters of America Organization. As well as being very involved in competitive dance, Katherine also was featured on episodes of Family Channel’s The Next Step. She appeared as a dancer on The Next Star Supergroups in Rebel Coast’s music video choreographed by SYTYCD Canada winner Nico Archambault. Katherine was a finalist for Canada’s Got Talent and as a result did a promotional commercial for Tim Hortons entitled “Hometown Heroes”. She also was featured in publicity advertising as a Face of Fever for Fever International Dance Competition.
Katherine has always loved performing and is most proud of dancing the lead of Clara in the Nutcracker for two years alongside the National Ballet of Winnipeg and the National Ballet of Cuba. She recently completed the Advanced Foundation level of R.A.D. Ballet with distinction. Katherine has always believed in giving back to the community and continues to volunteer her time dancing for many worthwhile fundraising causes. Katherine is currently finishing her undergrad degree in PreLaw at McMaster University as well as teaching competitively at Rythum Plus Dance Company. She aspires to be the best dancer, teacher and person she can be and hopes to inspire dancers every where.
Lorraine Kruger
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Lorraine was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo and began dancing at a local studio at the age of 8, within 2 years she started in the competitive stream and then realized that is what she wanted to pursue as a career.
She has performed at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom as well as dancing on Broadway in a 90 minute floor show representing Toronto as an I Love Dance Sweetheart.
Lorraine believes in furthering education and has participated in various pedagogical workshops including The National Ballet of Canada, RAD and Dancefuzion as well as with Paula Morgan in Los Angles.
Lorraine was a guest teacher at the annual Bon Aimee Dance Mania festival in New Brunswick, has coached the KW skating club pair’s athletes and has had the pleasure of rehearsing the children’s ensemble for Drayton entertainments productions of Aladdin, Peter Pan, The Christmas Story and Cinderella.
She has appeared in numerous Disney made for TV movies including Model Behaviour with Justin Timberlake as well as the Universal Pictures movie the Skulls with Paul Walker, Joshua Jackson and Leslie Bibb.
Lorraine holds the Elementary certificate, RAD teaching certificate, is an affiliate of the Russian Society of Ballet, a certified Kindermusik educator and a Salsa Babies instructor.
With 15 years of teaching Lorraine has produced many award winning pieces and has received many choreography and judges choice awards as well as numerous overall high scores. She is currently teaching at Innovative Dance in Baden and is proud to say she has had students go on to dance at Ballet Jorgen, Quinte and The National Ballet of Canada. Lorraine is committed to making each and every class a positive and fun experience for all.
Chelsea King
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For 16 years Chelsea King has excelled at all forms of dance, her inter-disciplinary expertise makes her a sought-after teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator. Chelsea is RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) certified. Chelsea’s award-winning choreography has been recognized on National and International stages, her choreography has performed at sporting event half time games and numerous community events, not to mention on the competitive stage. Chelsea is no stranger to the competitive stage winning numerous scholarships, titles, and overall awards throughout her competitive career. Chelsea’s pedagogic skills are invaluable to competitive and recreational dancers alike. Chelsea now directs and owns Chelsea’s Dance Pac where she trains dancers of all ages both competitively and recreationally, she continues to contribute in the development of dancers and dance teachers as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
LEANNE KLASSEN
Leanne is an award-winning dancer/choreographer that has been teaching dance classes to students ages 4-adult for over 30 years. Leanne has performed in many festivals, fashion shows & performing arts shows including Hamilton Ti-Cat half time shows and Hamilton's sesquicentennial celebration. Leanne attended the University of Waterloo where she studied the dance program. After graduating, she taught classes in all disciplines for different studios throughout the Niagara Peninsula & Hamilton and performed with several dance companies before opening her own studio in 1999. Her students continue to excel in their dance studies, winning numerous awards & scholarships at competitions and going on to study dance after high school, dance professionally or teach. Her students have also been accepted into the National Ballet of Canada's prestigious summer school, the Hamilton City Ballet's production of The Nutcracker and Ballet Jorgen's production of Swan Lake. Some of Leanne's competition awards include Highest Overall Senior Mark, Overall Adjudicator's Choice and Most Unique Concept. Her goal is to share her love of dance with as many students as she can...to give them the same wonderful memories, life skills and experiences that dancing gave to her.
Jessica Irwin
Jessica is a recent graduate of York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design. She graduated with Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) and dance, specializing in Performance and Choreography. During her time at York, she has performed in many critically acclaimed performances and was also member of York Dance Ensemble pre-professional modern dance company. While at York, Jessica trained in the Cecchetti Ballet Syllabus, and the modern dance styles of Jose Limóné and Martha Graham. During her final year at York she also studied under the direction of Modern Dance artist, Julia Sasso, participating in choreography and performance intensives.
Jessica is an incredibly versatile dancer as prior to her University dance career Jessica danced competitively for several years and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, cheerleading, modern, and contemporary. During this time, she competed in several national and international competitions receiving numerous high-point awards, top overall titles. It was also during this time that she successfully completed Jazz and Tap exams under A.D.A.P.T.
Jessica is currently a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. She has been teaching dance for numerous years at various studios in Toronto and Kingston. Jessica also extensive experience teaching and choreographing for both the competitive and recreational streams of dance, working with students of all ages. Jessica continues to learn and grow as a dance artist, choreographer and teacher and hopes to share her passion of dance, choreography, and education with others, while inspiring her own students to work hard and dream big because anything is possible.
Olexa Kobyleckyj
Olexa is an accomplished dance educator, an award-winning choreographer, and a certified adjudicator. She grew up as a competitive dancer and artistic gymnast, with over 20 years of extensive training in Jazz, Acro and Tumbling, Ballet and Pointe (Vaganova, RAD and Cecchetti methods), Contemporary, Tap, Lyrical, Partnering, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, Musical Theatre, Song and Dance and Character. As a versatile dancer and triple threat performer, she has won many prestigious awards and scholarships at major competitions in Canada and the United States. Olexa trained with some of the industry’s top teachers and choreographers, and expanded her artistry through intensives and workshops with the National Ballet School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Radio City Rockettes and many more. She continued her dance education at Ryerson University’s Performance Dance program, while teaching and choreographing locally.
Olexa is Acrobatic Arts certified and a Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) certified teacher. Currently, she is completing her Jazz and Tap certification with the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT). She is also an Acro Dance Adjudicator (ADA): Certified Founding Member and a proud member of the Professional Adjudicator Alliance (PAA).
With a keen interest in human kinetics, Olexa graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree from the University of Toronto. Her combined dance, gymnastics and kinesiology background gave her the unique opportunity to teach physical education, conditioning, injury prevention and dance at various school boards. She has also been invited as a commissioned choreographer and dance adjudicator for high school Arts Dance programs in Ontario.
For almost a decade Olexa has been teaching a wide range of dance styles to a variety of ages, at both the competitive and recreational levels. Recently her work has been awarded “Adjudicator’s Choice of All Entries”, “Best Choreography of the Competition” and recognized for its entertainment, creativity and innovative use of musical dynamics. She has a talent for tailoring her choreography to best suit the dancer’s age, strengths, artistic style and level of technique. Olexa enjoys being a part of the dancer’s growth and makes it her focus to help develop the dancer into a confident yet humble individual. Olexa will continue to inspire dancers to be well rounded and reach their fullest potential, with her positive energy, enthusiasm and loving support.
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Isaac Kerr
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Isaac Kerr is a dance artist from Kitchener, Ontario Canada. He is a graduate of the Alvin Ailey school in NYC. During his time at The Ailey School Isaac rehearsed choreography by Alvin Ailey, Luis Salgado, Ephrat Asherie, Clifton Brown, and Bradley Shelver. After graduating, Isaac is currently working with six different dance companies in NYC. These companies feature Armitage Gone! Dance, founded by Karole Armitage, choreographer of Madonna’s “Vogue” music video and Michael Jackson’s “In The Closet” video. He is also a dancer for Jennifer Muller The Works, founded by Jennifer Muller, graduate of the Juilliard School. Isaac has also premiered on Family Channel’s “The Next Step” and CBS’ “Star Trek Discovery”. Alongside performing Isaac has also taught in the Toronto and New York region. He assists in teaching and educating students in the New York City metropolitan area in styles of African, Jazz, and Modern dance. While in Toronto, he has taught improvisation and creative expression classes and assisted in teaching at top competition studios in the GTA and Waterloo region.
Isaac trained at prestigious institutions including The Joffrey Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. In his early years of dancing he trained in the Waterloo, GTA, and Hastings regions. During this time he competed in national competitions and conventions which he was offered multiple scholarships in Canada and The United States. He also is a member of A.C.T.R.A. and P.A.A.
McKinley Knuckle
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With 7 years of professional dance experience, McKinley is a multi talented entertainer and dance educator.
Originally from Brantford Ontario, McKinley began his dance training when he was 6 years old at the Lisa Naves Dance Company, where he trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Hip hop, Contemporary, and acrobatics. Throughout his competitive career he won many awards and scholarships, including the title of “Male dancer of the year” at the American Dance Awards in New York City. After high school, he continued his dance education in Toronto at the Toronto International Ballet Theatre and in Austria at the Salzburg Ballet.
Since then, McKinley has been performing and teaching all over the world. Some of his most memorable credits include THE NEXT STEP, TODRICK HALL, PORT HOPE FESTIVAL and THE BROADWAY NATIONAL TOUR OF “MISS SAIGON”. He has taught and choreographed for dancers ranging from 6 years old to professionals, most recently teaching and setting choreography for DISNEY CRUISE LINES while he was Dance Captain on board their ships.
McKinley is extremely dedicated to all his students, and proud to share his knowledge and passion for dance with the next generation.
LESLIE KUNY
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Leslie Kuny is a Director/Owner of Ignite Dance Center in South Surrey British Columbia, a certified adjudicator through Canadian Dance Leadership and a member of the Professional Adjudicators
Alliance. Ms Kuny is a Dean’s List graduate from Grant MacEwan College’s post-secondary dance program and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance Major from Simon Fraser University. During her
training, Leslie was afforded the opportunity to work with some of Canada’s contemporary dance leaders including Wen Wei Wang (Wen Wei Dance Vancouver/Ballet Edmonton), Barbara Bourget
(kokoro dance Vancouver), Gerry Morita (Mile Zero Edmonton), Brian Webb (Brian Webb Dance Company Edmonton). Leslie has performed in and choreographed for the Vancouver International
Dance Festival, performed and choreographed for various plays and musicals, and has been the national anthem singer for the Saskatoon Blades WHL hockey team and Saskatoon International
Airshow. In addition to her teaching and performing, Leslie has worked with the Vancouver Ballet Society, the BC branch of the Dancer’s Transition Resource Center, and sat on the CDTA BC board.
Over the past 15 years, Ms Kuny has devoted herself to teaching dance and choreographing in competitive and recreation studios, elementary and high schools, as well as pre-professional dance
training programs with a focus on jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre. Her choreography has been recognized for its use of space, her balanced approach of technique and performance, as well
as its humour.
Janine Konczak (LISTD LRAD ARAD RTS DDE PBT)
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Janine is an accomplished dance educator and choreographer having received her training from prestigious members of the dance community in the UK. She holds Triple Licentiate Qualifications with the ISTD in Imperial Ballet, Tap and Modern, along with being a Licentiate RAD Teacher holding Associate ARAD and RTS Status. She has trained extensively in additional genres such as Musical Theatre, Voice, Acting, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Classical Greek, Latin and Ballroom dance and PBT alongside studying up to and including Solo Seal whilst at the RAD Headquarters obtaining her BA (Hons) in Ballet Education.
Janine’s Theatre credits include lead roles and Dance Captain for A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You and has performed for HRH King Charles III in London, England. Along with receiving numerous awards for her choreography, Janine has choreographed numerous productions throughout her career, most notably Peter Pan the Musical in Norway and collaborating with the Volda Symphony Orchestra heading up full Ballet productions of The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
Before relocating to Canada in 2017, Janine had the privilege of teaching dance around the world in Dubai, Norway and the UK. Most recently she has begun mentoring young teachers for their ISTD Associate and Associate Diploma examinations.
With many years of experience under her belt Janine continues to expand her knowledge of dance by attending courses across the world, alongside training for ISTD Fellowship examinations. She strives to continue to learn as an educator and enjoys passing on her knowledge to students and seeing them grow and flourish in the dance industry.
Madison Hoffos
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Madison Hoffos is originally from the small town of Terrace, BC where she developed a love of dance and performing at an early age. This passion led to her learning from leaders in the Canadian dance education community such as Brian and Faye Foley, and John C. Carney. Her teen years were marked by a debut as a junior choreographer in regional dance festivals, assisting with dance classes, countless workshops and intensives, and Royal Academy of Dance vocational exams. In her final years of secondary school, she also attended the BC Performing Arts Provincial Festival as a Merited Participant (2018) and Ballet III Delegate (2019).
Madison is a recognized triple threat in the Northwest BC performing arts community, having performed in multiple choirs, various vocal performances, and theatrical productions. Her skill as a multifaceted performer was recognized in 2019, when she was awarded the Cote Family Award for Most Outstanding Multidisciplinary Senior Performer by the Pacific Northwest Music Festival.
Madison has a decade of choreography experience and enjoys creating choreography that highlights the performers and engages the audience. As a teacher she is focused on coaching students to develop as artists and individuals and works to make the studio a safe and supportive space for young dancers to grow.
Madison is a proud Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance member and an enthusiastic Pre-Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association in the Ballet, Jazz, and Modern divisions. She currently works as a freelance choreographer and dance educator based in Victoria, BC but has brought her love of movement and performance to many areas.
Ava Kotick
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Ava Kotick is a Canadian teacher, choreographer, and dancer. She grew up dancing in the United States, under the direction of the Princeton Ballet School and the Dance Corner.
Whilst in the States she had the privilege to train with choreographers such as Abby Lee Miller, Alexa Moffett, Mollee Gray, and more. In her teens, Kotick moved to Ontario and continued her competitive dance training. Although she enjoyed dancing she realized her true
passion was teaching and began to volunteer at the Wildwood Academy, a school for special needs children. Through this experience, she learned how to teach students with a variety of disabilities such as Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Oppositional Defiant Behaviour, and Developmental Delays. Most recently, Kotick worked with the Etobicoke School of the Arts’
dance department to reconstruct Ontario’s Secondary School dancecourses to make them accessible to special education students.
Kotick is a graduate of York University for her special honours BFA degree in dance where she had the opportunity to learn under some of Toronto’s best industry professionals.
Now part of the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers and Professional Adjudicators Alliance, she continues to teach in studios and schools across the GTA and throughout the States, and is eager to continue pulling the passion out of every one of her students.
Lindsay Jenkins, H.BSc. Kinesiology
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Lindsay began her dance training at 4 years old, and she couldn’t imagine a life without dancing! Starting with just ballet, she quickly expanded her training to include various dance styles at both the recreational and competitive level. She successfully passed CDTA (Canadian Dance Teachers Association) examinations in ballet and jazz, and she was blessed with opportunities to perform and compete in dance across Ontario and the United States.
Lindsay began teaching in her late-teen years and has never stopped! While at university receiving her Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree, she continued to dance and teach at various studios. She started her career teaching Anatomy and Physiology at Seneca College for the Nursing Program, but her true passion for dance called and in 2010, Lindsay opened her own studio, Impulse Performance Arts Inc. As a Studio Director, Lindsay has grown her studio to be a busy, successful, and positive space for dancers to learn and call home. Her choreography has won numerous awards and high marks; and her students are often recipients of overall and studio spirit awards. Lindsay is very active in the industry, participating in dance costume catalogue photography and taking courses to constantly update her dance education. As a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, Lindsay looks forward to sharing her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm from the judging chair!
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Sarah Kirkness
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Sarah Kirkness is an adjudicator and passionate full-time dance instructor with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Sarah’s multidisciplinary background was developed first as a competitive dancer, earning her numerous awards and accolades on the competitive dance circuit then through her post-studio education which includes: Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Toronto’s Metropolitan University (Professional Dance Program), and Canada’s National Ballet School. She has the ability to judge all levels and types of dance with discernment, professionalism and aptitude.
Sarah holds accreditations through Cecchetti Canada, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD,) and International Dance Arts (IDA) among others. Sarah is a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, known for her expertise in classical ballet, she is excited to bring both passion and knowledge to the judge’s panel.
With her versatile background and deep qualifications, Sarah’s goal as an adjudicator is to make the adjudicating and overall-competition experience successful for all parties involved. As a passionate, motivated teacher, choreographer, and judge, Sarah continually strives to inspire dancers with her positive energy. As a life-long learner, Sarah hopes to continually grow and gain more knowledge and bring that fresh point of view to each competition.