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ORK DANCE ACADEMY
FACULTY |
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Angela has over 40 years of training in Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom and Latin Dance. Following a career with a professional dance troupe, she became the dance
and fitness consultant for Seneca College for a period of 8 years. During that time she designed the Fitness Leadership Training Program and also developed the children's dance programs. She has
written and published a book and video on Couples Dancing and is the creator of Teddy & Me Workouts, a unique children's dance and exercise program. Angela is also a certified fitness instructor and
appeared as a guest host on CBCs Fitness People. |
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OUR INSTRUCTORS |
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Christine achieved the status of 'Level Five' all around champion in her region, which allowed her to enter the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations
(O. F. S. A. A) Championships, where she placed with silver on the bars. In 1998 she qualified as a member of the 'Level One' Provincial team where they came first in the
Ontario Provincial Championships, while personally placing fourth in the all round competition. Her career in competitive gymnastics includes numerous competitions
both at the provincial and international levels that span 10 years.
Christine has performed regularly in a television series as a stunt double performing
acro tricks and dance. In 2004, she worked in Bermuda as choreographer with National Level athletes for the Bermuda Gymnastics Association. Following her
retirement from competitive gymnastics, Christine trained at a competitive level in dance, including jazz, ballet, modern and acro and has been teaching gymnastics
and dance for over 9 years. Christine is a level two fully certified gymnastic instructor with the National Coaching Certificate Program.
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Born & raised in Stouffville, Tracy Cottage trained with Michelle Green at the Stouffville Dance Centre from the age of 3. She studied
Ballet,  Tap, Modern & Hip Hop dance and worked for a number of years as Ms.
Green's teaching assistant.
Tracy is a graduate of Unionville High School of Performing Arts and has performed in numerous productions at the Markham Theatre, Markham Fair,
Stouffville Strawberry Festival, Festival of Lights and most recently with "Motus O Dance Company" in their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Tracy
became a principal Tap & Creative Dance instructor in 2000 for the Dance Centre and took the past year off to further her training. She is delighted to be returning to
teaching and is looking forward to motivating children with her pleasant demeanor and enthusiastic approach to dance with the York Dance Academy. |
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CHERYL MATSON (A.P.A.E.C. Tap & Jazz)
Cheryl began dancing at Sandra Purdy School for Dance where she trained for 15 years. While there she successfully completed all student exams in tap, jazz and ballet with
excellent results. Heavily involved in competing, starting at the age of 5, she won numerous scholarships and awards for her efforts. Cheryl continued her training at George Brown
College participating in their 2 year Dance Performance Diploma Program graduating with Honours. Since then she has continued to increase her knowledge and
skills by regularly attending workshops, seminars and classes. Cheryl is an Associate member of Performing Arts Educators of Canada for both tap and Jazz and is working towards her
membership with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance for ballet. She is also an independent dance artist and is a performer in the all-female tap dance troupe "What's On? Tap!".
Cheryl enjoys being a part of the York Dance Academy and looks forward to another great year. |
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(A. B. A. T. D.) A popular dancer and choreographer, Simone has an extensive background in Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop. She has
studied with many world renowned dancers including William Orlowski (Tap) and Luigi (Jazz). Her choreographic credits include teaching the Toronto Raptors Junior Dance Pack during the summer of 96. Simone
recently returned from New York City where she performed live for Michael Jackson during his annual birthday celebrations. Currently, in addition to teaching at YDA, Simone is the popular host of
"Dance Moves" on BPM television. |
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GENEVIEVE MERKEL |
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(C.D.T.A.) and (R.A.D.) |
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Originally from Prince George B.C., Genevieve moved to Toronto to pursue her love of dance. She trained at both The National Ballet School of Canada and Ryseron
University's Theatre School. In New York, she furthered her training at Steps on Broadway and Alvin Ailey. As a teenager she toured across Canada and the United
States with the production 'Spirit of a Nation' choreographed by Jacques Lamay and Jannis Dunning. She has performed in several music videos, commercials and
industrials most notably for Jonovision, Econoline Crush, Molson Canadian, General Motors, Sears and Kodak. Her resume also contains performing credits for
the Charlottetown Festival, Ontario Place, and the Toronto Argonauts. Genevieve also enjoyed working with acclaimed choreographers David Earl, Danny Grossman and Lawrence Gratus.
Currently, Genevieve has focused her energies on sharing her love of dance with children of all ages. She worked with at-risk youths choreographing the musical
'Time to Be Me'. She is very proud of the accomplishments of her students in the competitive circuit and their professional performances.
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Nora was born and raised in Hungary and moved to Canada 15 years ago. She has earned her diploma in general and physical education, as well as a
teacher's certificate in Social and competitive Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Dancing from a young age in a Hungarian folk dancing group, and later in a competitive Ballroom/Latin group both founded
by her mother, she has performed regularly in a formation dance team as well as part of a competitive couple in national championships with high results. Nora has studied with international and world
champions. Studies included dance history, music theory, movement analysis, ballet training, historical ballroom dances, modern dances, teaching methods, and the syllabus for international ballroom and Latin
American dances.
In Canada she completed the Early Childhood Education diploma course at Seneca College, and has been working with preschool children for the last five
years. She is currently training with Canadian champions and internationally reknown instructors in both Ballroom and
Latin American dancing. . |
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(B. O. F. A.) |
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Melissa is originally from Smiths Falls, Ontario. She began dancing at the age of 7 studying jazz, tap, baton twirling, lyrical, ballet, and modern
dance at various studios in the Ottawa area.
In 2007, Melissa graduated from the York University Dance Program in Toronto. She received her Bachelor of
Fine Arts Specialty Honours Degree, with a focus in dance science. She has studied under independent artists such as, Carol Anderson, Holly Small, and Donna Krasnow.
Currently,
Melissa is a professional dancer with the Stouffville based company Motus O Dance Theatre. In addition to performing and touring, she guest teaches throughout the Ottawa Valley and
Greater Toronto Area. She has won many national and international awards for her choreography and costume designs. She is looking forward to sharing her creative talents with the
students at The York Dance Academy. |
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LINDA SELLERS Linda has studied ballet for over 30 years. A graduate of Ryerson's College Dance Teacher Training Program, where she trained exte nsively in R. A. D. ballet, I. S. T. D. Modern & Folk dance and freestyle jazz. She has numerous years of dance, gymnastics and mime
teaching experience, including running her own dance school for 9 years. Linda has studied mime with the world famous Marcel Marceau, as well as Tony Montanaro & Todd Farley. Linda was a performer and
assistant artistic director for From the Top, a mime and musical sign language troupe and still dances professionally. She has been a liturgical dancer, teacher and choreographer for 27 years and has studied
choreography with Motus O Theatre Dance Company. Linda still performs & choreographs professionally with "ARISE ministry" a liturgical dance troupe. |
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LUZ MARINA WINDMILL |
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(B.of Ed.)
Luz Marina Windmill graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree, in La Javeriana University (Bogota, Colombia)
and went on to specialize in Marketing and Advertising at El Rosario University in Bogota.
Luz Marina studied ballet, jazz,
contemporary, ethnic and folk dances from an early age in Bogota, Colombia. She's taken jazz and ballet classes as well in Toronto at Metro Movement Dance School and in Newmarket at Peter Stanton School of
Dance and York Dance Academy. She completed her Dance Teacher Training Program at York Dance Academy and has continued to upgrade her skills by attending numerous workshops including: Innovative
Approaches to Choreography with Motus-O Dance Company, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet and Early Childhood Dance at Y.D.A., Lyrical, Hip-Hop and Creative Movement at The Dance Project Group.
She developed a
Seminar on Artistic Expression for children and has been a dance teacher for 15 years in different schools in Bogota and Canada. She's taught at The Aurora Montessori School, Peter Stanton School of Dance
and York Dance Academy.
Luz Marina has also worked as a certified coach and gymnastics choreographer in Colombia , Tumble Tots Gymnastics and Pulsars Gymnastics in Newmarket. She has achieved
accreditation in the Pre-School Gymnastics Coaching Program.
She is currently working at York Dance Academy in Aurora and Newmarket, teaching ECD (Early Childhood Dance), ballet and jazz/acro. |
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(R. A.D.) |
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Daniella Zappala has twenty-three years of drama, and vocal training studying at the MILLENNIUM DANCE
COMPLEX in Los Angeles, California, Ryerson University's THEATRE DANCE PROGRAM and Unionville H. S. ARTS YORK DRAMA-Intensive Program. Her dance training includes Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, RAD
Ballet/Pointe, Lyrical, Modern & Spanish Dance. She also studied Mime, Clowning, Robotics, Stage Combat, and Commedia Dell'Arte. An experienced performer, choreographer and director
Daniella's film credits include 'My Baby's Daddy', a YTV film. She also provided background vocals for recording artist PATRIA and has numerous stage experience including the Wizard of Oz, Anne
of Green Gables, Carousel, A Chorus Line & The Nutcracker. She has been instructing dance, drama and vocal for fourteen years, has worked for the York District Catholic School Board
teaching dance & drama through the Artist in the Schools program and owned her own dance studio in Stouffville before retiring to have a family. Daniella is excited to be back teaching again
in Stouffville. |
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 The following guest teachers have led
workshops at YDA over the past few years. KIMBERLY GLASCO (former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada) WILLIAM ORLOWSKI (co- founder of the National Tap Dance Co.)
STELIO CALAGIAS and GERRARD McISAAC (Both well known from their roles as Mr. Mistoffelees in the smash hit CATS), Motus-O, Rhonda Nychka (National Ballet of Canada).
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( C . P . T.)
TEACHERS