PROJECT DANCE TORONTO 2009 TEACHING STAFF

Project Dance Toronto 2009 is taking place this weekend.
Please enjoy reading the bios of our teaching staff for Sunday's master classes.


TEACHER BIOS FOR PROJECT DANCE TORONTO 2009

CYNTHIA CROKER-Contact Improv
Cynthia is a Co-Founder of MOTUS O dance theatre as well as holds the positions of Co-Artistic Director, Choreographer, Performer, Teacher and Costume Designer. She has created over 40 original works for the company and has toured with them throughout the U.S.A., England and Canada. Cynthia is a mentor artist and teacher for the Royal Conservatory of Music’s “Learning through the Arts” program in Toronto Ontario. She is also on the Leadership Training Faculty of the Banff Centre in Alberta Canada; co-facilitating courses on Leadership Training through movement. Cynthia’s class will focus on learning movement which is created by two or more bodies working together in mutual support. We will explore leverage and balance, weight sharing, counterbalancing, lifts and throws.

VIVINE SCARLETT-West African
Vivines artistic goals and aspirations are rooted in the love of dance. She is an instructor, choreographer, administrator and founder of dance Immersion, an organization that produces, promotes and supports dancers and dances of the African Diaspora. Vivine has created and presented works in both traditional influenced African and contemporary African dance styles for over 23 years. Her class embraces participants who will be introduced to of some of the dances from Guinea, West African with live drum accompaniment.

AINSLEY SUDDS-Modern
After completing a BA of Dance from the University of Calgary and a Professional Studies Certificate from the Limon Institute in New York City, Ainsley Sudds is back in Calgary as a full time member of the Corps Bara Dance Theatre Project Company. As well, Ainsley is the Artistic Director of Corps Bara Youth Dance Theatre and full time modern teach at Crossings Dance Ministries. Her modern class is a fusion of Limon Technique and her own personal movement signature.

SHUGAMAI GRACE JOHNSON-Liquid Street
Shugamai is a multi-disciplinary artist, whose passions have allowed her to teach and perform around the world for over 12 years, in countries including India, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Australia and across Canada and the U.S. Most recognizable for her unique street style of dance called Liquid, she has had the pleasure of performing with Mia Michaels, Seal, Ricky Martin, K-os, Rihanna, Bobby McFerrin, Tommy The Clown, Idle Warship (Talib Kweli's newest group), LAL, Hillary Duff, and in the Universal Studios movie "HONEY", to name a few. Last summer she landed a national IKEA commercial called "What Goes Where" featuring “So You Think You Can Dance” star Robert Muraine, aka Mr. Fantastic. In this unique class Shugamai uses Yoga (postures & stretches) to prepare the body to learn Liquid basics. Using improv and choreographed movements to create more fluidity & freedom in the body.

GREGORY HINES-Hip hop
Gregory is a choreographer that has danced for artists including Mariah Carey, Sean Desmond and Eve just to name a few. He has also worked under Luther Brown from "So You Think You Can Dance Canada” from the DoDat Dance Troupe. Now CEO and President of DOAHL Academy, this choreographer has grown into his own style that brings new levels to hip hop that creates and births dance pieces that capture emotion talent and excellence. “DOAHL Dance Academy”, The Academy was the inspiration for students of all ages and areas in their life to come about reaching their fullest potential and allowing students to have the opportunity to have a professional dance career.

CHERYL EVANS-Hip Hop
Cheryl was born to dance. She has been dancing hip hop professionally since age of 18. She has worked with artists including Kardinal Official, JBlaze and Luther Brown from "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" just to name a few. As a choreographer within DOAHL Academy Cheryl has stepped up and out bringing flavor and style to hip hop.

KATIE LEE-Funk-Locking
Katie has shown her passion for God through her funk. She taught for about five years in Kingston and conducted numerous workshops. Katie was one of the semi-finalists of Canada’s “So You Think You Can Dance” season one and also the semi-finalist for the locking battle in Montreal called “Bust A Move.” She has performed in Heaven’s Rehearsal at The Roger’s Center, YC in Edmonton, various youth retreats and Christian productions. Locking is by nature an improvisational dance, but also consists of a set of signature moves of locking pioneers. The class will consist of a few foundational moves with a funky routine and Katie is excited to share her funk flava with you!

SANTEE SMITH-Contemporary Aboriginal
Santee is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from Six Nations, Ontario. She is the founding Artistic Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, which performs nationally and internationally. Santee was an integral member of the Aboriginal Dance Project, Chinook Winds at the Banff Centre for the Arts, 1997-2001. In 1996 she began creating and performing her choreography, which now includes works such as Kaha:wi, Here On Earth, Midwinter Dreaming, A Constellation of Bones, The Threshing Floor, A Soldier’s Tale, and A Story Before Time. Santee’s class consists of a warm-up and some of the technique of Kaha:wi dance theatre which is contemporary dance combined with indigineous dance forms.

CHANTAL HUNTER-Ballet
Chantal’s favorite phrase to say is, “Go Team!” She graduated from the University of Calgary, Canada, with her Bachelor of Arts in contemporary dance. In addition to her studies, she has also performed throughout Western Canada and within the United States for over six years with contemporary Dance Company, Corps Bara Dance Theater. Currently she is pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts in dance choreography at the University of Arizona while teaching ballet, jazz and modern dance as well as performing in the works of resident choreographers such as Douglas Nielsen and Amy Ernst. Chantal will be teaching an open ballet class for Project Dance Toronto including a charming variation from Paquita. This class will have time for worship and praise while inspiring the dancers to pursue excellence in their ballet technique and artistry.

SHELBY SKIDMORE-Lyrical Jazz
Shelby is a Texas native who has been dancing for 19 years. Her training encompasses all genres of dance, which she has studied at EDGE Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, and Westwood Fine Arts Academy in Austin. She spent two years at the University of Texas in Austin studying Dance Performance, and she graduated from Abilene Christian University with a degree in Dance Education. Throughout her life, Shelby has performed in and directed several dance companies, including Roustabouts Dance Company in Austin. Shelby travels the nation choreographing for various dance programs both privately and through Encore Creative Productions. She makes her current home in New York City, where she performs with multiple dance companies and projects including Fear.Less Dance, Atmosphere, and Kairos. Shelby’s lyrical jazz class is all about finding truth of expression through “feel good” movement. The class will focus on emotion based movement that seeks to convey a true story.

JENNIFER BYERS-Jazz
Jennifer holds a Bachelor's of Performing Arts in Dance from Oklahoma City University, where she performed with the American Spirit Dance Company and served as the Company Manager for the Grace Liturgical Dancers. For the past few years, Jennifer has been living in New York City where she is currently teaching dance to elementary school students as part of The Educational Alliance's After3Arts Program. She has also been blessed to be a part of Project Dance, serving as a stage manager for their New York, Sydney, and Hong Kong events and dancing as a member of their resident company, Atmosphere. Jennifer’s jazz class is fun and upbeat and explores the expression of God’s joy through the gift of movement.

CHERYL CUTLIP-Musical Theater
Cheryl’s love for musicals led her to a career in musical theatre where she performed in the Broadway National Tour of CRAZY FOR YOU and the European Tour of 42ND STREET. Based in New York City, Cheryl also performed as a Radio City Rockette for 15 years. As the founder of PROJECT DANCE she has a passion to equip dancers with all the tools they need to succeed in the dance world and in the world of life. Cheryl’s musical theatre class will begin with a fun stylized warm up and feature a Broadway style combination.