DANCE TEACHERS
Michelle DeBrouwer (BALLET, MODERN, PRE-SCHOOL, SUPERBOYS)
Christy Stoeten (TAP, MODERN, JAZZ, HIP HOP, SUPERBOYS)
The lure of glittery costumes began Christy Stoeten dancing at the age of three in Peterborough, Ontario. This start has taken her to numerous performances and competitions in cities throughout North America. Professional work has included independent performances, as well as works by choreographers and companies including Company Blonde, Jennifer Dallas, Tina Nicolaidis, Faye Rauw, and Jannine Saarinen. Stoeten has presented her own choreography with Peterborough New Dance, in Peterborough, Ontario and while acting as Creative Director for the Only Human Dance Collective in Toronto, during their 2004-2005 season. She began to teach children and her peers at an early age, and her love for this continues to grow and to challenge her on a daily basis.
Christy lives in Toronto and is a recent graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, in the Professional Training Program. During her studies at the School, she had the pleasure of working with such acclaimed teachers and choreographers as Allison Cummings, Sasha Ivanochko, James Kudelka, Susan Macpherson, Patricia Miner, Sharon Moore, Darryl Tracy, and William Yong. Since graduating, Christy is enjoying teaching more frequently at Swansea School of Dance, while continuing to perform as an independent dance artist.
Jade Sakamoto (currently on maternity leave)
Jade Sakamoto began dancing at an early age and developed a love for teaching young children while she was in high school. Her extensive teaching qualifications include an RAD Teacher’s Certificate, a Teacher’s Diploma from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, as well as Ballet Associate standing from the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association. In 2003, she moved to Toronto to study in the Professional Training Program at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. While attending the school she had the opportunity to perform in works by Trish Beatty, Christopher House, Sasha Ivanochko, Julia Sasso and Michael Trent. In her graduating year she had the privilege to perform at the Canada Dance Festival in a piece by Sharon Moore. She is a co-founding member and dancer with the Crazyfish Collective, and has appeared in work by Zata Omm Dance Projects.
Meghan Bourne (currently on maternity leave)
Meghan Bourne was born in London, Ontario and spent her early childhood in the northern town of Elliot Lake. It was not until her family moved to the big city of Toronto that Meghan, age eight, began dancing. At age 13 she moved to Belleville, Ontario and began her professional training at Quinte Ballet School, under the direction of Brian and David Scott. Upon graduation, Meghan travelled to Europe, having alwasy dreamed of finding work in a company abroad. Perseverance matched with fortune gave her just that. Shortly after arriving in England (her heritage land), she began working with a small touring company named Vienna Festival Ballet. After some time and experience Meghan began touring alternately with English National Ballet. She toured internationally with both companies performing in ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet and the ever-loved Nutcracker. After five years overseas, Meghan returned to her home and native land where she turned her focus to a career in teaching. She has been teaching at various schools and studios including Randolph Academy, The Toronto District School Board, Dance Teq, MBS, Dance Pac, Tha Spot and Ryerson. Most of all, Meghan loves teaching at Swansea School of Dance.
Savannah Hoag (2 YEAR OLDS, PRE-SCHOOL, BALLET, MODERN)
Savannah K. Hoag was born in Toronto. She began ballet classes at age four at Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement (PBS), where she completed her Royal Academy of Dance exams from primary to advanced one. At age eight she started to take modern dance classes as well. Her love of this art form eventually led her to Etobicoke School of the Arts, and then to The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, where she graduated in 2008. Savannah has had the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers including Peggy Baker, Danny Grossman, Christopher House, and Julia Sasso. She began teaching at PBS at age 18 and has been on staff there ever since. Among teaching and performing she is also a dance stage manager. She is new to Swansea School of Dance this year and is thrilled to be on the team!
Samantha Baldwin (TAP)
Samantha Baldwin began dancing at the tender age of four in her native England. She dabbled in other activities (gymnastics, Brownies, disco dancing), but ballet, tap, modern and jazz became her passion. Samantha graduated from Ryerson University’s dance program and immediately joined InMotion Dance Company. With InMotion she has performed in numerous contemporary, commercial and children’s shows, both locally as well as in Montreal and Croatia. Samantha is also a member of What’s On? Tap!, an all-female professional dance company that performs regularly throughout the GTA. Samantha was trained in both ISTD and RAD and completed her Associate (Teacher’s) ISTD examinations for both tap and modern. Samantha is thrilled to be able to share her love of dance with the students at Swansea School of Dance.
Stephanie Papaioannou (PRE-SCHOOL, BALLET, JAZZ, TAP, HIP HOP)
Stephanie Papaioannou was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta where she grew up playing hockey, and was later introduced to dance as a teenager. She has since danced all over Canada in various competitions and workshops, as well in New York City. Stephanie is currently in her fourth year of five in the joint program between Canada’s National Ballet School’s prestigious teacher training program and York University’s dance department. Upon completion of the program in 2011, Stephanie will recieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, a teaching diploma from the National Ballet School, and Registered Teacher’s Status with the Royal Academy of Dance. Stephanie has worked as a guest instructor throughout Alberta and is excited to be joining Swansea School of Dance this year.
Jannine Saarinen (PRE-SCHOOL, BALLET)
Jannine Saarinen began dancing at the age of six. She trained at schools such as The School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, Interplay, Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, and PSB Dance Academy. She has studied in classical ballet (both Checcetti and RAD), modern and jazz. She received training from teachers like Marielle Carruthers, Glenn Gilmore, Arwyn Carpenter, Jean Geddis and Karen Davies Thomas. She then went on to attend the George Brown College Dance Performance Studies Program. She graduated with honors and received the Certificate of Professional Development from Ballet Jörgen Canada. While at George Brown she worked with many excellent teachers and choreographers such as Che Chun, Bengt Jörgen, Michelle DeBrouwer, Kathleen Rea and Sylvie Bouchard. Since graduation in 2003, she has taught musical theatre, ballet and modern dance at PSB Dance Academy. She is also a guest teacher for City Dance Corps. Professionally, she worked with Ballet Espressivo for two years under artistic director Donna Greenburg. She has performed in FIDA, Dance Ontario Weekend, Artist’s Play, Tango Fest and many other dance events and festivals. Since February 2006, she has been choreographing and performing her own work for many different venues. Most recently, her work was performed in Off the Ground Productions’ In a White Room 2006, as well as in City Dance Corps’ Talent Defined. She is also a regular guest in the bi-monthly cabaret series Eros, Thanatos and the Avant-garde.
Danielle Goudge (PRE-SCHOOL, BALLET, JAZZ, TAP, HIP HOP)
With the aspiration of being in fabulous performances and shows on Broadway, Danielle began dancing at the age of three in Toronto. She has been a part of numerous competitions including the Kiwanis Dance festival, as well as a number of high school musical performances such as Cats, Cinderella, and The Wizard of Oz. Danielle began to teach dance to children at the age of 16 with the City of Toronto, and has continued with the Swansea School of Dance. Currently, Danielle lives in Toronto and attends the University of Toronto and is enrolled in their Health Science program.
Kelly Summers (JAZZ)
Kelly Summers is currently in her second year of the Teacher Training Program at the National Ballet School of Canada. She began her training in Mississauga, studying many styles of dance. Later Kelly graduated from Cawthra Park Secondary School’s Regional Arts program as a Dance major. She currently holds her Advanced I with both the Cecchetti Society of Canada and The Royal Academy of Dance. She also has her Intermediate certificate with the I.S.T.D. National Branch. Kelly has trained and performed across Canada and the United States, including New York and Miami. Kelly performed in the 2000 World Youth Day celebrations at Downsview stage and most recently, was a member of the National Ballet of Canada’s 2008 season of The Nutcracker. Kelly is currently working on attaining her Registered Teacher’s Status with the RAD and Associate exams with the I.S.T.D., Cecchetti and National Branches. She is also preparing to take her P.A.E.C. teaching qualifications (jazz branch) exam this season. Kelly is thrilled to be working with the students of Swansea School of Dance!
Alanna Pierias (TAP)
Alanna Pierias began dancing at the age of four. She has been a student for the majority of her dance career at Swansea School of Dance and briefly attended Etobicoke School of the Arts. Alanna is trained Tap, Jazz, Modern and Ballet and passed her RAD Intermediate exam in 2009. She is excited to continue to train, perform and teach at Swansea School of Dance!
Sabrina Pringle (ACRO)
Holly Treddenick (ACRO)
In 2001 Holly dove in, to a long time fascination with circus performing, soon becoming a professional fire performer learning several props including poi, staff and fans. Holly began taking an array of workshops in circus including Pochinko Clown with Sue Morrison, aerial dance at The Toronto Circus School, and various private classes in San Fransisco. Holly trained for three years in aerial silks with Sabrina Pringle. She is also experienced in bungee, harness, static and dance trapeze. Her current focus is exploring aerial dance with her contemporary dance background.
In 1998 Holly co-founded Tweenies Dance Projects and the Launch Pad, an interdisciplinary theatre, art gallery and rehearsal studio. Tweenies ran an open stage performance series from 1997-1999 to critical acclaim. In 1999 Tweenies self produced, created and performed their show Plan B which toured seven cities from Toronto to Halifax, NS. In 2003 Holly founded Femmes du Feu with Lindsay Milakovic where she works as performer, choreographer, producer and administrator. Holly has worked with several companies including Free Flow Dance, Ballet Creole, Sally Morgan, Barbara Lindenberg, Zero Gravity and Circus Orange.
Holly is a certified Yoga Instructor and an osteopath. She is currently completing her thesis through The Canadian College of Osteopathy.
Sunny Horvath (currently on maternity leave)
The first piece of choreography Sunny ever created was to “Octopus’ Garden” when she was four years old and she has been making up dances ever since. When she was sixteen she formed the youth company earthdancers, who have been producing annual benefit performances for various environmental groups for 20 years up in Sudbury, Ontario. Sunny keeps a close connection with the company and continues to return as a guest artist or choreographer every couple of years.
She moved to Toronto when she was seventeen and attended the School of Toronto Dance Theatre where she was a scholarship student and apprentice with the company. In 2000 she co-founded Company Blonde Dance Projects and has been having the time of her life creating, performing and producing with the wonderful women of that company for the last ten years.
Sunny has worked with many incredible choreographers, musicians, directors and dancers in her career and is very excited to be working with the beautiful students of Swansea School of Dance.
When she’s not in the studio Sunny is at home with her two beautiful children Stella and Weston and is awaiting the arrival of baby number three!
ACCOMPANISTS
Al Bee – PERCUSSION
Marcel Hoff – PIANO
Jesse Levine – PERCUSSION
Richard Maddock – PIANO
ADMINISTRATION
Melinda Taylor – DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
Samantha Carbone, Ginger Elliott, Breeann Kruszynski, Charlotte Tenszen - RECEPTION
