Shara has been teaching for over 10 years and has been dancing since she was 6. As well as teaching, Shara has a passion for performance and has danced alongside of some of the industry's hottest artists such as, Deborah Cox, Jody Watley, and Hilary Duff. Shara has also performed at the prominent Stratford Festival in King and I, along with a whole host of coveted events that include Fashion Cares, IMPACT, Just for Laughs Festival and the Bell Canada Celebrity Gala.
Shara is also an accomplished film and television/commercial performer, dancing in the feature film Honey (Universal Pictures) and the Disney movie Cheetah Girls. Some of her television experience includes performing on The Rick Mercer Report, The Jane Show, and the new hit television show, Being Erica. A few of her commercial credits include Kellogg's, The Source, Acura and Great Clips.
Shara has had over 14 years experience training and teaching acrobatics and tumbling to students of all ages. She trained for three years at Steeles West Gymnastics in Toronto and soon after completed her N.C.C.P Technical Course with Gymnastics Canada. She is qualified to both teach and spot tumbling and acrobatic skills and is also able to demonstrate skills taught in class. She promotes a safe and controlled learning environment and puts a special focus on the individual strengths of each of her students in order for them to progress in acro at their own pace.
Shara is thrilled to be part of the KTDP family!
Everett Smith has been dancing for over 20 years. He has trained extensively in all aspects of dance and received countless medals & scholarships during his competitive years. Everett has also won many titles; Mini Mr. Dance of Canada, Petite Mr. Dance of Canada, Junior Dance of Canada, Teen Mr. Dance of Canada. As a member of the Canadian National Tap Team that travelled to Berlin, Germany for the World Tap Championships, he returned home with a gold and a silver medal.
His professional career has been extensive and diversified to say the least. Everett played the role of "The Kid" in the North American tour of Tap Dogs Rebooted. He has also toured with Grease & Footloose. As well, he has been a back up dancer for Keshia Chante and Cory Lee. Such performances included: "the Thirty Hour Famine", "Harry Jerome awards", opening for "Ludacris", and the "2005 Juno's". He can also be seen as a backup dancer in a music video for Bobby Blake & Andrea Lewis.
Everett has appeared in a number of TV shows/specials (Life with Derek, Slings & Arrows, and "From Time to Time" where he had the principal role of "Young Brent").
He also performed in the following movies: Ice Princess & American Girl Doll: Felicity. You might also recognize him from the recently released movie "Hairspray" where he played the role of Corny Council Member "Paulie".
Everett just returned home from a contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Not only was he a principal dancer, but he was the Bungee Flying Captain.
Juliana Kelly began her dance career at the age of three and continued her dance studies in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, pointe and acrobatics at a competitive level where she competed across Canada and the United States. She completed her British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) associate members exam in jazz and tap and is currently working towords her Dance Masters of America (DMA) certification in jazz, tap and acrobatics.
Upon graduation of high school Juliana joined Downbeats Tap Company under the direction of Cathy Duncan where she danced for two years performing in the East Coast Tap Conference (ECTC) alongside Brill Barrett, Martin Tre' Dumas III, Jumaane Taylor and Van Porter, Taking the Rhythm Train, Embrace the Rhythm, Toronto's Live in Culture Campaign and many other shows across Ontario. Currently Juliana is dancing in Toronto based tap company, Funk Factory National Tap Dance Ensemble under the direction of Shawn Byfield. Funk Factory has already headlined events such as National Tap Dance Day, The Feats Festival (Edmonton, AB), Live in Rhythm and Deloitte's 50 Best Managed Companies Gala which has led to multiple appearances on CITY TV, Breakfast Television and YTV.
Kim Thomas is a co-owner and the artistic director of the Kim Thomas Dance Project. The project, a youth dance company, has been Kim's long time dream. The dance company is now embarking on its third year after a highly successful second year.
Kim Thomas was born and raised in Whitby, Ontario and began dancing at a young age, training in all disciplines of dance. She won numerous awards during her time as a competitive student including high scores/over-all awards, and ballet scholarships. Kim also held the title of Miss DEA Toronto.
Kim completed her B.A. (Hons.) at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a major in Performing Arts (Dance). She then went on to complete a B.Ed. degree at Queens University in Kingston Ontario where she was one of a select number of students in the Artist in Community Education program. Kim is currently a member of the Ontario College of Teachers with a certification to teach Dramatic Arts and English Literature at the secondary school level.
Kim was a scholarship student in the La Roche College dance program, which provided her with an intensive focus on classical ballet training. In addition, she studied jazz, lyrical, partnering and musical theatre at La Roche. Kim also studied ballet for three summers in the professional program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Kim's training has also included attending dance courses, workshops, and seminars at various dance schools such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC, the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre, and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She also completed an acting course at the University of Pittsburgh.
Kim's dance performance experience includes: The Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia, and contemporary works such a Selections from Fosse and Queens (choreography by Gerrard Holt). In 2006 Kim performed her own choreography in Toronto (Fringe Dance Festival centre stage, and Talent Defined) and at the 5th International Dance Festival in New York City. In 2007, she performed another new work in Toronto (Talent Defined) and in New York City at the 6th International Dance Festival.
As a teacher, Kim has taught a variety of dance disciplines with a strong focus on the competitive student. She has won numerous high score and choreography awards and has had past students accepted into The National Ballet School, The Quinte Ballet School, Canadian Children's Dance Theatre and various University dance programs. She is excited to share her passion and knowledge of dance with enthusiastic students and to offer something unique to the community.
FACULTY
Jerome Bobb is a dynamic; performer, teacher and choreographer, most recently adding national dance competition director to his credits! He started performing at age 14, and has now been dancing and teaching for 11 years. He offers intensive choreography and a high energy class with an emphasis on the love of dance and performing with a positive attitude!
Memorable performances include international Bud Light commercial campaign "Square Dancers", the film "Ruby's Bucket of Blood" and on going projects with Canada's own Muchmusic. Jerome also relishes the opportunity to have worked with Angela Bassett, Montel Williams, Gavin Hope and Martha Wash. Featured choreography credits include Paramount Canada's Wonderland, industrial hits for Sauza Tequila, Jack - Astor's Bar & Grill Annual Bar Competitions, Carrasauga, Mississauga Arts Awards and The Sunshine Foundation Cancer Society. As creator of funky works, for Toronto pop group I.C.6, and R&B vocal group ORA, Jerome has flexed both dancer and choreographer muscles on an equal plain. Most recently, his choreography has been featured in the "State Street Stomp" music video for The Canadian Brass. A preferred dance instructor, Jerome is also blessed to be teaching children, teens and adults in various studios in and around the GTA while providing master classes for various workshops worldwide.
Emilio Macri has had extensive studio training in Ballet, Adage, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Hip Hop, and Acro. In addition, he has attended workshops at Broadway Dance Center (NY), Dance Masters of America (LV), Dance Masters of American (NY), The Edge (LA), Dance Masters of American (QBC), Dance Fusion (ONT), Tiffany's Dance Workshops (ONT), The Dance Project (ONT), Performing Dance Arts (ONT), and Can-Dance Convention (ONT). Emilio has numerous awards and scholarships including 1ST Runner up, Mr. Senior VIP Winner (Jump Convention -National), Senior Jump VIP Winner (Jump Convention - Regional), Sr. Mr. Can-Dance (Can-Dance Competition), 1st Runner Up Sr. Mr. Elite (Elite Dance Convention), Dance Fusion Summer Scholarship (Dance Fusion), Can-Dance Convention Scholarship (Can-Dance Competition), Be Discovered Scholarship (Be Discovered Talent Company), Soloist Scholarship (Lyrical) - (Bedazzled Dance Competition), and Soloist Scholarship (Modern) - (Bedazzled Dance Competition).
Emilio's dance performance experience has included the Hope Benefit (Sky Entertainment), Holiday Sparkle (Sky Entertainment), Broadway Finally (Jump Convention), Stage to Screen (Royal Caribbean Productions), Can't Stop the Rock (Royal Caribbean Productions), and Moulin Rouge (The Dance Emporium).
Emilio teaches dance and choreographs competitive numbers at The Dance Pac in Mississauga, Ontario. He also teaches choreography at Young Dancers of Canada and he has conducted workshops for Mcmaster Dance Company. His students have won numerous awards at various competitions including recent successes at the Canadian National Dance Championship in Guelph, Ontario.
Courtnae grew up in Victoria B.C, moving on to receive her professional training at The Goh Ballet Academy, the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Ballet B.C, The National Ballet School and Ballet Jorgen Canada. Influenced strongly by her diverse training Courtnae has had the pleasure of dancing professionally in everything from ballet companies to music videos. Courtnae has performed across Canada in productions such as the Dancers for Life AIDS benefit, Dance Ontario Weekend, The Bazaar, Dusk Dances, the Vancouver International Dance Festival, the Before During After Dance Festival of Duets, Nuit Blanche, and Vivid 2002, a REAson d'�tre/Chimera Project co-production. Courtnae can be seen most recently in music videos for artists such as Dearly Beloved, The Love Willows, Sandrine, McFly, and Ash Koley. Courtnae was delighted to have worked on international singer Feist's music videos, 1234 and My Moon, My Man, after which she was invited to perform in her Spring 2007 tour.
Courtnae's most recent artistic pursuit is the launch of her company Cadence Progressive Contemporary Ballet. Since founding Cadence in November of 2008, Courtnae has created nine pieces for the company, launched the "Cadence Mentorship Program" which gives pre-professional dancers from all over Ontario the opportunity to train with Cadence and take part in creation process throughout the year, produced "Cadence City Connect: Vancouver" the first of a series of collaborations with choreographers and dancers from cities both within Canada and abroad with the vision of further developing the companies versatility, and partnered with ELD Films director Jonathan Lawley to launch "Series Of Twelve" a series of short dance films scheduled to be produced each month for one year featuring the dancers from Cadence.
Aside from teaching company class, Courtnae is a guest teacher throughout Ontario and is currently on faculty at the National Ballet School and City Dance Corps. Directing the ballet program of a competitive dance school for more than six years won her great acclaim for her choreographic abilities and inspiring approach to ballet. Her students have gone on to train at The National Ballet School, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Goh Ballet Academy, the Quinte Ballet School, York University Dance Department and The George Brown Dance Program. Students have also pursued performing careers in all over the world and danced for companies such as La La La Human Steps, Disney and Thrive! Entertainment.
It is with this passion and enthusiasm that Courtnae embraces this opportunity to further the development of the dance artists at KTDP to continually push themselves to the limits and succeed at what they had never dreamt possible.
A professional dancer, actor/singer, choreographer and teacher, Adam has worked with some of the industry's most admired companies including Disney and Mirvish Productions. He appeared in the ensemble dance cast of the movie "Camp Rock" and was a member of the Toronto cast of "We Will Rock You". Adam performed with Toronto's Premier Jazz/Contemporary Professional Dance Company: The Helix Dance Project in their full length dance production entitled "Rain-Life in Full Bloom" and assisted Mia Michaels during the first season of "So You Think You Can Dance Canada". He has worked with industrial shows such as The Live Right Gala for the Canadian Liver Foundation and the Puma Fashion Show and appeared as a singer/dancer in the musical revue "The Best of Broadway" at Guelph's River Run Theatre.
Adam teaches and choreographs at several studios in the Greater Toronto Area and for The Travelling Stage. His training includes ballet (Vaganova and BATD), jazz, hip hop, lyrical, tap and partnering. Adam attends dance conventions and workshops regularly and enjoys working with some of the dance world's elite choreographers including Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Brian Friedman, Mandy Moore, Shane Sparks, Tyce Diorio, Faye Rauw, Dee Caspary, Luther Brown, Linda Garneau and Justin Giles. He also trains in pilates with Olympic medalist Fanny Letourneau-Roussel and attends vocal lessons and acting workshops. Thirteen successful years as a competitive dancer have given Adam valuable perspective and he loves to share his knowledge by giving back to the dance community. He's very excited to be working with the talented team at KTDP.
Jacquelyn Sorichetti trained in all disciplines of dance from a young age. She has competed internationally receiving numerous top score awards, excelling in tap. She placed in the top 5 overall high scores for her senior tap solo in 2004 in Las Vegas and received the titanium cup for 3rd overall highest score for her senior tap duet.
Jacquelyn recently (2008) completed an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph with a strong interest in human nutrition. Jacquelyn plans to return to the University of Guelph to earn a second degree in Applied Human Nutrition and hopes to become a registered dietitian.
Jacquelyn's performance experience has included being a member of the University of Guelph Gryphon Dance Pak during her 4 years at Guelph. Her team placed 1st overall in 2007 and 2nd overall in 2008 in a yearly University Dance Challenge and her dance team performed at all of Guelph's home basketball and football games.
Jacquelyn's teaching experience includes musical movement and pre-dance, baby tap, primary, grade 1 and grade 2 tap. Jacquelyn's choreography experience includes an intricate tap group number each year at Guelph for the year-end show and a tap duet in her final year, which earned the second highest score of all entries from the University of Guelph.
Jacquelyn hopes to share her love of dance and the importance of nutrition with her students enabling them to reach their maximum potential.
Mark is a Conditioning Specialist and Trainer (Specialist in Sports Conditioning - ISSA, Personal Trainer Specialist (PTS), and a Sport Movement Specialist. He has been involved is sports conditioning for a number of years. Many of his clients have been drafted into the OHL, NHL and have received NCAA Scholarships. Recognizing that conditioning is essential to the development of a strong dance performer, Mark has produced a program specifically designed to meet the needs of today's elite dancer. These classes focus on core training, strength, agility, flexibility and endurance.
Meghann was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario but she moved to a bigger city to pursue her passion for conditioning and fitness.
Meghann grew up an active and athletic child. She danced for 13 years and then she decided to train for triathlons. She completed her first triathlon at age 17.
After completing college and doing some travelling, Meghann earned her qualifications as a certified personal trainer and decided it was time to pass on her passion for fitness to others.
Meghann is currently a provincial level figure competitor and is working towards achieving her dream of walking on the national stage next year!
Meghann believes in a healthy balance lifestyle and she says that she has been very fortunate over the years to have had great support around her . She is very happy to be the newest member of the KTDP teaching staff.
