Joanna
Joanna Gregory: Dance Choreographer and Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer (PTS)
Joanna has been part of the A.B. Dance faculty for the past 17 years, teaching many disciplines at the part time, select and competitive level. She has studied and teaches Tap, Acro, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. Throughout her dance career she competed at various dance competitions worldwide, winning numerous awards and attending a range of workshops. She was also a former Toronto Argonaut Cheerleader where she performed at games and other important events and charities within the GTA. Joanna is an ARTS YORK Dance graduate, where she studied modern and ballet and has completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education and Dance as well as her Master’s of Science and Education. Joanna continues to pursue education and is actively involved in teaching and choreographing at the studio and schools in York Region. In addition to her extensive dance background, she is also a certified canfitpro personal trainer (PTS) and coach. Joanna is a very passionate teacher and is recognized for her energetic and enthusiastic teaching methods and most importantly her dedication to her students!
Lyza
Lyza-Jane was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and after moving to Toronto, she started her dance training at the early age of 2 years old. She trained formally in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, acrobatics, and hip hop and holds certifications with The British Association of Teachers of Dancing and the Royal Academy of Dance. She graduated with high honours from Cawthra Park Secondary School’s Regional Arts Program in dance discipline and was part of the Repertoire dance company. In 2009, she was accepted into the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida. In 2010, she trained and performed for Eryn Waltman’s “High Tea” in the Capezio Awards for Choreographic Excellence (ACE) Awards in New York City. Lyza has also had the opportunity to teach and perform with FRESH Dance Intensive and many other contemporary dance companies, the Randolph Academy Triple Threat summer program, a National TV Promo for CTV’s “So You Think You Can Dance”, Toronto’s RBC WinterCity Festival, the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, and as part of Team Canada for the IDO World Dance Championships in Germany. Lyza graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Psychology, where she was also Creative Director and head choreographer of CAISA Fashion Show – Canada’s largest student-run fashion show to date. She is certified with the International Sports Sciences Association in Personal Training, Fitness Nutrition, and Post-Rehabilitation Exercise Therapy. Lyza is currently completing her Masters Degree in Sport and Performance Psychology at CSU in California and recently became a resident counsellor at The National Ballet School of Canada. She is so happy to be teaching and training with the AB Dance students and hopes to continue to share her passion for dance and innovative training techniques with her dancers.
Ms. Thomas
Ms.Thomas studied and danced professionally in South Africa, Israel and the UK.
Trained in Contemporary Dance, Spanish, Classical Ballet, African Dance and Jazz, she has been teaching classical ballet for more than 20yrs. She is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) and administers the Ballet Exam programme at AB Dance.
Ms. Thomas teaches Mini-Dance, all the grade levels, Senior Ballet and Pointe class. This will be her 19th year teaching at AB Dance.
Erin
Dance has been a major part of Erin’s life since the age of five when she started training. She trained in tap, jazz, ballet, acro, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary in a competitive setting from 2003-2015. During these years, Erin was recognized by many for her excellence in dancing. She was invited by Everett Smith to be a part of his Tap dance company “Tap Dance Centre.”
Erin graduated from Centennial Dance in their performance program. Erin has trained with the Tap Dance Centre, received a scholarship to the Eastern Canadian Tap Conference (ECTC), and has been a part of Rhythm and Sound under the direction of Cori Gionatta and Johnathan Morin. Erin was also a part of the two week Ted Louis Levy residency program under the direction of Allison Toffan and Tanya Knights and has performed at the bi-annual Toronto International Tap Dance Festival. Erin has trained with professional artists like Jessica Ford, Allison Bradley, and Kylie Thompson to name a few. Erin can be found on Hulu’s TV Series “11/22/63” with star James Franco. Erin’s passion for dance has led her to where she is today in her career.
Erin has spent the past ten years teaching at Dance Sensation Inc. where her love for teaching has grown. Her love for teaching and dance has breaded many opportunities as a guest teacher and choreographer for summer workshops and intensives. Erin’s work has been recognized by many across the competitive industry; likewise, her students are recognized for their excellence and have received many accolades for their performances. She is excited to venture into this new experience and grow with her new students at AB Dance.
Ashley Schofield
Ashley Schofield is a passionate, motivated choreographer and teacher from Toronto, ON and has danced and performed for over twenty years. Miss Schofield trained across North America with notable teachers and choreographers.
Ashley is the founder and choreographer for Opus Dance Collective, a company housing pre-professional and professional dancers. Her company debuted her work at the Capezio ACE Awards in both NYC and Los Angeles in front of an influential audience and panel of judges. They have since continued to train and perform across Canada and the US. Ashley’s choreography and company can be seen on NBC’s World of Dance Season 2, as her Opus dancers battled it out amongst the top dancers in the world. She also recently had the honour of being selected to present a piece of choreography at the APAP 2019 Conference in NYC. Ashley and Opus Dance Collective are proud to present their second full-length show this summer in Toronto.
Ashley has been recognized for her creative concepts, artistry and choreography at both national and international levels of competition. Her competitive choreography has been displayed across Canada and the US at the YAGP Finals in NYC, in the Top 10 at the Dance Awards, charitable events and fundraisers, fashion shows, promotional teams representing both retail and media companies, along with numerous studio regional and national competitions.
Miss Schofield attended, by audition, the National Choreographer’s Intensive at Utah Valley University. While in attendance, she had the opportunity to work, study and create under the guidance of nationally recognized professional, Nelly van Bommel. Ashley is a certified ADAPT & PBT teacher.
Ashley enjoys taking part in many annual Toronto industry events including the Choreographer’s Ball, Hit The Floor All-Star Showcase, and 60×60 Toronto- she was also honoured to create work for competitors on this season’s World Performers Canada National Dance Team.
Angelica
Angelica began dancing at the age of three, and has been passionate about dance ever since! She was an A.B. dancer for ten years and has been a part of our A.B. Dance Inc. faculty for 8 years. She is trained in multiple genres including acro, jazz, hip hop, tap, musical theatre and ballet.
Angelica has completed her Bachelor of Arts as well as her Master of Arts in Child Study and Education at the University of Toronto. She is currently a teacher with the York Region District School Board with a passion for the primary division. Both in the classroom and at the studio, Angelica hopes to spark children’s creativity to create a fun and exciting environment for children to learn and grow in.
Angelica is thrilled to be a part of the A.B. Dance Inc. faculty again this year! She is looking forward to working with all of the talented dancers and having lots of fun!
Alessia
Dancing from the age of 4, Alessia found her true passion for dance with the help of the staff at AB Dance. She is a 2012 graduate from St.Elizabeth CHS where she was enrolled in the Regional Arts Performance Dance program. She will continue her education at York University where she will be attending the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program specializing in dance. She has danced at AB Dance for nine years training in various types of dance styles such as acro, jazz, ballet, hip hop and lyrical/ contemporary by many well-known choreographers. Alessia has also been teaching at our facility for three years educating children of all ages in all different styles of dance.
Alessia looks forward to learning and expanding her knowledge to share with her fellow dancers and students.
Paige
Paige has been dancing since she was 3 years old and is currently on the Senior competitive team at AB. Over the course of her dance career, she has learnt various dance styles including jazz, acro, lyrical, ballet and contemporary, with acro being her specialty. Paige has won numerous awards/scholarships including a chance to dance on World Performers Canada, a national dance team, for acro and contemporary. She has taught some of the recreational and competitive dancers at the studio and can’t wait to teach another season.
Brooke
Brooke began her dance journey at AB Dance at the age of three and currently dances on the senior competitive team. Brooke has trained in all styles including tap, acro, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and ballet. Tap and acro are her favourite! She has won many awards including the opportunity to dance on the national Canadian team with World Performers Canada alongside many other talented dancers. Brooke is looking forward to sharing her passion of dance and can’t wait to inspire the young dancers!
Sandra
Sandra Yip began her gymnastic journey at the age of 5 where she quickly rose in ranks within the national high performance stream until the age of 17. Sandra finished her competitive years as a Junior high performance athlete representing Ontario at several national championships.
Sandra continues her passion for the sport and has been coaching for 18 yrs. Sandra has worked at all levels of experience from the grass roots, parent and tot classes through to the intense national stream programs, however her enthusiasm lies in the preparatory pre-competitive programs where she prepares young athletes for provincial and national competitive gymnastic careers.
Along with her NCCP level 3 gymnastics coaching certification, Sandra also has a personal training degree, F.L.M.P., from George Brown College. This allows Sandra to be at the top of her league in physical preparation and motivation by creating an environment that encourages a healthy long-term lifestyle in gymnastics and sport.
Jennifer
Jen Carter began dancing at the age of 10 in Peterborough, Ontario. She trained competitively with Premiere Studio of Dance until the age of 19, where she trained in hiphop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, tap and pointe. It wasn’t until age 13 that Jen recognized her great passion for urban dance, and decided she wanted to further a career in the dance industry.
She then went on to participate in the Integrated Arts Dance Program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School, where she found her love of teaching and choreographing. Through out her high school journey she was presented with many opportunities including: competing in Hurley Walk the Walk in California, dancing on the Rick Mercer Report, and 2 trips to New York City to train at Broadway Dance Centre and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She is now a member of the Toronto Dance Community after moving in September 2015. After all of her years of training, Jen is proud to have the experience from being a backup dancer to being casted in music videos.
Jen is a professional company member of BOSS Dance Company (under the direction of Leah Totten), was a member of Millennium Dance Complex Toronto’s incredible faculty in the short time it was open, as well as a choreographer for World Performers Canada. Jen is extremely grateful to teach and work alongside such inspiring educators. Jen has found that it is very important to take inspiration from everything and everyone around her as her goal has always been to inspire and touch those she comes in contact with. She looks forward to continuing her growth as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and person through her hard work and dedication to her craft.
Christianna
Christianna Stanley has danced from the age of 2 and has been teaching since 2003. She is certified with Canadian Dance Masters of America under the disciplines of Jazz, Ballet and Acrobatics. She has travelled to New York, LA, and Las Vegas to train and dance. Recently Christianna has choreographed a flash mob that was preformed at the Eaton Centre for an organization called "I believe she's amazing". She has also choreographed a group routine for the D.I.F.D gala fundraiser in Ottawa. Christianna currently is a dance instructor/choreographer full time.
Madison
Madison’s love for dance began at the age of three at AB Dance. She has extensive training in acro, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet and hip hop. Currently, she competes with the senior team at AB Dance every spring, winning many titles, awards and scholarships at various competitions in North America. Madison has also attended several workshops across Canada including the Rutherford Movement Exchange, Fresh Dance Intensive and most recently, the DFRNT Dance Virtual Intensive. Madison is excited for the upcoming dance season and is eager to share her knowledge and passion for dance with all her students. She is looking forward to dancing with everyone in the studio and on stage!