SUMMER HEAT: Faculty
Below is the faculty for SUMMER HEAT 2014, please stay tuned for the new faculty of 2015.
We will be bringing back some familiar faces as well as new teachers too!
We will be bringing back some familiar faces as well as new teachers too!
Danny Lawn
Danny began training at the late age of 13, and competed in Ottawa, Ontario until he was 18. Once he had graduated from high school, Danny made the move to Toronto where he was fortunate enough to train closely with choreographers Linda Garneau, Tiffany McLean, Eryn Waltman, and Leon Blackwood. During the summer of 2008, Danny began back-up dancing for the contestants of CBC's hit summer television show, "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" and soon after had the opportunity to dance for such artists as Kreesha Turner, Susie McNeill, Shiloh and Katy Perry.
In December 2008, Danny appeared as a company dancer in Helix Dance Project's annual contemporary production entitled "RAIN: life in full bloom". During this time, Danny was also assisting choreographer's Clarence Ford and Sean Cheesman on the first season of CTV's "So You Think You Can Dance Canada". In 2009, he made it to the Top 14 spot on CTV's season 2 of "So You Think You Can Dance Canada". After the show, he had the chance to work closely with Blake McGrath on his new music video "The Night", as well as Shawn Desman's "Shiver" music video and Keisha Chante's "Table Dancer" music video. He then went on tour with Blake McGrath promoting his new album, "TIME TO MOVE" and filmed two new feature films entitled "Frenemies" and "Make Your Move 3D". He has recently made the move to Los Angeles and spent the past year assisting Mia Michaels on JUMP Dance Convention and various other projects. He also just finished assisting Dee Caspary and Ray Leeper for their Top 16 and Top 10 duets on SYTYCD. Danny continues to train in all styles and verse himself in many different forms of dance. He is constantly taking, and teaching class around Toronto and LA, and continues to audition as much as possible. Theresa Ruth Howard
Theresa Ruth Howard began her professional dance career with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company at the age of twelve. Later she joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Africa. She has worked with choreographer Donald Byrd as a soloist in his staging of New York City Opera’s Carmina Burana, his critically acclaimed Harlem Nutcracker, as well as the controversial domestic violence work The Beast. She was invited to be a guest artist with Complexions: A Concept in their 10th anniversary season. In 2004 she became a founding member of Armitage Gone! Dance.
As a writer Ms. Howard has contributed to Russell Simmons’ One World magazine (art), and The Source (social politics), as well as Pointe and Dance Magazine. While teaching in Italy for the International Dance Association she was asked to become a contributor for the premiere Italian dance magazine Expressions. Her engaging, no nonsense writing style caught the eye of both the readers of Dance Magazine and its Editor in Chief who not only made her a contributing editor and has collaborated with Ms. Howard in See and Say Web-reviews. Her articles about body image prompted her to develop a workshop for young adult (dancers and non-dancers) My Body My Image that addresses their perceptions both positive and negative about their bodies and endeavoring to bring them closer to a place of Acceptance and Appreciation. She recently launched a blog by the same name to reach a broader audience (mybodymyimage.com) As a teacher Ms. Howard has been an Artist in Residence at Hollins University in and New Haven University in addition to teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, Marymount, Shenandoah, and Radford Universities, and the historical American Dance Festival. As a result of her work at ADF Ms. Howard was invited to Sochi, Russia to adjudicate the arts competition Expectations of Europe and teach master classes, and in Burundi, Africa where she coached and taught the Burundi Dance Company. Currently she is on faculty at The Ailey School but also extensively throughout Italy and Canada. Ms. Howard’s belief in the development, and nurturing of children lead her to work with at risk youth. At the Jacob Riis Settlement House in Queensbridge New York, she founded S.I.S.T.A (Socially Intelligent Sisters Taking Action) a mentoring program for teen-age girls where she worked to empower them to become the creators of their destinies. In addition she developed a dance program, which lead to an exchange with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Through her teaching and travels Ms. Howard began to observe a universal disenchantment and disconnection in teenagers that disturbed her, thus she set out to address it. Combining her philosophies of life and teaching, with the skills she garnered through outreach programs with diverse communities, she developed the personal development workshop Principles of Engagement: Connecting Youth to the Infinite Possibilities Within which gives teens a set of workable tools to increase their levels of success at tasks, and goals not only in dance, and all aspect of their lives. Theresa Ruth Howard is certainly diverse and multifaceted as an artist, and is moved to both write and create work; however she sees every student she encounters as a work in progress, and the potential to change the world one person at a time. The only was to make this world a better place it to be better people in it! Andrew Prashad
Andrew Prashad grew up in all aspects of art from a very young age. He is not only a solidly trained and versatile dancer, but a musician, singer and actor as well. He is quickly becoming one of the authorities on Tap dance in Canada and now globally, having studied under and taken class from Savion Glover, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Derick Grant and Dianne Walker. Andrew is an award winning actor, composer and writer, having recently had his short film officially selected in 12 festivals around the world (Boston International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Toronto Independent Film Festival) and winning 4 awards including BEST SHORT FILM. As a singer, actor, dancer and choreographer, Andrew has worked in film, commercials, television, and theatre. He graduated from the University of Toronto at Mississauga with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Performance as well as French Literature.
Lyuda Kovtun
Provincial and Interclub Competitive Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach
Lyuda graduated Chernigov State Pedagogical Institute in the Ukraine by specialty physical training. She is certified in risk management, and is a NCCP Level 3 fully certified rhythmic gymnastics coach. Lyuda has been coaching rhythmic gymnastics for 39 years. More specifically, she has 20 years of Head Coaching experience in the Ukraine; she became a coach in Canada in 2004 and soon after joined Burlington Rhythmic Gymnastics in 2007. Lyuda was the coach of several Ukraine National Team members including Olga Pavlenka, World Class athlete (1987-1990), Tatiana Shestak (1989-1991), Anastasia Steblina and Anastasia Bezpalchuk (2002-2003). She was awarded the badge of "Excellence in Education of Ukraine." Valerie Saija-Moore
Valerie is a dedicated part of the Rythum Plus family. She has had extensive dance training in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, musical theatre and hip-hop. She has trained with the Rythum Plus Dance Company since 1993, and taught since 2004, under the mentor-ship of Trish Thompson-Creamer. As an accomplished dancer, Valerie has held 8 Canadian Regional Titles which include Junior Miss Dance of Canada, Teen Miss Dance of Canada, Teen Dancer of the Year, Miss Dance of Canada, Dancer of the Year and Miss Dance Dance Canada. Valerie has also had the grand honour of achieving the national title Miss Dance of America 2008 for Dance Masters of America. She has won 4 national Acrobatic scholarship Awards and numerous Top Scoring Awards as well as completed her Vaganova Ballet Intermediate Exam and her RAD Advanced Foundation Exam with Distinction.
Her performances include the Hamilton Nutcracker Ballet, Joseph and The Technicolour Dreamcoat, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and appeared as a Giselle dancer in the motion picture Save The Last Dance 2 (2006) as well as a Montage Dancer in the motion picture Amelia (2009) . As a young choreographer, Valerie has won numerous choreography awards while her students have won many high score awards including the Rhythm Rookie Cup, Master Dance of Canada 2011 and most recently Miss Dance of Canada 2014. To further her dance education she travels to many workshops and is a certified member of Dance Masters of America, where she is Director of the Junior Members Committee. She has most recently completed Year One of Buffalo's Teachers' Training School (TTS). Valerie has attained both a Bachelor of Physical Education Honours degree and a Bachelor of Education degree, with teachable subjects in Physical Education and Mathematics from Brock University and Dance from York University. She is an Occasional Teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board where she is building the dance program at Glendale Secondary School. Valerie is responsible for the reestablishment of the HWDSB's DanceFest Celebration in which she both directs and coordinates. She has choreographed full Broadway scored musicals for Glendale's Performing Arts, "Aida: The Timeless Love Story" (2012) and "Peter Pan: The Musical Adventure" (2014). Valerie is so proud to be able share her passion with both aspects of her life. Valerie thoroughly enjoys working with children where she can share her love of dance. |
Gerard McIsaac
Gerard is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School and has been teaching, performing, and facilitating master classes worldwide for over twenty-five years. Along with adjudicating for countless dance competitions, he is equally well known for working with dancers at all levels, to achieve their highest technical and performance potential.
Gerard has taught ballet, broadway jazz, and voice in the professional ballet program at Canada’s National Ballet School, and has been accredited with his TTPPD (Dip) NBS, graduating with Distinction, from the Teachers Training Program for Professional Dancers. He has been honored to receive both the 2013 Carole Chadwick Award and 2014 Sylvie M. McPhee Award, presented by the NBS’s artistic ballet staff for Outstanding Teacher Recognition, and has been mentored by world-renowned Ballet Masters such as Mr. Sergiu Stefanschi, Ms. Debra Bowes, and Ms. Laurel Toto (head of the Junior Professional Ballet Program at NBS). Gerard is also a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance (PAA), and certified ballet instructor with the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA), a Mutually Recognized Teacher (RAD, MRT) with the RAD Association, has coached young artists for the Youth American Grand Prix, and is a recognized freelance ballet choreographer for artists within this genre of dance. Gerard has also led ballet master classes and is a certified ballet facility member and adjudicator for Dance Master’s of America, and also facilitates Professional Development Workshops for dance teachers within the industry relating to subjects such as dance pedagogy, music, class construction, and approach to teaching dance within all levels and classifications, to name a few. Highlight’s of Gerard's professional performance career include: THE NUTCRACKER, (The National Ballet of Canada); CATS, Mr. Mistoffelees (Original Can. Cast/Nat. Tour); MISS SAIGON, Dragon Acrobat & Ensemble (London, Eng. - West End); JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Napthali (London, Eng. - West End); SHOWBOAT, Assistant Dance Captain/Ensemble (Toronto/US Nat. Tour/London, Eng. – West End); BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LeFou (US Nat. Tour); THE HANDMAID’S TALE and DEATH IN VENICE, Dance Ensemble (Canadian Opera Company); HAIRSPRAY THE MOVIE!, Dance Ensemble; CANADIAN IDOL SEASON 3, Ensemble; SYNCHRONICITY (Japan Tour), with Jennifer Lopez; RAINDOGS, Choreographer & Creative Consultant (Theatre 20, Toronto). Gerard’s professional credits and vast experience as a qualified dance educator, along with his boundless energy and enthusiasm for inspiring young artists, makes him a well-rounded, multi-skilled addition to our esteemed faculty Akira Uchida
Originally from Ottawa ON, Akira Uchida made the move to Toronto to pursue his professional dance career in the fall of 2011 at the young age of 18, after completing high school. Upon his arrival in Toronto, Akira took part in Conteur Dance Company's inaugural show "State Of Mind", directed and choreographed by Eryn Waltman, as an apprentice dancer.
Within the short period of time he has been living in Toronto, Akira has worked on multiple film/television shows such as Canada's Got Talent with Paul Becker, Degrassi with Jeff Dimitriou, The Next Star Season 5 finale with Mike Riccio and Over the Rainbow as well as Canada’s Smartest Person with SYTYCD choreographer Sean Cheesman. He has taken part in many industrial performances such as the Three to Be Charity Event Gala: Robotica, The Annual Wild Wild West Hoedown hosted by Magna Chairman Frank Stronach, the Toronto Interior Design Show 2012, the Shaw Media Upfront 2013 and performed for Serena Ryder at a TD Bank corporate event. He can also be seen in multiple music videos such as Dragonette’s "Let It Go", upcoming artist Young Avz’ "That Song on the Radio", Blake Mcgrath’s "Heaven" and a Much Music Promo Video for “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith. In the summer of 2012, Akira attended the Capezio A.C.E. awards in NYC as a dancer in Eryn Waltman's piece "In Flux". He also worked closely with choreographers Mia Michaels and Dee Caspary in their pieces at the Collective in LA. Most recently, Akira had a dancer role in an upcoming indie movie called “My Daughter’s Nightmare”. He will also be working closely with choreographer Roberto Campanella in a new horror series entitled “The Strain” which will be filming throughout the new year. In the spring of 2014, Akira will be taking on a contract with the Canadian Opera Company as a dancer in their upcoming show “Don Quichotte” at the Four Seasons Centre. Akira continues to train, take class, teach and choreograph throughout the GTA and Ottawa area. His passion, determination and hard work are what have pushed him this far in his career and he plans on continuing to pursue his dream for many years to come! Ryan Adkins
Ryan has been involved in the dance world since 1995. He trained at Rythum Plus Dance Company and Cawthra Park Secondary School. He then Graduated with an RAD Degree in Dance and went straight to work. He has since worked for Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Holland America Cruise Line, Tokyo Disney, The Canadian Opera Company, Stage West and Drayton Entertainment. He loves to give back to the dance community by judging dance competitions, teaching at local studios and teaching at several workshops throughout the year. He loves working with children and wants them to receive the same chances to grow and become stars just as he did.
Sarah Armstrong-Rood
Sarah Armstrong-Rood has been a proud staff member of the Rythum Plus Dance Company since 1996. Sarah has been a certified and active member of Canadian Dance Masters since 1998 and is a nationally certified ballet and jazz examiner for her chapter, Chapter #38. Sarah has studied at Dance Masters of America's Teachers' Training School (TTS) at the University of Buffalo as well as completed her C.D.T.A. exams as a student in jazz, tap, and ballet.
Sarah's love for dance and passion for teaching has helped many of her students achieve titles on a regional level including Petite Miss Dance of Canada and Junior Miss Dance of Canada. Furthermore, Sarah has also had students win titles nationally, including a former National Young Dancer of the Year for American Dance Awards. Sarah has been recognized for her choreography and has achieved many high-score awards in the competitive dance circuit. In the dance classroom, Sarah's love for dance and teaching style makes her a teacher who is highly requested year after year by her students and parents. One of Sarah's greatest contributions to Rythum Plus' recreational syllabus has been her creation and implementation of the Creative Dance and Creative Movement programs. Her teaching reputation has also allowed her to branch out of the studio setting and into the classrooms for the Hamilton-Wentworth and Niagara School Boards. Sarah has become a provincially and nationally accomplished adjudicator. Her professional work and choreography has been requested by companies such as Scotia Bank, Nike Canada, Sony Records and the Hudson Bay Company. Most recently, Sarah's choreography was highlighted at Disney World, Orlando. Nina Strazzulla
Nina has been dancing with Rythum Plus since its opening in 1992. She has received extensive training in acro, ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop under the mentor-ship of Trish Thompson-Creamer. Nina has completed both her Vaganova Ballet Intermediate Exam and her RAD Ballet Advanced Foundation Exam. She has also received various DMA National Scholarships in Acrobatics.
Nina is a former Mini Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss, and Miss Dance of Canada. Her professional accomplishments include working with Hilary Swank in her Oscar-nominated movie Amelia, being in the Top 40 for Seasons 2 and 3 of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,” and performing for Tre Armstrong in her charity-organized shows. Nina has also worked on contract for Royal Caribbean Productions as a dancer, tumbler, and aerialist, specifically in Robert Stigwood's Saturday Night Fever: The Musical and Jeremy Plummer's In the Air. Teaching for Rythum Plus since 2006, Nina is enthusiastic about dance education and looks forward to teaching at Rythum Plus each year. Nina has been awarded ADA’s regional young choreographer of the year and has also been a dance assistant to Annie Wood for her DanceFuzion intensive. Nina is a DMA-certified dance instructor, and is current Chair of DMC Chapter #38's Junior Membership Program. Nina has completed her post-secondary education with a Bachelor of Arts and Science and Classics (Honours) from McMaster University. It was at this institution where she was also a proud member of its varsity dance team, VERVE Dance. Nina enjoys teaching, choreographing and performing in all disciplines; she makes sure to take every opportunity to train and audition as a means to further her dance expertise. |