Lisa Meyerhofer A.R.A.D.T.C.
Faculty
Lisa started her training in the Waterloo area 40 years ago.She continued her training locally until age 17 when she was accepted to the prestigious Professional Program with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Lisa then moved on to The Alberta Ballet Company performing roles such as Grandma, Head Snowflake, Chinese , Spanish, Waltz in Nutcracker, Head Mazurka Girl, Irish Doll in Coppelia. Lisa has received many overall awards for excellence in choreography at competitions and festivals throughout North America. Lisa has worked for world known companies such as Estee Lauder and Walt Disney World. Lisa took over her home dance school in 1987 and Meyerhofer was born. Lisa started her teaching career at age 14 heading YMCA’s dance program under Mr.Cooper. Since opening the Meyerhofer Academy of Dancing her students have gone on to receive scholarships for The National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg, George Brown, Ryerson, U of W, Banff School of Arts and Joffrey Ballet School. Lisa has many students who have been in or are in the Phantom of The Opera Toronto cast and touring, Joffrey, La La La Human Steps , Cirque De Soleil, Celine Dion Vegas Show, My Fair Lady, 42nd Street, Bossov Ballet Theater and various cruise ships. Lisa ‘s students have also excelled in the Royal Academy of Dancing exams making her not only a well respected dance teacher but a much sought after adjudicator.
Amber Bagshaw A.R.A.D
FacultyAmber received her principal training with The Meyerhofer Academy of Dancing. She performed in The Royal Academy of Dancing’s Solo Seal Performance of 2005, danced in Miami, Toronto, Rochester City Ballet, The Draper Center, and the Alberta Ballet School and was hired by the Ontario Ballet Theatre. Amber was fortunate to dance at the age of 13 with college students at George Brown College under Chun Che and because of her superior training she was permitted to take classes with such notables as Rex Harrington, Mary Jago, and Chan Hon Goh. Amber’s credits include The Broadway Tribute, Country Revival as a Soloist, Beatles Tribute as a Soloist, Big Band Show, and performed the Adage in The Christmas Show on Carnival Cruise Lines Ecstacy, Celebration and Miracle. Amber is a Master Pointe Teacher and Fully Qualified.
Anthony Brifoglio
FacultyMr. Anthony started his life in dance at the late age of 12 with tap and theatre dance. He then continued his competitive training with ballet, jazz, lyrical, acro and found his love for old school hip-hop working with Daniel Celebre, winning multiple overall and outstanding performance awards. After graduating high school he turned his attention the United States, taking multiple classes in LA and New York. Being taught by choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Dee Caspry, Mia Micheals, Ian Eastwood, Tabitha and Napoleon and Stephen “Twitch” Boss. He started teaching at the age of 20 and earned two choreography awards in his first year. He began training to receive his certification at Dance Masters of America. Mr. Anthony just completed his 4th year and passed his jazz exam. His goal is to bring out the furthest potential in each student in each style. He hopes his determination and passion for dance inspires his students to give everything they’ve got.
Kristen Pottle
FacultyKristen Pottle is one of the most sought after performers in the Canadian Musical Theatre Industry. Gaining a reputation as a true triple threat performer, work has taken her across Canada and the United States. She has been seen on the North American Tour of The Wizard of Oz as a swing and Wicked Witch understudy. She also performed with the Toronto company at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Growing up in Fredericton, New Brunswick she began her dance training at a young age and it was clear it was the path she would follow. Her training brought her to Toronto and The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts where she received the Triple Threat Award upon graduating. Other theatre credits include: Anne of Green Gables, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Canada Rocks! Ring of Fire, Feux Follets, The Full Monty (Charlottetown Festival), Graziella in West Side Story (Vancouver Opera Company), Kiss me Kate (TIFT), Joseph, The Producers, Happy Days, All Shook Up (Stage West) and Beauty and the Beast (SilverMist). While performing Kristen developed a love for teaching as well and has loaned her talents to various workshops and studios in her off time. She added yoga teaching to her skillset last Spring after completing her Hot Hatha Yoga teacher training at BeHot Yoga Toronto. She loves to bring her knowledge of alignment and anatomy to the yoga and dance studios. Kristen brings her passion for performance to the stage and to the classroom!
Kerry Gage
Choreographer/Performer/EducatorKerry currently resides in Toronto but has spent nine seasons at the Stratford Festival. She just choreographed HMS Pinafore for the 2017 Stratford season. Other productions she has worked on include Crazy For You, Fiddler On The Roof, 42nd Street, Camelot, and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
You might have seen her on the CBC reality TV show Triple Sensation Season I and II as a dance judge and choreographer.
She has spent 13 seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as part of the creative team and the Director /Choreographer of the Confederation Centre Young Company. Kerry was also the Children’s Casting and Resident Director for the North American premiere of The Sound Of Music with Mirvish.
Her performance credits include: Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival); Gigi, Love’s Labour’s Lost, My Fair Lady, Romeo & Juliet, The Boyfriend, The Gondoliers (Stratford Festival); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, and Guys & Dolls (Stage West); Grease (Elgin Theatre); Oedipus Rex and Hansel & Gretel (Canadian Opera Company.)
Her choreographic credits include: Mamma Mia, Shrek-the Musical, Elf-the Musical, Miracle on 34th Street, Rocky Horror, Cinderella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Wizard of OZ, Anne Of Green Gables, Forever Plaid, Nunsensations, The World Goes Round, Annie, the Canadian premiere of Batboy – The Musical, My Way, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Hello Dolly, and Songs for a New World.
Kerry is co-owner and Creative Director of Hoopla Entertainment.
She has taught at many theatre institutions such as Sheridan College, Randolph Academy, St.Clair College, St.Lawrence College, Etobicoke School Of the Arts, and George Brown College.
Kerry has been a dance adjudicator for festivals across Canada for twenty years.
She is so very pleased to be teaching tap with her long time friend and colleague Lisa Meyerhofer at the Meyerhofer Academy Of The Performing Arts.
“To dance is to be out of yourself, larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.” Agnes de Mille.
Jade Percival
FacultyJade Percival is a triple threat performer and teacher based in Cambridge, ON. She is also a graduate of the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts in Toronto. Selected credits include: Anne of Green Gables, Mamma Mia (Swing), Alice Through the Looking Glass at The Charlottetown Festival, We Will Rock You (DC) at Magnus, Footloose 2x at Drayton, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (Assistant to the Choreographer), The Little Mermaid (DC and Assistant), My Fair Lady, King Arthur: The Panto (DC), Robin Hood: The Panto (DC) at the Capitol Theatre and Motives and Murders on Discovery I.D. Jade also performed as a Playlist Dancer/Singer for Carnival Cruise Lines on the Carnival Freedom, and was part of the Original Inaugural Cast of the Carnival Radiance. Jade loves teaching her students at Meyerhofer and is so proud of each and every one of them. Over the years, she has received numerous awards and much praise for her innovative and thought-provoking choreography.
Sarah Gomes
FacultySarah Gomes has received prestigious training from Meyerhofer Academy of Dancing since the age of 3. Starting with ballet, her interests quickly expanded to jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap and acro. Sarah danced competitively for 9 years. Some noteworthy awards include, but are not limited to; All Round Senior Dancer – Kiwanis festival (2017), Highest Scoring Routine in Competition – Dream To Dance (2017), and Highest Senior Ballet, Jazz, and Lyrical – Northern Stars (2017). Sarah attended Eastwood Collegiate Institute and was a part of the Arts Program, majoring in dance and drama. Here, she participated in choreographing and performing in at least 3 shows per school year. She graduated with honours and an arts endorsement in her degree. During this time, Sarah was also cast in Drayton Entertainments “Footloose” and “The Little Mermaid” as a youth ensemble member. Upon graduation, Sarah chose to attend the University of Waterloo where she is currently studying psychology. Sarah wants to continue to share her passion for dance with her students while simultaneously furthering her academic career. Sarah has been teaching under Lisa Meyerhofer since the age of 15 and is excited to continue to teach and inspire the next dance generation!
Matthew Pinkerton
FacultyMatthew Pinkerton grew up in Courtice, Ontario. He began dancing at the young age of three and eventually after many years of training, he became a certified teacher in several styles of dance. He was later accepted to Sheridan College where he received a Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance. He was offered his first professional season right out of school and has been performing ever since. Select credits include: “The Wizard Of Oz”, “A Christmas Carol” (Ross Petty) “We Will Rock You” (Magnus) “Legally Blonde”, “Rock of Ages” (Stage West) “The Little Mermaid”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Crazy For You” (Capitol) Role Play (Treehouse TV). Before the pandemic Matthew was hand selected to be part of an inaugural cast for the new Carnival Radiance Ship. This would be his second contract sailing around the world with Carnival Cruise Lines. Matthew is now back teaching dance… and wearing a mask.
Sydney Mitton
Sydney began her dance and performance training at Meyerhofer beginning at the age of 3. It was there that her passion for dance began and she loves to pass on her profound love for the art through teaching others. She has been sharing her love of dance through teaching for the past 6 years. Sydney has successfully accomplished multiple vocational ballet examinations through Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) including, Intermediate Foundation up to Advanced Two. She also danced competitively for 13 years winning multiple overall and judge recognition awards. Additionally, Sydney performed with Canada’s Ballet Jorgen for 6 years in both their local and touring cast of the Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, as well as in their rendition of Sleeping Beauty. In addition to her time performing with Canada’s Ballet Jorgen, Sydney was also cast in Drayton Entertainment’s Aladdin: The Panto. Sydney graduated from Meyerhofer in 2018 and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Honours Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Waterloo. She is thrilled that she can continue to be a part of the Meyerhofer family and instil strong foundations in dance for the next generation.