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.
Catina Duscio
FacultyCatina Duscio has grown over the past 15 years as an award winning dancer and performer, into a valued choreographer and instructor.
Catina has trained, assisted and worked professionally with some of the most accomplished Choreographers, Dance and Voice Instructors, Directors, Producers and Recording Artists in Canada’s entertainment industry.
Catina has appeared in movies, television shows, live performances & music videos such as Disney’s Frenemies, Nikita, Hellcats, The Next Star, LA Complex, Highland Gardens, Ghost girl in “Monster High” Mattel’s worldwide launch, Shawn Desmon’s Electric & Night like this, live performances and television appearances with Aleesia, Jordan Setacci , the IIFA Awards Ceremony and has been invited to perform at several prestigious events and benefits in Europe the United States and Canada to mention a few.
Catina has taught and choreographed for many studios, workshops and respected educational institutions over the years with great success. Her choreography has won many overall high score awards, entertainment awards and choreography awards. Her demand for quality alongside her very approachable personality gives her the ability to encourage and motivate her students at every age and level and push them beyond their comfort zone to be the very best they can be.
Catina is recognized as an outstanding technician in all dance genres. From pointe shoes to hip hop, her strengths have proved to have no boundaries as a performer, instructor and choreographer.
Catina’s true joy is bringing her creativity, experience and technical skill to the stage for an audience to enjoy and into the classroom where she can challenge and excite her students.
Catina is presently attending University to further her academic education while working as a professional in the entertainment industry. Catina feels in order to keep current, in shape and prepared, she must continue to train in dance, vocal and acting. She believes in experiencing as much as possible to enrich her life and feed her passion for the art of dance and music, and she is always excited to share everything she knows in hopes of inspiring others.
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.
Jade Percival
FacultyJade Percival is a graduate of The Randolph Academy of Performing Arts her resent credits include Ensemble “Footloose” Drayton Entertainment, Milky White “Into The Woods” Randolph Theatre, Ralph an all woman production of “Lord of The Flies” Annex Theatre, performer opening number “2014 Dora Awards”, performer “You Should Be Dancing” Dancing with Parkinson’s,and Voice-over “Beourally” Campaign . Jade is a award winning Dancer,Choreographer,and experienced Actor and Singer. Miss Percival was a student of The Meyerhofer Academy since the age of 3, a 2011 Bernice Adams Finalist, Dancer of the Year American Dance Awards 2007,2009,2011,2012.Super Soloist Terpsichore 2009,2010,201.Played the role of a Orphan in KW Musical Productions Annie and completed the Advance Two Royal Academy of Dancing. Jades passion and skill awarded her spots in Stratford’s Shakespeare School,and Toronto Dance Theatre as well as scholarships to both Broadway Dance Centre and Steps on Broadway in New York city. Jades choreography continues to be Inspired awarding her choreography awards at every competition for the third year running including Kick it Ups overall virtual finals and Terpsichore’s T3.
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.