Chapter 38
DANCE MASTERS OF CANADA
A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CERTIFIED DANCE EDUCATORS
CONVENTION FACULTY
Dance Masters of Canada is pleased to welcome the following faculty to our convention.
"Shawn Bracke is a versatile Choreographer, Dancer and Visual Artist, creating movements for stage, film and television. His work is story-based and aims to inspire audiences to think critically and feel deeply.
His aesthetic stems from his strong technical training and a professional career that's immersed in the commercial and concert dance worlds. His extensive training in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop and Vernacular styles have been integral to his unique movement. Shawn draws from experience with improvisational acting techniques to create a heightened emotional state with his work.
Having spent time living in Vancouver, London UK, Milan IT and now in Toronto, Canada. Shawn has gained credits working with major brands.
Selected Choreography credits include: Macy's, The Hudson Bay, The Abnormal Beauty Company (Deciem), Much Music MMVA's, YTV the Zone, The Next Step (associate chor.), We Day, BBC television, Converse, Bud Light Sensation, ACT Toronto, Freeform Network. Shawn's Directorial and Choreographic Dance On Film works have been featured in over 25 International Film Festivals including the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival, Inside Out (TIFF) Film Festival and Canadian Film Fest.
For full list of festivals and other works, please go to www.shawnbracke.com
@shawnbracke "
Martha Hart is a freelance dance artist, choreographer and educator based in Toronto. After graduating from Canada’s National Ballet School, she also received training at the Palucca Schule Dresden, L’ecole Superieure du Ballet de Quebec, and Arts Umbrella Dance in Vancouver.
After an engagement with the Dresden Semperoper Ballet in Germany, she returned to Canada and has since worked with esteemed companies and artists such as Cote Danse (Guillaume Cote), iskwē, Nicole Von Arx, Human Body Expression (Hanna Kiel), TranscenDance Project (Julia Cratchley), Ace Dance Theatre, The Garage, Hit & Run Dance Productions, Mascall Dance, Broadbent Sisters, Project20 (Donald Sales) in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. From 2015-2016 she toured Mexico, Spain and Italy as a member of the Metamorphosis Dance Collective directed by Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich and has organized and produced Metamorphosis Method Workshops in Toronto from 2017 to 2020.
In 2020, she founded the company hART dance to act as a collaborative umbrella for her choreographic endeavours. Her work has been featured at Stackt Market for Nuit Blanche, New Blue Dance Festival, in the short film “Oasis” (Canadian Film Centre) and most recently she choreographed a music video for singer Jessie Reyez. She continues to educate and coach dancers of all ages across the GTA and is passionate about sharing dance as a visceral experience to a wide variety of audiences.
Sarah Di Iorio is a dancer, choreographer and teacher. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2018 from Toronto Metropolitan University, graduating with distinction. She was also the recipient of the Nadia Potts Heart and Soul Scholarship Award, an award given to someone who has shown genuine passion, drive, and leadership in the arts.
Since graduating, Sarah has danced with Red Sky Performance in their Dora-Award winning work; Trace, performing this work at the Canadian Museum of History, Festival Des Arts De Saint-Sauveur, and at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival. She spent the majority of 2021/22 touring this show with the company throughout Canada and the United States. Other recent performances of hers include; Din of Shadows 2022 show, performing as a soloist in Canadian Stage’s “Dance in High Park Series”, and dancing in a new creation for Dance Ontario 2022.
Sarah has choreographed for the Fall for Dance North Festival, Cawthra Parks Springfest Show, Toronto Metropolitan University’s performance of “The Penelopiad”, and the premiere of “Impromptu” at the Parodos Festival. She has also worked alongside Theatre Oculus, choreographing and assisting in the creation of their Fringe Festival dance film “Venus and Adonis”. Sarah is thrilled to be guest teaching at the 2022 Dance Masters of Canada Convention, and is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with all of the students.
Leah is a dance teacher, choreographer, creative director and arts manager. She spent the early years of her career travelling and training across Canada, NYC and LA before permanently moving to Toronto. Leah is the founder and artistic director of 'BOSS Dance Company' established in 2012, an all-female hip hop company that focuses on empowerment through dance. She is a Commercial Dance Professor at Centennial College, has produced five full-length theatre shows and has taught and adjudicated at over 150 schools, studios and competitions across Canada, the U.S and Europe. Leah is the resident choreographer for 'Mini Pop Kids' and has choreographed countless music videos and concerts over her many years in the industry. She hopes to inspire her students to find their purpose and passion for both dance and life!
Alexandra is a sought after creative director/choreographer in both film and theatre. She most recently wrapped two seasons of Apple TV+ SEE (starring Jason Momoa). With her roots in theatre, she has also choreographed at Rainbow Stage and Sheridan College. As a performer, she has played many leading roles at the Stratford Festival and at many theatres across Canada and the U.S. She is also a master teacher, adjudicator, and coach, having trained students who have attended Alvin Ailey and performed on Broadway!