Stelio Calagias

Currently owner and Artistic Director of Metro Movement Dance Studio in Toronto and former Director of "Les Ballet Jazz", The Dance Center, Stelio has an impressive portfolio which spans choreography, directing, teaching and performance.

Mr. Calagias graduated from Marygrove College in Detroit in 1974 with a BFA degree in dance. He was a scholarship student at the National Ballet School in Toronto for 4 years and studied ballet under the legendary Eric Bruhn, amongst others.

He was an original member of the cast of CATS in both the Toronto production and the national tour and has extensive performance experience, including the National Ballet of Canada, the Los Angeles Jazz Co., the Eliot Feld Ballet Co. of New York, and the CBC, to name a few.

Mr. Calagias has taught at schools and colleges across Canada, and done a vast array of performing and choreography for television, film and stage, working in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York City, throughout Canada, and in Europe.

Eileen Birks

Having graduated from Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, Eileen's pursuance of dance took her to the Professional Training Program of Les Ballet Jazz in Toronto. Eileen's dance training covers many dance styles: ballet, modern and jazz. A passion for dance inspired Eileen to pursue further dance training in New York City.

Eileen has scores of performance appearances in Toronto and Edmonton. With Stelio Calagias, Eileen was a co-founder of Metro Movement Dance Studio in 1986.

Eileen is an expert of kinesthetic anatomy as she has studied with Irene Dowd since 1994. Her expertise in this area has kept Eileen busy as she is assisting Irene with the Dance Teacher's Workshop in New York. In addition, Eileen is no stranger to the National Ballet School's Teacher Training Program as she teaches kinesthetic anatomy there.

Since 1994, Eileen has been teaching pilates after being certified by Vancouver's Dianne Miller and the Physical Mind Institute of Santa Fe. Presently, Eileen is assisting Diane Miller with Teacher Training Program in Toronto.

Sam Snyders

Sam's list of accomplishments is lengthy and diverse. He has been a lead performer in three network television series and has performed on any number of other series. He has played leading roles in T.V. and theatrical movies and stage productions.

Some of his leading roles include The Pit, Tomorrow Never Comes, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, The Baxters, An American Christmas Carol, Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang, Treasure Island, Anne of Green Gables, A Chorus Line, The Player Principle and Oliver Twist.

Sam has also produced and directed numerous television specials for CBC Sportsweekend and TSN.

In recent times he has added his choreographic and dance skills to his bank of experience as well as teaching dance in various educational institutions and dance schools.

"I am dedicated to doing my best in every endeavor, be it performing for a live theatre audience or the unrelenting eye of the camera, or creating new and exciting choreography."

Candice Helm

Candice received her professional training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School -Prof Division, and the National Ballet School (TTP, 1985). Her teaching experience includes the National Ballet School TTP, the Quinte Ballet School, and Ryerson University. She is currently teaching on faculty at George Brown Dance - Ballet Jorgen Canada, and Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts -Triple Threat Program.

In addition to teaching children's classes, Candice is regularly invited to guest teach, adjudicate, and conduct dance workshops. Guest teaching includes the Quinte Ballet School - Belleville, CDTA - 60th Anniversary - Mississauga, George Brown Dance - Toronto/ Halifax, Cecchetti Society of Canada - ON Branch, Dance Ontario - Manitoulin Island, and DanceFuzion 'Urban Sweat' - Toronto. Candice regularly teaches Open Ballet Class at Metro Movement.

Stephen Findlay

Stephen began his career with the Alberta Ballet then later with Ballet North where he spent four seasons as a soloist. Some past theatre credits include; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, three seasons with the Charlottetown Festival where he played in Anne of Green Gables, Guys and Dolls and Puttin on the Ritz, Peter Pan and Robin hood the Pantomimes at the Elgin Theatre, Forty Second Street and Crazy For You at Huron County Playhouse, SwingStep an original Canadian Musical and numerous others. Movie and Television credits include; Queer As Folk, The Gemini Awards, Stormy Weather, SuperStar, Once Upon A Mattress, and most recently HairSpray with John Travolta. He has had the good fortune to work with great artists such as Donny Osmond, Shania Twain, Ernie Coombs,( Mr. Dressup), Rex Harrington, Traci Ullman, Louise Pitre, Carol Burnett, and Tony Award winning choreographer Kathleen Marshall.

Also a sought after teacher, he has taught and guest taught for various centres through out Canada including The Edmonton School of Ballet, The Alberta Ballet School, The Young Canadians, The Charlottetown Festival Young Company, Harbour Dance, George Brown College, Sheridan College, and Metro Movement. Currently he can be seen performing in the Mirvish production of The Sound Of Music, in which he also acts as dance captain.

Linda Garneau

Linda's versatility and passion for her craft have allowed her to work in diverse areas of the industry. She is artistic director for The Helix Dance Project, choreographing 6 full length works to date, most recently Rain, with favorable reviews. She has also chroegraphed for film and tv, numerous musicals, and continues to be inspired and taught by each student.

Kalie Hunter

Originally from Victoria, BC, Kalie is a 2004 BA Dance graduate from the School of Alberta Ballet/University of Calgary. Since graduation, she has spent her time travelling and dancing with companies such as La Caravan Dance Theatre, Ballet Espressivo, and Jean Anne Ryan Productions on board Silverseas Cruise Lines, where she was a dancer/featured silks aerial acrobat. In 2008 Kalie made her musical theatre debut at the Citadel Theatre and Theatre Calgary in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Currently she considers Toronto home and is thrilled to be teaching jazz basics at Metro Movement!

Ashley Ball

Ashley Ball has been involved with dance for over 25 years. She began her training at an early age and studied extensively throughout Canada and the United States. She has competed successfully at countless dance competitions across the world in the disciplines of jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical and musical theatre.

She has trained with some of the most famous choreographers and teachers across the world including Gus Giordano, Barry Lather, and Frank Hatchett. Her teaching career spans over 12 years and includes dance instruction in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, acrobatics and hip hop. She has completed her Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus and was involved in the CDTA Jazz and Tap Examinations. She has guest taught at workshops for various studios across Ontario. Her choreography has won numerous awards and cash scholarships including Creative Concept, Outstanding Senior Choreographer and Best of the Show! Ashley has also obtained her Business Degree from the University of Western Ontario. She is currently celebrating the 5th Anniversary of owning and operating her own Studio!

Ashley has participated as a judge at some of North America’s leading dance competitions and is a certified member of the International Academy of Dance Adjudicators.

Her professional work includes dancing with the Toronto based Company “Je Danse”, under the direction of Siona Jackson. Ashley has also performed in music videos and at various industrial events across Ontario. She continues to train and perform professionally to give her students the utmost in style, dance knowledge and technique. She is thrilled to be living her passion: dance!

Stephenos Christou

Stephenos Christou is a multifaceted performer who has had the opportunity and pleasure of working through out North America and over seas. Some of his theatre credits include: Stratford Festival (Cabaret/The Trojan Women) the Broadway National tour of Chicago (Harry, u/s Billy Flynn), Evita, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Cabaret, Romeo and Juliet Remixed, Snow White and many charity, tributes and benefit concerts. Film and Television: Once Upon a Mattress and The Canadian Walk of Fame. Stephenos has also had the pleasure of working along side such people as Carol Burnett, Kevin Richardson, Lisa Rinna, Hewy Lewis, George Hamilton, Tracey Ullman and the legendary Oscar Peterson.

Jen Towndrow

Jen Towndrow has been dancing for half of her thirty years, many of those spent training at Metro Movement Dance Studio under Stelio Calagais and Eileen Birks. She has danced competitively, been involved in curriculum dance instruction and has also performed in various musical theatre productions. Jen has an enthusiasm and love for dance that shines brightly in every class she teaches and is excited to be a member of the Metro Movement team!