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.

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 at Metro Movement!

Ashley Ball

Ashley 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!

Lisa Collins

Lisa is a well known and accomplished teacher and choreographer in Canada. She teaches professional level dance classes across Southwestern Ontario at workshops, Universities and various studios. Currently, Lisa is a faculty member at Metro Movement Dance Studio in Toronto, one of Toronto's leading professional training studios. Lisa has also adjudicated dance competitions across Canada.

Lisa is the Director of LMC Productions, a company housing many different aspects of the entertainment industry including casting, production and talent development. LMC Productions expanded internationally through this past year by installing the Production Shows for Celebrity Cruise Lines Inc. and recently cast and aided in the rehearsal process for Japan Cruise Lines. Lisa also developed the workshop program GET EXPOSED and is thrilled to be the Director of another dream come true, IN.MOTION School of for the Performing Arts.

Alejandra Valiente Sánchez

Professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer specializing in teaching Ballet, Floor Barre, CI Training, Contemporary Ballet, Modern and performing Latin dance forms like Salsa, Danzon at many types of special events in various countries like Canada, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and Grenada Island. Awarded as the Teacher of the Year at St. Lawrence College in Canada (2007) and Best Choreographer Award from Dance Studio Tecamachalco Mexico (1986). Since 2008 she has been teaching different work shops and summer intensives in North Bay, Barrie and Toronto

Stephanie Rutherford

Known for her innovative, sincere and genuine movement quality, Stephanie Rutherford has a huge passion for creating outside the box and coming up with concepts for choreography that remain true to her heart. She has lived in Toronto for a while, where she is an in demand teacher and choreographer locally and throughout western Canada. A versatile dancer for over 20 years, she is always trying to evolve her craft with no limitations. This past summer she had her choreography showcased on MTV Canada, a feature on danceplug.com, The Dish (LA), Toronto's Choreographers Ball, Toronto Pride TD main stage, Women In Dance, choreographer of recording artist Lynzie Kents music video, thedancersoftoronto.com and has set pieces and work on various companies around the city. Having her theatre and film major from the U of W has helped her merge into the world of acting and directing which ultimatly has inspired her to create and teach with a new, cutting edge direction in dance. In 2009 she started her own dance company called Unrefined. It was a sold out, two night show where all the proceeds went to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. She has hopes of bringing back her company this coming summer. Her advanced class is every Wednesday night at 7:30. Come try it out!