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GROOVE STAFF
Angela Williams
Owner
Angela Williams, Artistic Director of Groove School of Dance and Co-owner of Zodiactors Musical Theatre Company, brings over 20 years of experience in jazz, ballet, gymnastics, hip hop, musical theatre and acro to each and every one of her students. Angela enjoys spending her summers working with Zodiac Camp overseeing the Dance and Performing Arts programs and as well as directing the performing arts plays at Camp Tamarack in Muskoka.
With a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies (focusing on children with special needs) Angela also holds a Bronze Ballroom certification, has trained in dance at the Brian Foley Dance Studio and has her Ontario Gymnastics Coaching Certification.
Angela’s numerous media appearances include the Hard Rock Café Talent Show, spots on CGOH Ottawa TV, Ottawa Rogers TV Talent Focus, HGTV, Slice TV and Treehouse.
Angela spent many years as a competitive gymnast and as a teen, held the accolade of third place overall provincially in Ontario. She also placed 2nd in the Ottawa Talent Search (Dance Category). For many years Angela performed as a dancer, actor and singer in a number of musical theatre productions with Company of Musical Theatre (Babies, A Chorus Line and Into the Woods).
After working as an educator in the special needs field for many years, Angela passion and love for dance led to her open her first dance studio, Act Now in Ottawa in 1995.
Upon moving to Toronto in 1997, Angela’s dream came true for a second time when she opened Groove School of Dance in 1999. Her main goal was to create a dance studio without emphasis on competition and focus on high positive nature of dance and movement – to make every dancer feel like a star!
Jesse Catibog
Head Instructor
Jesse Catibog, Head Teacher for hiphop and breakdancing, brings over 14 years of “bboying” to the Groove school and also enjoys a career of five years as a freelance designer and illustrator. He has traveled the world as a top breakdance competitor and won 1st place at the Just for Laughs B.O.T.Y. (2004 Supernaturalz).
Jesse’s past television appearances include Breakfast Television, City TV and Much Music, but his most exciting spot on live television was in October 2008 as a top 20 finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” . He has also appeared in print in the Toronto Star in August of 2005 and in the Toronto Star, Eye Weekly and Now Magazine in July 2008.
Although often described as easy-going and down-to-earth, Jesse’s serious and deep side brings a good, strong balance to his role as a teacher. He states his future ambition as wanting to open and own a combined dance studio/art gallery and leads life with a “INSPIRE – INNOVATE – MOTIVATE” mantra. In his spare time, Jesse can be found listening, drawing and ‘creating’.
Nadine Parsons
Head Instructor
Nadine brings over fifteen years of dance experience to Groove including ballet, jazz and hip hop. In addition to being one of our Head Teachers for the last 7 years, Nadine has spent many years dancing at the Parrell Dance Centre. A graduate of Fanshawe College, School of Contemporary Media, Nadine has been a wonderful resource for video, staging and set design for our many recitals and events over the years.
Michaela Prendergast
Head Instructor
Michaela is an instructor at Groove School of Dance.
Sarah Johnson
Head Instructor
Bio coming soon.
Gabriel Alejandro Anaya-Chica
Head Instructor
Gabriel Alejandro Anaya-Chica is a passionate and versatile young artist. His passion goes beyond movement, as he extends his knowledge by further understanding the history and the foundational elements of different styles of dance, leading his craft to be that much more meaningful. This was in big part due to his enrollment in Centennial College's Dance Performance Diploma Program that helped train him in areas of dance, which include and aren't limited to Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Acrobatic, Commercial Dance, Pas De Deux, with addition to Vocal and Acting lessons.
His Dance training doesn't end there, as he forms part of a company called Footnotes Acadamy. Footnotes provides him with the foundational elements and history of street styles such as Locking, Popping, House, Breaking and Hip-Hop, which helps increase his value as a dancer. He is always finding ways to share his knowledge of dance and its history, ensuring that the culture stays alive, as he wants his brand to consist of more than just movement.
Olga Soukhov
Head Instructor
Dancing in front of her bedroom mirror, Olga Soukhov began her dance journey at the age of 12 at her local Studio learning Hip Hop. From there she joined her high school’s dance team and took part of many performances and competitions. Currently Olga is pursuing her passion in her second year at Centennial College’s Dance Certificate Program. She trains professionally in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Choreography, Pas-de-deux, and Acrobatics. She is also mentored under Leah Totten in BOSS Dance Company as well as Kelly Gammie and Queenie S. Vincente at School of Groove. Olga’s love for music and hunger for growth led her to explore many different styles such house, breakdance, afrobeat, waacking, dancehall, and krump, just to name a few. During her free time, Olga enjoys freestyling, attending dance workshops, and battling! Her goal is to become a versatile artist and spreading her passion in hopes of inspiring others to chase their dreams.
Sage Bernstein Cord
Head Instructor
Sage has been dancing since the age of two and has over a decade of experience training in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and urban dance. In 2015, she attended Canada’s National Ballet School’s Professional Ballet Program. Recently, she has danced as a company and crew member at Millennium Dance Complex Toronto. Some artists she has worked with include Shawn Byfield, Bizzy Boom, Amanda Donato, O’Shani, Holly Pocket, and Chris Knowles.
Sage loves working with students to help them improve and refine their dance skills. Groove was Sage’s first ever dance studio and she is thrilled to have come full circle; returning as a teacher this year!
Madison Golshani
Operations Manager
Madison Golshani, Office Manager at Groove School of dance began her journey in the dance world at the age of 4. Studying at the Ontario School of Ballet, Madison focused on Ballet and Jazz.
At the age of 8, Madison joined the Upper Canada Repertory Company, a Toronto-based theatre repertory company where she performed in numerous Shakespearean and Modern theatre productions across Toronto. Her most recent stage credits include Sense on The Beach (Almnae Theatre), The Great Gatsby (The Theatre Centre), and The Outsiders (George Ignatieff Theatre).
Madison also is the company Administrator and a Director for Zodiactors Musical Theatre Company. In her free time Madison Stage-manages for various theatre companies including but not limited to the Upper Canada Repertory Company, and Front of House Productions.
Danielle Parsons
Head Instructor
Danielle Parsons, Manager and Head Staff at the Groove School of Dance, brings a combined 15 years of experience including jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop. While helping to manage Groove, Danielle’s position as Business Development Manager for The Remote Stylist, keeps her ‘on her toes’. She comes to Groove with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management as well as being an Ontario Scholar, 2003 from Leaside High School.
Danielle has appeared in the Keisha Chante music video (Been Gone) as well as being the Head Choreographer for the Leaside Spirit Squad. She led her tap and hip hop troupes to a gold medal in 2007 & 2008 as the Dance Coach for the Kiwanis Dance Festival and has even gone “International” at Walt Disney World in the International Dance Festival.
Sierra Kellman
Head Instructor
Sierra Kellman is an Ontario based dance artist who trained with several Competitive dance studios including Toronto Dance Industry, K & K Dance Dreams, and Elite Danceworx. During her competitive years, she had the opportunity to work with Many Choreographers including Jason Parsons, Travis Wall, Stacey Tookey, Hani Abaza, Nick Lazzarini, and Al Blackstone. She then moved to Toronto where she danced at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and performed the works of many Canadian choreographers which included Apolonia Velasquez, Ryan Lee, Kevin Wynn, Ofilio Sinbadinho, Jennifer Archibald, Hana Kiel, David Earle, Carol Anderson, Santee Smith, Alyssa Martin Colin Connor, Kim Frank, Roderick George, Angela Joyce, Sylvie Bouchard. Sierra continues her pre-professional career working towards her BFA in Dance Performance at Ryerson University where she hopes to broaden her skills in modern and contemporary movement.
Jimmy Vasquez
Head Instructor
Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Jimmy Vásquez González started his dance career at the age of 7. Surrounded by the Latin culture of his native land, Jimmy started his journey with the dance styles of Salsa, Bachata and Merengue; dances requiring a partner, which in turn strengthened his ability to work with others, as well as giving his dance a particular suave.
At the age of 13, Jimmy moved to Toronto, Canada; where he was introduced to the style of native Toronto Hip-Hop for the first time, also referred to as "Flavor".
Though it wasn't an easy transition, Jimmy was able to maintain his love for dance by facing and accepting new challenges as well discovering his own identity through Hip-Hop and what it means to have your own individuality through the art of dance.
Diana Soloviev
Head Instructor
My name is Diana Soloviev, I am currently in my 3rd year of Ryerson University where I am studying Accounting and Finance with a minor in Marketing and Philosophy. I’ve been a competitive dancer in Jazz, Acro and Ballet between the ages of 8-14 then I started working at Groove in 2013 and have been teaching almost every weekend since. I love seeing everyone grow up in dance these past 6 years and witnessing every child gain confidence in their dancing skills and in every day life. In my free time I’m usually hanging out with friends or watching Netflix with my cat. Always looking for new TV recommendations so come say hi whenever you see me!
Taylor Gellatly
Head Instructor
Taylor is a head instructor at Groove School of Dance, and a music director and choreographer at Zodiactors Musical Theatre Company.
GROOVE ASSISTANTS & APPRENTICES
