Samantha Lupien - began her dance training at her grandmother's studio, Dot Blakeley Dance Studio in Simcoe, Ontario. She then continued her dance training at the Canadian Dance Company when they opened their doors in 1985 under the direction of her parents Allain & Dawn Lupien.

Samantha Lupien - began her dance training at her grandmother's studio, Dot Blakeley Dance Studio in Simcoe, Ontario. She then continued her dance training at the Canadian Dance Company when they opened their doors in 1985 under the direction of her parents Allain & Dawn Lupien. Samantha trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Pointe & Lyrical throughout her competitive years. Upon graduating high school, Samantha received the opportunity to perform aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines as Dance Captain and sailed to such places as the Caribbean, Hawaii and Alaska. She has also performed in Sears Fashion Shows, Mary Kay Cosmetics Industrials and Choreographed for the Disney Fashion Show at the young age of 17. Other Choreography credits include; Raven Simones Charity Benefit & various club performances for the Freestyle music artist Zoe. Samantha has taught both the Recreational and Competitive students here at the Canadian Dance Company for the past 14 years and currently teaches the competitive Hip Hop and Tap. Not only is Samantha a Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer but she is also the Head Studio Administrator for the company. Samantha would like to thank her parents Allain & Dawn Lupien for providing such a fun & positive dance environment for all the dancers past, present & future of the Canadian Dance Company.

Tabitha Lupien has trained in Ballet, Tap and Jazz for seventeen years. She continues to train in those areas, as well as Acrobatics, Pointe, Lyrical and Hip Hop. She received all of her professional dance training at the Canadian Dance Company and this year will mark Tabitha's eighth year of teaching for CDC.

Tabitha Lupien has trained in Ballet, Tap and Jazz for seventeen years. She continues to train in those areas, as well as Acrobatics, Pointe, Lyrical and Hip Hop. She received all of her professional dance training at the Canadian Dance Company and this year will mark Tabitha's eighth year of teaching for CDC. Tabitha has earned various titles such as: Mini and Petite Miss Dance of Canada, Petite Miss Dance of America, Junior Miss Candance, ADA Junior Dancer of the Year, and First Runner-up for Junior Miss Dance of Canada. Tabitha was also a part of the Canadian National Team at the IDO World Dance Championships, bringing home one silver and two gold medals in 2005. In 2008 she brought home two silvers. Tabitha has also had the experience of performing in such shows as the Disney Fashion Show, the Sears Dance Pack, and the Bay industrial shows. Tabitha is not only a dancer but she is also a veteran actress. She has worked on many movies including Look Who's Talking Now (lead), Rent a Kid, The Santa Clause and many more. She has also done many TV shows including two Goosebumps episodes, three episodes of Ready or Not and many more. Her latest film was Hairspray, in which she played the role of Becky and got to work with John Travolta once again. She has had the opportunity to work with John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, and Nicky Blonsky (Tracey Turnblad). She has definitely learned a lot from watching and working with them. She has also worked with: Kirsty Alley, Leslie Neilson, John Stamos, Tim Allen, Matthew Broderick, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, and many others. The Canadian Dance Company has been Tabitha's home for most of her life. She didn't just learn how to dance, but she learned some important life lessons that most won't come across until they are older. She will continue to use everything she learned at Canadian Dance Company for every single aspect of her life. Tabitha is so grateful to have been given such a positive and motivating atmosphere. Thank-you Canadian Dance Company!

Tanya Trankvelitskaia - Began her artistic career in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

She became a Prima Ballerina of the Musical Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Stanislavsky, Moscow. The first time North America applauded to the young Russian Prima was in the White House, Washington DC, during a performance for United States President Richard Nixon in 1972. Tanya...

Tanya Trankvelitskaia - Began her artistic career in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.

She became a Prima Ballerina of the Musical Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Stanislavsky, Moscow. The first time North America applauded to the young Russian Prima was in the White House, Washington DC, during a performance for United States President Richard Nixon in 1972. Tanya was dancing a Solo Performance for Her Majesty the Queen of Spain in 1998. Great Repertoire including: Cinderella, Princess Odette (Swan Lake), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), La Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote, Paquita, Chopiniana. Tanya has captivated audiences during successful Tours in: France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Germany, USA, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, Egypt, and India. Tanya has been teaching now for several years, and her unique teaching methods push students to reach their fullest potential in their technical abilities. We are more than thrilled to be adding her to our full-time faculty here at CDC.

Linda Garneau - Choreographer, director, and teacher, Linda had had the privilege of a varied career thus far, creating work for stage, film, television, and even on an ice rink. Recent credits include Assassins (Birdland Theatre), Fantastiks (Soulpepper), Shiver (Shawn Desman), Dance Legends (Drayton), Stars On Ice (Kurt Browning), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Sheridan College).

Linda Garneau - Choreographer, director, and teacher, Linda had had the privilege of a varied career thus far, creating work for stage, film, television, and even on an ice rink. Recent credits include Assassins (Birdland Theatre), Fantastiks (Soulpepper), Shiver (Shawn Desman), Dance Legends (Drayton), Stars On Ice (Kurt Browning), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Sheridan College). Other credits include The Pajama Game, A Chorus Line,Triple Sensation, and The Juno and Gemini Awards. As founder and artistic director of the Helix Dance Project, Miss Garneau has created numerous full length works for the company and is looking forward to its eighth season later this fall. Linda continues to enjoy sharing her love of the craft and has been a faculty member at the Randolph Academy, Ryerson University, and Sheridan College.

Melissa Bruno - has been trained in various disciplines including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. During her years as a competitive dancer Melissa has had the opportunity of competing on a local and international basis, winning numerous awards, overalls, and scholarships.

Melissa Bruno - has been trained in various disciplines including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. During her years as a competitive dancer Melissa has had the opportunity of competing on a local and international basis, winning numerous awards, overalls, and scholarships. She has also had the opportunity of performing at various venues throughout the G.T.A. including industrial events and charity shows. In addition to her achievements, Melissa has had the honour of being a member of Team Canada. While representing Canada, Melissa was given the opportunity to compete with many other countries at the I.D.O. World Showdance Championship in Reisa Germany, as well as The World Jazz Championship in Toronto where she acquired a gold medal for her country. Melissa has also had success with her choreography. Some of Melissa’s choreography has been featured at award-winning competitions, Mississauga’s Carassauga: Festival of Cultures (USA Pavilion), and the Mississauga Arts Awards. Melissa’s love of dance is apparent in her classes, as she is always striving to better herself and her students while encouraging them to achieve their personal best. Melissa is proud and excited to be a part of the CDC team! She is looking forward to a great new dance season!

Tamara Nolet - graduated from Seneca College after completing a two-year program of high performance training in gymnastics and figure skating. For three years Tamara held a position as program director for selection of all artistic athletes entering and selected into school and also was teamed up to coach and travel with all Junior and Senior High Performance athletes.

Tamara Nolet - graduated from Seneca College after completing a two-year program of high performance training in gymnastics and figure skating. For three years Tamara held a position as program director for selection of all artistic athletes entering and selected into school and also was teamed up to coach and travel with all Junior and Senior High Performance athletes. As well as being a well-known National Gymnast, she has also attended two summers at Kent State University on a gymnastics scholarship training in acrobatics and dance. Tamara has three years of experience working with provincial and national male gymnasts, one year in sport aerobics and has appeared in a Champions commercial. Along with coaching at the studio now for three years, her along with her husband Alan own 2 physiotherapy clinics.

“With all my years of coaching experience, I have never seen so many great athletes, train so hard with so much passion to learn; all for the love of their sport. Thank you to all the Lupien family for letting me be a part of such a wonderful team.”

Angela Santos is proud to declare herself a member of the CDC family since 1992. Danced in the competitive...

Angela Santos is proud to declare herself a member of the CDC family since 1992. Danced in the competitive program for 5 years and then began teaching here while attending U of T. After graduation, a career in advertising downtown Toronto never kept her far from making my recreational dancers feel the same exhilaration that has kept her here week after week - providing a great class challenging bodies and lifting spirits. Now she is thrilled and grateful to be raising my own 2 children in this ultimate environment for creativity, "where dance becomes art". But mostly for the simple joy of the smiling faces and solid friendships that are guaranteed to stay with you forever.

Vincent Marchesano - has been dancing and acting ever since he was 3 years old. At the age of 7, he performed in Macbeth with the (something something) Theatre. He also attends Etobicoke School of the Performing Arts for acting and will be graduating at the end of this year. In the dancing world, he’s trained in all forms.

Vincent Marchesano - has been dancing and acting ever since he was 3 years old. At the age of 7, he performed in Macbeth with the (something something) Theatre. He also attends Etobicoke School of the Performing Arts for acting and will be graduating at the end of this year. In the dancing world, he’s trained in all forms. His favourites are tap and hip hop, the first of which he has trained under Mike Minery, Everett Smith and David Coxx. In 2005 he was awarded Best Potential and is part of the three time National Champion team at CDC. Vincent has performed in shows such as the Special Olympics’ and Mary Kay Cosmetics. He’s been assisting for one year and teaching for two. This is also, sadly, his last year of dancing. Vincent looks forward to the exciting new year that is bound to happen CDC!

Julia Pacheco - is currently a third year dance Major at York University, training towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Honors program. She started dancing at the age of 4 and was introduced to many genres of dance during her dance career. Julia has been working with children from a young age and continues to strive to be a part of their future.

Julia Pacheco - is currently a third year dance Major at York University, training towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Honors program. She started dancing at the age of 4 and was introduced to many genres of dance during her dance career. Julia has been working with children from a young age and continues to strive to be a part of their future. With the proper training and information learned, she believes she can instill these principles to younger dancers who share the same passion as she does. Julia was a part of Team Canada, which traveled to Riesa, Germany and competed in the World Championships, placing 4th in the world. She has trained with many company’s and studios such as, Canadian dance Company, Dance makers, Repertoire company at Cawthra Park, Debra-Lynn school of Dance, The Dance Corps and now is furthering her dance career at York University.While working part-time for the City of Mississauga as a dance instructor, she has recently become part of the CDC staff and also works part-time at the front desk. Julia hopes to teach dance regularly at an elementary school and looks forward to educating young children in dance and help them to explore their own creativity.