ENCORE!: aDULT dANCE cONVENTION

 Lisa Auguste is a multi-faceted performer working out of Toronto, Ontario. In 2008, she was a member of So You Think You Can Dance Canada's first Top 6. She has appeared as Cheetah in the Mirvish Production of the Broadway musical Disney's The Lion King, and can be seen in the feature film Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. She has been a principal dancer with ProArteDanza, an internationally renowned dance company that uniquely fuses ballet and modern dance; Helix Dance Project, and Gadfly. She has also traveled through Europe, South America and the Caribbean as a dancer with both Royal Caribbean and Regal Empress cruise lines. She can be seen in music videos for Our Lady Peace, Lauryn Taylor, Love Inc, Jully Black and Shawn Desman. She was a featured dancer on the Toronto Pan American Games Closing Ceremonies, the Toronto One television show, Kiss 92's 1st annual award show, and the lead in the Life Network's TV series Style By Jury and Match Maker. Lisa has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, modern, salsa, hip-hop, some break dance, popping and acting. She is an avid teacher, choreographer and adjudicator known throughout Canada for her creative and disciplined style. 

 Johnathan Morin is a 33 year old indigenous (Nehiyaw) tap dancer hailing from Treaty 6 Edmonton, Alberta. Now residing in Treaty 13 Toronto Ontario he is a force in the tap dance community and known across the country and around the world. A Dora Award Nominee,
Johnathan co-produces and co directs Rhythm and Sound Dance Company alongside Cori Giannotta and also runs his own drop in classes in Toronto. His passion for the dance has brought him across the country as well as internationally as a performer and educator. His most recent project is a documentary called Restorative Culture Produced by Tap Love Tour and Travis Knights. The documentary highlights the impacts of the foster care system and colonization and following my reconnection journey as a Nehiyaw (cree) man.  The documentary has been presented at  the 2024 Toronto International Tap Festival as well as in Barcelona Spain as a part of the Luthier Tap Festival. Some of his other 
accolades include TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Sarah Reich's Tap Music Project, Vancouver International Tap Festival, and the Toronto
International Tap Festival. With his talent, dedication, and impressive list of accomplishments, Johnathan Morin is sure to continue making rhythmic waves in the world
of Canadian tap dance for years to come.

 Anoshinie Muhundarajah is a highly accomplished Creative Director, Choreographer, and Dancer. Specializing in South Asian dance, she seamlessly blends her traditional training with Western dance styles. Anoshinie’s work has taken her across the globe, where she has performed, taught, judged, and volunteered, constantly pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. As passionate advocate, she seeks to inspire, educate, and empower communities worldwide, while breaking barriers to bring her craft to the forefront of mainstream media.

Her portfolio includes credits with the Juno Awards, Netflix, Disney, Canada's Got Talent Finalist, international tours, and the leadership of her startup, Unveiled which focuses on bridging the gaps within the South Asian dance community and paving the path for the next generation.  

Nick has been dancing since age 7, and has remained passionate and inspired from the very beginning...

He has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop Modern , Lyrical, Tap, African, Samba, Capioera and Caribbean dance, and is always looking for the new and next thing that is going to help to further diversify and learn.

He has danced for various recording artists such as -Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, Aleesia, Shawn Desman, Lloyd Banks, T-Pain, Fabulous, and Busta Rhymes; additionally he has had the pleaser of working for productions by
Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, Nickelodean Germany, Universal Studios, Paramount Canada's Wonderland, and YTV.

Artists never stop evolving; As an actor, featured on CBC’s original Shitts Creek, and FX’s hit series What we do in the shadows. As a playwright, and producer, Nick has completed and previewed an original work entitled BionicBlue, an amalgamation of dance digital media and original poetry showcased at Torontos Canadian Stage company.

Director of Airtight Entertainment dance company alumni members have been featured in productions by Disney, The Next Step, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, YTV's The Next Star, Cirque de Soliel, World of Dance Toronto Champions.

In addition to teaching at studios across Ontario, credited adjudicator with the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, he has been fortunate to travel and teach across Canada, the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

For over twenty five years, Miranda Durbin has excelled at all forms of dance. Her inter-disciplinary expertise makes her a sought after choreographer, teacher & adjudicator. Miranda spends her summers travelling across the United States setting countless pieces for the competitive year ahead and teaching workshops to students of all ages. Her innovative, award-winning choreography is recognized on National and International stages. Her dancers have achieved acclaim and titles across the continent. She is a certified member of the Professional Adjudicator’s Alliance.

No stranger to the stage, Miranda has performed at Walt Disney World in Florida, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and has appeared on the hit CBC TV show “Degrassi: The Next Generation”. More recently, she has danced in professional shows and has been cast in a music video for Toronto based singer Francesco Yates. Miranda is well acquainted with the competitive stage, having won many titles, scholarships and overall awards throughout her competitive career. Now as a studio director and choreographer, Miranda shares her love of the performing arts with her students. By continuing to educate herself, Miranda takes pride in staying current and creative in her ability to train dancers to be the best version of themselves.

Whether leading master classes of hundreds of dancers or individually focusing with a soloist, Miranda’s pedagogic skills are invaluable to competitive and recreational dancers alike!
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”

 Julio - born in the Philippines, now based in Toronto - is a performer, dance educator, and choreographer with over 20 years of experience in his craft. His work ranges from dance companies across North America and Asia to Canadian musical theatre and syndicated tv series and feature films. Recently, he has also began work as a dance, movement, and performance coach specializing in working with performance artists.
 

On stage, he's starred in Prison Dancer (Citadel, NAC), earning a Sterling Award for Outstanding Lead Performance. Other notable theatre credits include Mamma Mia (Citadel, Arts Club, Stage West), In The Heights (Arts Club), Matilda (MTC, Citadel, Arts Club), and the world premiere of The Little Prince (Theatre Calgary). He's also brought magic to productions like Into The Woods (Talk Is Free Theatre) and The Little Mermaid (Align Entertainment).

As a choreographer, their work shines in Grease (Mayfield), Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol (Arts Club), and Prison Dancer (Citadel, NAC), where they received a Sterling Award for Outstanding Choreography.

On screen, you may have spotted him dancing in Riverdale (CW) and Schmigadoon! (AppleTV+ Seasons 1 & 2), or working behind the scenes as Assistant Choreographer for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Paramount+).

Julio believes in the importance of representation and is proud to be a Filipino immigrant working professionally in Canadian entertainment.

Alissa Guissine is a Toronto-based dancer with a diverse background in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and ballroom dance. She has competed in national and international ballroom competitions, including the Youth and Adults World WDSF Championships in ballroom and Latin. Alissa continues to refine her craft with a focus on modern and contemporary dance, training in Toronto and Europe and participating in programs such as the Henny Jurriens Summer Intensive. She has performed as a soloist with the Toronto International Ballet Theatre and is currently working on a project with Impetus Movement Dance Company.Alongside dance, Alissa is pursuing a degree in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about exploring new movement styles, expanding her repertoire, and inspiring students through her teaching. 

With 26 years in the dance industry, Nicky is a versatile choreographer, performer, and educator trained in acro, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet, and hip-hop. She has performed on Carnival Cruise Line, the Waterloo Choreographer’s Ball, and at a Toronto Raptors game, and her choreography has been featured in London’s Fringe Festival and NLC Dance Company’s Exhale.  Nicky is an adjudicator, guest teacher, and the owner of Learn 2 Dance and Breaking Boundaries Movement, teaching at Evolve Dance Centre, Carol Kitchen’s Dance Centre, and C.O.R.E. Dance Project.  She looks forward to sharing her passion at Encore! Adult Dance Convention! 

Trained in Belgrade, Serbia, Aleks began her ballet journey at the National Ballet School Lujo Davičo. After graduating, she danced professionally with Pozorište na Terazijama for three years before stepping away from the stage to explore other interests.

Twenty years later, in 2016, her love for ballet brought her back as a teacher at Evolve Dance Centre in Kitchener. Passionate about preserving the beauty and tradition of classical ballet, she is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of dancers with technique, artistry, and discipline.

Mackenzie MacNeil is a dynamic fitness professional, dance teacher, and the founder of Moveology Fitness. With a background as a competitive dancer, she excelled in multiple styles, earning numerous titles and performing for renowned companies and music videos.

Transitioning from performer to educator, Mackenzie now specializes in acrobatics, jazz, and contemporary dance, sharing her expertise as a teacher and choreographer. Her passion for movement extends beyond dance—she has developed her own fitness programs designed to challenge and empower individuals of all levels.

Through her innovative approach, Mackenzie seamlessly blends dance and fitness, helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence. Her dedication to both disciplines makes her a sought-after instructor, inspiring students to push their limits and embrace movement in all its forms.

Emily Grieves is a Toronto-based yoga teacher with a lifelong passion for movement. A former competitive dancer, she was drawn to yoga from an early age, appreciating its fluidity and connection to breath—much like dance. However, it wasn’t until after college in 2017 that she truly deepened her practice, discovering yoga as a grounding force in her life.  Her journey to becoming a teacher was sparked by a desire for more movement, a need to counteract the chronic pain caused by long hours of sitting at work, and a longing for a genuine, supportive community. Yoga became the perfect answer, offering both physical wellness and a sense of belonging.  Emily believes that yoga is for every body. To her, it’s not about achieving picture-perfect poses but about fostering a deep mind-body connection and moving with intention. She is currently completing her 200-hour teacher training at Mosaic Yoga Studio, where she has been mentored by Morgan Cowie, the studio’s owner. Specializing in Vinyasa flow and Restorative yoga, she recognizes the importance of both dynamic movement and deep rest in today’s fast-paced world.  After successfully teaching her practicum sequence, Emily is excited to share her knowledge and passion with others. Whether guiding an energizing flow or creating space for stillness, her goal is to help people feel at home in their bodies—finding both strength and ease in their practice. 

Lauren Martin grew up as a competitive tap dancer and later became a teacher and choreographer, but like many retired dancers, she struggled to find a space where she truly felt like a dancer again. After taking an advanced tap class with Kim Engel, she realized she wasn’t alone—and on the drive home, Encore! Adult Dance Convention was born.

Now, through Encore! and her business, Cool Aunt Creatives, Lauren creates welcoming spaces where adults can reconnect with their passions—whether that’s dance, creativity, or community. Her goal? To make sure no one ever feels like they’ve “aged out” of the things they love.