Kim Thomas, B.A., B.Ed.,
OCT - Co-owner & Artistic
Director
Jazz, Lyrical, Stretch, Jumps and Turns, Musical
Theatre and Competitive/Performance Choreography
Kim
Thomas
is
a
co-owner
and
the
artistic
director
of
the
Kim
Thomas
Dance
Project.
The
project,
a
youth
dance
company,
has
been
Kim's
long
time
dream.
The
dance
company
is
now
into
its
ninth
year
(2016/2017)
after
a
series
of
highly
successful years.
Kim
Thomas
was
born
and
raised
in
Whitby,
Ontario
and
began
dancing
at
a
young
age,
training
in
all
disciplines
of
dance.
She
won
numerous
awards
during
her
time
as
a
competitive
student
including
high
scores/over-
all
awards,
and
ballet
scholarships.
Kim
also
held the title of Miss DEA Toronto.
Kim
completed
her
B.A.
(Hons.)
at
La
Roche
College
in
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
with
a
major
in
Performing
Arts
(Dance).
She
then
went
on
to
complete
a
B.Ed.
degree
at
Queens
University
in
Kingston
Ontario
where
she
was
one
of
a
select
number
of
students
in
the
Artist
in
Community
Education
program.
Kim
is
currently
a
member
of
the
Ontario
College
of
Teachers
with
a
certification
to
teach
Dramatic
Arts
and
English
Literature
at
the
secondary
school level.
Kim
was
a
scholarship
student
in
the
La
Roche
College
dance
program,
which
provided
her
with
an
intensive
focus
on
classical
ballet
training.
In
addition,
she
studied
jazz,
lyrical,
partnering
and
musical
theatre
at
La
Roche.
Kim
also
studied
ballet
for
three
summers
in
the
professional
program
at
the
Joffrey
Ballet
School
in
New
York
City.
Kim's
training
has
also
included
attending
dance
courses,
workshops,
and
seminars
at
various
dance
schools
such
as
the
Royal
Winnipeg
Ballet
School,
the
Martha
Graham
School
of
Contemporary
Dance
in
NYC,
the
Canadian
Children's
Dance
Theatre,
and
the
University
of
Nevada
at
Las
Vegas.
She
also
completed
an
acting
course
at
the
University
of
Pittsburgh.
Kim's
dance
performance
experience
includes:
The
Nutcracker,
Giselle,
Cinderella,
Coppelia,
and
contemporary
works
such
as
Selections
from
Fosse
and
Queens
(choreography
by
Gerrard
Holt).
In
2006
Kim
performed
her
own
choreography
in
Toronto
(Fringe
Dance
Festival
centre
stage,
and
Talent
Defined)
and
at
the
5th
International
Dance
Festival
in
New
York
City.
In
2007,
she
performed
another
new
work
in
Toronto
(Talent
Defined)
and
in
New
York
City
at
the 6th International Dance Festival.
As
a
teacher,
Kim
has
taught
a
variety
of
dance
disciplines
with
a
strong
focus
on
the
competitive
student.
She
has
won
numerous
high
score
and
choreography
awards
and
she
won
the
Fever
Teacher
Award
at
the
Fever
International
Dance
Championship
in
2010.
Kim
has
had
past
students
accepted
into
The
National
Ballet
School,
The
Quinte
Ballet
School,
Canadian
Children's
Dance
Theatre
and
various
University
dance
programs.
She
continues
to
be
excited
to
share
her
passion
and
knowledge
of
dance
with
enthusiastic
students
and
to
offer
something
unique
to
the
community.
© Kim Thomas Dance Project Inc. 2017
Abigail Clarke
Guest Choreography
Abigail
has
been
dancing
for
eighteen
years,
ten
of
which
she
performed
as
a
competitive
dancer.
She
has
trained
in
several
dance
styles
including
ballet,
jazz,
tap,
hip-hop,
musical
theater
and
contemporary.
Abigail’s
passion
for
dance
has
led
her
to
pursue
a
career
in
the
field
of
dance
education.
She
holds
a
Bachelor
of
Fine
Arts
Degree
with
honours
in
Dance
from
York
University.
In
addition,
Abigail
is
currently
working
towards
achieving
her
teaching
certification
with
the
A.D.A.P.T
association
and
is
a
registered
junior
level
teacher
with
Acrobatique.
Abigail
has
been
teaching
dance
since
the
age
of
fifteen,
as
well
as
guest
teaching
at
classes
and
workshops
throughout
the
GTA,
instructing
dancers
ranging
from
the
ages
of
two
to
eighteen.
She
strives
to
continuously
improve
herself
as
both
a
dance
teacher
and
educator
by
attending
dance
teacher
workshops
and
conventions
and
learning
from
some
of
the
top
dance
educators
in
North
America.
Abigail
has
also
assisted
her
students
in
achieving
many
great
accomplishments,
including
overall
high
scores,
acceptances
to
university
dance
programs,
national
titles
and
her
choreography
has
won
numerous
awards
for
its
innovation
and
creativity.
Abigail
is
thrilled
to
be
working
with
the
talented
students
at
KTDP
and
looks
forward to an amazing season!
Angela Cecchino
Guest Choreography
Angela
Cecchino
has
been
in
the
dance
industry
since
the
age
of
3
years
old
and
has
been
recognized
by
many
professionals
in
the
industry.
She
graduated
from
St
Elizabeth
School
for
the
Arts
in
2007
and
has
gone
on
to
achieve
great
accomplishments
and
prestigious
awards
since
then.
She
was
named
a
pulse
protege
which
provided
her
the
opportunity
to
be
trained
by
and
perform
for
Brian
Friedman.
She
has
also
assisted
Brian
Friedman,
Laureann
Gibson,
Chris
Judd
and
Rhapsody.
She
has
also
worked
with
hip
hop
sensation
Luther
Brown
and
assisted
and
danced
for
Leon
Blackwood
and
Nelly
Furtado's
choreographer
Scott
Fordham.
One
of
Angela's
greatest
accomplishments
was
being
chosen
to
be
a
part
of
Blake
Mcgrath's
team
Canada,
where
she
competed
in
a
world
championship
held
in
Germany.
This
wonderful
opportunity
then
led
to
her
being
hired
by
Blake
Mcgrath
as
one
of
his
main
dancers
on
his
Time
to
Move
Tour
which
allowed
her
to
dance
and
travel
all
across
Canada.
Angela
has
also
danced
in
music
videos
for
Shawn
Desman.
Aside
from
her
own
dancing
accomplishments
she
has
also
received
many
special
awards
for
her
unique
choreography
and
is
currently
pursuing
her
dreams
of
sharing
her
experiences
by
teaching
and
choreographing
many
talented
dancers
across
Canada.
Angela
is
excited
to
be
back
with
the
Kim
Thomas
Dance
Project
for
her
fourth
year.
Shaun Wolch
Hip Hop, Jazz and Competitive/Performance
Choreography
Shaun
has
pursued
an
extensive
dance
education
and
training
in
Jazz,
Lyrical,
Tap,
Ballet,
Contemporary
and
Hip
Hop
since
the
age
of
five.
He
has
been
featured
dancing
in
music
videos
as
well
as
live
performances
with
Lady
Luck
Productions.
As
a
choreographer
Shaun
has
worked
on
multiple
short
films
and
live
performances,
as
well
as
winning
multiple
choreography
awards.
He
is
excited
to
be
sharing
his
knowledge
and
most
of
all
his
passion
with
the
students
at
Kim
Thomas
Dance
Project.
Chantal has been
dancing since the
age of 3, she has
studied in Ballet
(R.A.D), Jazz, Tap,
Lyrical,
Contemporary, Hip
Hop, and Latin. She
also specializes in
Acrobatics, and
Contortion.
Throughout her
competitive career Chantal has won numerous
over-alls, scholarships, and special awards. Most
notably Dancer of the Year at American Dance
awards, as well as placing first in the senior
division of Terpsichore's first Nationals held in
Niagara Falls, NY. Chantal's award winning
choreography has lead to students achieving
overall awards, special awards, and titles. Most
notably, Teen Miss CanDance, as well as 2nd
Runner up American Dance Awards.
Her students have also participated in the finals
at Rising Star. In her pursuit to challenge herself
she auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance
Canada Season 4, and was thrilled to be a
participant in the finals week held in Toronto.
Chantal is a graduate of Cardinal Carter
Academy for the Arts as a dance major in
modern and ballet. She also danced with the
Toronto Argonauts Cheerleading Team for four
seasons, it gave her the opportunity to perform
with numerous recording artists throughout the
years. A few of her performance credits include,
live performances with Hedley at the General
Motors Centre and ACC, live performances with
Kardinal Offishall, Karl Wolf, Maestro, Tim Hicks,
and Nicole Arbour. Chantal continues to pursue
her art, and challenge herself as well as her
students; her passion, drive, and dedication to
dance is limitless.
Chantal Santos
Acro and Competitive/Performance Choreography
Allison Toffan
Tap and Competitive/Performance Choreography
Proudly
based
in
Toronto
for
over
a
decade,
Allison
Toffan
has
been
busy
stirring
up
momentum
in
the
Canadian
tap
dance
c
o
m
m
u
n
i
t
y
.
Recognized
by
multiple
arts
councils,
she
has
been
awarded
numerous
grants
as
an
emerging
dance
artist,
developing
musician,
choreographer,
and
producer.
Her
mentors
include
worldrenowned
tap
dance
artists
Heather
Cornell,
Brenda
Bufalino,
and
Max
Pollak.
Career
highlights
include:
featured
tap
dancer
at
the
2010
Olympic
Opening
Ceremonies,
Warehouse
13
Series
Finale
(Jeff
Dimitriou),
Festival
Dance
Encore
(Tasha
Lawson),
TD
Canada
Trust
Toronto
Jazz
Festival,
TapCity’s
Tap
Internationals
(Lisa
La
Touche,
NYC),
Montreal
Tap
Festival’s
Rhythm
Lives!
-
with
living
legend
Arthur
Duncan,
and
establishing
the
Toronto
Rhythm
Initiative
-
a
platform
Allison
created
to
voice
the
artistry
of
Toronto’s
tap
dancers
in
collaboration with live music.
Teaching
credits
include
Artist
in
Residence
-
Ottawa
Rhythm
Initiative,
Dance
Faculty
at
Sheridan
College,
Randolph
Academy,
Montreal
Tap
Festival,
Vancouver
International
Tap
Festival,
BC
Performing
Arts
Festival,
Manitoba
Dance
Festival,
as
well
as
multiple
workshops
across Canada and the US.
Over
the
past
few
years
Allison
‘s
work
was
featured
in
Toronto’s
Body
Percussion
Festival,
performed
in
Lisa’s
La
Touche’s
world
premiere
of
Hold
On,
been
on
two
multi-city
US
tours
with
The
StepCrew,
is
a
contributing
artist
with
Anandam
Dancetheatre,
and
created
The
Big
Band
Tap
Revue
in
collaboration
with
Toronto
Jazz
Orchestra’s
Artistic
Director
Josh
Grossman
and
co-producer
Soraya
Peerbaye,
directed
by
Emmy
Award
winner
and
tap
dance
icon
Ted
Louis Levy.
Her
next
project:
Artistic
Director,
2017
Toronto
International
Tap
Festival
in
association
with
Harbourfront Centre, stay tuned…
Phillip Payne
Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, and Competitive/Performance
Choreography
Phillip
Payne
began
his
Ballet
training
at
the
later
age
of
19.
His
first
professional
training
program
was
at
the
Quinte
Ballet
School
of
Canada
in
Belleville,
Ontario.
Under
the
guidance
of
Mercedes
Bernardez
and
Brian
Scott.
After
attending
the
school
for
1
year
Phillip
was
given
a
scholarship
to
attend
the
School
of
Alberta
Ballet
under
the
directorship
of
Murray
and
Nancy
Kilgour,
two
teachers
from
the
Royal
Ballet
School
of
London,
England.
During
5
years
at
the
school
he
performed
both
corps
and
lead
roles
in
ballets
like
“La
Sylphide”,
“Don
Quixote”,
“Nutcracker”,
“Bayadere”,
“Paquita”,
“Giselle”,
“Swan
Lake”,
“Sleeping
Beauty”,
“Flower
Festival”
and
many
more.
During
his
education
Phillip
found
himself
onstage
with
“The
Alberta
Ballet
Company”
numerous
times
as
well.
He
danced
in
ballets
such
as
“Sleeping
Beauty”,
“Nutcracker”,
Christopher
Wheeldon's
“A
Midsummer
Night's
Dream”
and
a
CBC
production “The Secret of the Nutcracker”.
Upon
graduating
from
the
school
Phillip
joined
one
of
Canada's
last
touring
ballet
companies.
Based
out
of
Toronto,
Ballet
Jorgen
Canada
was
home
to
Phillip
for
2
years.
In
that
time
he
danced
well
over
200
performances
from
west
to
east
coast
and
traveled
through
the
United
States.
He
danced
in
ballets
like
“Romeo
and
Juliet”,
“Nutcracker”
,
Robert
Desrosiers
“Rendezvous”
and
a
brand
new
full
length
“Anastasia”.
Phillip
was
also
apart
of
contemporary
creations
with
choreographers
such
as
Kathleen
Rae,
Malgorzata
Nowacka,
Daryl Hoskins and William Yong.
Furthering
his
involvement
with
Toronto’s
dance
community
Phillip
joined
Opera
Atelier,
dancing
in
Mozart's
“Don
Giovanni”
and
“The
Marksman”.
Phillip
also
performed
with
Opera
Atelier
in
“Armide”
by
composer
Jean-Baptiste
Lully.
This
particular
piece
traveled
to
Versailles,
France
and
was
performed
in
the
original
theatre
located
inside
the
Palace
of
Versailles.
To
date,
this
has
been
one
of
Phillip’s
career
highlights.
Another
highlight
for
this
Newfoundland
and
Labrador
native
was
dancing
and
singing
in
the
all
Canadian
cast
of
Cats
in
2013
performing
the
roles of “Plato” and the evil villain “Macavity”.
Though
mostly
teaching
these
days,
Phillip
still
finds
time
to
perform
in
small
productions
throughout
the
year
and
until
this
season,
has
returned
to
Montreal
every
Christmas
to
dance
with
Les
Grands
Ballet
Canadiens
in
their
telling
of the Nutcracker.
Phillip
is
very
happy
to
be
apart
of
the
Kim
Thomas Dance Project!