Instructors

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Claudia Aguirre

Claudia Aguirre’s training in Spanish dance began with Paula Moreno, one of Toronto’s Spanish dance pioneers, after which she spent several happy years training as a vocalist at Carmen Romero’s School of Flamenco Dance Arts. More recently, Aguirre has taken classes and participated in the student show of Flamenco Dance Academy of Maria Serrano—Toronto’s newest flamenco arrival direct from Andalucía. In the interim of these endeavours, Aguirre has gone on trips to Spain, where she has studied with master flamenco instructors of dance and singing, such as Laura Román Mellado and Soraya Clavijo, to name a few.

Apart from training in flamenco, Claudia has studied jazz vocals, classical upright bass, Bollywood dance, hip-hop, and musical theatre. One of Claudia's earliest postsecondary vocal instructors was York University’s jazz faculty member, Lynn McDonald; followed by musical theatre performer and coach, Louisa Burgess Corbett at George Brown College.

Claudia now co-runs her own business with her spouse, Julian Berg. Together, they are cultivating a flamenco community in Kitchener-Waterloo and in the suburban districts of the Toronto by teaching classes and workshops in flamenco dance, singing, and guitar; organizing the Little KW Flamenco Fest, and collaborating with organizations such as SHAD Waterloo (a youth enrichment program) and Wheel Dance Canada. She is also currently pursuing her PhD degree in urban planning, in which she advocates for increased arts and culture provisions for marginalized communities and is researching the connections between arts and health.

 
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Julian Berg

Julian is a flamenco guitarist from Oslo, Norway, who has trained with renowned flamenco guitarist, Paco Peña while studying in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. At age 15, Julian signed up for lessons with flamenco guitarist, Bettina Flater, who upon her departure to Spain, recommended he study with Jesús Panea Morente. During this time, young, self-driven Julian Berg also studied hard on his own, and learned much from online sources, such as the instructional videos of Jason McGuire and Adam Del Monte. While this certainly developed Julian’s self-discipline, it was no replacement for knowledge imparted unto him by Morente, who showed him the importance and skill-set required for accompanying flamenco dance and singing, and who encouraged him to pursue training in Spain and via Peña’s conservatory degree program.

While at Codarts Conservatory, Julian was exposed to classical music that ignited an interest in composition, most specifically, in that of the Baroque style. He continues to develop his knowledge of composition, music notation, theory, and eartraining by taking classes with Nota Bene Baroque Players’ conductor, the honourary Howard Dyck, and composer, Professor Alexander Rapoport from The University of Toronto.

Julian is now a permanent resident of Canada and co-runs CaluJules Flamneco Plus with his spouse, Claudia Aguirre. Together they offer classes in flamenco theory, guitar, accompaniment, as well as singing and music theory, more broadly, to suburban communities in the GTA, KW, and beyond.

 
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Desmond Brown

Desmond Brown has been dancing most of his life. From break dancing in the late 80's to dancing to house music in the 90's.

Music has always been a part of his life because of his parents. Listening to classics from Latin, reggae, jazz, hip hop, and rock genres.

In 2007 Desmond fell in love with Latin music and dance and began traveling the world and exploring Toronto’s dance scene. He has attended numerous international congresses and taken various classes in Salsa, Casino Rueda, Bachata, Son, and Rumba.

He studied salsa under teachers such as Vladmir Aranda, Sarita Leyva, Dreyser Garcia, Dali Perez, Duane Wrenn, Yanek Revilla, Rene Dennis Thompson, Dailyn Martinez, Papito Chango, Fredclan Garcia Batista, Damarys Montuori, Jennifer Aucoin, Angelo de Torres, Amadito Dedeu, Reimundo Sosa, Trevor Skater, Yordan GM, and many more great dance professionals he met along the way.

Desmond has taught dance in Mexico, Cuba and Toronto and has performed in New York City and Toronto, at various venues.

 
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Alexandre Chalkevich

Alexandre Chalkevitch is an eight-time undefeated Canadian Amateur and Professional DanceSport Champion and World DanceSport Federation Adjudicator.

Alexandre and his wife Julia own Toronto Ballroom Academy, the only ballroom school in Canada to receive a top studio award at the Arnold Dancesport Classic four years in a row (2009-2012), with a long list of achievements for both his students and teachers. Alexandre himself has won multiple international awards at top dance competitions, and has received media recognition and international acclaim for his competitive career, teaching technique and as a world-renowned judge.

Alexandre’s teaching style is full of emotion, energy, passion and knowledge, and is based on famous Russian, English and Italian technical methods, which have been proven to be the fastest learning tool in the industry.

 
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Nancy Clarke

I began taking wheelchair ballroom dance lessons 6 years ago and it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have always enjoyed music and movement and wheelchair dance has allowed me to experience these in a whole new light. The physical and emotional benefits are extremely rewarding and range from improved posture, strength and stamina to overall happiness and freedom of movement in my wheelchair. Throughout the years that I have taken lessons and performed at various events, I have gained a strong interest in teaching wheelchair dance, specifically teaching people how to lead with a partner in a chair. I currently work with the Town of Newmarket, teaching a Wheelchair Dance Class, and look forward to my continued work with Wheel Dance to provide more people with the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of dance.

 
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Katya Kuznetsova

Katya Kuznetsova is excited to share her experience in both contemporary and ballroom dance, as well as the skill of choreography, with Wheel Dance. She grew up in Magadan, in the Russian Far East, where she trained in ballroom dance since the age of eight with Tanzgracia Ballroom Dance Company. She also lived in Alaska for twelve years, where she "untrained," so to speak, through the study of release and improvisation as a base of creative practice. Since moving to Toronto, Canada in 2009 and earning a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Dramaturgy and Choreography, she has worked independently and in collaboration with local companies, including Mind the Gap Dance and Toronto Dance Community Love-In.

 
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Rehana Meru

Rehana Meru is a dancer and choreographer who specializes in Bollywood, Ballroom and Latin dance. She cofounded 7 Arts Dance Company Inc., a bollywood dance company with the mandate to empower and inspire women through the art of dance. She has led many dance workshops and performed at various community and corporate events. Rehana has also trained in social Ballroom and Latin dance at Arthur Murray Dance Studio, and instructed private and group classes for over two years. She has experience with wedding choreography for couples and large groups. Rehana has been participating in the Wheel Dance program since October of 2014, and has taught introductory Wheel Dance workshops at Toronto Rehab Lyndhurst Centre as well as at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.Rehana is a registered physiotherapist at Neurocore Physiotherapy and Pilates Centre Inc., specializing in neurological rehabilitation. Rehana’s passion for both rehabilitation and dance is brought together through the Wheel Dance program.

 
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Patrick Parson

Patrick Parson is the Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer for the Ballet Creole Dance Company and the Musical Director for Creole Drummatix. He also founded Ballet Creole’s School of Performing Arts, a Post-Secondary Professional Training Program for aspiring dancers concentrating on Dunham and Graham modern techniques complimented by Afro-Caribbean and Cuban dance training. He is a respected professor at York University's Fine Arts and Kinesiology Faculties and also earned his Masters Degree in Dance Ethnology at York University. Patrick regularly conducts dance/music workshops and lecture demonstrations for educators and student bodies in Boards of Education and Universities across Canada.

Patrick continues to explore his creativity and continuously choreographs new works for Ballet Creole and other professional dance companies as a guest choreographer. Patrick's work with Wheel Dance pushes the boundaries of movement and creative expression. As instructor and choreographer, Patrick instills a passion for dance into the Wheel Dance community.

 
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Ayana Spivak

Ballroom and Latin Dance Instructor, Dance/Movement Therapist, and Member of Dance Movement Therapy Association of Canada

As a member of Wheel Dance's team, I use my extensive dance teaching experience, group facilitation skills, and in-depth knowledge of the expressive, social and therapeutic aspects of dance. I am passionate about helping people achieve a sense of freedom and fulfillment through dance and creative movement.

Highlights of qualifications:

  • Over 20 years of experience in teaching various styles of dance: Ballroom, Latin, Contemporary, Contact Improvisation.

  • S-class in Latin and A-class in Ballroom dance.

  • Organized and facilitated body movement activities for increasing physical and mental well-being for people of all ages and with different needs.