Faculty | Across The Floor Dance Centre

Joe Perez

Director

Joe Perez hales from Chicago, Illinois, and began his professional dance career with the Empire State Ballet Co., (NY). Joseph’s dance career has taken him across the United States, as well as performing internationally with various companies, including Disney (Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea), and in the Canadian productions of “West Side Story” (Stratford Festival), “Don Quixote”, “Nixon in China” (COC), “Dance Legends”, “Sweet Charity” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Drayton Festival); “Evita” (Neptune Theatre), and “Rocky Horror Show” (Stage West Mississauga). Some film/television credits include “Total Recall” (Assistant Choreographer),” Handmaid’s Tale”, ”Titans”, “Pompeii”, “The Strain”, “The Next Step”, “Bomb Girls”, “Hellcats”, and commercials for Walmart/Coca- Cola (Earn It), Staples (Back to School) and Canon.

Throughout his professional dance career, Joe has taught master classes in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet and Acro across the United States and Canada. His choreography has most recently won top awards both nationally and internationally, most notably with World Performer’s Canada, where his senior jazz routine took Gold in Portugal at the Dance World Cup (Europe) 2019. His gold-winning routine was also performed live at the Miss Universe Canada 2019!

Joe continues to be a sought-after adjudicator for many dance competitions, including MOVE, Xtreme Dance Champions, FEVER, Kick It Up, and more!

Samantha Sutherland

Dance Instructor

Samantha is a dance artist and choreographer based in Toronto, ON. She is proud to be an Indigenous woman of the Ktunaxa Nation. In 2018 she completed the Arts Umbrella Dance Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon in Vancouver, BC. During the 2019/20 season, Samantha worked with Lesley Telford in Inverso Productions Performance Research Project where she performed at BLOOM: Dance in Vancouver and alongside Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. In the same 2019/20 season Samantha also worked and performed as a guest artist with Ballet BC in their production of Romeo and Juliet by Medhi Walerski. For the 2020/21 season, Samantha joined Red Sky Performance as an Associate Artist under the direction of Sandra Laronde in Toronto. During her time with the company, she performed Flow choreographed by Jera Wolfe in Fall for Dance North 2020 and was a part of a new creation by Yosmell Calderon.

Chris Gallina

Dance Instructor

Chris Gallina is a dancer and choreographer from Toronto, On. Throughout his dance career, he has performed and choreographed for events by Hugo Boss, WestJet, Crystal Ball Foundation, Wal-Mart, Scotiabank and many more. Chris has featured in the Chapman's Ice Cream Sunday commercial, Megan Patrick's "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" music video, and Brett Kissel's music video for "Anthem". His recent tour of The Jungle Book Circus has taken him to China, Singapore, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. He has taught at numerous studios across Canada and his choreography has won numerous awards at competition. Chris loves to share his knowledge with his students and loves to support their individual growth.

Jacques Monfiston

Guest Instructor

After attending Ottawa University and taking a long break from dance of over 10 years, Jacques decided to train again at the age of 25 at Greta Leeming Studio of Dance. One of his many highlights has been to represent Canada at the World Dance Championships. As a member of the Canadian National Tap Team, he had the honour of being awarded the gold medal for Canada. He danced to a wonderful routine called “5 ">Guys Names Moe” choreographed by renowned choreographer Matthew Clark. Jacques’ professional work includes travelling the world as an entertainer with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Costa Crociere Inc. He adjudicated regional competitions for the Canadian National Dance Championships and was the first Canadian judge at the 2001 World Jazz Dance Competition and also adjudicated the 2002 World Tap Dance and Show Dance Championships in Germany. Jacques was also the tap adjudicator at the Manitoba Dance Festival in 2008. Jacques continues to improve his talent by being on a scholarship to two leading Performing Arts Training Centres. He has taken numerous dance classes at Edge Performing Arts Centre, Broadway Dance Centre, Steps and also has worked with some of L.A. and New York City’s top choreographers. Jacques was also part of the inaugural dance company Helix Dance Project in Toronto under the direction of Linda Garneau. Jacques has spent time in South Africa where he conducted workshops and choreographed numerous dance routines. Jacques made Tokyo his home for over two years working for Walt Disney at the Broadway Music Theatre. He was also in musicals/plays such as “My Fair Lady”, “Cats”, “Cyrano De Bergerac”, including the smash hit “West Side Story” at the Stratford Festival Theatre. Jacques was recently in Germany, Poland, China and Japan again where he was the 2009 Canadian Judge at the World Tap, Modern and Jazz Dance Championships. He is the choreographer for the 2010-2011 Canadian National Jazz Team this year representing Canada at the World Dance Championships in Poland. Jacques is the proud owner of Five Star Dance Company where he provides performance opportunities to dancers and cultural experiences abroad. He is also the co-founder and Director of World Performers Canada (WPC) a national dance team that competes at the Dance World Cup (Europe).

Jen Carter

Guest Instructor

Jen Carter began dancing at the age of 10 in Peterborough, Ontario. She trained competitively with Premiere Studio of Dance until the age of 19, where she trained in many dance styles. It wasn't until age 13 that Jen recognized her great passion for urban dance, and decided she wanted to further a career in the dance industry. She then went on to participate in the Integrated Arts Dance Program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School, where she found her love of teaching and choreographing. Throughout her high school journey, she was presented with many opportunities including competing in Hurley Walk the Walk in California, dancing on the Rick Mercer Report, 2 trips to New York City to train at Broadway Dance Centre and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, 6 different high school competitions (where she was awarded 2 scholarships and remembered for her many performances as well as pieces she choreographed), and multiple shows each year. She is now a member of the Toronto Dance Community after moving in September 2015. Fall of 2012 is when Jen’s teaching journey began. Her first opportunity was given to her at her home studio, where she began teaching ballet, jazz and tap to kids ages 3-5. Over the years her love for urban dance took the lead and she was hired to choreograph at several studios. Jen now teaches workshops for high school students, private lessons for special needs children, choreography for 3 competitive teams and subbing drop in classes at The Underground Dance Centre. Jen is currently at Centennial College in the Dance Performance Program, assisting Leah Totten and teaching at studios while building her name. With previous training in BOSS Dance Company (under the direction of Leah Totten), and Hot In Heels: The Company (under the direction of Angela Mahoney), she is very grateful for all of her opportunities. Jen has found that it is extremely important to take inspiration from everything and everyone around her as her goal has always been to inspire and touch those she comes in contact with. She looks forward to continuing her growth as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and person through her hard work and dedication to her craft.