Oakville

Owner/Director

Allain Lupien

Owner/Director

CAEA, ACTRA, CID, MLDMA

Allain Lupien is recognized internationally for his amazing versatility as a choreographer and a life-changing teacher.”At the young age of 22, my mother was stricken with polio and decided that one day she would walk again and she vowed that all of her children would dance. I was eight when my mother said she was enrolling me in dance lessons. What I told her was “Absolutely not” and I reasoned that the kids would make fun of me at school, however I was very keen on karate. As you can assume, fighting that battle was futile and I’ve thanked her for it everyday since.”

As a student, Allain studied and competed in Jazz, Tap and Ballet until the age of 19, when he began teaching and performing. As a young choreographer, his forte was definitely creative entertainment, routines that captivated his audience with new concepts bringing them to their feet. Allain soon became a member of the Canadian Actors Equity Association and Dance Masters of America. He and his wife Dawn (also dance partner for many years) opened Canadian Dance Company in 1985. Under his direction, CDC has won the highest awards in the major dance competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. His Choreography represented Team Canada in the World IDO Dance Championships in 2005 and achieved the highest medal standings for Canada to date.

His training has produced many professionals in dance over 25 years, who have performed in films such as Hairspray the major motion picture, Broadway Musicals like Cats, Mama Mia, and Contact as well as professional ballet companies like the National Ballet of Canada and attend the best schools such as Julliard, The National Ballet Of Canada and Pointe Park and become some of the best choreographers and teachers on the circuit today. Allain’s greatest strength is in his ability to inspire dancers of any age and of all talent levels. His classes drive students to reach their full potential. As a result, he has been responsible for helping some of the finest dancers in the industry achieve their dreams.

Although he has acquired many titles, the one that suits him most would be “Professional Mentor”.

Owner

Studio Manager

Studio Manager

Finance

Studio Operations

Artistic Director

Part Time and Full Time Competitive Department Head

Angela Santos

Competitive Liaison and Primary Department Head

Laurel MacArthur

Recreational Department Head

Regan Reynolds

Hip Hop Crew Department Head

Lineen Doung

Hip Hop Instructor

Lineen began dancing in high school taking a high school dance course where he studied the basics of ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop.
In high school he grew an interest in hip hop self taught himself how to isolate his body, wave and pop by looking up tutorials on the internet. Freestyling was
his first form of dance in the field of hip hop. In 2005 he really began to take interest in hip hop choreography where he auditioned for the McMaster dance company. He was named assistant artistic director in his second year of being in the company and choreographed many award winning routines and placed top 3 at many competitions throughout his university career.

Lineen has come a long way since university, he has worked with many choreographers; Luther Brown, Leon Blackwood, Shavar Blackwood, Lenny Dela Pena, Romeo Cassellas, Natalie Nesterenko, Tre Armstrong and many more. He has done work for Rogers, Sony, shops at don mills, and many conventions! Lineen has
danced for Shawn Mendes, Kreesha Turner, the General, EOS, Troy, Lights, and most recently Trish; where he performed at the America’s Next Top Model fashion show as a backup dancer. He has choreographed the TB show, Rich Bride Poor Bride and was also highlighted on So You Think You Can Dance Canada where he made finals week! He has also choreographed for a contestant in the Miss Perfect 10 pageant and is a featured dancer in Kreesha Turner’s music video Bounce with Me and in the video Toes by Lights.

Currently, Lineen is part of the Original Gentlemen all male dance crew which has competed all over Toronto and is now going to UK to represent Toronto and Canada at the UK's hip hop championships! The O.G is taking the industry by storm and performing everywhere, becoming a crowd favorite. Lineen also has a dance company called DARK (Dance and Rhythm Konnexxions) where he hosts charity events, dance training programs, and much more.

Lineen is also an aspired choreographer and is an emerging artist showing his vision on stage and allowing his imagination become reality by training the dancers more than just how to dance. He is growing everyday and is all about bringing the community together!

Veronica Lincoln

Emily Harty

Brittany Van Den Heuvel

Brittany Van Den Heuvel

Staff

With over a decade of experience as a dance teacher and choreographer of all levels from beginner recreational to advanced competitive, Brittany is excited to join Canadian Dance Company.

After graduating from York University’s Dance Education program in 2015, Brittany went on to receive her Bachelor of Education from Trent University in 2017. While in school, Brittany remained committed to teaching and choreographing students across Durham Region, Toronto and Oakville, and ultimately couldn’t resist her unwavering passion for the dance studio life, which drove her to a full-time career as a dance educator.

As a child, Brittany trained in various styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Vocal. While performing and competing, she also completed extensive examinations, including Cecchetti Classical Ballet and in Jazz and Tap through the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT) exams. Brittany’s days as a competitive dancer helped her develop an eye for excellence and attention to detail at a young age.

Brittany is certified ADAPT (Jazz and Tap) and Acrobatic Arts (AAC1, AAC2), as well as an AcroDance Preschool instructor. Brittany has spent the last 8 years in Oakville as a Competitive Dance Director where, through her commitment to each dancer’s long term growth as artists and teammates, she has led studios to achieve countless top placements. She is always looking for new ways to continue her professional development in an effort to bring the best instruction to her students. Brittany enjoys connecting with dancers and studios from all over and she finds great value in guest teaching, adjudicating and choreographing.

For Miss Brittany, dance class is where high energy meets high standards in technique, artistry and performance. After years of mounting countless polished, entertaining and award-winning routines, Brittany is proud of the life skills that every one of her students learns during their time together each year. Working together to ensure every dancer has a chance to soar and exceed their highest expectations, Miss Brittany is excited to instill a love of dance in each and every one of her dancers at CDC.

Yohance Guthrie

Tamara Nolet

Andrew Dragert

Andrew Dragert

Andrew started dancing at the age of five, and it has been his passion ever since. He completed the Regional Arts Certificate Program at Cawthra Park Secondary School, where he had the opportunity to work with renowned modern choreographers Allen Kaeja, Darryl Tracy, and Michael Trent. As a competitive dancer, Andrew earned numerous titles and awards, including Mr. Dance Canada 2012, and was selected as a “Face of Fever” at the Fever International Dance Championships.

Andrew’s professional career began soon after as an apprentice in the Rutherford Movement Exchange’s debut production, Ascension, under the artistic direction of Stephanie Rutherford. Working alongside passionate and talented dancers in Toronto and abroad inspired Andrew to broaden his horizons.

Andrew’s TV and film credits include appearances on Revolution TVA, Netflix’s Feel the Beat, Family Channel’s The Next Step, Backstage, Reign, and the 2015 Pan American Games closing ceremony. His live performances include Ascension by Stephanie Rutherford, Checkmate by Vlad Novitski, The Beaches Jazz Festival, and the I Am Blake McGrath Tour, where he danced to Tressandra Chavez’s choreography for Missing You.

Recently, Andrew has transitioned his focus to choreography and teaching. His choreography credits include multiple pieces on Revolution TVA, Wild Rivers’ music video Long Time, an opening number for the I Am Blake McGrath Tour in Toronto, a piece for the 2018 Canadian Mental Health Association Conference, as well as opening numbers for Canadian film screenings of Paper Year (2018) and Sometimes Always Never (2019). One of Andrew’s goals upon moving to Toronto was to become a drop-in teacher, which he achieved in 2017 by securing positions at The Underground Dance Centre and Millennium Dance Complex Toronto.

Andrew has taught in a variety of settings, including competitive studios, dance conventions, and programs with the non-profit organization Arthouse, as well as elementary, arts high schools, and special needs high school programs.

He has since realized a lifelong dream by opening Concepts Dance Studio in Pickering, Ontario, and is excited for the journey ahead as a studio owner and director. His passion, determination, and hard work have carried him far in his career, and he plans to continue pursuing new dreams and passions while helping the next generation of dancers achieve their own ambitions.

Tylor Lake

Jaclyn Tarnoweckyj

Jaclyn Tarnoweckyj

BFA (Honours),
Associate Diploma ADCC-CICB,
PACE (Full Member), PBT
ADE – Jazz, Acrobatic Arts
I.A.D.A./P.A.A.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Jaclyn Tarnoweckyj has always sought ways to continue learning and growing as a dancer, educator, choreographer, and adjudicator.

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, Jaclyn trained intensively in ballet and participated in the competitive dance circuit. She attended several renowned training programs, including Canada’s National Ballet School and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Known for her ballet, jazz, lyrical, and open choreography, Jaclyn takes pride in her versatility. Throughout her career, she has received extensive training in ballet, pas de deux, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, tap, and acrobatics. She has had the privilege of working with world-renowned choreographers and has performed and competed throughout Canada and the United States.

In addition to her dance education, Jaclyn graduated with honours from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) with a BFA degree in Performance Dance. It was during this time that she truly discovered her passion for teaching. She has taught and choreographed for numerous competitive dance studios and intensive workshops across all genres and continually strives to stay current in her ability to teach at all age levels.

Jaclyn’s choreography has been recognized with numerous awards both regionally and nationally, and her students have gone on to train at reputable schools and companies across North America, including Juilliard, Canada’s National Ballet School, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Boston Ballet, Boston Conservatory, Point Park University, TMU, SUNY Purchase, Twyla Tharp, Limón Dance Company, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and Broadway.

Jaclyn understands the importance of technical and efficient dance training, and she instills discipline alongside the joy of dance and creativity. Her eye for detail helps her strengthen students’ technique and develop their artistic excellence.

As a fully qualified Cecchetti Ballet teacher at the Associate Diploma level and a member of the Cecchetti Ontario Committee, Jaclyn has successfully entered students into Cecchetti exams at all levels, including pre-professional exams, for the past 15 years. She is currently working toward her Advanced 2 and Licentiate-level teaching certifications.

Additionally, Jaclyn holds full certifications in jazz with ADE and in acrobatic arts.

Jaclyn is thrilled to share her knowledge with a wide audience as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, the International Association of Dance Adjudicators, and Cecchetti Canada. She is passionate about educating young dancers, helping them reach their full potential, and fostering a lifelong love for dance.

Anna Tchetchel

Gabby Seixeiro