_PNG.png)
Chapter 38
DANCE MASTERS OF CANADA
A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CERTIFIED DANCE EDUCATORS
CONVENTION FACULTY
Dance Masters of Canada is pleased to welcome the following faculty to our November 2nd 2025 Convention.
NICK TULL
HIP HOP
NICK TULL
Dancer- Choreographer- Teacher-Actor-Writer
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 Schitts 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 Toronto's 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 Soleil, World of Dance Toronto Champions.
In addition to teaching at studios across Ontario, Nick is a credited adjudicator with the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. He has been fortunate to travel and teach across Canada, the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.
DONNA BENDER
BALLET
DONNA BENDER
Founder and Director of Centre Stage Dance Studio
Donna Bender is the Founder and Director of Centre Stage Dance Studio in New Hamburg, ON and former Kitchener location, Unlock Unleash Control by CSDS. With 40 years of industry experience, she has worked with thousands of young dancers, and many of her students have gone on to pursue professional careers in the arts.
Donna is an Advanced Member, Master Teacher and Examiner for the Society of Classical Ballet (Vaganova Method), a Full Stage Member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, a certified Pilates Instructor in matwork and equipment through the PhysicalMind Institute/Body Harmonics, as well as a Health & Wellness Coach through the Eben Pagan training program. Over the years, Donna has adjudicated for numerous dance competitions. Since 2004, she has worked closely with Master Teacher, Paula Morgan, in technique and foundations for dancers, completing her full teacher certification in 2017.
Out of her passion to empower dancers with a safe and solid technical foundation, Donna co-created Groundforce Technique in 2020. She continues to guest teach students, as well as train and certify dance educators across North America in the Groundforce Technique method, sharing this knowledge in caring for and inspiring the next generation.
ALEX POLLARD
JAZZ
ALEX POLLARD
Dancer - Choreographer - Actor
Alex Pollard is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, and Actor based in Toronto ON with over 10 Years of experience in the Entertainment Industry. He is trained in various styles of dance such as Hip-Hop, Jazz-Funk, Heels, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood, and much more across cities such as Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Alex also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from York University.
Alex has performed and choreographed across various mediums including Film/TV, Live Stage, Theatre, Commercial, and more with credits including: Amazon Prime Video, Bud Light, Nike, Adidas, Hulu/FOX, YTV's The Next Star, Indian International Film Awards, JUNO's Nominee Concert, Anjulie, Kiesza, David Foster, Mary Kay, Bat Out of Hell, The Empire Strips Back, Shoppers Drug Mart, Downy, ESPN x Dos Equis, and much more.
Alex is a passionate instructor who has taught for institutions such as York University, Centennial College, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, York Region District School Board, Peel District School Board, and many more at various Regional Arts Programs. He has experience in teaching individuals of all ages and abilities. Alex has also adjudicated for competitions across Canada such as VIEW Dance Challenge, Shooting Stars, Shock Dance Challenge, Dream to Dance, and more. Most notably, Alex is the Owner of City Centre Dance – The GTA’s Hottest Dance Programs.
Alex is quick to learn and can adapt under any circumstances given to him, seizing any opportunity to perform, choreograph and teach. He continues to grow and learn through his passion for dance and living life through gratitude. By treating each day as a new opportunity to grow as both a person and artist, he continues to shape a journey unique to him.
RYAN LEE
CONTEMPORARY
RYAN LEE
Dance Artist - Choreographer - Performer - Rehearsal Director - Educator - Mentor
Ryan Lee(he/him) is a dance artist whose versatile roles encompass choreographer, performer, rehearsal director, educator, and mentor.
Graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, he has been fortunate to have worked with such companies as Human Body Expression, ProArteDanza, Toronto Dance Theatre, Kaeja d’Dance, Anandam Dancetheatre, inDANCE, The Chimera Project, Frog in Hand and Transcendance Project.
Ryan is the current Co-Rehearsal Director for Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre. He has been commissioned to make choreographic works by ProArteDanza, Anandam DanceTheatre, Toronto Metropolitan University, Dance Arts Institute, Centennial College, George Brown College, The Emerging Artist Intensive, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Etobicoke School for the Arts, Cawthra Park, and Rosedale School of the Performing Arts. Ryan’s work has been presented at festivals such as Dance Ontario's DanceWeekend and SummerWorks Festival.
Ryan has adjudicated across Canada for competitions such as Limelight, Millennium Dance Productions, Fever International, Move: The Competition, View Dance Challenge and The Surrey Festival.
COREY GAYADEEN
TAP
COREY GAYADEEN
Dancer - Instructor- Choreographer- Adjudicator
With over 30 years of dance experience, Corey Gayadeen has always sought out ways to continue learning and improving as a dancer, instructor, choreographer and adjudicator. Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Corey trained in the competitive dance circuit in addition to attending Cawthra Park Secondary School’s regional arts program as a Dance Major. While best known for his tap choreography, Corey takes a lot of pride in his versatility. Throughout his career he has received extensive training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acrobatics and power tumbling. Corey has had the opportunity to work with many world- renowned choreographers and has danced for large companies such as Mary Kay intl., CIBC and Miss Canada intl.
In addition to his dance education, Corey Gayadeen has obtained an Honors Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. It was during this time that he truly discovered his passion for teaching dance. Corey has had the opportunity of teaching and choreographing for many of Canada’s best competitive dance studios, intensive workshops and conventions and pushes himself to stay current in his ability to teach all ages. His choreography has been performed and competed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, winning numerous high score awards and titles. He is also thrilled to be able to share his knowledge to a wide audience as an adjudicator for many of Canada’s top competitions.
Corey understands the importance of safe and efficient dance, and challenges himself to use his Kinesiology background as much as possible while dancing, teaching, and adjudicating.
KATIA INWOOD MINI HIP HOP
KATIA INWOOD - MINI HIP HOP
Dancer - Teacher
Katia Inwood started her dance journey at 2 years old at Muskoka Dance Academy. After performing competitively for 10 years, she continued her post secondary education through the Centennial College Dance Performance Program in Toronto, and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in Calgary. She travelled all around North America, and experienced multiple performance and teaching opportunities that contributed to her growth. She achieved her certification with Acrobatics Arts Module 1, along with Aerial Arts with the Aerial Silks Certification. Katia loves to continue to learn from her students and is very excited to teach at the Dance Masters of Canada Convention.