Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.
Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.
Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has been a registered not-for-profit organization since 2015 and operates with a volunteer Board of Directors. A passionate group of teachers, performing artists, and volunteers have welcomed secondary students from across the province since 2003. Secondary schools offering Dance classes in the curriculum and extracurricular dance teams are invited to join us for an enriching performing arts experience.
OSSDF organizes a 3-4 day annual event to provide opportunities for secondary dancers and their dance teachers/coaches to broaden their knowledge, creativity and experience through sharing, collaboration, performance, and educational development in a friendly forum.
We strive to open the lines of communication between high school teachers of Dance in Education classes and after-school dance programs, elementary teachers of curricular/extracurricular dance, and university dance crews. We want to create links for students of all ages to give them choices of how they can continue supporting their lifestyle, including their passion for Dance.
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I extend my warmest welcome to all of you for the upcoming season of DANCEFEST. As the President of this event, I am deeply honored to be a part of such an inspiring group of board members, adjudicators, workshop leaders and of course, dance educators and talented dance students.” Read Full Message
Before the music, before the stage, before the first step was ever taken…there was the land. A land of rivers that dance, trees that sway, winds that hum a melody older than time. A land that has long been home to the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and Chonnonton people.
This land is not just history; it is present. It moves, breathes, it creates. It has held the songs and dances of artists and storytellers for generations.
Today, as we gather in movement and artistry, We acknowledge that our work does not stand alone. It exists on land that was cared for, nurtured, and defended by Indigenous communities, long before we gathered here. We honor those who danced here first.
So as we move and as we create…May we dance with awareness. May we listen with intention. May we create with respect. May we honor the past as we step into the future.
Before the music, before the stage, before the first step was ever taken…there was the land. A land of rivers that dance, trees that sway, winds that hum a melody older than time. A land that has long been home to the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and Chonnonton people.
This land is not just history; it is present. It moves, breathes, it creates. It has held the songs and dances of artists and storytellers for generations.
Today, as we gather in movement and artistry, We acknowledge that our work does not stand alone. It exists on land that was cared for, nurtured, and defended by Indigenous communities, long before we gathered here. We honor those who danced here first.
So as we move and as we create…May we dance with awareness. May we listen with intention. May we create with respect. May we honor the past as we step into the future.
Meet the dedicated board members behind DANCEFEST, a passionate team committed to fostering creativity and inclusivity in the world of dance.
President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Katie Knowlton was one of the grade 12 students in 2003 who helped organize and run the first live event. 21 years later, Katie is now a dance educator and science teacher at Cameron Heights in Kitchener and has been bringing her students to DANCEFEST since 2014. She organizes and runs a Dance Team at Cameron Heights that has over 100 dance students that participate in styles of dance such as Bollywood, Bhangra, K-pop, Hip Hop, Jazz and Contemporary. Katie has experience teaching dance in both education as well as at Laurier University, Davenport Dance Project and as the choreographer of the KW Titans Dance Pack. As a Dancefest Alumni and a huge advocate for this event, Katie is excited to be leading the OSSDF board this year to help continue to make DANCEFEST a positive experience for students and teachers.
Email Katie Knowlton
Vice President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Meghan Kidd is a Dance, Drama, and English teacher at the Waterloo Region District School Board. She has been teaching Dance at Laurel Heights Secondary School for 12 years and loves sharing her love and passion for the performing arts with her students. Meghan has choreographed and directed several school musicals during her 14 year teaching career. She runs and organizes her school’s Dance Teams and has been attending DanceFest with her students since she began teaching in 2010.
Email Meghan Kidd
Founder and Past-President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Laurel Brown, Hons.B.A., B.Ed., hosted the first DANCEFEST event in 2003 at Bluevale Collegiate in Waterloo with the support of teachers who attended the York Dance AQ the winter of 2002/03. Today, she feels very fortunate that many of those teachers continue to return each year to network and provide important “next steps” to their student dancers and choreographers at this friendly and empowering dance experience now called Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST.
Laurel was honoured to be OSSDF President until 2023. In addition, she is the West Region Coordinator for CODE, the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators, our provincial subject association. Laurel has directed, choreographed and/or performed for several community theatre companies for over four decades and recently performed professionally for Drayton Entertainment. She was presented with the Mentor Award from Kitchener Waterloo Arts Awards in 2004 for her contributions as Founder and Artistic Director for Acting Out, a musical theatre experience for youth she coordinated from 1994-2012 in Stratford. Laurel retired from WRDSB in 2018 as a secondary Dance and Drama educator and continues to share her passion as a P/T instructor at Brock University’s Faculty of Education.
Email Laurel Brown
Secretary/treasurer of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Cathy Bowman is a long-time dance lover and former dance mom (in a good way!) who believes that it is important to support dance education. She worked as a financial executive in the insurance industry in Waterloo Region for many years. After retiring in 2017, it was important for her to find rewarding volunteer opportunities. Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has allowed her to combine her interests and skills to help provide opportunities for young choreographers and dancers to achieve their very best. Cathy joined the Board in 2020 after helping with DANCEFEST in 2018 and 2019. She is very excited to continue her duties and be back at the Registration Desk for DANCEFEST!
Email Cathy Bowman
Member at Large
Nikkie Price BA, MScEd, has proudly been a Dance and Geography Teacher at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ontario for 20 years. More recently, she became the Geography Department Head in 2019 to further her curricular leadership. She was proudly the KW Titans Dance Pack Director, alongside OSSDF President Katie Knowlton, for the NBLC team’s first two seasons. Nikkie’s stage credits include West Side Story and Guys and Dolls with Kitchener Waterloo Musical Productions, and West Side Story with Royal City Musical Productions. As a classically trained dancer of over 35 years, Nikkie’s foundations in technique and alignment help to guide her practice and belief that dance is for all bodies; which has fueled her passion for dance education. As a complement to her training, she is also a certified DanceGroove instructor. Nikkie has coached hundreds of students in the art of dance and choreographic artistry through the FHCI curricular and extracurricular programs over the past 19 years. She has had the honour and the pleasure of bringing dance students to OSSDF since 2005, in order for them to showcase their talents and shine their brightest lights on stage. She has witnessed over and over again the massive positive impact that dance education has on young individuals and she is thrilled to be able to formally support this amazing opportunity for our students through OSSDF.
Email Nikkie Price
Member at Large
Cathy Harris has enjoyed being part of the dance community for over 40 years. She started as a modern dancer with Gina Lori Dance Enterprise in Windsor. Her dance career furthered as an educator in the secondary division and during that time one of her highlights was being involved in Dancefest. Cathy retired in 2021 after teaching at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School for over twenty years. In 2009, she was hired to teach dance PT at the University of Windsor where she continues as an instructor in Continuing Education. Being a part of OSSDF is a continuation of her love for dance by watching young artists share their visions.
Member at Large
Brianne Mauro BScN RN, is a dance teacher, choreographer and Critical Care Registered Nurse in the KW area. She began exploring choreography at Forest Heights C.I under the mentorship of OSSDF Board Member Nikkie Price, and in 2010 & 2011 attended OSSDF where she won multiple overall awards including “Outstanding Choreography” for her graduating solo. Brianne thanks OSSDF for providing her with the confidence in her dance and choreography ability to then pursue leadership opportunities at Nipissing University, where she was the President of the Dance Club and member of the varsity Dance Team. In 2016 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and was awarded the prestigious “Dave Marshall Leadership Award” for her campus involvement. Brianne is now working as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit, and is permanent faculty at Carousel Dance Centre in Waterloo. She is credited with establishing their Lyrical Program – which now has over 100 students enrolled – and is Co-Director of Carousel Theatre Company, a dance and theater program for adults with disabilities.
Email Brianne Mauro
Member at Large
Maddy Eby is a proud member of the dance community, as a Dance Instructor, and an aspiring school teacher. Her passion for dance pushed her to pursue her BFA in Performance Dance (Toronto Metropolitan University), developing her love for choreography and pedagogy. Throughout high school, she was a captain of her school’s dance team and participated in the school’s incredible dance program. She has been a studio dance teacher for over 5 years, working with children from ages 3 to 18. She continues to further her education by attending dance teacher’s training workshops, classes, and additional teaching certifications. Her experiences, and the mentorship of her teachers have guided her to pursue a BEd (Laurier University) that she will be completing in 2025. Her students’ enthusiasm and love for dance fuels her love for teaching and choreography. She is so excited to join the OSSDF team this year!
Email Maddison Eby
Teachers’ Council Convenor
Joanna Perlus, BFArts (Concordia) and BEd (York), continues with more than 20 years in the classroom to bring her enthusiasm, creativity, leadership and love of dance and visual art to students. Her past experiences as a professional dancer and commissioned artist have fueled her passion to advocate actively for the arts in education. Joanna is the Teacher’s Council Convenor for the Ontario Secondary School Dance Festival (OSSDF), the Dance Liaison for the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE), and a long-term member of the Newtonbrook Secondary School family where she teachers dance, drama and visual arts and is both the assistant lead of the Arts & Culture SHSM, and the Head Coach for the competitive dance team. Joanna’s practice is deeply embedded with a “dance for all students” educational approach emphasizing the creative process, critical thinking, safely strong technique, and the embodiment of thoughts, feelings, and insights in student compositions.
Email Joanna Perlus
Member at Large
Marina Simonovi
is an avid member of the KW and Toronto dance communities, with a passion for providing opportunities for everyone to dance and perform. She recently graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors in Mathematics, majoring in Financial Analysis and Risk Management, and is working as an investment portfolio strategy analyst in Toronto. Marina trained at Carousel Dance Centre in high school, completing her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet exam in 2019, performed soloist roles with the KW Symphony, and attended ballet summer intensives in Calgary, Toronto and in Croatia. While in University, Marina was a member of the UW Dance Company, working as the Head of Fundraising for 3 years and receiving multiple awards for her ballet choreography. In 2022, Marina co-founded Rhapsody Dance Project, a KW-based artistic project aimed at providing performance opportunities for experienced young adults not affiliated with professional dance organizations or competitive teams. These performances include work with professional dancer Tara Butler, an album premiere opener for Kylira at Massey Hall, collaborations with WLU Faculty of Music composition students and annual summer showcase programs. Marina is very excited to join the OSSDF Board as a member and help organize the event!
Meet the dedicated board members behind DANCEFEST, a passionate team committed to fostering creativity and inclusivity in the world of dance.
President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Katie Knowlton was one of the grade 12 students in 2003 who helped organize and run the first live event. 21 years later, Katie is now a dance educator and science teacher at Cameron Heights in Kitchener and has been bringing her students to DANCEFEST since 2014. She organizes and runs a Dance Team at Cameron Heights that has over 100 dance students that participate in styles of dance such as Bollywood, Bhangra, K-pop, Hip Hop, Jazz and Contemporary. Katie has experience teaching dance in both education as well as at Laurier University, Davenport Dance Project and as the choreographer of the KW Titans Dance Pack. As a Dancefest Alumni and a huge advocate for this event, Katie is excited to be leading the OSSDF board this year to help continue to make DANCEFEST a positive experience for students and teachers.
Email Katie KnowltonVice President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Meghan Kidd is a Dance, Drama, and English teacher at the Waterloo Region District School Board. She has been teaching Dance at Laurel Heights Secondary School for 12 years and loves sharing her love and passion for the performing arts with her students. Meghan has choreographed and directed several school musicals during her 14 year teaching career. She runs and organizes her school’s Dance Teams and has been attending DanceFest with her students since she began teaching in 2010.
Email Meghan KiddFounder and Past-President of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Laurel Brown, Hons.B.A., B.Ed., hosted the first DANCEFEST event in 2003 at Bluevale Collegiate in Waterloo with the support of teachers who attended the York Dance AQ the winter of 2002/03. Today, she feels very fortunate that many of those teachers continue to return each year to network and provide important “next steps” to their student dancers and choreographers at this friendly and empowering dance experience now called Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST.
Laurel was honoured to be OSSDF President until 2023. In addition, she is the West Region Coordinator for CODE, the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators, our provincial subject association. Laurel has directed, choreographed and/or performed for several community theatre companies for over four decades and recently performed professionally for Drayton Entertainment. She was presented with the Mentor Award from Kitchener Waterloo Arts Awards in 2004 for her contributions as Founder and Artistic Director for Acting Out, a musical theatre experience for youth she coordinated from 1994-2012 in Stratford. Laurel retired from WRDSB in 2018 as a secondary Dance and Drama educator and continues to share her passion as a P/T instructor at Brock University’s Faculty of Education.
Email Laurel BrownSecretary/treasurer of Ontario Secondary School Dancefest
Cathy Bowman is a long-time dance lover and former dance mom (in a good way!) who believes that it is important to support dance education. She worked as a financial executive in the insurance industry in Waterloo Region for many years. After retiring in 2017, it was important for her to find rewarding volunteer opportunities. Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has allowed her to combine her interests and skills to help provide opportunities for young choreographers and dancers to achieve their very best. Cathy joined the Board in 2020 after helping with DANCEFEST in 2018 and 2019. She is very excited to continue her duties and be back at the Registration Desk for DANCEFEST!
Email Cathy BowmanMember at Large
Nikkie Price BA, MScEd, has proudly been a Dance and Geography Teacher at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ontario for 20 years. More recently, she became the Geography Department Head in 2019 to further her curricular leadership. She was proudly the KW Titans Dance Pack Director, alongside OSSDF President Katie Knowlton, for the NBLC team’s first two seasons. Nikkie’s stage credits include West Side Story and Guys and Dolls with Kitchener Waterloo Musical Productions, and West Side Story with Royal City Musical Productions. As a classically trained dancer of over 35 years, Nikkie’s foundations in technique and alignment help to guide her practice and belief that dance is for all bodies; which has fueled her passion for dance education. As a complement to her training, she is also a certified DanceGroove instructor. Nikkie has coached hundreds of students in the art of dance and choreographic artistry through the FHCI curricular and extracurricular programs over the past 19 years. She has had the honour and the pleasure of bringing dance students to OSSDF since 2005, in order for them to showcase their talents and shine their brightest lights on stage. She has witnessed over and over again the massive positive impact that dance education has on young individuals and she is thrilled to be able to formally support this amazing opportunity for our students through OSSDF.
Email Nikkie PriceMember at Large
Cathy Harris has enjoyed being part of the dance community for over 40 years. She started as a modern dancer with Gina Lori Dance Enterprise in Windsor. Her dance career furthered as an educator in the secondary division and during that time one of her highlights was being involved in Dancefest. Cathy retired in 2021 after teaching at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School for over twenty years. In 2009, she was hired to teach dance PT at the University of Windsor where she continues as an instructor in Continuing Education. Being a part of OSSDF is a continuation of her love for dance by watching young artists share their visions.
Member at Large
Brianne Mauro BScN RN, is a dance teacher, choreographer and Critical Care Registered Nurse in the KW area. She began exploring choreography at Forest Heights C.I under the mentorship of OSSDF Board Member Nikkie Price, and in 2010 & 2011 attended OSSDF where she won multiple overall awards including “Outstanding Choreography” for her graduating solo. Brianne thanks OSSDF for providing her with the confidence in her dance and choreography ability to then pursue leadership opportunities at Nipissing University, where she was the President of the Dance Club and member of the varsity Dance Team. In 2016 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and was awarded the prestigious “Dave Marshall Leadership Award” for her campus involvement. Brianne is now working as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit, and is permanent faculty at Carousel Dance Centre in Waterloo. She is credited with establishing their Lyrical Program – which now has over 100 students enrolled – and is Co-Director of Carousel Theatre Company, a dance and theater program for adults with disabilities.
Email Brianne MauroMember at Large
Maddy Eby is a proud member of the dance community, as a Dance Instructor, and an aspiring school teacher. Her passion for dance pushed her to pursue her BFA in Performance Dance (Toronto Metropolitan University), developing her love for choreography and pedagogy. Throughout high school, she was a captain of her school’s dance team and participated in the school’s incredible dance program. She has been a studio dance teacher for over 5 years, working with children from ages 3 to 18. She continues to further her education by attending dance teacher’s training workshops, classes, and additional teaching certifications. Her experiences, and the mentorship of her teachers have guided her to pursue a BEd (Laurier University) that she will be completing in 2025. Her students’ enthusiasm and love for dance fuels her love for teaching and choreography. She is so excited to join the OSSDF team this year!
Email Maddison EbyTeachers’ Council Convenor
Joanna Perlus, BFArts (Concordia) and BEd (York), continues with more than 20 years in the classroom to bring her enthusiasm, creativity, leadership and love of dance and visual art to students. Her past experiences as a professional dancer and commissioned artist have fueled her passion to advocate actively for the arts in education. Joanna is the Teacher’s Council Convenor for the Ontario Secondary School Dance Festival (OSSDF), the Dance Liaison for the Council of Ontario Drama and Dance Educators (CODE), and a long-term member of the Newtonbrook Secondary School family where she teachers dance, drama and visual arts and is both the assistant lead of the Arts & Culture SHSM, and the Head Coach for the competitive dance team. Joanna’s practice is deeply embedded with a “dance for all students” educational approach emphasizing the creative process, critical thinking, safely strong technique, and the embodiment of thoughts, feelings, and insights in student compositions.
Email Joanna Perlus
Member at Large
Marina Simonovi is an avid member of the KW and Toronto dance communities, with a passion for providing opportunities for everyone to dance and perform. She recently graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors in Mathematics, majoring in Financial Analysis and Risk Management, and is working as an investment portfolio strategy analyst in Toronto. Marina trained at Carousel Dance Centre in high school, completing her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet exam in 2019, performed soloist roles with the KW Symphony, and attended ballet summer intensives in Calgary, Toronto and in Croatia. While in University, Marina was a member of the UW Dance Company, working as the Head of Fundraising for 3 years and receiving multiple awards for her ballet choreography. In 2022, Marina co-founded Rhapsody Dance Project, a KW-based artistic project aimed at providing performance opportunities for experienced young adults not affiliated with professional dance organizations or competitive teams. These performances include work with professional dancer Tara Butler, an album premiere opener for Kylira at Massey Hall, collaborations with WLU Faculty of Music composition students and annual summer showcase programs. Marina is very excited to join the OSSDF Board as a member and help organize the event!
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
Shawn Byfield sets the bar as a highly respected coach, choreographer and outstanding adjudicator for dance competitions and festivals. He is also the creator of Dance Teacher Playbook on LeaderPass, a game-changing resource that helps teachers master class dynamics, build stronger student connections, and lead with confidence.
Shawn (www.ShawnByfield.com) is a DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDTM winning choreographer, a GEMINI AWARDTM nominee and a two-time BLACK CANADIANS AWARDTM nominee. With over 40 years of experience, he’s an energizing instructor and veteran performer dedicated to elevating dancers and teachers alike.
As an educator trained in tap dance, hip hop, jazz, modern, ballet, musical theatre and more, Shawn coaches thousands of dancers nationwide. He also created Byfield Dance Experience, Canada’s first all-adult dance studio! As a mindset coach and author of “You Came To Slay!”, he helps dancers build confidence, overcome self-doubt and develop a strong mindset for both the studio and life. His book is a must-read for dancers 12+ who want to unlock their full potential, and strengthen their mental resilience.
Shawn is a veteran of film and TV, working with stars Adam Sandler, Gregory Hines, Twitch, Zac Efron, Nasri from Magic!, Andrea Martin, Derek Hough, Barry Lather, BoA, Jason Priestley and others. Credits include Sneakerella (Disney+), My Spy (Amazon Prime), Self Made (Netflix), HAIRSPRAY, Make Your Move, The Music Man, The Cheetah Girls (remember that?!) and more!
Most importantly, he is a wired encourager and a positive role model. As a certified coach and trainer through Maxwell LeadershipTM️, Shawn regularly motivates on his Instagram @ShawnByfield, nationwide on The DanceBug Channel, through workshops, and speaking on stages. His energetic lessons and guidance leave dancers and audiences excited for the future.
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
A creative powerhouse, Sarah Vance is a choreographer and triple threat performer from Waterloo Ontario. Her most recent credits include: choreographing the world premier of the musical Chris. Mrs, at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Toronto where she was nominated for Best Choreography from the Broadway World Toronto Awards. She also recently appeared in Season 2 of the hit tv show Reacher, on Amazon Prime.
With a love for theatre, Sarah has established herself as an industry elite in the musical theatre world. Select theatre credits include: Spamalot – Rehearsal Swing (Stratford Festival), Grease the Musical – Associate Choreographer (Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Toronto), Joseph, Hairspray, Grease, Elf the Musical, All Shook Up, Spamalot, High School Musical (Drayton Entertainment), Anne of Green Gables, Mamma Mia, Alice Through The Looking Glass, Canada Rocks! (Charlottetown Festival), Crazy For You (Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre), and Beauty and the Beast, Music Man (Capitol Theatre).
In between theatre contracts Sarah has also accumulated impressive credits in the film and television industry. FILM/TV credits include: American Gods (Starz) The Next Step (FAMILY), Assistant Choreographer The Moblees – Season 2 (CBC), Assistant Choreographer Ukelele U – Pilot Episode (CBC), Warrior (NBC), CARRIE (SONY), One Starry Christmas (CTV), Canadian Country Music Awards (CBC), Warehouse 13 (SYFY), Reign (CW), In the Tall Grass (Netflix), The Next Star (YTV), King of the Camp (YTV), SYTYCDC (CTV).
Along with working in the entertainment industry, Sarah graduated from York University with an Honours Science Kinesiology Degree and is a Registered Kinesiologist. During her studies she was a member of the NBA Toronto Raptors Dance Pak for four seasons, dancing in front of 20,000 fans.
When not performing, Sarah can be found spending time with her two sons, husband and puppy. She continues to share her passion for dance while teaching and choreographing at studios across Canada.
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
Kristyn is thrilled to be a part of the Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST once again. Kristyn is the Artistic Director for the St. Clair College Music Theatre Performance Program and is delighted to be returning to adjudicate DanceFest this year.
Kristyn is a graduate of Los Angeles’ Performing Arts Center Apprentice Program. During her time in Los Angeles, she could be seen as a featured dancer on the TV show Ally McBeal, as well as part of the skeleton crew for Disney’s Animated movies Jungle Book 2 and Carol of the Bells. Kristyn was also a member of the Mark Goodman Tap Company for several years.
She has performed all over the world, including the U.S.A., Canada, and Brazil, while playing Cassandra in The 20th Anniversary Tour of Cats. Kristyn also performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg with the European Tour of Grease the Musical. However, Kristyn’s most prestigious credit is being a three-time member of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes.
She has since turned her focus to teaching, directing, and choreographing. Select choreography credits include Cabaret, Oklahoma!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Guys and Dolls, Cinderella, Jesus Christ Superstar, Seussical the Musical, Chicago, Big Fish, Wizard of Oz, 42nd Street, Cats, The Nutcracker and Shrek the musical. Kristyn also serves as choreographer and Artistic Director for the St. Clair College annual Holiday production.
Nothing brings Kristyn more joy than helping young artists chase their dreams and reach their fullest potential.
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
Shawn Byfield sets the bar as a highly respected coach, choreographer and outstanding adjudicator for dance competitions and festivals. He is also the creator of Dance Teacher Playbook on LeaderPass, a game-changing resource that helps teachers master class dynamics, build stronger student connections, and lead with confidence.
Shawn (www.ShawnByfield.com) is a DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDTM winning choreographer, a GEMINI AWARDTM nominee and a two-time BLACK CANADIANS AWARDTM nominee. With over 40 years of experience, he’s an energizing instructor and veteran performer dedicated to elevating dancers and teachers alike.
As an educator trained in tap dance, hip hop, jazz, modern, ballet, musical theatre and more, Shawn coaches thousands of dancers nationwide. He also created Byfield Dance Experience, Canada’s first all-adult dance studio! As a mindset coach and author of “You Came To Slay!”, he helps dancers build confidence, overcome self-doubt and develop a strong mindset for both the studio and life. His book is a must-read for dancers 12+ who want to unlock their full potential, and strengthen their mental resilience.
Shawn is a veteran of film and TV, working with stars Adam Sandler, Gregory Hines, Twitch, Zac Efron, Nasri from Magic!, Andrea Martin, Derek Hough, Barry Lather, BoA, Jason Priestley and others. Credits include Sneakerella (Disney+), My Spy (Amazon Prime), Self Made (Netflix), HAIRSPRAY, Make Your Move, The Music Man, The Cheetah Girls (remember that?!) and more!
Most importantly, he is a wired encourager and a positive role model. As a certified coach and trainer through Maxwell LeadershipTM️, Shawn regularly motivates on his Instagram @ShawnByfield, nationwide on The DanceBug Channel, through workshops, and speaking on stages. His energetic lessons and guidance leave dancers and audiences excited for the future.
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
A creative powerhouse, Sarah Vance is a choreographer and triple threat performer from Waterloo Ontario. Her most recent credits include: choreographing the world premier of the musical Chris. Mrs, at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Toronto where she was nominated for Best Choreography from the Broadway World Toronto Awards. She also recently appeared in Season 2 of the hit tv show Reacher, on Amazon Prime.
With a love for theatre, Sarah has established herself as an industry elite in the musical theatre world. Select theatre credits include: Spamalot – Rehearsal Swing (Stratford Festival), Grease the Musical – Associate Choreographer (Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Toronto), Joseph, Hairspray, Grease, Elf the Musical, All Shook Up, Spamalot, High School Musical (Drayton Entertainment), Anne of Green Gables, Mamma Mia, Alice Through The Looking Glass, Canada Rocks! (Charlottetown Festival), Crazy For You (Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre), and Beauty and the Beast, Music Man (Capitol Theatre).
In between theatre contracts Sarah has also accumulated impressive credits in the film and television industry. FILM/TV credits include: American Gods (Starz) The Next Step (FAMILY), Assistant Choreographer The Moblees – Season 2 (CBC), Assistant Choreographer Ukelele U – Pilot Episode (CBC), Warrior (NBC), CARRIE (SONY), One Starry Christmas (CTV), Canadian Country Music Awards (CBC), Warehouse 13 (SYFY), Reign (CW), In the Tall Grass (Netflix), The Next Star (YTV), King of the Camp (YTV), SYTYCDC (CTV).
Along with working in the entertainment industry, Sarah graduated from York University with an Honours Science Kinesiology Degree and is a Registered Kinesiologist. During her studies she was a member of the NBA Toronto Raptors Dance Pak for four seasons, dancing in front of 20,000 fans.
When not performing, Sarah can be found spending time with her two sons, husband and puppy. She continues to share her passion for dance while teaching and choreographing at studios across Canada.
Ontario Secondary School Dancefest Adjudicator
Kristyn is thrilled to be a part of the Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST once again. Kristyn is the Artistic Director for the St. Clair College Music Theatre Performance Program and is delighted to be returning to adjudicate DanceFest this year.
Kristyn is a graduate of Los Angeles’ Performing Arts Center Apprentice Program. During her time in Los Angeles, she could be seen as a featured dancer on the TV show Ally McBeal, as well as part of the skeleton crew for Disney’s Animated movies Jungle Book 2 and Carol of the Bells. Kristyn was also a member of the Mark Goodman Tap Company for several years.
She has performed all over the world, including the U.S.A., Canada, and Brazil, while playing Cassandra in The 20th Anniversary Tour of Cats. Kristyn also performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg with the European Tour of Grease the Musical. However, Kristyn’s most prestigious credit is being a three-time member of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes.
She has since turned her focus to teaching, directing, and choreographing. Select choreography credits include Cabaret, Oklahoma!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Guys and Dolls, Cinderella, Jesus Christ Superstar, Seussical the Musical, Chicago, Big Fish, Wizard of Oz, 42nd Street, Cats, The Nutcracker and Shrek the musical. Kristyn also serves as choreographer and Artistic Director for the St. Clair College annual Holiday production.
Nothing brings Kristyn more joy than helping young artists chase their dreams and reach their fullest potential.
Discover how Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has grown from its start in 2003 into a leading showcase of student dance talent and creativity.
The idea of hosting “something similar to the SEARS Drama Festival for dancers” sprang from a Research Inquiry project presented by WRDSB teachers, Laurel Brown and Tabatha DeBruyn at the York University DANCE Additional Qualification course during the winter of 2002.
The “work to rule” action in 2013 changed the course of DANCEFEST. Never again would the event be held in a secondary school venue.
In February 2015, Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with legal assistance from Les Protopapas, of Protopapas and Spielberg, of Kitchener, and Shelley Wickenheiser, CPA Wickenheiser Tax Advisory Professional Corporation of Elora.
A Board of Directors was formed with a group of dedicated dance teachers, most of whom had been advocates since 2003: Jocelyn Bell-Summersby; Laurel Brown; Melissa Lolarga Chiandussi; Tara Duffy; Michelle Hillier; and, Debra Kapp.
In March 2020, the world shut down. A global pandemic, COVID-19, would force the cancellation of OSSDF2020 that was planning to return to the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls. A small virtual event was offered with 7 “live” dance workshops. This platform would continue to grow over the next 3 years and offer OSSDF2021 and OSSDF2022 as virtual events as well and expand the virtual “live” workshops to 31.
The introduction in 2020 of OSSDF Teachers’ Council meetings allowed Ontario dance educators to meet and share information and resources; participate in “live” teacher workshops; and, gain opportunities to discuss the changes/reactions in education occurring during the pandemic.
OSSDANCEFEST2023 was LIVE! and in person with 208 dance entries performed by 373 participants from 16 registered schools plus 1 independent and 1 home school participant. The event was held at the University of Waterloo, Theatre of Art, in Waterloo where OSSDF2024 continued in 2024 and is planned for the Humanities Theatre for OSSDF2025.
Discover how Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST has grown from its start in 2003 into a leading showcase of student dance talent and creativity.
The idea of hosting “something similar to the SEARS Drama Festival for dancers” sprang from a Research Inquiry project presented by WRDSB teachers, Laurel Brown and Tabatha DeBruyn at the York University DANCE Additional Qualification course during the winter of 2002.
The “work to rule” action in 2013 changed the course of DANCEFEST. Never again would the event be held in a secondary school venue.
In February 2015, Ontario Secondary School DANCEFEST incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with legal assistance from Les Protopapas, of Protopapas and Spielberg, of Kitchener, and Shelley Wickenheiser, CPA, Wickenheiser Tax Advisory Professional Corporation of Elora.
A Board of Directors was formed with a group of dedicated dance teachers, most of whom had been advocates since 2003: Jocelyn Bell-Summersby; Laurel Brown; Melissa Lolarga Chiandussi; Tara Duffy; Michelle Hillier; and, Debra Kapp.
In March 2020, the world shut down. A global pandemic, COVID-19, would force the cancellation of OSSDF2020 which was planning to return to the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls. A small virtual event was offered with 7 “live” dance workshops.
This platform would continue to grow over the next 3 years and offer OSSDF2021 and OSSDF2022 as virtual events as well as expand the virtual “live” workshops to 31.
OSSDANCEFEST 2023 was LIVE! and in person with 208 dance entries performed by 373 participants from 16 registered schools plus 1 independent and 1 home school participant. The event was held at the University of Waterloo, Theatre of Arts, in Waterloo where OSSDF2024 continued in 2024 and is planned for the Humanities Theatre for OSSDF2025.
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