7 Questions with Lindsay Ritter from Choreoclip.com
May 31, 2010
ChoreoClip recently had the opportunity to ask Lindsay some questions!
1) Tell us a little bit about your background.
I started dancing when I was 8 years old at Beverly Segal Dance School. Then I joined the competitive dance team at Toronto’s Dance Machine. It was there that my teachers really saw something special in me and I finally went from dancing in the back row to being front and center. I knew I loved being on stage and at around age 15 I was certain I would continue being involved in the dance world for the rest of my life.
Once I graduated highschool I danced with Vlad’s Dance Company for 2 years and I learned so much in the short time I was there, but I believe it really shaped me as I prepared myself for the professional world and I thank Vlad for being such an incredible mentor during those years. I also trained at Randolph School for Performing Arts in Toronto, known for its triple threat program for dancers, singers and actors.
2) What is your best dancing moment ever?
My best dancing moment ever was when I was 17 years old, competing in the Prince Rupert Dance Competition in British Columbia. My dance studio at the time only brought a few students to showcase at this very prestigious competition. I was competing against 30 other tap soloists and I won 1st place! It was the first time I actually truly believed in myself and who I stood for as a dancer and performer. It was an incredible feeling. I also will never forget that moment because my very dear teacher and friend Alison Shand passed away shortly thereafter. She always believed in me and always knew I would bring something special to the world of dance. She was a huge inspiration to me!
3) What is your favourite style of dance?
I love Commercial Jazz! This is why I run Toronto’s first official commercial jazz class and company! 
There’s just something about classic jazz mixed with a bit of new and fresh styles that excites me. Commercial Jazz is a style that so many people can learn and look good doing. It involves technique which is important but also focuses on style and performance!
4) Who or what do you find inspiring?
Passion and performance is what I find inspiring. Choreography and dance means nothing to me if you don’t live on the stage with your heart and soul. I’ve always believed you should be the performer first and then the dance will follow!
My husband has also been a huge inspiration to me. He encourages me in my work as a teacher and choreographer but also to be a smart business woman. With his guidance, love and support, he’s been an incredible business manager and my #1 Fan!
5) Who is your favourite choreographer of the moment? Why?
There are so many fantastic choreographers out there who inspire me but if I have to choose one it would be Wade Robson. His choreography is so innovative and I really like how he puts his own personal stamp on it which is why his choreo is so recognizable. It’s like you don’t even have to be told it’s his work…you just know! I also like to fact that there’s always a huge performance aspect in his choreography. It’s not always about the steps being creative but rather the face, and the presence being creative!
6) What do you have coming up in the next few months?
Upcoming shows: Talent Defined 2010, Dance for It Gala, The Bazaar and corporate events. Upcoming workshops: Carla Catherwood – Sexy Jazz Funk, Joshua Allen (Winner of SYTYCD US) Jamie Holmes – Aerial Silks. Lots of things are happening at Lindsay Ritter Dance!
7) What advice do you have for young dancers/choreographers who want to turn professional?
It’s important to have goals and to stick with them! So many dancers and choreographers dive into too many things at once. You can’t be successful when you’re all over the place! You need to zone in on your goals, focus and stick with it. If you work hard and do the right things…good things will come!
Thanks, Lindsay, for taking the time to talk to us! See www.lindsayritter.com for more info about classes!
Intermediate Sexy Street Jazz with…Carla Catherwood
May 27, 2010
Intermediate Sexy Street Jazz with…Carla Catherwood
Ever wanted to dance sexy like ‘The Pussycat Dolls’???
Now is your chance!! Come and play with us!
When: Thursday June 3 @ 7:30pm-9:00pm
Where: Canada’s National Ballet School - 400 Jarvis Street, Toronto
Price: $20
ABOUT CARLA:
Vivacious, courageous, and a fun loving workaholic would be the best way to explain Carla Catherwood. Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada she has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for 10 years. She is most known for her producing, directing and her Nuvo-Burlesque style choreography and is currently represented by Toronto’s very own Do-Dat Entertainment with Manager Wayne Samuels. Carla has been blessed to work beside such celebrities and amazing professionals like Michael Buble, Shania Twain, Kelly Osbourne, Russell Peters, Hugh Hefner, Jessica Alba, and Halle Berry.
She has also had the chance to produce and direct shows for the infamous Playboy Mansion, Club Intrawest, Heineken, Grey Goose, Much Music, Vancouver International Children’s Festival, and For the Luv of It! Live entertainment showcases (www.fortheluvofit.com) which has successfully helped both fellow professional entertainers and youth grow, develop and gain more momentum in their career, along with the many burlesque show’s that she has created and produced for her cabaret group “The Burlesque Beauties” (www.burlesquebeauties.com)
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to work with an extremely talented lady!
Carla is now a resident of Toronto and will be casting for a three new projects that will be based out of Toronto at her workshop one of them being for the pre-party at the MMVA’s on June 20th.
Consider every class you take with Carla a casting session!
See you soon!!
Spiderwomen’s Web - The PERFORMANCE
May 21, 2010
LR Productions Presents: Spiderwomen’s Web
An upbeat commercial jazz routine featuring 10 talented female dancers. These ladies portrayed Spiderwomen-the superhero and her enormous WEB!
Action packed and lots of fun! Check it out!
Their first performance of this routine was featured at The Bazaar - Heroes on May 18, 2010.
Natasha Taylor
Brittany-Brie DAmico
Tuba Cafri
Gillian Leask
Kate Campbell
Lexy Cox
Hillary McCarrel
Meghann Bronson
Julie McLachlan
Meagan Speakman
Choreography by: Lindsay Ritter
Special thanks to Yossi Niznik for your awesome hip hop choreo breakdown!
LR Productions Presents: Spiderwomen’s Web
May 11, 2010
LR Productions Presents: Spiderwomen’s Web
Come and check out this high-energy commercial jazz PRODUCTION filled with lots of fun surprises!!
Check us out at The Bazaar - Heroes!
Tuesday May 18 @ 9:30pm
MEET THE CAST:
Natasha Taylor
Brittany-Brie D’Amico
Tuba Cafri
Gillian Leask
Kate Campbell
Lexy Cox
Hillary McCarrel
Meghann Bronson
Julie McLachlan
Meagan Speakman
Come support DANCE in Toronto!!
See you there!
Hilary Krull
May 10, 2010
Hilary Krull A Toronto-based dancer, actor, and vocalist, Hilary began her training at the age of four, wearing an oversized purple tutu in ballet class. During elementary and high school she enrolled in acting and singing lessons, in addition to expanding her dance abilities to include jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, and tap.
Hilary furthered her training at Windsor’s St. Clair College as a Music Theatre Performance student. Her focus and hard work was formally recognized with the Faculty Academic Award and the Blackburn Communications Dance Scholarship, which she was awarded twice before her graduation in 2008.
Since then Hilary has worked with dance and theatre companies across Toronto, including Kinetic Elements, Mixed Company Theatre, Random Acts of Dance, Back Burner Productions, and Canada’s Wonderland in conjunction with TLN Television. She has appeared on film with AndPOP, Aux TV and W Network, as well as in music videos for Canadian artists Jesse Labelle and Mr. Flowas Also, she has entertained audiences at Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week, The Gladstone Hotel, and The Central. Hilary also shares her love for the arts with others as a teacher for Toronto-area studios and schools. Visit Hilary’s site: www.hilarykrull.com
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/hilary-krull/ for bookings and to leave a comment!
Lexy Cox
May 10, 2010
Lexy Cox
Lexy is a graduate of Ryerson University’s BFA program, majoring in Theatre Performance and Dance, where she trained with Canada’s top choreographers including Matjash Mrozewski, Derek Sangster, Linda Garneau, Kenny Pearl and Robert Glumbek. Lexy is also a certified acrobatics instructor with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.
Lexy has trained extensively in commercial jazz, contemporary, acrobatics, tap, ballet, voice and musical theatre. She has performed in several dance productions and showcases including High School Musical 2 live on stage in Toronto as well as the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago (Treehouse Theatre), Bombalurina in Cats (Stanley Theatre), and ensemble in Les Miserables (The Centre for Performing Arts). As a competitor, Lexy has won numerous high-score awards including Top Soloist, Dancer with the Most Potential, and Top Choreographer. Lexy has also competed as a member of the Ryerson Rhythm Dance Pak Cheer and Dance Team, which holds several titles including Best Technique.
Lexy is known for her captivating performances, and holding the role of dance captain in many productions. Currently Lexy is teaching at Front and Centre Dance Academy, choreographing for workshops/competitions in Vancouver and performing with LR Productions in Toronto.
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/lexy-cox/ for bookings and to leave a comment!
Hillary McCarrel
May 10, 2010
Hillary McCarrel
For Hillary dance is a way of life and outlet of self expression. From jumping in puddles to busting a groove on the hip hop stage. Hillary began her training in Calgary, Alberta at Premiere Dance Academy where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop. It is here that she earned several awards including the Vanessa Williams scholarship for Best Overall Dancer. She actively studied with Sean Cheesman, who now can be seen on So You Think You Can Dance Canada and USA. In her professional career, Hillary was a children’s entertainer at the amusement park, Calaway Park in Calgary and upon moving to Toronto plays an active role in the Toronto dance scene. She performed with Bella Divas, a female hip hop troupe in 2009 and is happy to be apart of the sassy world of commercial jazz with LR Productions! Hillary has recently performed in Making Waves Festival at Dundas square, STOMP Urban Dance, Talent Defined, The Bazaar, Pegasus Dance (proceeds towards building a schoolhouse in Rwanda) and Women in Dance (proceeds towards Re-Think Breast Cancer). Hillary is also a certified dance teacher and teaches Jazz at Front and Centre Dance Academy in Toronto.
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/hillary-mccarrel/ for bookings and to leave a comment!
Kayla Blair
May 10, 2010
Kayla Blair
Kayla’s desire for dance started at the age of six while taking Irish dance at a local community centre. By high school, Kayla had established a love and passion for all genres of dance. While studying dance, vocal, drama and instrumental music in high school as well as training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, hip hop, irish, contemporary/lyrical, and modern at local studios in her hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. She found that she loved to be on stage and perform.
Kayla’s performance experience includes talent search qualifiers at the Kitchener city hall, and the Western Fair talent search semi-finals in London, Ontario. Kayla has also been featured in Star Performance Academy’s New York New York show as well as several other shows. Most recently she was apart of the opening number at Dances of Offering in Toronto in 2010, where she was introduced to the wonderful world of commercial jazz, thanks to Lindsay Ritter. Kayla has also performed in many dance competitions and show cases, mall shows and performances for elementary schools and High schools. After several years of taking class, and performing, Kayla found another aspect of the dance world that she immediately fell in love with, and that was teaching.
She has discovered her passion for teaching while assisting under Kristin Werner at Star Performance Academy in Waterloo, and as well as assisting other teachers at local studios and high schools. Kayla is now a part time teacher at Star Performance Academy. She also founded the dance team at St. Mary’s high school during her last two years at school. Where she found that she felt just as comfortable teaching a class as she did taking one.
She is currently working on her RAD exams, has completed her Elementary jazz under Canadian dance Teachers Association and will be taking her dance teacher training through Dance Masters of America. When Kayla isn’t dancing, she enjoys choreographing, writing, reading, and studying law at Conestoga College in Kitchener. Kayla is new to the professional dance world and is ready and excited to take on whatever new challenges face her.
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/kayla-blair/ for bookings and to leave a comment!
Gillian Leask
May 10, 2010
Gillian Leask
Gillian is a triple threat. She has trained intensively in jazz and tap (ADAPT), ballet (RAD), lyrical/contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, and modern. She has studied classical voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music, and many in-demand vocal coaches from across North America. The Randolph Academy (Toronto) and the Performing Arts Institute (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) are some of the many places where Gillian has received extensive training in musical theatre. Some theatrical credits include The Leader of the Pack, Oliver, Threepenny Opera, Once Upon a Mattress, BIG the Muscial, and The Music Man, many of which she was recognized as dance captain. She also has received training in acting for film from some of Toronto’s best acting coaches.
Most recently Gillian was seen dancing in the production shows of Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity, which gave her the opportunity to travel to Alaska, the Caribbean, and South America.
Gillian has worked as a dance instructor in studios, schools, day camps, and with many City of Oshawa community centres. Currently she teaches at Island Dance Studio in Port Perry, where she works with children of all ages and skill levels. Her award-winning choreography is innovative and gripping and she brings a fresh, youthful vibe with her to the studio. She is very excited to be a faculty member for the upcoming summer workshop Summer Living, and to work alongside many of Toronto’s newest and hottest choreographers.
Gillian has newly joined Lindsay Ritter Productions as a company member, with her first performance in She Wolf at the Bazaar: Latin Nights. She is excited to be a part of such a fresh new company, and is looking forward to exploring the world of commercial jazz!
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/gillian-leask/ for bookings and to leave a comment!
Kate Knox
May 10, 2010
Kate Knox
Kate’s love of dance began in her hometown of Stouffville, Ontario, where she trained in ballet, modern (Graham technique) and tap. She was first introduced to jazz upon her acceptance to the Arts York Program at Unionville High School. She continued her professional training at Ryerson University earning her B.F.A. in Performance Dance and R.A.D. Intermediate ballet exam with merit. While at Ryerson she had the pleasure of working with such teachers and artists as Nadia Potts, Vicki St. Denys, Karen Duplisea, Kenny Pearl, Robert Glumback, Darryl Tracy, Allen Kaeja, Derek Sangster and Christopher House. Kate has continued to hone her craft not only as a dancer, but as an actor and singer. She is currently a company member with Motus O Dance Theatre.
Kate’s theatrical credits include: Gameshow: The Musical (as part of Toronto Fringe and Best of the fest 2008), A Glendale Christmas (Dodo Productions as part of the Hamilton Fringe Festival 2009), CATS, A Chorus Line, Titanic: The Musical (Curtain Call Players)
Kate’s dance credits include: O.I.P.’s The Red City in a piece choreographed by Linda Garneau, Stopping Place (INDUO Danceworks), Table Talk for Dance Ontario Weeekend 2010 (City Dance Corps), Fever: A Moonlight Burlesque, Fever II: A Cabaret Show (Sophie Luxton Productions), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Carol, Circus Terrifico (Motus O), as well as various corporate performances with DivaGirl Entertainment, Linc.In.Entertainment and LR Productions.
Visit: http://www.lindsayritter.com/dancers/kate-knox/ for bookings and to leave a comment!