Faculty

Elizabeth O’Keefe

Elizabeth O’Keefe

Director

  • Full Member, Canadian Dance Teachers Association.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
  • Attended GEORGE BROWN College – Professional Dance Training Program.
  • Performed with Ontario Ballet Theatre.


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    Cristina Pora Balaceanu

    Cristina Pora Balaceanu

    Founder & Artistic Advisor

  • Graduate – State Ballet School, Bucharest, Romania.
  • Former Ballerina – National Opera Bucharest, Romania.
  • 2010 Winner of the Mississauga Arts Council MARTY AWARD – ESTABLISHED PERFORMING ARTIST.
  • Life Member – Canadian Dance Teachers Association.


    • Read full bio

    Max Ratevossian

    Max Ratevossian

    Teacher

  • Graduate – Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • State University of Lunacharsky G.I.T.I.S. in Moscow with a degree major of Ballet Master, Teacher and Choreographer.
  • Former Principal Dancer – Ballet Master Moscow State Ballet Theatre.
  • Former Teacher – National Ballet School of Canada.
  • Former Teacher – L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Québec.

    • Avery Dupuis

    Avery Dupuis

    Teacher

  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – MA Musical Theatre Performance 2015-2016 (Audition Scholarship Winner).
  • Randolph College for the Performing Arts – BA Musical Theatre Performance 2013-2015 (Triple Threat Award Winner).
  • Progressive Ballet Training (ongoing certification).
  • Freelance Dance Educator with Quick Ball Change Inc. Toronto, ON.
  • Dance Lecturer – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA and MA Musical Theatre Performance – Tap, Jazz, Body Conditioning and Choreography classes – Glasgow, UK – September 2016 to December 2018.
  • Choreographer, Panelist, Performer and Teacher throughout the GTA.
  • Dance Captain/Roz Keith – 9to5 the Musical – Edinburgh Fringe Festival – August 2016 Dance Captain/Georgina Hendricks – Curtains the Musical – Toronto Fringe Festival – July 2015.

    • Michelle Colasanti

    Michelle Colasanti

    Teacher

  • Trained at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre – Professional Division; Full member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.
  • Fully certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)
  • 3rd year Dance Masters of America, Teacher Training Course
  • Professional Dance Artist and Freelance choreographer throughout Southern Ontario
  • Performance experience includes: Bravo Dance Videos; Moving Pictures Festival; Hamilton Dance
  • Company As dancer and Co-Artistic Director, Parahumans Dance Company, various music videos; stage appearances with Colin James, Tyler Yarema , The Contessa Awards, The Amateur Sports Awards and others.
  • Has worked with well-known Teachers and choreographers, David Earl, Patricia Beatty, Michael Downing, Coralee McClaren, Maurice Causey and others.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.

    • Anita Ivic

    Anita Ivic

    Teacher

  • Anita is one of Canada’s top fitness trainers and is the owner and founder of Imprint Pilates which was voted “Best Pilates Studio” by blogTO.
  • She received her BFA in Dance, from Ryerson University, Toronto.
  • Anita started dancing ballet at a very young age, and as a student had the professional experience performing with notable artists and Dance companies
  • Anita completed her full training at Stott Pilates (now Merrithew) while in University.
  • Anita believes in challenging yourself through mind-body exercise to be flexible, strong and pain free.

    • Erika Samman

    Erika Samman

    Teacher

  • Performs at cultural events throughout the GTA.
  • Furthered training at the Academy of Spanish Dance in Toronto and workshops given by dancers from Canada and Spain.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.

    • Larisa Ginzburg

    Larisa Ginzburg

    Piano Accompanist

  • Graduate, Master Degree from Gnezin Academy of Music, Moscow, Russia

    • Andrea Spaziani

    Andrea Spaziani

    Guest Teacher

  • BFA in Dance from Ryerson University.
  • MFA in Creative Practice from The Transart Institute/ Plymouth University.
  • Currently a PhD student at the European Graduate School.
  • Proud graduate of the Christina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
  • 2020-2021 recipient of a Chalmers Arts Fellowship: a 9-month research sabbatical during which she is deepening her practice of writing choreographic scores.
  • 16-year history as a dancer and choreographer and has worked nationally and internationally, from Toronto, Montreal, New York City and Los Angeles, to Berlin (DE), Vienna (AT), Hydra (GR), and Seyðisfjörður (IS).
  • Seasoned pilates instructor with over ten years of teaching experience.
  • 2016-2019 Artist in Residence at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation (Toronto).

    • Mercedes Bernardez

    Mercedes Bernardez

    Guest Teacher

  • Company teacher for National Ballet of Canada and Ballet Jorgan
  • Former Artistic Director for the Quinte Ballet School of Canada
  • Former Ballet Mistress for the Alberta Ballet, Canada and Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas, Venuezuela
  • Former Principal Dancer and Assistant-Artistic Director, Ballet Teatro de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Former Principal dancer, Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas, Venuezuela and Ballet Nader Hamed, Argentina

    • Emma Monastirsky

    Emma Monastirsky

    Teacher

    – Studied classical ballet for 14 years under the direction of Cristina Pora, Max Ratevosian, Ciprian Campianu, Mercedes Bernadez & Elizabeth O’Keefe.
    – Studied Jazz, Tap, Modern & Lyrical Dance at the Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
    – Successfully auditioned for and performed The Nutcracker with Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts.
    – Honours student and certified in first aid.

    Elizabeth O’Keefe

    Elizabeth O’Keefe

    Director

  • Full Member, Canadian Dance Teachers Association.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
  • Attended GEORGE BROWN College – Professional Dance Training Program.
  • Performed with Ontario Ballet Theatre.


    • Read full bio

    Cristina Pora Balaceanu

    Cristina Pora Balaceanu

    Founder & Artistic Advisor

  • Graduate – State Ballet School, Bucharest, Romania.
  • Former Ballerina – National Opera Bucharest, Romania.
  • 2010 Winner of the Mississauga Arts Council MARTY AWARD – ESTABLISHED PERFORMING ARTIST.
  • Life Member – Canadian Dance Teachers Association.


    • Read full bio

    Max Ratevossian

    Max Ratevossian

    Teacher

  • Graduate – Vaganova Ballet Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • State University of Lunacharsky G.I.T.I.S. in Moscow with a degree major of Ballet Master, Teacher and Choreographer.
  • Former Principal Dancer – Ballet Master Moscow State Ballet Theatre.
  • Former Teacher – National Ballet School of Canada.
  • Former Teacher – L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Québec.

    • Avery Dupuis

    Avery Dupuis

    Teacher

  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – MA Musical Theatre Performance 2015-2016 (Audition Scholarship Winner).
  • Randolph College for the Performing Arts – BA Musical Theatre Performance 2013-2015 (Triple Threat Award Winner).
  • Progressive Ballet Training (ongoing certification).
  • Freelance Dance Educator with Quick Ball Change Inc. Toronto, ON.
  • Dance Lecturer – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland BA and MA Musical Theatre Performance – Tap, Jazz, Body Conditioning and Choreography classes – Glasgow, UK – September 2016 to December 2018.
  • Choreographer, Panelist, Performer and Teacher throughout the GTA.
  • Dance Captain/Roz Keith – 9to5 the Musical – Edinburgh Fringe Festival – August 2016 Dance Captain/Georgina Hendricks – Curtains the Musical – Toronto Fringe Festival – July 2015.

    • Michelle Colasanti

    Michelle Colasanti

    Teacher

  • Trained at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre – Professional Division; Full member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association.
  • Fully certified in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)
  • 3rd year Dance Masters of America, Teacher Training Course
  • Professional Dance Artist and Freelance choreographer throughout Southern Ontario
  • Performance experience includes: Bravo Dance Videos; Moving Pictures Festival; Hamilton Dance
  • Company As dancer and Co-Artistic Director, Parahumans Dance Company, various music videos; stage appearances with Colin James, Tyler Yarema , The Contessa Awards, The Amateur Sports Awards and others.
  • Has worked with well-known Teachers and choreographers, David Earl, Patricia Beatty, Michael Downing, Coralee McClaren, Maurice Causey and others.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.

    • Anita Ivic

    Anita Ivic

    Teacher

  • Anita is one of Canada’s top fitness trainers and is the owner and founder of Imprint Pilates which was voted “Best Pilates Studio” by blogTO.
  • She received her BFA in Dance, from Ryerson University, Toronto.
  • Anita started dancing ballet at a very young age, and as a student had the professional experience performing with notable artists and Dance companies
  • Anita completed her full training at Stott Pilates (now Merrithew) while in University.
  • Anita believes in challenging yourself through mind-body exercise to be flexible, strong and pain free.

    • Erika Samman

    Erika Samman

    Teacher

  • Performs at cultural events throughout the GTA.
  • Furthered training at the Academy of Spanish Dance in Toronto and workshops given by dancers from Canada and Spain.
  • Former Graduate, Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.

    • Larisa Ginzburg

    Larisa Ginzburg

    Piano Accompanist

  • Graduate, Master Degree from Gnezin Academy of Music, Moscow, Russia

    • Andrea Spaziani

    Andrea Spaziani

    Guest Teacher

  • BFA in Dance from Ryerson University.
  • MFA in Creative Practice from The Transart Institute/ Plymouth University.
  • Currently a PhD student at the European Graduate School.
  • Proud graduate of the Christina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
  • 2020-2021 recipient of a Chalmers Arts Fellowship: a 9-month research sabbatical during which she is deepening her practice of writing choreographic scores.
  • 16-year history as a dancer and choreographer and has worked nationally and internationally, from Toronto, Montreal, New York City and Los Angeles, to Berlin (DE), Vienna (AT), Hydra (GR), and Seyðisfjörður (IS).
  • Seasoned pilates instructor with over ten years of teaching experience.
  • 2016-2019 Artist in Residence at the Dancemakers Centre for Creation (Toronto).

    • Mercedes Bernardez

    Mercedes Bernardez

    Guest Teacher

  • Company teacher for National Ballet of Canada and Ballet Jorgan
  • Former Artistic Director for the Quinte Ballet School of Canada
  • Former Ballet Mistress for the Alberta Ballet, Canada and Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas, Venuezuela
  • Former Principal Dancer and Assistant-Artistic Director, Ballet Teatro de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Former Principal dancer, Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas, Venuezuela and Ballet Nader Hamed, Argentina

    • Emma Monastirsky

    Emma Monastirsky

    Teacher

    – Studied classical ballet for 14 years under the direction of Cristina Pora, Max Ratevosian, Ciprian Campianu, Mercedes Bernadez & Elizabeth O’Keefe.
    – Studied Jazz, Tap, Modern & Lyrical Dance at the Cristina Pora Classical Dance Academy.
    – Successfully auditioned for and performed The Nutcracker with Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts.
    – Honours student and certified in first aid.

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    CLASSES

    Pre/Primary Ballet
    Junior Ballet
    Senior Ballet
    Pointe
    Jazz
    Tap
    Modern Dance
    Spanish/Flamenco
    Adult Ballet

    FACULTY

    Elizabeth O’Keefe
    Cristina Pora Balaceanu
    Max Ratevossian
    Ciprian Campianu
    Mercedes Bernardez

    FACULTY

    Michelle Colasanti
    Nicole Forten
    Erika Samman
    Anita Ivic

    CONTACT US

    (905) 823-5150
    2133 Royal Windsor Drive, Unit 13-14 (Intersection of Lakeshore Rd., Southdown Rd., and Royal Windsor Dr.) Mississauga, Ontario, L5J 1K5

    EMAIL US