Visual Artist-Educators
Naomi Chorney is a versatile artist based out of Toronto who practices in a variety of disciplines. Originally trained in dance, she studied the Russian imperial method with Diana Jabolokova Vorps before exploring different dance forms such as Contemporary and Baroque. She continued to pursue her study of the arts as she has been working in the mediums of sculpture and drawing for over ten years. Naomi shares her experience and knowledge of art-forms with children and adults through facilitating workshops and classes in dance, visual art and drama in both English and French language.
Alec Dempster is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and musician with a degree in Visual Arts from York University, where he specialized in printmaking. He has worked as a visual arts and music teacher with children and adults in schools, public libraries, museums, and festivals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A. His contribution to Mexican popular culture, through research, educational visual arts projects and performance with his group Café Con Pan has been recognized in numerous articles, exhibitions, grants and residencies
Gillian Foster is a graduate of the University of Guelph, Studio Arts Program where she specialized in photography. She is an active member in the local arts community as a practicing artist and freelance photographer. Gillian is the Artistic Director for Art City Toronto, where she designs and facilitates Visual Arts programming for children and youth in St. James Town. She is an enthusiastic Instructor that enjoys sharing in the creative arts process with children.
Melissa Harendorf is a community artist, art educator, and visual artist with a practice based primarily in ceramics. She has a degree in Community-based Art Education from Concordia University and has experience teaching in public schools, community organizations, and private studios. Her art and her teaching are both informed by a love of stories.
Brooks Johnson is a graduate of the Humber College Professional Photography Program as well as a freelance photographer and painter. In addition to his professional artistic practice, Brooks has been involved in educating and inspiring children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area for over ten years. In addition to being a Visual Artist-Educator at the Living Arts Centre, Brooks has been a Visual Arts Assistant with the Toronto District School Board as well as a coach and mentor within sports and recreation.
Csilla Perenyi is a graduate of the School of Arts and Design, Budapest and the University of the Hungarian College of Applied Arts, Budapest. She has worked as an artisan/industrial designer for the Porcelain Manufacturing Company of Hollohaza and has participated in numerous exhibitions in Hungary and in Canada. Csilla is actively involved in teaching children and adults in various community art schools.
Marisa Picard is professionally trained in Mississauga and has been working with clay since 1995. As a locally recognized artist, her work has been on display in the Western GTA area at various art and craft exhibits as well as Central Ontario specialty craft shops. An active member of the local crafts community, Marisa instructs pottery classes for children and adults
Mary Porter is a visual artist and arts educator living and working in Toronto. She holds a BFA (Visual Arts) from NSCAD University and an MFA (Visual Arts) from York University. Her art practice is interdisciplinary, rooted in painting and drawing, and her work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions across Canada. In addition to the Living Arts Centre, she has worked as an instructor at York University and OCAD, and has been involved in various community art education projects.
Pierre Rivard is an Ontario Certified Teacher who teaches Visual Arts and French as a Second Language. He holds a B.A. in the history and theory of art from the University of Ottawa and a B.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. He is a francophone from Saskatchewan, a Fransaskois, and now, having travelled from the Land of the Living Skies to the Centre of the Living Arts (so to speak), he is excited to begin teaching art in both official languages.
Julie Vetro is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in painting, sculpture and installation. She has a Specialized Honours in Art & Art History from the University of Toronto and a BEd from Brock University. Julie has worked as an artistic designer with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board creating set designs for musicals such as Cinderella, Aladdin, and Annie Jr. She has exhibited audio-installation based work in group and juried exhibitions at a variety of private and public galleries in the GTA and Ontario. In addition to teaching at the Living Arts Centre, Julie is also and artist-educator with the Peel District School Board. Website/edublog: www.espaceart.blogspot.com
Born in Montreal, Patrice Stanleygraduated with a BFA from Concordia University. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including those from the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council. Represented by several prominent Canadian galleries, her work can be seen in both private and corporate collections. In addition to her practice, Patrice has extensive teaching experience. She was the founder of the Beaches School of Art, as well as a painting instructor for the Toronto District School Board, Continuing Education, the City of Ottawa, Community Programs and art teacher for the Academie McDonald Cartier in Ottawa.Performing Artist-Educators
After graduating high school, Susan Applewhaite headed to London, England where she trained and worked in theatre and film for five years. Upon returning to Toronto, she became involved in music and recorded several albums with acclaimed producer, Jack Lenz. But the call of the stage was too strong. Susan continued her studies with teachers Sears & Switzer, Adam Lazarus and ventured back to stage and television where she has been happily playing ever since. Most recently, Susan has been finding her writing voice so she can create her own work involving her passions: story, music and movement. When not performing, Susan shares her knowledge and love of theatre with students of all ages. For the past ten years, she has taught drama, dance, musical theatre and improv, learning from her students as much as she hopes she teaches them.
Laura Caswell is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She also earned her Masters in Performance through Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, England. She has worked as a professional actor, singer and dancer in theatres throughout Europe and Canada. She teaches at schools all over the GTA and has choreographed for many community theatre groups.
Vivian Cheung recently completed her B.Ed at OISE/University of Toronto and is a graduate of the University of Toronto at Mississauga and Sheridan College’s Theatre & Drama Studies Program. At the Living Arts Centre, she is also the instructor for Bravo Broadway and Act Up programs, where she directed various productions including Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and most recently, The Sound of Music and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. When not teaching, Vivian works professionally in Toronto’s Theatre/Film/TV industry as an actor and director. This fall, Vivian will be touring Judy & David’s (Treehouse TV) new show, MathJam! to schools across Southern Ontario, as well as continuing to educate children and teens in the performing arts.
Naomi Chorney is a versatile artist based out of Toronto who practices in a variety of disciplines. Originally trained in dance, she studied the Russian imperial method with Diana Jabolokova Vorps before exploring different dance forms such as Contemporary and Baroque. She continued to pursue her study of the arts as she has been working in the mediums of sculpture and drawing for over ten years. Naomi shares her experience and knowledge of art-forms with children and adults through facilitating workshops and classes in dance, visual art and drama in both English and French language.
Tania Hakkim holds an Honours B.A in Fine Arts and Cultural Studies from York University and a B.ED from OISE/University of Toronto. Tania’s career has taken her in many directions including television, print and stage. Select credits include Disney’s The Lion King (Toronto Cast), the original Broadway Company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams in New York City, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Prix Alliance (Harbour Front Centre) with choreographer Robert Desrosiers. Choreography credits include productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story, Grease and Les Miserables.
Rick Monaco graduated from Brock University with a B.A. in Theatre. It was through theatre that Rick cultivated an interest in drumming and percussion. Over the last twenty years Rick has performed for the National Ballet of Canada, the Just for Laughs festival, Cirque du Soleil opening night gala, the grand reopening of the AGO, and the Hudson Bay Companies annual meeting. He has released three musical recordings; Magic, Circle and Shadows Dance, and has provided music for TVO’s Stuff, CBC’s The National, Instinct (an award winning short animation), as well as performing live for Cliffhangers Dora award winning production of Bluffers Moon. Rick is also an accomplished drum maker making drums from a variety of cultures.
Yo Mustafa graduated from Sheridan College Theatre programme and went on to complete the one-year acting master class at the HB Studio. He has directed over 30 productions and is currently Artistic Director of West End Studio Theatre in Oakville.
Katie Robinson is a graduate of Queen’s University, where she received her B.A.H. in Drama, as well as her B.Ed. within the Artist in Community Education program track. She currently works as a professional dancer and actor in Toronto and as a supply teacher throughout the York Region District School Board. Her past professional experiences include working as a dancer/dance captain for Norwegian Cruise Lines, dancing for the Toronto Rock, and studying at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City. She is currently a member of Evoke Movement Dance Theatre, a professional contemporary dance company in Toronto.
Krysta Soroczynski is a competitive dancer and teacher from Mississauga, specializing in ballet, hip hop and musical theatre. She has participated in many competitions across Canada and the United States. For the last four years, Krysta has been teaching performing arts at the Living Arts Centre. She currently attends York University and is earning her Bachelor of Education.
Jennifer Spafford is a recent graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), and has had the privilege of training with some of the world’s leading professionals in dance, ballet and related fields. In addition to receiving a Diploma from NBS, Jennifer also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from York University. She holds teaching qualifications in National Dance through the Imperial Society of Teachers and Dancing, as well as an Associate standing with the Cecchetti Society of Canada. Jennifer has worked with a wide variety of age groups in professional, recreational and competitive programs in both ballet and other forms of dance.
