Vlad's Dance Company Faculty

Vlad Artistic Director	Vlad was very honoured to receive the “George Lon Memorial” award from American Dance Awards National Competition in July 2005 and 2007. This award was received for the highest overall mark for the competition. In 2008 he was also awarded the Gold Family Award of Excellence and has won numerous Diamond Choreography Awards from American Dance Awards in Ontario and Florida. Prior to Vlad opening VDC he was a teacher and taught in different professional programs such as Randolph School of the Arts, Sheridan College and Dance Teq, which was located within the National Ballet of Canada. Vlad is well known in the dance community for his progressive and innovative style of choreography with exceptional skills in ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop and has received numerous awards for his choreography. Vlad is originally from Russia where he trained at the Ballet Academy (Vaganova System) and then at the Rimsky-Corsacoff Conservatory with a major in choreography. Vlad is known across North America for his performance in multiple different productions such as “Fiesta Fantastica”, “The Nutcracker”, “Troika” and “Together”. He has performed in many television shows such as “Canada Day on Parliament Hill” CBC, “Gemini Awards” CBC, “NHL Awards” CBC, and the “Cynthia Dale Special” CBC and many more.
Ira Artistic Director	Ira is an experienced performer, instructor and Choreographer. She is originally from Russia where she trained at Leningrad State Theatre Studio with a majoring jazz and ballet. She was later accepted as a full time dancer in the Leningrad Music Hall State Theatre where she became a lead dancer. Throughout her 15 year career, she has performed all over the World. Her warm personality and enthusiasm will make your child’s eyes sparkle with a love for dance.
Linda Garneau	Linda has worked on both sides of the industry, as a dancer (commercial, industrial, film and television), choreographer (Pippin', Chorus Line, National Jazz Awards, Chorus Line, Oscar Peterson Tribute, Bravo, Toronto 1 Show, MAC), adjudicator and director (Integration, Road to Love, and West Side Stories). Her vision and passion for her craft have established her as one of Canada's top choreographers; proficient in many disciplines, Linda fuses musicality, intention, and courage, while pushing her students to new heights. Miss Garneau is the artistic Director for the Helix Dance Project and is currently on faculty at the Randolph Academy.
Caroline Torti	Caroline has been performing for eighteen years and working professionally for the past five. She has also been teaching and choreographing at various studios in the Greater Toronto Area, specializing in acrobatics, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Caroline loves being on stage and sharing her passion for the art of dance with others. Some of her professional credits include Helix Dance Company’s “Every Now and Then” (2006), Legendales (2006), Z103.5 Hot Summer Rush with Massari and Daisy Dee(2005), and Stardust Follies (2004-2006). Caroline has also performed in various industrial events for companies such as Bell Mobility, Canon, Sears, and Calvin Klein, as well as charity events such as Fashion Cares Toronto and the Steve Nash Charity Game. Caroline has been recognized for her work as a choreographer at regional competitions receiving several choreography scholarships. In 2008 Caroline was in the Top 20 on "So You Think You Can Dance Canada. As part of the team at Vlad’s Dance Company she is excited to share her knowledge and love for dance with her students.
Stacey Maroske	Stacey’s desire for the arts was evident from a very early age and dance soon became a driving force in her life. Receiving her formal training from her Mom, All That Dance, & Vlad “Vlad’s Dance Company”, she now continues to train with professionals in the industry. Recently, Stacey had the pleasure of working with Brian Friedman in New York City. Throughout her competitive years, Stacey achieved much success, completing her Advanced R.A.D. Ballet Exams and winning many prestigious awards including; American Dance Award’s National Teen Dancer of America, A.D.A. Dancer of the Year, as well as becoming the International Dance Organization’s (IDO) World Jazz Champion. As a performer, Stacey has been a regular at Toronto’s Milk and Honey dance series, and has performed as a singer and dancer at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toys’R’Us Convention, and was a guest performer at the Stratford Festival Dance Cabaret. Stacey was most recently employed at Paramount Canada’s Wonderland as a singer and dancer in the show “School of Rock: Live in Concert!”. Stacey is presently teaching and choreographing in Toronto while studying vocal music and double majoring in Kinesiology and Concurrent Education at York University. As an artist, Stacey is a true triple threat performer who continues to share her passion with others both as a performer and instructor. She hopes that her company’s workshop, The Next Level Dance Convention will inspire all who attend!
Eryn Waltman	Eryn Waltman currently resides in Toronto, and has been a member of the entertainment industry since the early age of three. She has had extensive training in all forms of dance with various teachers and choreographers throughout Canada and the United States. More specifically, she studied under the instruction of Tiffany McLean where passion and dedication drove her to a career in the industry. As a performer, Eryn has danced in various shows (including Fashion Cares, Molson Indy, Grey Cup etc.) Graduating from the University of Western Ontario, she also began a competitive dance team where she pursued her love for teaching and choreography while also completing her degree in Sociology. As a director, she also leads the traveling University Dance Workshop "Breathe", which tours across Canada giving university dancers an opportunity to continue training with some of the country's top choreographers. Teaching throughout various studios in Ontario, she is constantly being recognized for her original and innovative choreography. Eryn has trained her students to many over-all titles, high scores and scholarships from the most respected dance organizations across North America. She is constantly motivating and inspiring her students, teaching them that dance is not only about the development of technique, but about the development of oneself. She strives to build the self-confidence of her students both on and off the stage. She is now sought after as an adjudicator, guest teacher and choreographer across Canada.
Julia Cratchley	Julia Cratchley is originally from Richmond Hill, Ont. where she danced with Vlad's Dance Company, and graduated from Unionville High School's Arts York Dance Program in 2005. Julia continued her training as a contemporary and classical artist in Vancouver, B.C, with Arts Umbrella's Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon and Lynn Sheppard. Here she had the opportunity to work with internationally known choreographers, including Roberto Campanella, Emily Molnar, Serge Bennethon, and Robert Glumbek to name a few. She has also had the chance to workshop with companies such as [Bjm_danse] and O'vertigo in Montreal, Ballet British Columbia in Vancouver, and ProArteDanza in Toronto, as well as companies in Europe. Julia has also been lucky enough to dance with Helix dance project, and assist Artistic director Linda Garneau in the production of "Rain".
Daria Pugach	Daria is a professional classical ballet dancer and teacher. She has gained extensive international experience in Canada, Italy, South Korea and Russia. She graduated from the world-renowned Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg and, as one of the best graduates, was invited to join the celebrated faculty. As a professional ballerina Daria worked with the Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre in St. Petersburg and the State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Syktyvkar. Daria’s repertoire includes the most famous classical ballets: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, Grand pas from “Paquita”, Pas de quatre, Fokine’s Chopiniana, and many contemporary choreographers’ performances. As an inspired and dedicated teacher, Daria is highly involved in the ballet community activities. Her real love and passion of dance profoundly influences students and helps them to achieve their dreams and goals.
Nicole Stamkos
Erica Pignatelli
Melissa Medeiros	Melissa is presently attending St. Elizabeth Catholic HS in the Regional Arts Dance Program. Upon graduating, she intends to pursue her academic studies at university this Fall, as a full time student enrolled in the Faculty of Fine Arts. She currently is part of the senior competitive dance team at Vlad's and will be graduating after nine years from the studio. She is thankful to have been given the opportunity to teach at Vlad's and be able to share her love for dance with her students. When Melissa is not teaching dance, she teaches young children to swim as she is a certified Red Cross Instructor. She has held various Regional Titles with American Dance Awards and has achieved Overall High Scores in various solos and duets and took part in a TV pilot called “Dance the Dream.” She has also competed and performed within Canada and the United States and is looking forward to her final Nationals! Melissa feels blessed to have dance in her life and believes that it has given her the gift to fly, but without wings!
Vanessa Medeiros
Tatiana Parker	Dancing since the age of 5, Tatiana's strong passion for performing arts has led her to pursue a career as a dancer and choreographer. Forever a student, Tatiana has traveled between Toronto and Los Angeles training with many of the industries top leaders. The young dancer has already had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Luther Brown, Fatima Robinson, Blake McGrath, Lee Daniels, Tony Czar, Leon Blackwood, Chantelle Leonardo, Trey Rich, and many more. Tatiana's professional career has enabled her to travel extensively across North America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She has worked with numerous artists such as Hilary Duff, Massari, Akon, Kardinal Offishall, George Nozuka, Shawn Desmand, Kim Davis, Jully Black, and Cali just to name a few. You can also catch her on music videos and commercials such as Eva Avila "I owe it all to you", Skye Sweetnam "Human", Jully Black "DJ Play my song", High School Musical Commercial and Virgin Mobile Christmas Commercial. Tatiana is always looking for a new challenge; she is constantly improving and taking her dance skills to the next level. A very dedicated and fun dancer, teacher and choreographer. She is known to be spirited and humorous, sharing her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with all her students.