
SUDBURY 2025
saturday | SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
Holiday Inn Sudbury
1696 Regent Street
Sudbury, ON
Complimentary parking available on site
CONVENTION LOCATION
Holiday Inn Sudbury
1696 Regent Street
Sudbury, ON
Complimentary parking available on site
CALL TO BOOK (705) 522-3000
BLOCK NAME: EDC
HOST HOTEL
SUDBURY 2025 FACULTY
JAZZ
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Mackenzie Carlson is a Dancer/Choreographer, Creative based in Vancouver BC, she is known for her athletic movement and ability to combine physicality and storytelling.Before finding her home in Vancouver, Mackenzie performed on stages across the World including The Middle East, China, Singapore, Montreal, New York and Toronto. She has worked with prominent companies and artists such as Cirque Du Soleil, Mandy Moore, Jeff Dimitriou, Transcendance, Christina Diguiseppe and Hannah Keil. She has worked in the Film Industry on projects such as Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Music Videos for Jessie Reyez and Serani.
Mackenzie made her Choreography and Directorial debut with short film "TEETER", a film that has been featured in over ten film festivals throughout North America. Her choreography can also be seen on TV in a “Mercedes Benz '' commercial utilizing real lasers. Mackenzie had the pleasure to be Choreographer and Movement Director for music videos including Marie Clo’s “Animals” and Hoodlem’s “Teenager Premiere” performance. Her choreography can be seen in live performances in the New Blue Festival “The A” and Slice’s show “Real Housewives of Vancouver”. She is also the Artistic Director of SYKEmoves, a Choreographic Movement Exchange Program encouraging collaboration and creativity.
Her recent art installation for Vancouver Robson Street “Dance On Robson” brings live dance to the Vancouver streets.
Mackenzie has also recently toured throughout China, performing and teaching workshops for Post Secondary Schools Dance Programs, and has been awarded multiple "International Tutor" certifications from prestigious Institutions.
Mackenzie travels to teach, adjudicate and mentor young dancers working at Conventions such as Triple Threat/Power Dance Conventions, The Vibe and Summit Dance Challenge as well as Adjudicating at numerous Competitive Dance Competitions.
TAP
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Danny Nielsen has emerged as one of the leaders of tap dance in Canada. Originally from Calgary, he began to further his knowledge of tap studying at various festivals throughout Canada and the U.S. around the age of 14. His prolific technical skill and musical sensibility launched him on to the international stage at the age of 23. Danny has taught and performed at many national and international tap festivals including Zurich Tap Fest, Tap Ahead in Germany, North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Taptastic Festival in Germany, and Portland Tap Fest.Danny was an integral part of Vancouver based dance company Radical System Art's (Shay Kuebler) production Telemetry. The show was a hit and toured for over 3 years at notable venues such as the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Place Des Arts in Montreal, the White Bird Dance Series in Portland, the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv, and Schritmacher Festival in Germany.
In 2012, Danny was the recipient of the Santa Aloi Award from the Scotiabank Dance Centre. He used the grant to create and direct his first full-length production Love Be Best Free, which toured BC for a month in February of 2017. He also co created Night Cap with Joel Hanna which featured American tap icons Martin ‘Tre’ Dumas III and Jason Samuels Smith. He later created his second full length production entitled ‘On Foot’ which premiered in both Vancouver and Calgary in the fall of 2019. Danny just completed a sold out run of his newest creation 'In Conversation' at the Dance Centre in Vancouver in collaboration with Bulgarian pianist/percussionist Kristian Alexandrov, directed by Houston's Matt Shields.
HIP HOP
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Having danced for numerous international artists, Robert brings over 15 years of industry experience to FORWARD Dance Academy. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he started dancing at the age of 5 and self trained himself by watching music videos and learning choreography. At age 11 he enrolled in dance classes and then started training under choreographers Leon Blackwood, Luther Brown and some of Toronto's veteran dancers/Choreographer's.Specializing in hip hop, Robert has performed with such well-known celebrities as Ariana Grande, PSY, Down With Webster, Victoria Duffield, Keshia Chante, and Blake McGrath to name a few. He has also had the opportunity to open for Destiny's Child at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.
Based on his talent and expertise, Robert has had the opportunity to assist choreographer Luther Brown on several projects, including a Ford commercial, the 2015 Pan Am Games with Cirque du Soleil, and Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance Canada. His professional credits include YTV’s The Next Star, Alvin The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Disney’s Camp Rock 2, Disney's Zombies and most recently Netflix's "Work It". In addition, he was casted in the 2012 Monsters of Hip Hop show in Los Angeles and has trained at prestigious studios such as: Millennium Dance Complex LA, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, Movement Lifestyle and Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
A skilled and energetic teacher, Robert’s documented dance classes have been widely discussed online and recognized by several artists, such as Ciara, Jo’zzy, Jovi Rockwell, and Electrik Red. He has also shared his passion for dance throughout Canada by teaching workshops and classes in cities across the country. On a mission to develop students into poised and unstoppable dancers, he teaches students of all ages to push the limits and be the best they can be.
BROADWAY JAZZ
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Originally from Canada, Kyanna is a New York City based dancer with a BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University. Kyanna has been living and professionally working in New York for the past 7 years. She most recently completed a 3 year run with the New York Knicks as a Knicks City Dancer. Some of her other credits include dancing for Iggy Azalea, Kimmi Moore, American rappers ASAP Ferg, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. In addition, Kyanna had the privilege of performing with Misty Copeland for the Leonard Bernstein 100th Celebration at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Exploring her artistry across multiple mediums has afforded Kyanna opportunities to work in both film and television. Her film and television credits include working with choreographer Mandy Moore on an episode of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Ebony Williams, Emilio Dosal and Christopher Scott (Director) on Disney’s Hip Hop adaption of Cinderella – Sneakerella. She has appeared in 3 episodes of the Canadian Family Channel series “The Next Step” and had the opportunity to perform with G.R.L. In 2014, Kyanna was included in Dance Spirit Magazine article on the Canadian Invasion touting her versatility as a dancer. Her passion and naturally infectious attitude for dance translates through her work. She is thankful for the nurturing; creative and innovative environment dance has afforded her to explore and develop her gifts.
CONTEMPORARY
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Keanu Uchida is a professional dancer and performer whose career has spanned commercial, concert and musical theatre stages. Keanu's main teaching styles are contemporary and contemporary jazz and his work is deeply influenced by improvisation, musicality, and the pure joy of movement.Keanu took his first dance steps at a small studio in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of four—never imagining that his passion would one day lead him to tour internationally with Lorde and Muse, perform his own choreography at the Guggenheim Museum, dance at the 89th Academy Awards, and act as movement director for Netflix's The Umbrella Academy.
In 2021, Keanu brought his and others’ experiences of abuse to The Toronto Star, sparking Breaking the Silence—an investigation that led to a rare joint exposé with The Associated Press on grooming and misconduct in the convention dance industry. He continues to advocate for a dance world that is safer and more compassionate.
Recent highlights include appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller Trap, performing at Fire Island Dance Festival in New York, and playing the titular role of Dancer in Dancer the Musical, a new Canadian contemporary dance musical choreographed by Stacey Tookey.
Keanu is thrilled to be sharing his love for movement with the Envy community this fall.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES
EARLY BIRD | Apr 22, 2025 - May 31, 2025
REGULAR | Jun 1, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025
LATE | Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
ALUMNI (19+) | Apr 22, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
TEACHER | Apr 22, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Note: Registrations will not be taken at the door.
PRICING
EARLY BIRD | $208CAD +tax
REGULAR | $222CAD +tax
LATE | $243CAD + tax
ALUMNI (19+) | $208CAD +tax
TEACHER | $60CAD + tax
OBSERVER PASS | $20CAD +tax
LEVELS
JUNIOR (AGES 12 & UNDER)
SENIOR (AGES 13 & OVER)*
*Senior includes alumni (19 & over)
CLASSES
TAP
JAZZ
CONTEMPORARY
HIP HOP
BROADWAY JAZZ
IMPROV