Lisa Auguste

Lisa Auguste is a multi-faceted performer working in Toronto, Ontario. She is a highly sought after professional dancer specializing in ballet to hiphop, latin to breakdance (and everything inbetween). Lisa can be seen on T.V in “Star Trek”, “Zoey’s extraordinary playlist”’ What we do in the shadows”, “The Boys”, Shadow Hunters”, “The Expanse”, “Disneys -Sneakerella”, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show(Remake)”. She acted in feature films including “Silent Hill 2”, “Jean of the Joneses”, “Shall We Dance” (starring Richard Gere). Lisa was honoured to be a finalist in the first season of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”, after gracing the Mirvish stage as Cheetah in “The Lion King”. She has shown her prowess dancing in music videos for Katy Perry,Janelle Monae, Jully Black, Kreesha Turner, Shawn Desman and more. She has performed at the PanAm Games Ceremonies in Guadalajara and Toronto. She took to the Four Seasons Stage in “Wozzeck”, “Cunning little vixen”, “Nixon in China” and “Aida” for the Canadian Opera Company. When she is not performing, Lisa is teaching, working.

Valerie Rochette

Born in Ottawa, Valérie Rochette has pursued a career in the dance industry in a variety of roles. Teaching and choreography have been part of her journey since her teenage years, but her career as a performer began as an understudy for a Reno Depot commercial, followed by the musical production The Nut Job Live & Friends as a puppeteer and dancer. One of her dreams came true when she was chosen to be part of the dance team performing in Saudi Arabia as part of the Vision 2030 project, in the production S.A.N.D. for Cirque du Soleil, and in several other events with the company. She has danced and choreographed at several Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill for artists such as Véronic Dicaire, Mélissa Bédard, Jully Black, K’naan, Marie-Mai, and T.Thomason. Among the productions she has participated in are creative workshops with Les 7 Doigts de la Main for Virgin Voyages and the Prime Time production presented in Moscow.
In 2022, she performed Ships In The Night by Les 7 Doigts de la Main & Untitled by Dance Cartel on one of Virgin Voyages’ ships. Valérie participated in the first two seasons of the TVA television show Chanteurs Masqués as a dancer and in seasons 3 and 4 as a choreographer. Throughout her career, she has obtained her A.D.A.P.T. certification as a teacher and her Level 1 Master’s degree in The Art of Adjudication with Canadian Dance Leadership.

Loriane Catelroyrose

Loriane is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer trained in classical and jazz dance at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory, where she obtained her DE Jazz diploma. She continued her training in Los Angeles and New York to enrich her style, particularly through heels, street jazz, and contemporary dance. She now teaches several classes and workshops in heels, sensual, and contemporary dance, and has even launched her own intensive program with the Neodance Academy.
In 2023, she created her own dance company, Awakening Dance Company, with which she has staged and participated in several projects. Her dance is based on emotions, musicality, and performance. From a young age, she has never hesitated to undertake projects and develop her artistic universe and creativity.

Sarah Steben

Sarah Steben is a dancer, educator, and choreographer based in Montreal. She is an alumna of Monsters Dance, Motivating Excellence (Rhapsody James), and School.ed (Marty Kudelka). She is one of the first Canadian members of Creation Global, an internationally renowned Chicago Footwork collective founded by King Charles.
Throughout her career, Sarah has trained with several Montreal street dance pioneers and Los Angeles choreographers.
She has danced and choreographed for artists such as Brittany Kennell, Stephen Voyce, and Alicia Moffet. She has appeared as a dancer in television series such as La Voix, Star Académie, En Direct de L’Univers, and many others. Sarah also danced for the Pixar film Trolls 2: World Tour, which was choreographed by Marty Kudelka. Sarah is the director of the dance company Moving Beyond and choreographs for local series such as Zénith (TVA) and shows such as the FEQ, Montreal Jazz Festival, World Cultural Festival, and more.

Apolonia Velasquez

Recipient of the KM Hunter, Dance Ontario Innovation, Manifesto Innovation & Originality, and Soul Pepper Dance awards, Apolonia Velasquez is a director, choreographer, actress, and educator.
Her dance company GADFLY’s works include Klorofyl, winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award. Apolonia has been commissioned to create works for Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Ryerson Theatre School, Dusk Dances, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Citadel + Compagnie, and the School of Dance, to name a few. Her work has been presented at festivals such as Luminato, Nuit Blanche, Festival DansEncore, 100Lux, Ontario Dance Weekend, and Manifesto.
Apolonia is also the founder of the TUDS Festival of Urban Dance Culture and the Aybrid Dance Intensive. She has gained considerable experience in the television, entertainment, and theatrical dance sectors. She has worked with artists such as Katy Perry, Kiesza, Serena Ryder, Shawn Desman, Anjulie, Massari, NINEONE#, KHAY, and Jesse Cook. She has directed and choreographed for Ted Talks, Nike, Bench clothing, Make Up For Ever, American Crew, Canada Goose, Revlon, GM Canada, Manulife, Sephora, and advertisements for Pepto Bismol, Quaker, YouTube, Emergen-C, Oculus, Honda, Pizza Hut, Snapdragon, Destination Ontario, MiraLAX, Chevrolet, as well as television shows such as Beauty & the Beast, Dancing with the Stars, and Gwen Stefani’s Kuu Kuu Harajuku.

Abibou Playmo Kéké

Now over 50 years old, Playmo has been immersed in hip hop since the early 1980s. He is passionate about this culture and its various facets (dance, rap, graffiti, DJing), but also and above all about passing on his knowledge.
For almost 30 years, he has been training dancers, some of whom have become internationally renowned in the world of battles and on stage (the duo LES TWINS, the trio LET IT HAPPEN, RUBIX (STROMAE) and many others), organizing ongoing and one-off training courses, dance battles, choreography competitions, and passing on and sharing the values of this movement throughout France and abroad (in Italy, Canada, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hungary, etc.).
He also works as a choreographer, with pieces such as PAS DE QUARTIER (a favorite at the Avignon Festival) and its national tour, AIR2COURS (Hip-hop/Baroque), music videos and concerts for artists such as SNIPER, KERY JAMES, DIAM’S, NORBERT TARAYRE, LINA MAYHEM, etc., as well as being a multiple finalist on LA FRANCE À UN INCROYABLE TALENT, choreographer and coach for the TV show DANCE STREET Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 (France O), choreographer for ORANGE, BMW, LA FNAC, YVES ST LAURENT, etc., as well as for the French Cup soccer finals at the Stade de France, and ongoing work in a large number of dance schools, educational institutions (elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, universities), cultural and social organizations.
In everything he does, this tireless activist promotes values such as respect and solidarity, as well as fundamental principles such as self-esteem, confidence, and assertiveness.
Whether it’s to preserve and cultivate the history written by older generations or to encourage the younger generation to become and write the future.
He wants to unite, develop, share, and raise awareness around these essential human values.
Hip-hop is his main tool.

France Dufresne

France studied at the Ballets Russes de Montréal and is well versed in the Vaganova technique. Her teachers include Maria Abdel-Malek (Bolshoî), Principal Dancer with the Cairo Ballet, Mikhail Berkut (Bolchoî, founder of the Ballets Russes de Montréal), Diane Joffe (American Ballet Theatre), and Mira Popovich (University of Alabama).
She began her career as a soloist with the Kalinka company, which emerged from the Ballets Russes, at the age of 17 and performed as a guest soloist with George Mager’s dancers and the Ballets Jazz de Montréal. France was also a member of the Ballet de Montréal Eddy Toussaint from 1983 to 1988 as a soloist.
She was artistic director and choreographer at the Académie artistique des Moulins from 1990 to 1998, which produced a semi-professional troupe of 13 dancers trained by France, several of whom are still pursuing professional careers. Recipient of the first choreography prize at the first edition of the Dans’Encore competition in 1995. Returned to teaching in 2009 at Studio Bizz in Montreal.

Stéphanie Deourteille

Choreographer, performer, and teacher, Stéphanie Decourteille is sought after for her unique, fiery, and physically demanding choreographic style, as well as for her rigorous teaching. She is called upon by numerous choreographers and cultural organizations to offer masterclasses and advanced training for dancers, as well as workshops and internships. She is particularly active in the fields of contemporary dance, circus arts, and urban dance. Since 2018, with BIG BANG—an intensive contemporary dance training program—Stéphanie has been offering a program that includes both advanced training and a creative residency component. Since 2020, she has also been supporting emerging dancers in their creative projects as an artistic advisor.

Romane Deprovins

After receiving classical, jazz, and contemporary training at the Morlanwelz Academy, she became interested in hip-hop culture by taking urban dance workshops and classes. She began her career as a teacher of classical, jazz, and contemporary dance in various Belgian and French schools. She also runs her own company, RAW CREW, and is a dancer for various festivals, companies, and shows. As a choreographer, she has worked for MC Solaar, Axelle Red, and Black M.

Judges showcase Saturday and Sunday evening

Angelo Ameur

Professional dancer for over 30 years, Angelo Ameur was born in Tamatave, Madagascar. Dancing since the age of 7, he fell in love with street dance catching a glimpse of it through movies such as Breaking’ and Beat Street along with seeing videos of performers like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Bel Biv DeVoe and New Edition. Any opportunity to dance would be used: in the street, in parks or even basements with friends. Dance played a big part in his development allowing him to overcome not only his extreme shyness but his lack of confidence earlier on in life.
Relocating to Bethesda Maryland in his teen years with his family is where he started really learning about various street dance styles such as Hip Hop and Breaking. He very early on performed in locations such as the Embassy of Madagascar, The Washington DC Convention Center, various Universities and at shows such as Night At The Apollo.
He moved to Ivory Coast where he did most of his High School years. His time there allowed him to discover various African dance styles and broaden his influences. Returning to Maryland after his high school studies, he starts preparing his academic plan for university and decides to move to Montreal to study Psychology at Concordia University. Dance started taking more space in his life and ended up taking over his studies. He opens up Da Angelo Dance Productions in 1997 and starts teaching and performing in the city. He performs at many of Quebec’s biggest festivals such as Le Festival Des Montgolfières, Just For Laugh, the Montreal Jazz Fest and competed in multiple competitions such as Hip Hop Forever, Star Search Canada and Hip Hop International. He’s also opened and danced for many groups such as Luke Mervile, Isabel Boulay, TLC and The Backstreet Boys.
In 2000 he opens the Urban Element Dance Center and starts sharing his knowledge and training some of today’s best street dancers in Canada: Spicey, Andy Michel, Afternoon, Lakesshia Pierre, Vincent Noiseux, Steve Bolton…. Aware of the importance of spaces and support for street dancers, he also creates the Shut-Up N Dance event series. Part showcase, part competition, this event gathers the street dance community and allows them to showcase their work through freestyle battles along with connect and network with each other. In 2010 he creates Educate N Dance to bring the focus back to Freestyle in street dances as choreographic work was taking over the dance and its expression.
Angelo is currently still teaching Hip Hop and sharing his knowledge and experience to the next generation of dancers. He’s also working on creating a new platform for street dancers to not only share their work but also grow and develop through events, performances and competitions.Since January 2025, he started an agency for street dancers through his company Educate N Dance. Its purpose is to help dancers get more knowledge in the entertainment industry and still get trained by Angelo to become better dancers.

Séraphine Sivisay

Séraphine Sivisay, a multifaceted artist, embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity that transcends the boundaries of art. From an early age, Séraphine was drawn to rhythm and movement.
At the age of 16, she created her first dance group, MADLY, then founded the NEEDS DANCE CREW association in 2018 with the aim of promoting the art of dance and performance through choreography. With a clear vision and a spirit of leadership, she creates performances and choreographies that stand out for their originality and expressiveness. Her dance is characterized by various urban and modern influences.
In 2020, she joined the Neodance Academy team and became associate director. Since 2023, she has been in charge of the community division, where she develops workshops, competitions, and unifying events.

Michael Cassan

Michael Cassan trained at Studio Harmonic and the CND in Paris, where he obtained his teaching diploma. He sees teaching as a means of transmission that highlights each individual’s uniqueness and particularity. He guides students toward physical, creative, and artistic development, where fluidity, harmony, range, sensitivity, and musicality are the watchwords.
A poet of movement, Michael invites sounds and their musicality to become part of the material, leading dance towards a fusion of music and body.

Our settlement mediator judges

Janie Richard

Janie Richard is an artist from Terrebonne, Quebec, who has devoted her life to dance for over 16 years. Trained at the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, she traveled the world as a performer before turning to choreography, production, and artistic direction. Winner of the 2025 Artist of the Year award in Lanaudière from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, she has distinguished herself through the creation of memorable shows such as Syntonie—winner of the 2023 Best Touring Production Award (RIDEAU) and the Grand Prix des arts de la scène (Culture Lanaudière) — and Sans toi[T], currently touring Quebec. Grateful to the community that saw her grow up, Janie is committed to training and mentoring young dancers through workshops, master classes, and her role as a judge in various competitions in Quebec and internationally. Her generosity, rigor, and artistic vision inspire and elevate the next generation.
Always driven by the desire to promote dance, she continues her mission: to create, transmit, and bring people together around art and movement.

Marvin Baptiste

A passionate dancer since his early childhood, Marvin Baptiste has established himself as a key figure in Quebec’s urban dance scene. Teaching hip-hop since 1990, he has trained generations of dancers, passing on his knowledge, rigor, and passion for the culture. A master of several hip-hop dance styles, he has also established himself as a true ambassador for house dance in Montreal, helping to promote this discipline and anchor it in the city’s cultural landscape.
Respected by his peers both on stage and in battles, and recognized as an exceptional teacher, Marvin remains an essential link in the web that makes up the history and evolution of urban dance in Quebec.

Sandra Beaulieu

Sandra began dancing at the age of 7, starting with jazz. She then continued her training at the École de danse de Québec, where she studied contemporary dance and classical ballet and received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award. Her passion and perseverance led her to perform on television (The Magician (Netflix), Chanteurs Masqués, En Direct de l’Univers), on stage (Cirque Éloize, Cirque du Soleil), and in film (The Magician (Netflix), Chanteurs Masqués, En Direct de l’Univers). Her passion and perseverance led her to perform on television (The Magician (Netflix), Chanteurs Masqués, En Direct de l’Univers), on stage (Cirque Éloize, Cirque du Soleil event…), on cruise ships (Royal Caribbean-Symphony of the Seas) and in several other projects. Since 2006, she has also devoted herself to teaching jazz and contemporary styles in Quebec and the United States. Over the past five years, she has added a new string to her bow by perfecting her skills in aerial circus arts, specifically straps and hoops. You can now find her dancing on the ground as well as in the air!