OUR VIRTUAL MENTORS & JUDGES
Each choreographer will have the opportunity to work with and receive feedback from an established working artist and mentor. They will help you prepare for your final video performance and explore your artistic vision. A mentor will provide personalized and valuable video feedback on your performance piece. The mentors will also be judging both the choreography and dancer categories!
AMY WRIGHT
Since her professional beginning in 1995 Amy Wright has become one of Canada’s most in demand
Choreographers. Her work includes feature films, movies of the week, television series, reality TV,
stage musicals, including Canada’s prestigious SHAW FESTIVAL and over 75 commercials.
As a producer, The Next Step television show is one of Amy’s most well-known projects with seven
seasons, and over 200 episodes, it is watched by millions around the world. Amy has been with the
series since its inception as Casting Director, Choreographer and a Producer. Having coordinated
over 500 unique dance moments for the series on screen, Amy has been an integral part of planning premier performances including sold out Live World Tours and The Next Step Live: The Movie, a feature film has since amassed over 3.5 million views on YouTube.
Amy's recent television work includes spectacular routines for American Gods and The Boys
(Amazon Prime), Netflix hits The Umbrella Academy, Dare Me, and Anne With an E, the new
Nickelodeon series Blues Clues And You, dancing vampires and witches in What We Do In The
Shadows (FX), and dances with Jason Priestly for Private Eyes (Global).
Over the years, Amy has been fortunate to work with some of the hottest stars in the business: Taika Waititi, Ian McShane, Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Will Ferrell, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Colin Farrell, Molly Shannon, Alyssa Milano, Lauren Holly, Colin Mochrie, Hilary Duff, Marilyn Manson, Hedley, LeAnn Rimes, and a movie produced by Britney Spears. Amy has choreographed eleven Academy Award Winners/Nominees: Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Sissy Spacek, Richard Dreyfuss, Peter O’Toole, Joan Plowright, Jeremy Irons, Virginia Madsen, Helen Mirren, Elliott Page and Jessica Lange!
With an eye always open to new talent, Amy has cast hundreds of dancers for a variety of projects
ranging from The Next Step and Find Me In Paris to Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen
(Feature Film) and the American Girl movie-of-the-week Isabelle Dances Into The Spotlight.
Most recently she has been dancers casting Disney Zombies 3. With a focus on performances for young audiences, she teaches and adjudicates internationally and her teaching method is highly regarded which combines acting and dance techniques.
WEBSITE: www.amywright.ca / INSTAGRAM @amywrightdance
JENNIE PAPPAS
Jennie began dancing at the age of two taking a mom and daughter ballet class! She trained intensively in Russian Classical ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, contemporary, lyrical, modern and partnering. As a teen, she worked behind the scenes at “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” (CTV) assisting Stacey Tookey and Mia Michaels. She was thrilled to have travelled to Nashville, Tennessee to choreograph and star in the music video for Taylor Mathews’ hit song “Heart On Fire”. In 2015, Jennie danced in the Pan Am Games Closing Ceremonies and Para Pan Am Games Opening Ceremonies under the direction of Paul Becker and Jeff Dimitriou.
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Jennie is most known for her role as “Chloe” on Family Channel’s hit series “The Next Step” which airs worldwide in several countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Australia, and the United States. As part of “The Next Step” cast, Jennie toured across Canada performing in a live, interactive show called “The Next Step Live On Stage” which was then turned into a documentary-style movie and played in theatres across the country. Most recently, Jennie choreographed and starred in an online video collaboration with Warner Music Canada for Bebe Rexha’s new song “I’m A Mess”.
Currently working as both an adjudicator and instructor, Jennie loves being able to share her love and passion for dancing. She is actively pursuing her career as a dance teacher, winning several awards for top choreography.
GEORGI DIROCCO
Georgi DiRocco is an emerging dance artist, teacher and choreographer based in Toronto, Ontario. Originally from Ottawa, Georgi grew up as a competitive dancer being recognized for her unique movement quality and clear passion for dance. After graduating from an arts high school, she began training at the Conteur Academy under the artistic direction of Eryn Waltman. Since then, she has had the great pleasure of working closely with prominent educators such as Ryan Lee, Kelly Shaw, Colleen Snell, Natasha Poon Woo, Wesley Ensminger, Kendra Epik, Hannah Kiel, Naomi Zahler, and Alysa Pires.
Georgi is honoured to have been a part of various company productions such as Nicole Paggiossi’s Release Dance Project, Julia Cratchley’s TransenDance Project, Anisa Tejpar and Jennifer Nichol’s Hit and Run Productions, as well as Brandon Croisetiere’s works entitled “Wipe Your Feet first" performed at the Capezio ACE Awards. Throughout her years of performing, Georgi has discovered a deep desire for choreographing and educating while establishing a repertoire of choreography and teaching techniques. Her piece “The Resistance in Which I Stand” performed in Kristin Gomez’s Young Creators Challenge, was awarded 1st place and was later featured in Hayley Paone’s InHayle Dance Company show, “SEViN”.
Most recently, Georgi made her critically acclaimed debut with her full length piece “but people can be so impactful”, performed in a double bill show produced along side her partner, Jake Poloz, in the 2019 Hamilton Fringe Festival. Throughout her experiences as a young artist, Georgi feels humbled as she continues to explore her purpose as an educator and her fierce devotion to creating.