Summer Dance Intensive

Mindy Conto, a native of North Bay, Ontario, discovered her love of dance at the age of ten. She immersed herself in training and studying all dance disciplines with dedication and enthusiasm, and is devoted to encouraging the same energy and commitment in her students. She is an accomplished performer, instructor and choreographer who brings passion, creativity and inspiration to dancers across North America.

As a teacher, Mindy strives to unlock the potential in each dancer, and to provide them with the critical skills and practices to support their success. Her intensive workshops have included a summer programme on audition and show preparation for dancers, and a full week master workshop hosted in Greece.

Mindy’s talent and professionalism has taken her all over the globe, and she has had the opportunity to dance with some of the world’s most popular artists. Mindy has danced back up at the MMVAs with Hedley, PSY, Kardinal Offishall Featuring Akon, Hilary Duff and Bow Wow. Her extensive list of touring and stage performances include Destiny’s Child, Aaron Carter, Shawn Desman, Carly Rae Jepsen, Fefe Dobson, Aleesia, Shiloh, Eva Avila, Suzie McNeil, Dave Armstrong & Redroche featuring H boogie, Kreesha Turner, and Neil Young.  Mindy performed in Massari’s World Tour, travelling across the Mediterranean Sea and the west of India. She also trained for many years in the USA, focusing on her technique and style landing herself a limited spot and stage credit in LA’s Choreographer’s Ball (Carnival 2006).

In addition to performing in several commercials for Esquire & Movado Watches, Mindy appeared in the feature film “Honey”, starring Jessica Alba, in the ESPN drama television series “Playmakers” with Omar Gooding, and as a featured dancer in Hedley’s Lose Control music video.

Mindy has won numerous awards for her innovative choreography in many national competitions, and as former dance captain of the Toronto Raptors Dance Pak, she has crafted several routines for the NBA and for other major sporting teams across Canada. Recently, she had the chance to offer her incredible talents in support of an important cause by contributing choreography to a spectacular fundraising Gala event for the ChildLife Department at the Toronto SickKids Hospital.

Mindy was selected for an elite team of adjudicators that toured Australia, providing valuable critiques and judging several hundreds of dancers during their competitive dance season down under, and was interviewed about her adjudication expertise and accomplishments in dancetrain magazine.

Mindy knows that perseverance, dedication and hard work are key to achieving one’s dance dream.

Andrew started dancing at the age of five and it has been his passion ever since. Completing the Regional Arts Program Certificate Program at Cawthra Park Secondary school Andrew had the opportunity to work with modern choreographers Allen Kaeja, Darryl Tracy and Michael Trent. While being a competitive dancer, Andrew won various titles and awards such as Mr. Dance Canada and had been selected to be a Face Of Fever at Fever International Dance Championships. His professional career started soon after as an apprentice in the Rutherford Movement Exchange’s first debut production entitled “Ascension” under the artistic direction of Stephanie Rutherford.

Working with such passionate and talented dancers in Toronto and abroad Andrew became inspired to broaden his horizons. Some TV and Film opportunities Andrew has had the opportunity to dance on would be Revolution TVA, Netflix Feel The Beat, Family Channels The Next Step, Backstage, Reign and The 2015 Pan American Games closing ceremony. Live performances Andrew has danced in are Stephanie Rutherford’s production of “Ascension,” Vlad Novitski’s production of “Checkmate,” The Beaches Jazz Festival and the I Am Blake McGrath Tour dancing Tressandra Chaves’s choreography to Missing You. Andrew has transitioned his main focus onto the choreography and teaching side of the industry. Some choreography opportunities accomplished to date would be multiple pieces on Revolution TVA, WildRivers music video of “Long Time,” 2023 CAFTCAD Awards, an opening number for the I Am Blake McGrath Tour in Toronto, Canadian Mental Health Association Conference 2018 as well as opening numbers for Canadian movie screenings/premiers of “Paper Year” (2018)
and “Sometimes Always Never.” (2019) A large goal when moving to Toronto was to become a drop in teacher and it was achieved in 2017 at The Underground Dance Centre as well as Millennium Dance Complex Toronto teaching multiple contemporary classes on a weekly basis. Andrew has taught in many different settings such as competitive studios, Dance Conventions, with non profit organizations, elementary and arts high-schools as well as special needs high school programs. Andrew continues to share his ideas and knowledge all over Canada adjudicating for various dance
competitions such as Terpsichore Dance Celebration, Shock Dance Challenge, The Dance Rage, Elite Dance Productions and more. Recently Andrew was recognized as the Teacher Of The Weekend at Revel Dance Convention and hopes to use the scholarship to attend and submit for the Dance Educators Collective Choreography Cup Event/Competition in Nashville, TN.

Andrew has taken one of his dreams and turned it into a reality by opening Concepts Dance Studio in Pickering, Ontario along side his fiancé Cassie Comiskey. He is very excited to see where this journey will take him now being a dance studio owner/director. His passion, determination and hard work are what have pushed him this far in his career and has plans to continuing to always strive toward new opportunities while helping assist the next generation of dancers with their ambitions and goals.

Next Up co-founder and lead coach, Alexandra Herzog, is a certified Life Coach and Performer Mindset coach. With a background as a professional dancer, actor and choreographer, Alexandra founded the Dancer Mindset program to provide performers with the mindset tools necessary to perform at their best. Next Up has helped many competitive and professional dancers who previously crumbled under pressure and lacked belief in themselves, to emerge as empowered and confident artists, ready to own their training, performances and potential! After working together, dancers are equipped with the mindset tools necessary to coach themselves through high pressure situations! Dancer Mindset coaching helps competitive dancers of all ages reach their full potential with calm, clarity and confidence! www.nextupcoach.com

MING-BO LAM is a visionary dance educator, artist, and entrepreneur whose work bridges academia, art, and business. With nearly two decades of experience, she is celebrated for her empathetic leadership and her ability to create inclusive, transformative spaces for dancers of all levels. Bo has been featured by Dance Magazine, Toronto Life, The Kit, TO Live, and Fête Chinois, in addition to being named one of Canada’s Innovators and Icons in Dance by the National Arts Centre and Shifter Magazine in 2023. Select credits include the Much Music Video Awards, Toronto Raptors, NBA All-Star Weekend, The Umbrella Academy, Nike Canada, fu-GEN Theatre, and Soulpepper Theatre. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (valedictorian, Honours BFA in Theatre Performance Dance) and Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business (Master’s in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Bo currently teaches at Sheridan College and TMU’s The Creative School, and is the founder of MING MVMT. You can connect with her on Instagram: @love.mingbo

Caitlyn is one of Toronto’s top up and coming dancers and choreographers.  A previous National award winning competitive dancer, Caitlyn is now with DaCosta Talent and continues to work throughout Canada.  

Caitlyn presented her first piece in Toronto’s Choreoball Summer Edition at the age of 17, and since has also shown work in Elevate Toronto, Fever After Dark, March for HER, Unite Dance Showcase, Choreoball Winter Edition and more.  A previous 3 time division winner of Young Creators Challenge (2019, 2020, 2021) Caitlyn has also worked on their Workshop faculty.  

Caitlyn’s most recent work as a choreographer is featured on the television series The Next Step (BBC, Season 8) and as the lead choreographer for the “Together Right” music video for Finger 11.  Currently on faculty at Studio North Toronto, Caitlyn has a weekly professional drop-in class. She is a teacher at several of Ontario’s top studios as well a faculty member at Canadian Dance Expo, MOVE Dance Convention, and The Intensive.

As a dancer Caitlyn was a member of Proper Etiquette Company and the Rasasvada Dance Company.  Her successes as a competitive dancer lead her to being chosen as an Assistant for Intrigue Dance Convention in 2018-19 and she travelled across North America with them.  She has been a professional assistant to choreographer Chad McCall, as well as a back up dancer for several Toronto musical artists, including Töme and Nadia Stone.  Caitlyn has been featured in many music videos, such as “Sol”, “Top Love”, “Exhausted” and work for JDX Creative.  

You can currently catch Caitlyn in the “Power Your Holidays” Ocean Spray campaign on television and other social media outlets.  You’ll be able to see her on the upcoming Amazon Prime “Gen V” a spin-off series of “The Boys.”  Her other recent performance credits include “Chucky – The Series” (USA Network), “As Within, So Without”, New Blue Dance Festival, “the F word” Fringe Festival, Next Stage Festival, “Revolt”, Laurchaud Dance Project and the Parapan American Games.

Caitlyn is excited to continue to share her love of dance with many students and stages alike!