Chatham

Hotel Name: Comfort Inn Chatham

For Dates: March 30 – April 2: Chatham Capitol Theatre, Chatham

Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Chatham

PROGRAMS

• Programs will be made available for download, free of charge, through our website approximately 2 weeks prior to the event. 
• Programs will not be sold at the event.
• We may run up to 15min early from the scheduled times. 

AWARDS PIN

• Every dancer receives a custom Shine Awards Pin to display your ribbons on your Team Jacket! We’ve got one per dancer, so please make sure you pick it up at the Shine Shop.

LIVE STREAMING

• This event will have a live stream available through our website
• A code to watch will be provided soon

FOOD DRIVE

• We are very excited to continue our annual Food Drive where all proceeds are donated to a local food bank.  To date, we have collectively raised 22,160 lbs of food!!
• Please remind your dancers to bring at least 2 items of non-perishable food for our drive.

PHOTOGRAPHY

• As a reminder, your entry fees now include all your Studio's photos and videos!
• Media will be available approximately 1 week after the event.

STUDIO NAME/LOGO

• In an effort to keep your studio’s identity from the judges during performances, we ask that you please cover your studio logo when placing props on the stage. 
• Your dancers are certainly encouraged to wear their studio attire during awards ceremonies.
• Your costume should not contain your Studio Name*

STAGE ETIQUETTE

• Substances which alter the condition of the stage, and may affect the dancing surface for other competitors are prohibited (e.g. tossing sparkles, baby powder, water/liquid, body paint, etc.).  If it cannot be easily swept off the stage quickly, it should not be put on the stage.
• If the stage is littered after your performance (ex: feathers, paper etc.). you must be ready for immediate removal of the items. We will have a flat broom backstage.
• Helium balloons are not to be released on-stage as it is costly to get them down and they may pop during another performance if left on the ceiling. They may be used if they are on a weight and not released.
  • Released balloons may result in a deduction or the routine being ‘adjudicated only’

Melissa Bartrem

Melissa Bartrem is a dance artist, choreographer, educator, and scholar from Toronto, Canada. Melissa’s international credits include stage appearances in Brazil with the Tihany Spectacular, South America’s largest Circus, Showtime! with Casino Figueria Da Foz, Portugal, and on the high seas with Princess Cruises. Her countless appearances in live events include performances as a Toronto Argonauts cheerleader, Brazilian Carnival Samba Dancer, Divas Las Vegas Live at Casino Rama to industrials representing brands and companies such as Red Bull and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Melissa continues to appear in principal roles in film, television, and commercials.

Melissa is a doctoral candidate (Ed.D) in Dance Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. Her research interests include holistic, student-centred learning and other pedagogical practices that promote inclusion in dance spaces. These interests emerged out of an undergraduate degree in Theatre and Performance Studies from The University of Toronto and a master’s degree in Dance Education, accredited though The University of Surrey, England. Melissa is currently on faculty at The University of Toronto where she teaches Curriculum and Teaching in Dance and Drama in the Master of Teaching program. She is also on faculty at Centennial College where she teaches Commercial Dance, Interdisciplinary Ensemble and Movement Technique within the Performing Arts and Theatre Arts departments. She is also appointed as an academic tutor for the RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies program, mentoring dance teachers beginning their careers in education. Melissa has collaborated, adjudicated, taught, and choreographed for world-wide arts organizations in England, South Africa, and China, in addition to presenting her in-practice research at arts and education conferences, including the World Conference in Dance Research in Athens, Greece, Dance Science and Somatics Educators conference hosted by Central Washington University and the Canadian Association of Theatre Research.

Melissa has worked in both private sector studios with recreational and competitive students of all ages and levels, and in K-12 schools as a guest artist. She holds a variety of professional dance teaching certifications and is in-demand as a competitive dance adjudicator and choreographer. Melissa is a fully certified member of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD). She holds memberships with the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), The International Dance Council (CID) and Healthy Dancer Canada. Her continuing education includes training and certifications with various organizations such as canfitpro, Paula Morgan Dance, Stott Pilates, Street Dance Canada, Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Above Barre, Alixa Flexibility, the International Academy of Dance Adjudicators, and the Acro Dance Adjudicators certification, just to name a few.

Melissa is known for her infectious love of dance and looks forward to continuing to share her passion for the performing arts.

Nicole Byfield (Dymianiw)

Nicole Byfield (Dymianiw), originally from Burlington, Ontario, has been performing for over 30 years where her love of dance began at the young age of 3. Her training has included many styles; jazz, tap, ballet, stage, song and dance, hip hop and lyrical. She has competed across North America being honored with many overall awards and scholarships along the way.

She is sought after for her unique and innovative approach to dance, which she currently instills in the workshops and classes she instructs. She has been recognized for her excellence in choreography in regional and national competitions with her students being recipients of many overall awards and scholarships; many of her students have gone off to pursue dance at a University level.

Nicole has been adjudicating across Canada for over 10 years providing dancers with positive and constructive feedback. She prides herself on strong communication and a wealth of knowledge in all styles to give dancers a well rounded critique to help them succeed in the studio and in life!

Nicole is an alumni member of What’s On? Tap!, under the direction of Kim Chalovich. She has also had the privilege of being a member of Bringing Tap Back, under the direction of Everett Smith, and GeoMetriX Dance, under the direction of Dustin Pym and Natalie Brucker. Other credits include: No Secrets "Kids in America" music video, "A Day Through Rhythm and Sound", "Tap, Love, Connection", Eastern Canadian Tap Conference, Dance Ontario’s Dance Weekend, Amnesty International’s Dance For Justice, So Danca’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, Dancewear Association of Canada Convention, The World League Volleyball Championships, along with the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Dance Team. Nicole has also had the opportunity to perform alongside Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; a contemporary swing revival band from South Carolina and worked as a Foley artist in Guillermo del Toro’s film, The Shape of Water, which won the Golden Globe for Best Director. You can hear her tapping feet in a few opening scenes.

Most recently, Nicole had the opportunity to work with The DanceBug Show in which she had a weekly feature titled, “Dance Q&A with Nicole Dymianiw”. You can find her past segments by visiting TheDanceBugChannel.com. She was also a Mystery Judge on their VS Dance Battle show that took place late in 2022.

In addition, Nicole is a member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association Stage Division (Tap), as well as a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance having adjudicated many competitions across Canada; this is now her chance to give back on the other side of the stage! Nicole is also the proud owner of Social Media for Dance, a business that focuses on social media management and marketing for dance related businesses in Canada, the United States and abroad.

Through her passion and love for dance, Nicole continues to motivate and inspire her students to become the best that they can be. It is her goal to instill positive and healthy attitudes in young, aspiring dancers for many years to come. She’d like to remind dancers this weekend to remember your WHY and to have the most amazing time on stage. Create memories, take everything in and know that we’re cheering for you! @nicoledymianiw

Arlene Murchison Doggart

Arlene Murchison Doggart has been dancing since the age of 3, studying and training in tap, jazz, ballet, acro, modern, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, pointe, hip hop and song and dance. While training at the Sandra Purdy school of dance she completed all exams with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) in tap, jazz and ballet with the highest honors. Getting a chance to dance and take classes with choreographers like Mia Michaels, David De Marie and Brian Foley opened the door to winning scholarships and awards like top dancer, most potential dancer and overall highest score.
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Arlene got her full teachers certification with CDTA in 1991 and Dance Masters of America (DMA) and Canadian Dance Masters of America (CDMA) in 1993. She has also has been certified as a level one gymnastic coach, first aid responder and has choreographed on ice for Canadian figure skaters and worked with national, Olympic rhythmic gymnasts. Arlene has also taught hip hop in the public and private school systems.

Opening her own studio in 2000 in Newmarket, winning 15 consecutive years of Readers Choice awards for Best studio, she became involved with community events and fundraising opportunities.

‌‌Taking her dancers to competitions across Canada and the US has given multiple opportunities for them and some of her students have won titles such as: Miss Dance Canada, Mister Dancefest, Miss CanDance, Little Mister Starpower, Master Dance Canada, Petite Miss Dance Canada, Junior Mister OnStage New York, Junior Dancer of the Year (ADA), Teen Dancer of the Year (ADA), Junior Miss Dancefest, 1st runner up Junior Miss Dancefest, 1st runner up Master Dance of America and 1st runner up Senior Mister Bedazzled. Arlene has also won multiple choreography awards and special awards.

She teaches tap, jazz, ballet, acro, modern, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, pointe, song and dance at the recreational and competitive levels to all ages.
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Arlene is an adjudicator and has judged for many competitions and title pageants, including Dance Canada, Dancefest, Synergy, Dance Odyssey, DMA, Phoenix, Shine and the Shine virtual event.
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Arlene’s students have gone on to professional careers with Cirque De Soleil, on Broadway in Billy Elliot and The Sound of Music, Shaw Festival, movies, the television show Degrassi, So You think You Can Dance Canada, in commercials, music videos and even now owning their own dance studios and adjudicating.