Chatham

Hotel Name: Comfort Inn Chatham

For Dates: April 4 – 7: Chatham Capitol Theatre, Chatham

Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Chatham

ARRIVAL

• The building will open 1 hour prior to the first performance of the day. 

PROGRAMS

• Programs will be made available for download, free of charge, through our website approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.  
• For a program including all updates from Studios (title changes, etc.), we recommend downloading 1 day prior to the event.
• Hard Copy programs will not be sold at the event

AWARDS PIN

• Every dancer receives a custom Shine Awards Pin to display your ribbons on your Team Jacket! ONE per dancer available at the Shine Shop.

LIVE STREAMING

• This event will have a live stream available through our website
• A code to watch will be provided to your Studio prior to the event
• We may run up to 15min early from the scheduled times -- remember to tune in early

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 22,825 lbs of food!!
• Please remind your dancers to bring at least 2 items of non-perishable food for our drive.

PHOTOGRAPHY

• For the privacy & safety of the dancers, there is no photography or videography allowed during performances 
• As a reminder, your entry fees include all your photos and videos!
• Media will be available approximately 1-2 weeks after the event through a link sent to your Studio
• Tag us in your favourite photos!  @shinedancecompetitions, #ShineDanceCompetitions #ShineFamily

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 performance costume should not contain your Studio's Name
• Your dancers are certainly encouraged to wear their studio attire during awards ceremonies

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.  Dances in violation of this rule may result in not being allowed on stage, have a deduction, and/or deemed "adjudicated only", at the discretion of Shine Dance Competitions.
• If the stage is littered after your performance (ex: feathers, paper, props, etc.). you must be ready for the 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’

JUDGING

• Expertise in Dance and Age-Appropriateness: Our judges are selected for their deep understanding of dance and their ability to assess performances based on age and training levels.

• Diverse Perspectives and Subjectivity: Our judging panel consists of individuals with diverse backgrounds, training, and life experiences. Given the subjective nature of performances, it's natural to observe variations in scores, sometimes exceeding 3 points.

• Encouraging Dynamism and Excitement: We empower our judges to utilize their marking scales while providing valuable feedback in their adjudications. This approach fosters a dynamic and thrilling competition atmosphere, enriching the experience for participants and audiences alike.

Your support of our judges and their expertise contributes to the positive and enriching experience we strive to create for all participants. Thank you for being part of our dance community where we can learn and grow from different perspectives.

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 numerous brands and companies such as Skechers, MAC cosmetics, 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, OISE 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. Currently Melissa serves on the Board of Directors for The Arts Education Network of Ontario representing advocacy and research initiatives.

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

Sarah Rorabeck

CAEA, ABATD, Adv. Dip MT-Performance, PAA, ADA

Voted Best Dance Instructor (Diamond and Platinum Winner - Oshawa/Whitby)! Sarah Rorabeck has over 15 years of experience educating children and adults in dance. As a teacher who still works with recreational, part-time and full-time competitive students, she is well versed in all genres, and specializes in Tap, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Acro and Jazz. Currently, Sarah works full-time choreographing award-winning competitive pieces, adjudicating dance competitions in Canada and the USA and putting students through their BATD examinations. In 2023, she joined the World Performer's Canada choreography team, setting tap routines for their 2024 team travelling to Prague.

Sarah Rorabeck is a graduate, with honours, of Sheridan’s prestigious Music Theatre Performance program, where she extensively studied dance, vocal and acting. She holds her Associate level Teacher’s Membership in the BATD in both tap and jazz, and is an accredited adjudicator through Judge Alliance’s PAA program. She is a founding member of the Acro Dance Adjudicators (ADA), where she became a certified Acro and Dance Adjudicator.

Sarah is a member of the CAEA and has performed professionally in musicals like Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables (& many more), around Canada, with some film and television work thrown in the mix. She’s even been photographed by world-renowned dance-photographer, Jordan Matter (Dancers Among Us).

Sarah is very passionate about dance education, specifically teaching clean and safe technique and exploring performance styles within different genres to keep class exciting. She has won several ‘Best Choreography’ awards, specifically for her Tap and Musical Theatre work. Currently she teaches and choreographs consistently throughout Durham Region and the GTA. She strongly believes dance teaches such incredible life lessons, and she is thrilled to be able to pass on her knowledge to today’s brave and passionate dancers.

Alia Ruemper

Alia is a fully certified ADAPT jazz & tap teacher and has completed her Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA) Gold medal jazz and tap exams with Honours status. She has a BA Dance and a BKin General Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and completed her MSc in Dance Science (with distinction) at Laban in London, England. Alia is also Certified in the Acrobatic Arts syllabus, Progressing Ballet Technique and International Dance Teaching Standards.

Her Master thesis “Correlations Between General Joint Hypermobility and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and Injury in Contemporary Dance Students” was published in the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. She presented her thesis at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science conference in The Hague, The Netherlands where she was received the “Student Research Award”. While she was completing her Masters degree in England she performed in a charity showcase of the musical, “Me and My Girl” at the famous London Palladium, and also participated in the Jack Petchey Theatre Challenge at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

The world of dance is constantly progressing and Alia strives to continue learning and educating herself. She has taken Lisa Howell’s Level 1 & 2 training courses, Lauren Ritchie’s Mental Skills and Mind Design training courses, The “Comix” Method Hip Hop Adjudicating and is a Level 2 certified adjudicator with Canadian Dance Leadership. She has also attended Dance Summit in NYC, Rhee Gold’s Dance Life in Arizona and Dance Teacher Web in Las Vegas.

In 2020, Alia was named Dance Educator of the Year by Canada’s National Academy of Dance Education and also received the Heather Simpson Memorial Award. She is an active member of the Bridge Dance Project and Wild Rose Dance Arts. Dance is Alia’s passion and she is excited to be sharing her energy and feedback with the performers.