Faculty
Meaghan Giusti MA, BFA Honours, IADA
Owner & Artistic Director
Meaghan has over 26 years of experience in the performing arts industry, She is a graduate of York University with a Master’s degree and Honours BFA in dance and studied dance abroad at University of Chichester in England. She is a certified member of the International Academy of Dance Adjudicators (IADA) and completed her intermediate level ballet exam with the Cecchetti Society of Canada.
In her home town of Sudbury, Ontario Meaghan trained in dance, theatre and voice at Sudbury School of Dance, Ida Sauvé Dance Studios, the Sudbury Theatre Centre and Sudbury Secondary School of Performing Arts. As an active member of Sudbury’s arts community Meaghan was a founding owner of the Sudbury Summer Drama Camp as well as a founding member of the Unweeded Garden Theatre Company. She studied Jazz, Tap (CDTA), Ballet, Pointe (Cecchetti) Lyrical, Modern (Cunningham, Graham, Limón) and Musical Theatre. Throughout her training, Meaghan competed and won awards in many cities throughout Ontario.
While at York University Meaghan performed as a member of the York Dance Ensemble. As a performer and choreographer she has presented work at the fFiDA International Dance Festival, the Toronto Fringe Festival and International Dance Day at Dundas Square. Meaghan also dances and choreographs with contemporary dance companies Collective HEAT and Con Moto Dance Projects. Her work was also commissioned and presented by the Simcoe Contemporary Dancers in Barrie Ontario.
Working within Toronto’s vibrant dance community for over 5 years Meaghan worked with the Canadian Dance Assembly, fFIDA International Dance Festival, George Brown College Dance Department, DanceFuzion and the CanAsian Dance Festival.
Meaghan has taught with Groove School of Dance and as a guest teacher with the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, Sir Sandford Fleming Academy, Oakwood Collegiate Institute, and Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School.
As a passionate teacher and artist, Meaghan is very excited to offer professional level training in all of the performing art forms to aspiring young artists. By combining her formal education at York University with her 26 years of practical education, Meaghan is thrilled to share her expertise by bringing professional education into the studio.
Jack Grinhaus
Jack Grinhaus has worked in theatre for most of his life. A professional Director and Actor he possesses an MFA and BA Honours in Theatre from York University’s Theatre program as well as an Associate Degree in Acting fromThe American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and has studied intensely with renowned artists Uta Hagen, R.H. Thomson, Anne Bogart and the SITI Company, and Graham McLaren. Jack is the recipient of a 2002 THEA award for his performance as Stanley Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs, was a member of the 2010 Canadian Stage BASH! Director residency program, an inaugural member of the Director’s Lab North, is Co- Artistic Director of Bound to Create Theatre www.boundtocreate.com and currently facilitates acting, movement, improvisation and creative ensemble workshops throughout Ontario.
Joanna Mills
Joanna’s passion is music and singing. Since 2001, she has led a local gospel choir which performs monthly, and has written and directed original children’s musicals at Emmanuel Howard Park United Church. She also performs frequently in local festivals and clubs with her eight-voice folkgrass ensemble North of Queen. Joanna is also an award-winning songwriter (Songdoor, Song of the Year, ISSA) and arranger and her works have been performed by several local choirs and her band. She also has several choral compositions under consideration for publication. Trained formally in voice, piano, and oboe throughout her younger years, Joanna continued to develop her musicality by singing in, and leading, various choirs, performing with the New Westminster Musical Theatre Guild, and teaching piano as an adult. She believes whole-heartedly that everyone has the ability to sing with the right encouragement and instruction, and specializes in helping novice singers to learn the rudiments of proper singing techniques, harmonization and group/chorus performance.
Lisa Emmons
Lisa loves to teach dance. Since 2000,
she has taught beginners and professionals:
ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, creative
movement, jazz, hip hop, tap, drama and
Hatha yoga. During her classes Lisa’s aims to
be present and engaging allowing her passion, courage and vulnerability to guide her.
She opens the door for her students to go beyond their personal best and to delight
in their artistic and technical skill.
Lisa views her artistic work as a great adventure; like going down the rabbit hole.
It is her aspiration to bethe invitation for all her students to delight in that creative energy and
spirit that brings so much meaning and joy to life.
Since the fall of 2005, Lisa has had the privilege of working and performing with Lightning Strike Art Productions (LSAP) in Toronto, Germany and New York. Lisa is often invited to teach company class or yoga for LSAP and serves as rehearsal director for many of Lara Wirick Bernstein’s (Artistic Director of LSAP)choreographies. Lisa has also performed in pieces by Susan Kendal (DanceWorks Co-Works Series), Vessels Dance Projects (fFIDA 2005), and Maxine Heppner. Lisa was a member of Motus O Dance Theatre (2002-2006) where she had the privilege to perform a variety of roles involving dancing, physical theatre and acting. With them she toured Ontario and the East Coast of Canada. Lisa graduated in 2004 from York University with a BFA with Honours and is a member of CADA.
Elizabeth Vecchio
Elizabeth Vecchio has had the passion of dance for over 15 years. Her roots formed through recreational classes, where she moved forward
to dance competitively, attended Arts High School ESA, and has recently graduated from the York University Dance Program. Elizabeth has been blessed to have studied & performed varying forms of dance in Canada and abroad. Performance highlights include working with Sure Jazz Korea, City Dance Corps, fFIDA, Canopy Theatre & Thrive Entertainment! She has also had the pleasure of working with industry leaders such as Shawn Byfield, Linda Garneau, Annie Wood & So You Think You Can Dance Canada Judge Luther Brown. Currently, Elizabeth divides her time between teaching dance, studying & instructing Yoga and dancing with Toronto Contemporary Company Kinetic Elements.
