Board of Directors

Members in good standing are eligible to nominate another member or to self- nominate leading up to our AGM in September each year. If there are spots available on the Board, nominations are also taken throughout the year. If you are interested in joining the Board of Dance Ontario please email [email protected]

Helming your board is Samara Thompson who is an independent choreographer and dance educator, specializing in the integration of computer technology with dance. She has presented her choreography across Canada, was the recipient of a Paula Citron Dance Award for choreography, has spoken at the CORPS de Ballet International Conference, and written for the Dance Current. Samara graduated with her MA and Honours BFA in Dance from York University. She trained in Canada and the United States with many notable artists and performed in works by Dana Reitz, Carol Anderson, Chuck Davis, and Trish Armstrong. Samara is also a co-host on the Toronto radio show Evi-Dance, where she interviews local and international guests, such as Ohad Naharin, Bill T. Jones, Crystal Pite, and Christopher House. She currently teaches dance at York University.

Lee Sela currently practices law in Simcoe County and the GTA as a sole practitioner with her own criminal defence firm, as well as prosecutes for the Public Prosecution Services of Canada as a Federal Crown Attorney in Simcoe County. Her entrance into law followed a long history in the Arts. At a young age, Lee studied at Canada’s National Ballet School’s Professional Ballet Program and Associates Program. In her last year at NBS, Lee was cast to sing the role of the 3 Boys/Spirits in Opera Atelier’s production of The Magic Flute, and thus followed a number of years performing as an Apprentice with the Atelier Ballet and singing opera with Opera Atelier, The Canadian Childrens’ Opera Chorus and Canadian Opera Company. Her love of theatre spilled into her studies at Queens’ University, where she graduated with Honours with a BA(H) in Drama with a focus on directing and a thesis in “Body-Mind Centering: Somatic Awareness” in dance.

Jennifer Watkins holds a B.F.A. degree from York University with special honours in dance. Following graduation she continued her dance training at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre as well as exploring other modern and jazz styles in Toronto and New York City. She has served in administrative capacities for the Danny Grossman Dance Company, the Young Audience Division for R.H. Entertainments and as General Manager of Dance Umbrella of Ontario, Theatre Direct and helped develop the Professional Standards for Dance for CADA-Ontario and served as Interim Grants Officer for Dance and Music with Toronto Arts Council. Jennifer received a Harold Award in 2000, worked with Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film and Video and provided administrative marketing and fundraising services for Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company for over 20 years.

Patrick Parson, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, has been a dancer and musician from the age of 10. He continues to draw much of his artistic inspiration from the vibrant multicultural community that makes up the Caribbean. Patrick spent his early years singing in choirs, composing and singing calypsos, playing with steel orchestras, dancing and drumming with community folk groups, and studying ballet and modern dance at the Caribbean School of Dance and the Dance Academy of Trinidad and Tobago. He was trained in the dance and drumming styles of Guinea and Senegal by Mor Thiam, the Artist Director of Les Ballets Africains, and in Canada graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Patrick’s founding of Ballet Creole in 1990 brought Black Dance to mainstream Canadian stages, establishing the Company as the forerunner of Black Dance in Canada. Patrick is the recipient of the Entrepreneurial Award of Merit from the African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, and the New Pioneers Award from Skills for Change, for his pioneering work in the world of dance in Canada. He has served as cultural adviser to the Toronto Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Metro Cultural Affairs, Ontario Arts Council, Harbourfront Centre, Laidlaw Foundation, and the Arts Advantage Program at Downsview Secondary School. Patrick holds a Masters Degree in Dance Ethnology from York University where he has been a course director in the Faculties of Fine Arts and Kinesiology. He regularly conducts workshops and lecture demonstrations for universities and schools in Ontario. Through extensive studies at the Katherine Dunham Institute for Humanities, Patrick has been awarded certification as a teacher of the Dunham Technique, which he teaches in Canada where it is little known and practiced.

Emod Vafa is an acclaimed dance artist, Sufi Whirling Dervish, and staunch advocate for Persian and Middle Eastern culture based in Toronto. His decade-long artistic journey has cultivated a deep connection with Sufi traditions and the teachings of Rumi that distinctly influence his dance mastery.

By organizing and starring in cultural events across Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Emod demonstrates strong community ties and an unwavering commitment to expanding public platforms showcasing Middle Eastern and Sufi artistic voices. He leverages digital marketing skills to prominently promote local musicians and artists, uplifting voices within Canada’s Iranian diaspora.

Debbie Kapp taught Dance at L. B. Pearson School for the Arts, London, for over 20 years and is a graduate of York University’s Dance Program (1979). She taught ballet and Creative Dance at the Thornhill School of Ballet and wrote the Dance curriculum for the Thames Valley District School Board, regularly presenting workshops for teachers on how to teach Dance in the school setting. Debra is the Producer/Artistic Director of the show “Art Harvest”, an annual showcase of Dance Education programs in Southwestern Ontario, produced as a benefit for the Jason Edmonds Emerging Artist Fund. She won an Award of Excellence from the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America for the innovative and creative programming of the presentation Resilience in the Face of Trouble and Despair. Debra is a co-founder of The London Alliance of Dance Educators,and co-owner of Action Pak, a Resource for Dance Educators.

Emily Cheung is an educator, performer and choreographer. She received her B.F.A., B. Ed. and M.A from York University specializing in Dance. Most of her training was completed in China, Hong Kong, United States and Canada. She is recognized as one of the leaders in cross-cultural exchange and liaison with foreign artists practicing traditional and contemporary Chinese dance in Toronto. Ms. Cheung also received an award as one of the ten “Voices of Chinese Canadian Woman” in Ontario during the 150th Anniversary celebration of Canada. Ms. Cheung is the Artistic Director of Little Pear Garden Dance Company in Toronto. She specializes in both Chinese Classical dance and Chinese Contemporary dance. Cheung is involved in preserving traditional Chinese dance, creating contemporary dance that honours Chinese traditions, and collaborating with artists from other disciplines and ethnic backgrounds to create works with unique aesthetic sensibilities.

Robert Sauvey has an extensive background in arts and cultural leadership positions and is currently the Executive Director of the Dance Umbrella of Ontario. Before joining DUO he was the Executive Director of Dancemakers, the second oldest contemporary dance company in Ontario, recently celebrating their 40th anniversary. At Dancemakers Robert successfully developed and implemented a new curator led operating model to position the organization for the future. His experience in dance also includes over five years as the Director of Touring and Artistic Administration for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

His diverse cultural background includes leadership positions at Groundswell, Manitoba’s longest running new music series, The National Screen Institute, where he managed creative film and television training initiatives and working as the Head of Distribution for Video Pool Media Arts Centre, a non-profit, artist-run centre dedicated to the creation, exhibition and promotion of independent media art. He has curated exhibitions for galleries, sat on National arts juries and has been a board member for arts organizations. His background also includes considerable experience in film and television working as the Manager of Development for a well established film and television company, and running his own independent company developing and producing projects and winning a Canadian Screen award for best-produced documentary.