Next Stage 2022 Program
Next Stage features the George Brown Dance graduating Commercial Dance students performing Jazz, Hip Hop, Chorus Repertoire, Vocal and Acting works.
AUGUST 11 & 12
CREATIVE CHILDREN’S DANCE THEATRE, TORONTO, ON
Director: Nicola Pantin
Production Assistant/Stage Management: Kathy Le
Artistic Administrator: Kia Kotsanis
Technical Director & Lighting Designer: Adam Nashman
Technical Advisor: Brad Strachan
Costume Design: Nicola Pantin
Acting Coach: Ryan Kelly
Vocal Direction: Heidi Lange & Stacy Collins
Vocal Arrangement: Stacy Collins
Thank you to the staff of Creative Children’s Dance Centre.
about george brown dance
George Brown Dance is a partnership between Jörgen Dance and George Brown College. The George Brown College Dance programs offer exceptional professional technical training in the heart of downtown Toronto. With hundreds of theatre, dance and production companies, Toronto offers extraordinary opportunities to aspiring performers. The unique leadership of Ballet Jörgen’s expert instructors graduates students with the skills, confidence and connections necessary for employment in a wide range of dance performance settings. Students and faculty have built a strong community that offers continuous support and encouragement at school and beyond. At George Brown Dance, expect to be empowered and challenged to fulfill your dance potential.
Message from the Associate Director
Welcome to George Brown Dance Next Stage 2022! We have successfully completed the final third semester in the Commercial Dance Studies Program and are pleased to present this culmination of work. Tonight you will be introduced to our next generation of graduates and see a diverse showcase with works created from our highly regarded faculty. The George Brown Dance faculty is comprised of an outstanding team of instructors, working artists, choreographers and directors, who instill discipline and teach skills necessary to interpret the vision of others.
Each of the choreographers and directors has generously committed themselves to the idea of a “company” setting, which enables the performers to experience the creative work process and environment of the professional world. Our students benefit tremendously from the unique approach and mentorship of the respective team.
I would like to thank each faculty member for their time, energy and inspiring work as they help the students to realize their potential and prepare for the future.
Enjoy this evening’s performance of Next Stage 2022!
Derek Sangster
Associate Director, George Brown Dance
Introducing the Next Generation of Graduates:
Riona Arakawa
Anahita Azadian
Cassandra Charles
Devika Johnson
Paige Publow
Emma Webster
NEXT STAGE
All That Jazz
Music: All That Jazz from the musical Chicago
Composer/Lyricist: John Kander/Fred EBB
Choreographer: Nicola Pantin
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
Big Spender
Music: Big Spender by Shirley Bassey
Choreographer: Lindsay Aquin
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
Stay
Music: Stay by Sara Bareilles
Performer: Emma Webster
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
Two of Us
Music: Two Slow Dancers by Mitski
Choreographer: Christopher Knowles
Performers: Devika Johnson & Paige Publow
Dress Code In Effect
Music: In The Club by Night Funk & Ranger Trucco, He’s A Dream by Shandi
Choreographer: Jennifer Robichaud (in collaboration with the dancers)
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
Thank you to the dancers for embracing and living in your role as artists in this process.
Mamma Mia
Song: Mamma Mia
Composer/Lyricist: Benny Andersson, ABBA
Performer: Cassandra Charles
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
In the musical, Mamma Mia, this song is sung at the moment old boyfriends are seen.
The roads we take
Music: Far From Here by Emmit Fenn
Choreographer: Christopher Knowles
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
“Together we grow, apart we bloom.“ – CK
Hard Knock Life
Song: It’s the Hard Knock Life from the musical Annie
Composer/Lyricist: Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
Choreographer: Nicola Pantin
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
–Pause–
At Last
Music: At Last by Etta James
Choreographer: Lindsay Aquin
Performers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
“Life is a fairytale, but to see it, you must open your eyes”
I’m Not That Girl
Song: I’m Not That Girl
Composer/Lyricist: Stephen Schwartz
Performer: Riona Arakawa
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
Stupid with Love
Song: Stupid with Love
Composer/Lyricist: Nell Benjamin and Jeff Richmond
Performer: Paige Publow
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
You Don’t Know
Song: You Don’t Know by Katelyn Tarver
Performer: Devika Johnson
Accompanist: Stacy Collins
This song is about people not fully understanding what it feels like to struggle.
You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide
Music: Esmerelda by Ben Howard
Choreographer: Allison Bradley
Dancers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
It has been a joy sharing the studio with our incredible dancers this year. Wishing you all the best as you embrace your journey ahead!
–Pause–
The Spice of Life
Music: Diego by Savannah Britt (Breakdown by XclusiV)
Choreographer: Derick “XclusiV” Robinson
Dancers: Riona Arakawa, Cassandra Charles, Devika Johnson, Paige Publow, Emma Webster
A piece dedicated to exploring the spice within ourselves.
About the Commercial Dance Program
This intensive 12-month Commercial Dance program provides you with the performance skills and marketability necessary to work in the vast field of commercial dance. A graduate has the ability to dance, sing and act, enabling a performance career in music videos, musical theatre, cruise ship performance and more. Dance training is in jazz, hip hop and ballet combined with in-depth acting, vocals and chorus repertoire. Career management and personal marketing skills combined with polished performance technique will launch your professional commercial dance career.
George Brown Dance
Artistic Director: Bengt Jörgen C.M
Education Manager: Clea Iveson
Associate Director: Derek Sangster
Program Coordinator: Kia Kotsanis
Auditions Coordinator: Nina Milanovski
School of Media and Performing Arts
Chair, School of Media and Performing Arts: Trent Scherer
Manager, Operations Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology: Anne Sardo
Student Services Coordinator: Lise Maher
George Brown College
President: Dr. Gervan Fearon
Dean, Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology: Luigi Ferrara
Commercial Dance Program Faculty
Allison Bradley – Jazz, Performance Preparation
Sarahi Cardenas – Ballet
Stacy Collins – Chorus Repertoire, Performance Preparation
Ryan Kelly – Acting Director/Coach, Performance Preparation
Chris Knowles – Performance Preparation
Heidi Lange – Vocal, Music Theory
Anna Elena – Ballet
Nicola Pantin – Chorus Repertoire, Performance Preparation
Jennifer Robichaud – Jazz, Business of Dance, Performance Preparation
Derick Robinson – Hip Hop, Performance Preparation
Derek Sangster – Jazz
Debbie Wilson – Ballet
Accompanists
Jonathan Corkal – Vocal, Chorus Repertoire
Stacy Collins – Chorus Repertoire, Performance Preparation
Jörgen Dance
Artistic Director & CEO: Bengt Jörgen C.M.
General Manager: Stephen Word
Education Manager: Clea Iveson
Business Operations Manager: Aleksandra Maslennikova
Marketing Manager: Dana Ginsberg
Assistant Education Manager: Nina Milanovski
Community Programs Lead: Elise Tigges
Communications & Content Developer: Casey Spector
Education Coordinator: Anna Guan
Administrative Assistant: Elaine Tsai
