THUNDER BAY CONVENTION
October 26 – 27
Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay
Address: 2240 Sleeping Giant Pkwy, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 0E7
Phone: (807) 344-0777
THUNDER BAY TEACHING FACULTY
Eric Campros – Contemporary
Eric John Campros enjoys a varied career as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. He debuted on Broadway in the smash hit musical “Grease” and followed with the national tours of Hello, Dolly with the legendary Carol Channing and A Chorus Line. He danced on tour with the Backstreet Boys and Aaliyah, and has appeared in performances with Britney Spears, Usher, and Lil’ Kim. Eric danced in several films, most notably Across the Universe and the Bollywood hit Jaaneman, as well as various commercials and videos. Choreography credits include the US tour of Real Soul, German tour of M*Pire, NYC debut of the Voice’s Sal Valentinnetti, CCTV’s New Year Spectacular, video games for Studio Chibli, and commercial industrials for Levi’s, Wrangler, and Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Eric choreographed “Ding Dong” the ad campaign for Drizly, currently airing internationally. As an educator he created a 2 year dance based curriculum for Hebei Art College and Shandong University in China, and is a guest teaching artist at Yale University, Sacred Heart University, Boris Eifman Academy and Dance Academy Russia in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Mahalia in Egypt, Studio Harmonic, Arts Des Vivants, and Neo Dance in Paris, Jennifer Jellison TT in London, Living Art in Argentina and Uruguay, Broadway House and Capital Dance in Spain, and several others. (A comprehensive teaching list can be found on his website.) He was a panelist and choreographer for the hit Indian reality show Roots of Dancing with Prince Gupta Jr, and appeared as a guest artist for the Israeli documentary Dance Festival Mami, 2021. He is currently working on the International hit crime dramas Law and Order, Organized Crime, as well as Law and Order, SVU as movement coordinator, and remains on faculty at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Eric continues to create new works through his production company Rebellious Creatives, and holds a BA in Marketing from MSU. Videos, press, and more information can be found on his website www.ericjohncampros.com.
Amy Wright- Jazz
Amy Wright is a CSA-nominated producer, casting director, and choreographer. Since her professional beginning in 1995 Amy is one of North America’s most sought after and respected choreographers. Her work includes feature films, movies of the week, television series, reality TV, stage musicals, including Canada’s prestigious SHAW FESTIVAL and over 85 commercials.
As a producer, THE NEXT STEP television show is one of Amy’s most well-known projects with nine seasons, and over 245 episodes, it is watched by millions around the world. Amy has been with the series since its inception as a Producer, Series Choreographer and Casting Director. Having coordinated over 600 unique dance moments for the series on screen, Amy has been an integral part of planning premier performances including sold out Live World Tours and The Next Step Live: The Movie, a feature film has since amassed over 3.5 million views on YouTube.
Amy’s recent television work includes choreography and dancers casting for: THE BOYS and GEN V (Amazon Prime) THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY (Netflix), WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (FX/Disney+), MURDOCK MYSTERIES (CTV), and every child’s favorite BLUES CLUES AND YOU (Nickelodeon).
Over the years, Amy has been fortunate to work with some of the hottest stars in the business, among them are: Tom Hiddleston, Drew Barrymore, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Takia Waititi, Jensen Ackles, Ian McShane, Jason Priestly, Rachel McAdams, Will Ferrell, Colin Farrell, Molly Shannon, Hilary Duff, Hedley, LeAnn Rimes. Amy has choreographed eleven Academy Award Winners/Nominees: Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Sissy Spacek, Richard Dreyfuss, Peter O’Toole, Joan Plowright, Jeremy Irons, Virginia Madsen, Helen Mirren, Elliott Page and Jessica Lange!
Always with an eye open to new talent, Amy has cast hundreds of dancers for a variety of projects most notably: DISNEY ZOMBIES 3, THE NEXT STEP, CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, FIND ME IN PARIS and it’s spin off show SPELLBOUND. Amy’s passion for helping dancers achieve success is unparalleled. With a focus on performances for young audiences, she teaches and adjudicates internationally and her teaching method is highly regarded which combines acting and dance techniques.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Chad McFadden – Jazz Funk
Chad is a professional dancer, actor and singer. He has performed on stages across Canada, the United States and abroad.
Chad is the Director of DANCE CANADA CONVENTION which had its debut event last year in Thunder Bay. He is passionate about connecting world class dance instructors to the dance community.
Recently, Chad co-created Just Short of Reality – a web series combining movement, narrative and original music. The series won multiple international film festival awards. The project was produced alongside the Stratford Festival.
Professional credits- Stratford: Chicago (Fred Casely), Billy Elliot (Mr. Wilkinson), Guys and Dolls, Romeo and Juliet, A Chorus Line (Don), As You Like It, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, The King and I, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, Into the Woods, Oklahoma!, My One and Only. Elsewhere: Siegfried (COC); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American tour); The Little Mermaid, White Christmas, Mary Poppins (Valentine), Big Band Legends, Annie, 9 to 5 (Bob Enright), Dance Legends, Brigadoon (Harry Beaton), Evita, Peter Pan, Robin Hood,Me and My Girl (Drayton); Joseph…, Sweet Charity (Stage West); Beauty and the Beast, Legends (Grand); Guys and Dolls (Citadel, Theatre Calgary, MTC); Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown); Broadway Encore! (Tokyo Disneyland); Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker (Ballet Jörgen). Film/TV: Hairspray, Bollywood/Hollywood, The Other Me, Charms for the Easy Life, Earth: Final Conflict, Mortal Instruments, A Christmas Dance Reunion.
When teaching, Chad guides dancers through his versatility, passion and growth mindset. Chad also educates dancers in well-being. He believes mindfulness is a skill that can help anyone achieve their dreams.
@chad910
Mark Samuels – Hip-Hop
In the early days of his career, Mark danced for countless Canadian artists such as Shawn Desman, Jully Black, Victoria Duffield and Nelly Furtado, to name a few. He also danced in Canada’s most notable shows such as The Juno Awards, MMVA’s and So You Think You Can Dance Canada. After spending years as a dancer in Canada, Mark expanded to the US, where he was fortunate enough to work with some of the industry‘s biggest choreographers. His journey led him to dance for multi-platinum recording artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Missy Elliott, Kelis, Mario and many more. Today, Mark is a well-established figure in the dance industry. With over 27 years of experience, he has shifted his passion into choreography. He choreographed his first feature film, Dr. Cabbie and co-choreographed for the Latin Pop Group, CNCO. Most recently, he teamed up with collegue Paul Becker (Choreographer/Director) to choreograph a number of successful film and TV shows such as A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Disney’s – The Descendants, The Magicians, and many others. Mark’s work appears on major networks including Netflix, Lifetime, ABC and SYFY.
Jodi McFadden – Theatre Jazz
Originally from Ontario Canada, Jodi began dancing very early at Bojangles Dance Studio.
Her training has includes all forms of dance from studios, competitions and conventions such as Broadway Dance Centre (NYC), Edge Performing Arts Center (LA) and Millennium Dance Complex (LA), NYC Dance Alliance, Tremaine Dance Convention (LA), Showstoppers (USA) and her ballet exams which she completed with The Royal Academy of Ballet.
She also owes much of her training to her four years working at North America’s leading classical repertory theatre company; The Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada, and to her two- year conservatory program with Terry Knickerbocker at The William Esper Studios in NYC.
Jodi’s career now spans theatre, film, television, teaching and judging across both Canada and the US.
Currently she is living in NYC and just completed a workshop for the new Broadway musical “The Queen of Versailles” with Kristin Chenoweth. She is also currently co-creating and performing in NYC’s newest immersive theatre production; Life & Trust with creators of Sleep No More.
Her other broadway credits include the Tony Award winning musical; Moulin Rouge as the original understudy for the lead role of Nini, the Tony Award- winning musical The Bands Visit as an understudy for the lead role of Dina and Spider-Man:Turn off the Dark as the original understudy to the spider woman named Arachne
Jodi was honored to play Mrs. Lovett in Adam Barruch’s adaptation of Sweeney Todd in Santa Barbara, and originated the role of Pearl in Randy Weiner and Ryan Heffington’s off broadway production of “Seeing You”.
Other Canadian theatre favorites include the role of Velma in Drayton Entertainment’s production of Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Into the Woods, Guys and Dolls, Romeo and Juliet, Perecles Cabaret, Evita, The Producers, Joseph and the Amazing…, Hello Dolly, The Kind and I and Anything Goes.
Jodi has also worked as an assistant choreographer to a pre broadway production of The First Wives Club as well as on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Her favorite film and television credits include The Academy Award-winning movie Chicago and Bollywood/ Hollywood.
Jodi is also a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). As a stress, trauma and nervous system specialist, she hopes to bring her own experiences of managing the high demands of the entertainment industry to young performers, helping them feel safe in their bodies and connect to their true authentic potential.
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Entry for one Junior student at Thunder Bay Location. Morning warm ups. 10 classes including one Scholarship class. Presentation and Awards Ceremony to follow.
If you received a Partial Scholarship from a Dance Canada Competition location, please email us at dancecanadaconvention@gmail.com before registering online. -
Entry for one Senior student at Thunder Bay Location. Morning warm ups. 10 classes including one Scholarship class. Presentation and Awards Ceremony to follow.
If you received a Partial Scholarship from a Dance Canada Competition location, please email us at dancecanadaconvention@gmail.com before registering online. -
For those wishing to sit and watch all classes at the Thunder Bay Location. In and out privileges apply. Also includes entry to the ‘Showcase and Awards Presentation.’ -
For teachers wishing to sit and watch all classes at Thunder Bay Location. In and out privileges apply. Also includes entry to the ‘Showcase and Awards Presentation.’
You must be on the current teaching faculty of your studio to purchase and use Teacher - Observer Passes.