Throughout much of his childhood, Patrick played competitive hockey and trained in martial arts. He played basketball, golf, soccer, baseball, and any sport that was available to him. He always considered himself an athlete, but never a dancer. One dance teacher changed that forever. What started in breakdance, grew to ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and many others before eventually turning to partner dancing in 2012. He has chosen to make this a career for one simple reason; to make a difference in people’s lives, and maybe one day to do for someone else, what his teacher did for him.

Anastasia was introduced to ballroom dancing at a young age and very quickly got into the competitive ballroom scene. Despite facing many physical and emotional challenges from high-level intense physical training and world competitive events as a teenager, Anastasia was able to eventually gain confidence and resilience which has helped shape the dancer and the teacher she is today. Over the years, Anastasia’s motto has become ‘train smarter not harder,’ all while respecting and nurturing the physical body. She is a firm believer that dancing is for everyone, and that alongside proper training and a positive supportive community, anyone can achieve their dancing goals.

Kelly has been practicing dance in many forms since the age of five. Her first exposure to the art form was through Tap dancing and quickly progressed to Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop. Kelly continued to dance throughout her post-secondary education in Photography at Sheridan College. However, ballroom dancing came later in Kelly’s life, when she found herself choosing dance as a career. The opportunity to learn a new style and help others experience the joy of dance was what motivated her into the instructor and business owner that she is today. She describes her connection to dance as an experience of ‘Flow State’ where she can connect with the present moment.

Sarah began her journey at Artistica as a student in 2017, and is thrilled to now be working with this incredible team as an instructor. From dancing to acting, singing and writing, she has always been passionate about the arts. After many years of training and competing in a multitude of dance styles, she began teaching and choreographing; one of her favourite experiences being “Stage a Breakthrough”, a performance fundraiser that she co-created, raising $20,000 in support of The Trauma Centre in Sharon, ON. After graduating from Randolph College for the Performing Arts, Sarah trained at Steps on Broadway in New York City, one of the highest regarded studios in the theatre community, learning from and with esteemed Broadway performers. She is now represented by Toronto-based talent agency Noble Caplan Abrams. Sarah is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and an advocate for mental health, who seeks to provide an inclusive space in dance for those who, like herself, need a creative outlet.