Our Team
Kathryn Bisland, S.R.B. AFF.
President & Dance Educator: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Pre-Dance Specialist
Dancing since 1986, Kathryn has had over 15 years teaching experience throughout studios across the GTA and in upstate New York. Educated at The State University of New York at Buffalo, she received her Honours Bachelor of Arts In Dance in 2002. Here Kathryn studied ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz and tap techniques daily and worked with industry leaders becoming educated on such relevant topics as anatomy of the dancer, dance injuries and their prevention, dance history, pedagogy (the application of teaching children how to dance), and choreography. Upon her graduation, Kathryn travelled to Italy as a member of a contemporary dance company through a study abroad program. Following her return to North America, she moved to New York City for a year and gained industry experience through auditioning for dance companies, and stage, television, and film productions.
Kathryn's quest to always increase her knowledge led her to become fully certified with the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (A.D.A.P.T.) in jazz and tap in 2007, after completing their three year Teachers Training School. Kathryn is also an Affiliate Teacher with the Society of Russian Ballet (S.R.B., AFF) developed by Agrippina Vaganova. She is qualified to enter eligiable students in ballet examinations via the Society of Russian Ballet. Kathryn currently studies ballet pedagogy and various business classes through University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Education.
Kathryn's innovative & unique tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz and musical theatre choreography led the studio to a very successful 2010/11 competitive season, where BDC’s competitive students were rewarded with various judges special awards and scholarships to master classes in Toronto.
Through the Bisland Dance Centre, Kathryn plans to share her continually expanding wealth of knowledge with her students and bring out in each one of them their passion and commitment to achieve their individual best. Kathryn truly believes that every child has the potential to dance. She strives, through carefully understanding the cognitive abilities of each of her students, to achieve the proper application of dance technique within their personal ability so every student has the opportunity to really dance!
Teresa Gard
Office Manager
After studying Fashion Technique and Design at Sheridan College, Teresa discovered a natural aptitude for office administration. For the past 15 years, she has worked in Toronto's Business District, working her way up from Receptionist to Executive Assistant to the President in several industries, including Software & Technology, Finance, Insurance, Human Resources and Management Consulting. She is happy to apply her wealth of knowledge and experience to the smooth running of The Bisland Dance Centre, and enjoys the combination of a creative and vibrant environment with office administration.
In her own time, Teresa is an aspiring writer, having participated in National Novel Writing Month the last 4 years, achieving the goal of 50,000 words in 30 days 3 times so far. She also sews, knits and crochets, as well as studying Medieval History.
Lisa Gauthier
Dance Instructor: Hip-Hop, Stretch & Conditioning
Lisa originally trained in the Durham Region in Tap, Jazz and Ballet in her younger years. As she matured Hip Hop became her passion. Lisa has a degree in Criminology Justice and Policy Studies, along with postgraduate certificates that contribute to her expertise in working with youth. She has been teaching recreational and competitive dance in the Durham Region for the past eight years at both local dance studios as well as through a community college.
Lisa has also had the opportunity to work through a casting director, which led her to dance in a variety of things such as music videos, commercials as well as a backup dancer for a local Toronto Artist. Lisa’s experience also includes teaching various workshops and involvement in short-term placements in both the Durham Board of Education along with the Toronto District School Board.
Lisa loves working with youth and sharing her passion for dance. She loves seeing her choreography come alive on stage. She is vey excited to be a part of The Bisland Dance Centre’s faculty for the 2011/12 season!
Chantalle Christoforatos
Dance Instructor: Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Predance, Jazz & Tap
For the last 15 years, Chantalle has been training and studying in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical and Musical Theatre in the Durham Region. During that time she has had the opportunity to learn from renowned choreographers such as Brian Freidman, Ricky Palomino, Annie Wood and Linda Garneau. For over 10 years, Chantalle has also been a Competitive Dancer and has won numerous awards for top-soloist both nationally and internationally. Her previous performance credits include being a dancer from 2003 to 2006 of both the Toronto Mini and the Toronto Junior Raptors Dance Pak – a division of the Toronto NBA team’s cheerleading squad.
Chantalle enjoyed much success as a member of the BDC 2010/11 competitive team and won both a choreography award and an Overall Contemporary Soloist award for her self-choreographed contemporary solo
Now in her fourth year of teaching, Chantalle is pleased to apply her previous year's training under Miss Bisland as BDC's student teacher to her classes for the 2011/12 dance season. She is very excited to be part of the faculty here at The Bisland Dance Center and is looking forward to increasing her knowledge of dance pedagogy and sharing her passion for dance with all her students.
On her own time, Chantalle has had training in child education and has been working with special needs children for the past 3 years. She also is fluent in French, which has allowed her to partake in many dance events throughout the francophone community.
Elisa Locurto
Dance Instructor: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz
Elisa LoCurto has always made dance an important part of her life. At the age of 12 she started studying dance at Cardinal Carter Academy of the Arts where she received many awards including the Award of Excellence in Dance in her graduating year. She also trained with Anne Sprincis at Dansecore School of Dance in ballet and modern, studying RAD through both graded and vocational exams which she completed with high distinction. She was also an avid member of the Dansecore Company and competitive team.
Elisa has recently completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Ryerson University studying ballet, modern and jazz under the direction of Nadia Potts and other renowned teachers such as Vicki St Denys and Kenny Pearl. She has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Evelyn Hart, Valerie Calam, William Yong, Linda Garneau, & Jerome Bobb.
Elisa continues to be an active member of the dance world and is a company member with Cadence Bridges Ballet and Lindsay Ritter Productions. She had also done intensive programs with Toronto-based, ProArteDanza, under the direction of Roberto Campanella and Robert Glumbek. She is currently undergoing studies with the Royal Academy of Dance to become an RAD certified teacher. Elisa is very passionate about the dance world and is exited to share her training with a new generation of dancers at The Bisland Dance Centre.
The Bisland Dance Centre Incorporated.