KALIE HUNTER-NERO - METRO MOVEMENT

How a career in dance might begin: My name is Kalie Hunter Nero and I am a professional dancer/choreographer and a studio owner. I grew up and trained in Victoria BC, and as a late teen I went to the School of Alberta Ballet and received my degree in Dance in conjunction with the University of Calgary.

How a dance career might evolve: The early stages of my career were filled with small ballet and contemporary dance companies, free lance shows, amusement park stage shows and a cruise ship contract. It was after my ship contract that I decided to move to Toronto where I felt there would be more auditions and accessibility. Now, and for the past many years my career has been primarily musical theatre, film/tv and corporate gigs. I have too many credits to list them all but I’ve worked extensively in theatre: Drayton Entertainment, Stagewest Calgary, The Citadel Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Tweed & Company, MTC, DreamCo, and more. My favourite of all time was playing Tantomile in CATS at the Panasonic/Mirvish theatre! I also have had the opportunity to dance in many tv shows: Canada’s Got Talent (Finale, season 3,) Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Star Trek Discovery, Suicide Squad, Kids in the Hall, Nikita, 11/22/63, several Hallmark movies, etc. I have also been lucky enough, because of my dance training, to enter the fascinating world of prosthetics. I have played many characters that you would never know are me!

Advice for budding professional dancers: When you graduate from school, it is very easy to get out of the habit of taking class. It is important to prioritize this, make a community, make connections, and have people know who you are. It takes time, it takes patience and it takes balance because you also have the reality of paying your bills. But know that by creating a support system, and creating relationships with people, you are also helping to pave your way, in addition to the obvious of staying technically on top of your game.

More about Kalie Preprofessional Training at Metro Movement: I am co-owner, along with Director/Choreographer Phil Nero, of Metro Movement Dance Studios and Health Clinic in Toronto. We are one of the oldest drop in studios in Canada and have an amazing assortment of classes! What I believe sets Metro apart from other drop-in studios is the community. The energy is palpable at the studio, the clientele, teachers, and front desk staff are friendly and welcoming. Our teachers are literally top notch from current working directors, choreographers, dance captains, to recently retired principals of 30 + years at The National Ballet of Canada. We specialize in Westernized techniques i.e. Ballet, Studio Jazz, Theatre Jazz, Tap, and offer Lyrical, Contemporary, Heels, etc in pop up form. We also have a pilates studio. We have all walks of life from very beginner up to professional dancers and no matter where you are at in your training you will feel the inclusive energy, and find a class that is a fit in terms of level. @metromovement

SARAH GNOCATO - ARMSTRONG ACTING STUDIO

Advice to actors: My advice to aspiring actors is simple: just start somewhere. Take that class, dive into workshops, and dare boldly within whatever you’re pursuing. Have the courage to create and remember, everyone has to begin somewhere. In our media-centric world, it might seem like building a career in the performing arts is easy, but don’t be fooled. It takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work. Think of it like this: a hockey player wouldn’t lace up skates for the first time and expect to be drafted into the NHL right away. Yet, in TV and film, actors often get frustrated when they don’t book a job immediately or feel stuck in their progress. We sometimes forget that acting is an art form and the path to success isn’t always linear.
One of my favorite things about being an actor is that I’m always evolving and never stop learning. As long as you believe in yourself and put in the time and effort, you’re on the right track. Keep showing up and doing the work, and you’ll continue to grow and find success.

To learn more about Sarah and Armstrong Studios: For over 20 years, Armstrong Acting Studios has been a launchpad for emerging talent. We offer a variety of courses, from our Introduction to On-Camera to our comprehensive Master Class, with plenty of options in between ranging from foundational to intermediate and advanced level courses. One of our greatest strengths is equipping actors with the tools they need not just to get started but to thrive and succeed in the industry. Our introductory courses have no prerequisites, so we meet actors where they are and make stepping into the craft and the industry both encouraging and accessible.
We cater to actors of all ages and experience levels and also provide industry workshops to help newer actors navigate their careers. At Armstrong Acting Studios, we’re dedicated to supporting and guiding talent every step of the way.

DENISE WILLIAMS - NO STRINGS THEATRE

How a career in theare can come despite obstacles: I​ studied science, earned a Bachelor of Science and worked in scientific research for 9 years. I also studied music from a young age and sang professionally in choirs. Eventually it was like a calling for me to give up the sciences and go into music full time. As a person of colour, single parent, and starting off late, it was a challenging journey. I was caught between striving to have a professional career and striving to be there for my children. In the long run, I did just a bit of it all, performing, teaching, facilitating, leading, producing, etc and currently call myself a community musician that works to engage the community to appreciate, understand, learn and enjoy music. This year I have received the ORMTA Contribution to Teaching Award and will be receiving The 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Award this Fall.

Enjoy the process and never give up on your dreams: Being an artist requires dedication and commitment to want to do the art and not necessary just to show yourself or your work. More of the work is in the preparation and rehearsal spaces than on stage. Enjoy the process even more than the product as even the product is a process. Most importantly, work on your inner self knowledge, peace, balance, your generosity, and your collegiality. These things will make you a better artist. Be realistic about how you will make a living in the arts, be prepared to make many sacrifices, and never give up on your dreams.

To learn more about Denise and No Strings Theatre: I am the founding artistic director of No Strings Theatre. We are headed into our 20th season of providing opportunities for young artists to practice their stagecraft. We have been evolving to work with emerging artists who are already studying or have studied in performing arts schools, however we still also work with the pre-college students. In both cases we serve to train or improve performing arts skills, introduce professional mentors, and give professional performance opportunities. Many of our alumni are professional artists, directors, and artistic directors nationally and internationally. My music studio, Voices of Colour Music, trains vocal technique and musicianship. We are able to aid all styles of singing and believe in honing everyone's unique style.