DIRECTOR-ARLENE MURCHISON DOGGART
Arlene has been in the dance world for 36 years, starting with training from
the age of 3 at the Sandra Purdy School of Dance. Arlene has trained in
Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theatre, Song and Dance, Pointe
and Acro.
As a student, Arlene focused on examinations through the Canadian Dance
Teachers Association (CDTA), completing the Tap and Jazz syllabus with
Honors standing. Being too young to recieve her full teachers, she was
awarded her Associate Membership into CDTA in 1990 and became a
Full Member of the Stage Division in 1992 and a Full Member of Dance Masters
of America in 1994. In 2009 she became a member of the Ballet Divsion of CDTA.
As a competitive dancer, Arlene has won Top Overall Dancer, Most Potential
Dancer, Best Dancer, Top Choreographer and Scholarships, at many recognizable competitions like ShowStoppers, Peel Music Festival, Brantford Dance, CDTA, Kiwanis and Lions Festivals, Rising Star National Exhibition and Dancefest.
Starting out as a teacher, she was given the opportunity to work for The Newmarket School of Dance (Merlene Samuel-Cephas) and the Brandie Rose School of Dance. Carrying on with the Newmarket School of Dance (NSD) for 11 years, she soon became the Artistic Director of the school and developed as a highly-technical teacher and choreographer. When the doors to NSD closed as a dance studio, Arlene opened A.M. Dance Force Inc. in 2000.
Teaching every discipline offered at the school to every level, Arlene has been successful with training some award winning dancers, and title winners such as-Miss. Dance Canada (Chapter 43), Master Dance Canada (Chapter 43), Mini Miss Dance Canada (Chapter 38), Petite Miss Dance Canada (Chapter 38), Master Dance Canada (Chapter 38), Little Mister Starpower, Junior Mr. Dance (ADA), 1st Runner up Master Dance of America, 2nd Runner up Petite Miss Dance of America and most recently Junior Mister Onstage New York. As well as many dancers have been awarded cash scholarships and invitations to dance at conventions, workshops and open classes. Some of Arlene's former students have competed and won bursaries in the York Region Celebration of the Arts and some are training at various schools like The Randolph Academy, UHS Arts Program, and York University.
Arlene has been awarded numerous choreography awards at competitions like American Dance Awards, Dancefest, Let's Get Loud, Starpower and Showstoppers, just to name a few. Her students are always being asked to perform at functions, fundraisers, shows, parades and festivals. As an adjudicator, Arlene has had a chance to judge some incredible talented dancers in competitions like Dancefest, Dance Odyssey, Dance Dance Canada and Dance Masters of America.
Over all, Arlene says the best achievement in her life is her family, her husband Marc and her 2 children Jesse and Hunter!
Arlene strives to be the best teacher, mentor, role model and choreographer she can be for her students and always tries to better herself creatively, professionally and technically.
PAT WILSON, aka, "Miss Pat" (adult tap/jazz)
"Miss Pat" is thrilled to be teaching, for her 9th year, at A.M. Dance Force Inc.
She is a life member of the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA)
and specializes in teaching young children the disciplines of Musical Theatre,
Jazz and Tap. She has also taught adult tap and jazz classes for over 20 years!
Miss. Pat has been a guest teacher in several fine arts summer camps.
She also admits to being addicted to Musicals!
Her dance career includes performances in Toronto, Muskoka, Edmonton and
Calgary. She has danced in numerous revues and musicals that include "Cabaret", "Bye Bye Birdie", "Damn Yankees", "Fiddler on the Roof" and Muskoka Summer Theatre. Her award winning choreography has been showcased in Ontario, New York City, Walt Disney World(FLA), Detroit, Ocean City and Myrtle Beach. She has had bursary winners and finalists in the York Region Celebration of the Arts.
Miss. Pat loves working with young performers because of the dedication, hard work and natural talent. She has choreographed musicals for community theatre, such as, "The Wizard of Oz", "Treasure Island", "Snow White Goes West", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", to name a few. In the past few years, she has taken a special interest in working with singers to stage their songs for festivals and auditions. Some of her former students are now studying vocal, dance and acting at U.H.S Arts York, Sheridan College and The Randolph Academy.
JENNIFER JEFFRIES (hip hop/ballet/jazz/tap/zumba/lyrical)
BIO COMING SOON...
ALEXANDRIA PLESKINA (jazz/ballet/acro)
BIO COMING SOON...
JESSE MURCHISON DOGGART (hip hop)
Jesse has been training with his mom since he was 2 years old. He studies tap, ballet, jazz,
musical theatre and hip hop. Jesse has been competing across Canada and the U.S since 2000
and has many been awarded many titles and scholarships including: Master Dance Canada
Junior Mister Onstage/Teen Mister Dancefest/Little Mister Starpower/OIP summer intensive
just to name a few...
Jesse is a member of the Actor's union Actra and has appeared in many commercials/ads and has
done some modelling. Outside of dance, Jesse dedicates alot of time to training as a goalie, he plays
basketball, rugby, swims, and is highly involved in music, playing the guitar, baritone, drums.
Jesse is in grade nine and is attending Huron Heights in the acclaimed Arts progam for music.
ILONA MURACA (belly dance)
Ilona began her Middle Eastern dance training in 1998. Her immediate love of the movements and music led her to study and experience the many styles of Bellydance. Over the years she has performed for popular restaurants, private parties, multicultural festivals and celebrations in and around York Region and Toronto. As a teacher she has motivated hundreds of women and children to wiggle and shake their way to a healthier life. She has been featured in Human Spirit magazine and has been seen on television's "Daytime" and "Plugged In". Currently Ilona performs as a soloist and teaches up to 10 classes a week. She is certified in Group Fitness(FIS) and Hatha Yoga(EWYT-350). Ilona has 2 cats and is addicted to her hula hoop.
website:www.hipcheckbellydance.com
LYNDA MURCHISON-Office Manager and Teacher (tap/future stars)
Lynda has been involved with AMDF, since her daughter Arlene opened the studio in 2000. Being involved in watching and participating in the training of dance for the past 36 years, Lynda has developed the love and knack for teaching dance to young children. Specializing in working with "the babies", Lynda loves to give dancers their first taste of what dance is and teaches in a fun and safe atmosphere. And she has been providing a home daycare service for the last 25 years. Outside of the dance room, you will find Lynda running the studio office during business hours.
NATALIE AMLIN (ASSISTANT TEACHER-TAP/JAZZ)
BIO COMING SOON...
JAYNA INGRAM (ASSISTANT TEACHER-FUTURE STARS)
BIO COMING SOON...
picture coming soon...
