ROGERS presents SAA Culture Show 2010

In planning for the ROGERS SAA Culture Show, it was very important to us that all participants are graded fairly and accurately. To ensure this priority was met, only the most qualified and proven judges have been approached to judge the competition.

Terence Lewis
Terence Lewis has trained extensively in Indian and western dance disciplines, both in India and Abroad. Having mastered the fine art of Choreology, after his stint in the US and Europe, he established his Contemporary Dance Company to great success. Terence Lewis’ directionin dance is to fuse the Indian classical and folk dance forms like Kathak, Yoga and Kallaripayattu with Western techniques like Contemporary and Modern thus making it rich in content and bold in execution. Terence Lewis’ sound professional training in dance and his ability to combine artistry and commercial aspects of show business has given him the edge amongst others. His unique Contemporary style has been instrumental in his success as a Choreographer and Judge especially on Zee TV’s ‘Dance India Dance’ and in Ashutosh Gowariker’s film ‘What your Rashee’.

He is a Member of the International Conceil de la Danse (UNESCO initiative - Paris) and was also the first Indian to represent Asia at the Choreographer’s Tanz Platform in Stuttgart, Germany. He is also on the International teaching Faculty of Impulstanz- the prestigious International Dance festival in Vienna and has conducted workshops across USA, Canada, and Europe. To improve and further the cause of dancers in the community, he established a one of its kind, Dance Foundation Scholarship Trust, to help Young talented dancers in India to get a fully funded 3 yr Professional Training program in Dance with the best teachers from India and Abroad.

A Teacher par Excellence
Terence Lewis ‘ passion for dance is amply exhibited when he teaches dance , the energy that he generates among his students and in the way that he effortlessly draws out his students to the best of their ability – be it an 8 year old or a mature adult with no prior background in dance. Every student takes back from his class the confidence that “I can do it”

Terence Lewis in Canada
Terence Lewis Academy International has set up operations in Canada in association with Theme-Art Dance and Fitness Academy ) Canada) inc. The workshops are aptly titled “Anybody Can Dance™ “in keeping with Terence Lewis’ teaching philosophy. Selective in his choice of work, Terence Lewis is clear that Dance is his passion and not just a means of livelihood. Creatively inclined and always looking for challenges, Terence Lewis is master at finding creative solutions and bringing new ideas and thinking out of the Box.

Divya Kumar
Divya Kumar is an international award winning dancer, singer, and choreographer. With over a decade in experience as a fashion and dance choreographer his artistic vision and creativity have helped him develop unique and practical ideas into practical choreography. Mr. Kumar has worked with Bollywood personalities such as Abhishek Bachan, Esha Deol, Sunil Shetty, Farah Khan, Shiamak Davar, and many more! Divya runs his own Bollywood Dance Workshops in Mississauga and Markham where he provides aspiring dancers opportunities and exposure for projects in Bollywood and in North America. Divya Kumar's latest project was handling production for the most awaited and anticipated movie of Hrithik Roshan, KITES with Barbra Mori.

Lata Pada
Lata Pada is Artistic Director of Sampradaya Dance Creations, an award winning Canadian dance company recognized for its distinctive choreography spanning a dynamic range of classical bharatanatyam and contemporary dance works. Lata has trained with India’s distinguished gurus, Kalaimamani K. Kalyanasundaram and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. The Company and Sampradaya Dance Academy were founded in 1990. In January 2009, Lata was conferred the Order of Canada. She has the distinction of being the first Indian artist to receive this national honour. Lata holds a Masters in Dance from York University and is currently an Adjunct Professor in York University’s Master’s Program in Dance. She brings a contemporary worldview to her award winning creations which have been recognized for their distinctive, intercultural and multi-disciplinary choreography. Her choreograohic works have been performed world wide in prestigious festivals and dance series. In her Academy, she has nurtured many talented dancers, many of them who are performing professionally in Canada and internationally. Lata is a leading Canadian arts advocate and a frequent presenter at international dance conferences and symposia. She is a regular motivational speaker and workshop leader for corporate and community organizations speaking on her life, creativity and collaborations in the arts.

Hemant Panwar
As a Dance performer, a music composer, a lyricist, a singer and a mentor, Hemant Panwar has created a landmark in the field of Indian performing arts. He has attempted to give a dynamic and innovative approach to his unparallel creativity by fusions with many traditional and international art forms and thus have elicited widespread interest in young learners, professional dancers and art lovers.

Hemant was trained at National Institute of Kathak Dance in Delhi under the tutelage of illustrious Guru Shri Rajendra Gangani of Jaipur Gharana.where he also learnt classical singing and Indian drum tabla. He was awarded a fellowship for two years by Ministry of Human resource and development for extensive research in Kathak. He and his wife Vaishali were conferred a title ‘Singar mani” for the distinguished duet dancers of the year 2000.

He was sent on a diplomatic status by I.C.C.R (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) to teach the dance and vocal to the locals in Georgetown, Guyana (South America) in 2002. He enthralled the audience with his intricate lightning footwork blended with rhythms of Spanish flamenco in Tivoli concert Hall in Copenhagen in 1998 to a sold out audience of 1600 attendees. His dance performance spellbound the audience at Mediterranean Music Festival organized by the European Forum of Worldwide Music at Porto Antico, Genova, Italy for three consecutive years in 1999, 2000, 2001. He has danced in many documentaries such as ‘The making of Mahatma’ for BBC, ‘The Indian monuments’ for discovery channel and ‘Jaipur Kathak’ for Doordarshan.

His long lasting artistic relationship with Ganesh Natayalaya, (a leading institute of Bharatnatyam) New Delhi resulted in well acclaimed jugalbandi of two art forms in Mauritius, Reunion islands, Madagaskar, Nairobi and all over India. He has conducted workshops and given performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Holland, Croatia, Sweden, Myanmar, Japan, Gulf and many more to name.

Hemant Panwar moved to his new abode i.e. Canada in 2006 as cultural educator and is currently the artistic director of Panwar Music and Dance Academy which is promoting and propagating Indian classical Dance and music all over GTA. He has showed his unparalleled creativity in numerous programs all over Canada such as Canada Day concert (Varley Art gallery) , Windfall ecology festival (Fairy lake park), East York day festival, Kathak Mahosav Canada ( Fairview Library Theatre) , Creation India music festival (Vaughan City play house Theatre), Raagmala classical concert series ( university of Calgary & Toronto). He also got an opportunity to perform at Parliament Hill, Ottawa to an audience that included Prime Minister Mr Stephen Harper.

The smashing success of Dance Drama Shakuntala in 2008 involving a huge cast of 45 artists has carved a niche for him as a choreographer, composer, Singer, Dancer and producer in the cultural arena of Canada.

He traveled with his new production Vividh kala (a variety cultural show) to Sansketchewan at Regina performing arts centre and Sanskatoon collegiate theatre to mark the south Asian heritage month 2009. Recently he was invited by Ontario Art council to be in the jury for culturally diverse dance training granting programs.
In the words of Hemant Panwar:
“When I sing, I feel that music is the air in which I am breathing and when I dance , my movements articulate some voice in space”.

Shawn Byfield
Shawn Byfield has the distinction of receiving a Dora Award for his expert dance choreography in award winning musical "i think i can". As well, Byfield had the honour of being nominated for a Gemini Award. He is a veteran of TV & film; an internationally renowned tap dance & hip hop dance instructor; Owner and Director of BDX Studio in Toronto, Co-Director of Thrive! Entertainment; and Director of Funk Factory, Canada's Funkiest Tap Dance Ensemble.

A resident of Toronto, Shawn Byfield has taught master classes literally from coast to coast in Canada, and overseas in Israel, Scotland and England. Having taught thousands of students of all ages over the past 15 years, Shawn offers a wide range of inspiring and challenging dance classes and workshops for beginner adults to professional dancers in Toronto.

A few of his film and TV credits include roles in: HAIRSPRAY, Blues Brothers 2000, Taal, Bojangles, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, The Music Man, Death To Smoochie, The Ladies Man, The Juno Awards, Slings & Arrows, Royal Canadian Air Farce, Instant Star; including commercials for The Bay, Got Milk, Rogers Video, Zellers, Much Vibe, Rogers On Demand, McDonalds, Honda, Molson Canadian, and Joe Fresh.

Media has featured Byfield in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Now Magazine, Eye Weekly, Toronto Sun, Canadian Living Magazine, CBC Radio, CFRB 1010, Much Music, CBC Television and Breakfast Television. Resume on IMDB

He travels often as a teacher and dance choreographer across the country. Past students of Shawn have gone on to work with such artists as Britney Spears, Aaron Carter and Janet Jackson, and have appeared in hit television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance. Many have become respected dance professionals in film, television, cruise ships and music theatre.

When he's away for other professional work, Shawn Byfield brings in top guest instructors and dance choreographers to provide absolutely the most positive, encouraging and fun hip hop and tap dance classes the city has to offer.

website: www.ShawnByfield.com

Harry (Harjit) Singh Dhaliwal
Graduated from Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana with Degree Of B. Tech. in Agricultural Engineering. During his time in at the University developed passion and penchant for Bhangra, sports and social services and was adjudged as the best Folk Dancer, best athlete and best NSS volunteer. He came to Canada in 1979 and successfully ran independent business for 23yrs. Now working as realtor and independent investor and stock market trader. For years, he has been very active in business, social, cultural, political and service organizations. Harry served in many capacities with Erin Mills lions Club including president of the club, a founding member of IPCC (international Punjabi Chamber Of Commerce), served on the board of UNITED WAY OF PEEL for three years, served on the ART (Arts review taskforce) of Mississauga, served as judge and chief coordinator on many bhangra, gidha and dhll competition of national and international status, raised fund for many good causes including children’s breakfast club, breast cancer, eye foundation, crime prevention, Canadian diabetes, children’s wish foundation and crime prevention to name few, served as chair of the wishmakers Parade for Peel Region and and above all big promoter of ethics and professionalism in the community thru radio talks and comments.

Sandy Grewal
Sandy Grewal has been on the Toronto Bhangra scene since 1997 and has been a part of some of the most earliest Bhangra teams in Toronto. Sandy has her background in Bhangra and Gidha from professionals in Punjab, India while also building her knowledge of professional Bhangra by competing in many competitions professionally. As the the awareness of Bhangra increased in Toronto and Canada so did the need for studios as a place for South Asian youth to have a place to learn the art of Bhangra. Sandy has helped establish Bhangra studios for the sole purpose to serve the community and teach Bhangra and Gidha. Through this she has also co-ordinated many cultural events and competitions to promote the culture of Bhangra. Currently as a hobby Sandy continues to teach girls and women the purest form of Bhangra and Gidha. In Sandy's words "for me Bhangra is euphoric and hypnotic, that takes over the body...It's become a true passion".

Amanda Morton
Amanda Morton is recognized throughout Canada and the United States as a remarkably passionate performer and choreographer. Amanda's professional career started at the age of 15 when she was 1 of 4 Canadians to be the first to ever compete in the "World Cup of Dance" competition which took place in Cesena, Italy. That experience determined her future of a dance career and since then, she has performed at some of North America's most prominent venues from Radio City Music Hall in New York to the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. As a performer she has worked with choreographers such as Mischa Gabriel, Tabitha & Napolean, Luther Brown, Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Ray Leeper, Kim McSwain, Shanna Cipressi, and Tiffany McLean. Amanda Morton is currently performing with the Rio Samba Divas in Toronto and teaches at various studios throughout the GTA while providing master classes for several workshops Internationally.