ABOUT US
Breakthru Dance Challenge has been designed specifically around feedback gathered from studio owners and teachers. Through much research acquired from various surveys and interviews, your advice, concerns, and suggestions have helped to shape Breakthru Dance Challenge into the most well-rounded dance competition today!
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We are Breakthru Dance Challenge strive to bring together the best and strongest aspects of dance competition for everyone: An exciting, supportive, and educational environment for the competitors with exposure to professionals working in the industry, a stress-free, well-organized, and on time event for studio owners and teachers, and a comfortable and entertaining atmosphere for family and friends.
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We understand the dedication and hard work of the dancer, teacher, studio and family. Our goal is to provide an environment rich in family values and team spirit, to promote healthy competition, and to ensure fair opportunities for each performer to grow and achieve personal success beyond their expectations.
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Nash Gibson (Director)
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Nash Gibson has close to 30+ years of experience as a teacher and choreographer for both the competitive studio industry and the professional world.
She has had the opportunity to work closely with such people as the late Gregory Hines, Whoopi Goldberg, Liberty Silver, Glass Tiger, Ian Thomas, Tony Vagg, Roxanne Butterfly, and Savion Glover to name a few. Her teaching, performance, choreography and adjudication skills have placed her in high demand all over the U.S, as far east as Bosnia, and as far north as the arctic circle.
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Nash's 16 years of experience as an adjudicator has also given her the advantage of closely observing and understanding the best working aspects of dance competitions.
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Together, Nash Gibson and her incredible team of talented people combine their broad experience in both the professional and competitive studio world to bring forth a competition that offers all the best aspects of a truly well rounded dance challenge!
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Agatha Petch (Tabulator / Director of Operations)
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2025 will be Agatha’s ninth season with Breakthru Dance Challenge! Growing up, she trained in tap, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop, but now focuses on heels training. She graduated from George Brown with an Early Childhood Education diploma and has had a lot of abroad opportunities, such as teaching in Jamaica and Spain.
She currently lives in British Columbia, but comes back to Ontario just for dance competition season because it's one of her favourite times of the year!
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Cleopatra Burton (Stage Manager)
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Cleopatra has trained extensively in dance since the age of 4 at what is previously known as Coffey’s Dancin’ Place. She has competed in many competitions across Canada and the U.S., winning various awards and scholarships. She is now a member of a Musical Theatre company (Brampton Music Theatre) where she is a choreographer, teacher, director and performer. Her choreography credits include The Lion King Junior, Little Shop of Horrors, Little Mermaid Junior, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, High School Musical Junior and Rent. Cleopatra also had the pleasure of both directing and co-choreographing Matilda Jr.
In addition to choreographing, Cleopatra has performed and been the dance captain for many productions, including most recently in Kinky Boots as an Angel. She loves working with the Breakthru Dance Challenge team and looks forward every year to watch everyone dance.
Good Luck, everyone!
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Ryan Kerr (Emcee)
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Ryan is an actor, presenter and event producer who lives in Toronto. When he’s not on stage ushering in the next generation of Breakthru Dance Superstars, Ryan spends time at home with his dog, Harold, organizes fundraisers and community events to benefit charities like Rainbow Railroad and 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations and also works as an event planner for large scale events at Toronto Metropolitan University.
A theatre kid at heart, Ryan attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in the Catskills, performed in the Toronto Fringe, Summer Works Festival, CanStage and across Canada with Touring Players Theatre as well as many community events and openings.
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Jamie Hodgins (Emcee)​
Jamie Hodgins is a highly respected performer, producer, director, and choreographer based in Toronto, originally from Ottawa, Ontario.
A top 5 male finalist on CBC’s inaugural season of TRIPLE SENSATION, a national search for Canada’s next triple-threat star,
His on-screen credits include featured dancer roles in Disney’s CAMP ROCK 2 (alongside Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers), and the final Broadway professional production of HAIRSPRAY starring George Wendt.
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Jamie’s production expertise spans international stages—from Toronto to Hong Kong to Australia—and major cultural events including Toronto Kids Fashion Week, Canada’s Dance Festival (HIP HOP 360), and War Child’s annual virtual fundraiser.
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His commercial portfolio features campaigns for leading brands such as Superbowl commercials. He has directed and produced over 100 pieces of branded content for K-tel’s Mini Pop Kids, and served as associate producer for multiple music videos by Canada’s Drag Race winner, Priyanka.
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Jamie’s presence in episodic content includes CBC’s Gangnam Project, exploring the lives of aspiring K-pop performers, and as a Hollywood North director on CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada.
Currently, Jamie is preparing to launch REEL Talent, a touring, content-creation-based dance competition that merges his creative vision with decades of professional experience. As Executive Director of the International Competitive Dancer Registry (ICDR), Jamie is leading the charge to bring long-overdue fairness, protection, and safety to the competitive dance world—an industry that shaped his own journey from dancer to visionary.