JACQUES MONFISTON

After attending Ottawa University and taking a long break from dance of over 10 years, Jacques decided to train again at the age of 25 at Greta Leeming Studio of Dance.  One of his many highlights has been to represent Canada at the World Dance Championships.  As a member of the Canadian National Tap Team, he had the honour of being awarded the gold medal for Canada.  He danced to a wonderful routine called “5 Guys Names Moe” choreographed by renown choreographer Matthew Clark.  Jacques’ professional work includes traveling the world as an entertainer with Norwegian Cruise Liens and Costa Crociere Inc.  He adjudicated regional competitions for the Canadian National Dance Championships and was the first Canadian judge at the 2001 World Jazz Dance Competition and also adjudicated the 2002 World Tap Dance and Show Dance Championships in Germany.  Jacques was also the tap adjudicator at the Manitoba Dance Festival in 2008.  Jacques continues to improve his talent by being on scholarship to two leading Performing Arts Training Centres.  He has taken numerous dance classes at Edge Performing ARts Centre, Broadway Dance Centre, Steps and also has worked with some of L.A. and New York City’s top choreographers.  Jacques was also part of the inaugural dance company Helix Dance Project in Toronto under the direction of Linda Garneau.   He was also in numerous commercials, industrials such as Bell Mobility, Coca Cola, and Radio Shack to name a few.  Jacques was also in South Africa where he conducted workshops and choreographed numerous dance routines.  Jacques also teachers, conducts workshops and does competitive choreography for various studios world wide.  Jacques made Tokyo his home for over two years working for Walt Disney at the Broadway Music Theatre.  He was also in musicals/plays such as “My Fair Lady”, “Cats”, “Cyrano De Bergerac” and most recently the smash hit “West Side Story” at the Stratford Festival Theatre.  Jacques was recently in Germany, Poland, China and Japan again where he was the 2009 Canadian Judge at the World Tap, Modern and Jazz Dance Championships.  He also conducted workshops, did some choreo and a bit of modeling during his travels in Europe and Asia.  Jacques was also a feature dancer in the smash hit show “Dance Legends” in Grand Bend.  He is the choreographer for the 2010-2011 Canadian National Jazz Team this year representing Canada at the World Dance Championships in Poland.  Jacques is also co-directing “A Chorus Line” with Faye Rauw for the Toronto Theatre Company and was selected by the Toronto District School Board to be a Dance Mentor for a project called Dare To Dance.  He is also working with the Canadian Opera Company in a show called “Nixon In China” and can be seen this summer in “Guys & Dolls”.  On top of his busy schedule, he continues to teach at numerous dance studios, schools and conventions across the world.