Program Staff Biographies 2010

 

Aaron Alviano
Aaron is a Guelph born artist with a B.A.,Hons. in Studio Arts from the University of Guelph. He has exhibited at numerous public galleries including Gallery 404 and Zavitz Gallery, Guelph, and currently resides in Toronto where he continues to work on his own creative projects while teaching at the Klim School of Art.

 

Alanna Balicki

Sandra Baumander

Sandra Baumander is an Art director who works in the advertising industry. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and her work on some of Canada's most loved brands has appeared on televisions, billboards and in magazines around the country.

 

Heather Bernknopf

Heather graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an honours degree, spending her fourth year in France studying theatre techniques. She also earned a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa in Drama and French. She is currently teaching French and Drama at the high school level in the Toronto District School Board. This will be Heather’s 7th summer at Centauri she is elated to be back for the 2nd summer in a row working on the fabulous Local Tour!

Sofia Bohdanowicz

Sofia is a freelance editor based in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Toronto film school where she received awards for best screenplay and best documentary. She kick started her career as a film teacher with 'The Directors Cut' where she taught many after school programs, and travelled all the way to the Bahamas Film Festival to teach stop motion animation. She is currently completing her short film 'Falling with Force' which she'll be entering into film festivals this fall. She is elated to be back at Centauri for her third year teaching film. 

 

Glenn Clifton
Glenn Clifton has an MA in Playwriting from Boston University, and has been a writer of plays, poetry and short stories for many years. Previous progams at Centauri include 'Playwriting and Performance' and 'Writing for Film'. Glenn returns to us for his twelfth summer.

 

John-Michael Erlendson
John-Michael is returning to Centauri for his 14th summer, and his 4th on staff. He is a fourth year Mechanics Engineering student at the University of Toronto. He is a professional musician as part of the Sphere Clown Band and a Canadian Cultural Ambassador, having performed in China, Singapore, Portugal, Holland, Scotland and throughout Canada. He currently sings as part of two acapella jazz choirs. He is a recording artist with a gold record and a recent CD release as a member of Onoscatopoeia, the Hart House Jazz Choir. He is also an award-winning photographer, experienced debater and recently represented his university at the World's Model United Nations in Beijing, China. He was the first camper ever, and looks forward to bringing back one of the original Centauri programs: The Quest.
 

Laura Farina

Laura Farina's first book of poetry, This Woman Alphabetical, was published by Pedlar Press in 2005. It was nominated for the ReLit Award and won the Archibald Lampman Award. She has sat on the editorial board of Arc: Canada's National Poetry Magazine, taught writing to young people in Ontario and Chicago and given readings of her work across the country. She is currently working on a book of poetry about cities, seasons and nostalgia

 

Hunter Gates

Hunter is the Director of the Academy of Physical Theatre in Alberta.  She holds a PHD in Theatre Philosophy, holds certification as Canada's only Lecoqian intensive instructor and is a certified Stunt Coordinator. Hunter has spent time this year year teaching and lecturing in Russia, Slovenia and the Caribbean. She has written and produced a clown show that will be touring northern Canada called "White Noise". This is Hunter's sixth year at Centauri and is happy and excited to be taking on the challenge as the Camp's Program Director Coordinator.
See Hunter Gates' website at www.huntergatesacademy.com

 

Jeanette Hedley

Jeanette Hedley graduated from the University of Toronto as a drama specialist and from Sheridan College with a Diploma in Acting. A certified dance instructor with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, Jeanette has been onstage longer than she's been in school! She has combined her love for travel and the arts, by creating drama-in-education programs about historical Quebec City and Ottawa, studying improv and yoga in California and performing forum theatre to educate about HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Jordi Hepburn

"Jordi Hepburn graduated from University of Toronto with a drama specialist and from Sheridan College with a Diploma in Acting. Though she considers herself first and foremost a drama teacher, there is no hiding Jordi’s love for performance as she has spent this past year in transit, travelling, teaching and training aspiring actors, artists and students from Tanzania to Toronto. Since graduation, Jordi has been combining her love for travel, her passion for teaching and the arts as an educational tour guide for Impact Educational Tours. Last year, along side many other’s in the Centauri family, Jordi aided in the creation of the Waxwing Theatre Ensemble and put on the first show of their repertoire."

 

Brittany Knight

Brittany is THRILLED to return to Centauri after a 5-year hiatus where she gave birth to her son, Elliott, got her BEd degree from OISE and traveled Europe! She brings 15 years of professional theatre and teaching experience, working with Mixed Company Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Carousel Players, Original Kids Theatre Company, Little Red Theatre and traveling children’s theatre, as well directing shows and leading educational programs and the touring company at Famous PEOPLE Players for 10 years (where she now sits on the Advisory Board.) You can still catch her puppeteering on Treehouse TV’s Roll Play!

 

Robyn Levine

This is Robyn’s second year at Centauri and she is thrilled to be back! Robyn has been performing professionally in the GTA and across Canada for over twenty years and has had the opportunity to perform in shows such as Mamma Mia! (Original Canadian Cast), Footloose and Cinderella, as well as singing on stage and television with live bands and at various showcases and fundraisers throughout Toronto.

Along with her love for the stage, Robyn has a passion and enthusiasm for arts education and has been teaching musical theatre, signing and acting for the past five years. She is currently the Artistic Director of Discover Your Talent, a company that specializes in private and group vocal and acting training. Robyn is a certified teacher and holds a Bachelor Degree in Humanities from York University and a Bachelor of Education from Trent University. She is currently working towards her Master’s of Education at York University, focusing on the integral role the arts play in the cognitive and social development of children.

 

Yonah Lewis

Yonah Lewis is a Toronto-based filmmaker and a graduate of the Media Arts program at Sheridan College. Working primarily as a writer/director, Yonah has been involved in both shorts and features; directing dozens of actors, including the Academy Award nominated Don Cheadle. 

His films have played in festivals and homes worldwide. Most recently his work has been shown on CBC television and at the United Nations General Assembly. Yonah has been teaching filmmaking techniques to children and teens for many years, in many settings: after-school programs, winter camps, private lessons, and at his second home of 12 years, Centauri.

 

Veronica Lincoln
Veronica began her training at “The Studio” School of Dance, in Brampton, completing her professional instruction at Ryerson University, where she received her B.F.A. in Performance Dance.  As an active educator in the GTA, Veronica has taught both acting and dance in Brampton, Niagara, Toronto and Ottawa. Recent performances include Curtain Call Players production of CATS, and Style by Jury on the “W” Network. Veronica has had the opportunity to dance for such choreographers as Roberto Campanella, Malgorzata Nowaczka, Darryl Tracy and Lindsay Ritter.  Veronica was in the original cast of  “Gameshow” the Musical in the Summer Fringe Festival 2008, which was voted “People’s Choice” by NOW magazine, and was selected as part of ‘Best of Fringe 2008”. Most recently Veronica can be seen dancing in Hallmark Film When Love Is Not Enough with Winona Ryder, and working in Toronto’s distillery district at The Dance Current Magazine. Veronica says, “to me, dancing is a passion. I also love knowing that as a teacher I can be a role model and support system; I love seeing young people have fun and apply new skills they have learned.” Veronica is thrilled to be joining the Centauri team!  

Mladen Obradović
Mladen Obradović teaches for several drama schools in Toronto and Mississauga, including TheatrePeace, Arts Express and Shakespeare in Action Project. His Canadian acting credits include Andrei in Chekhov's "Three Sisters", Lalo in Pulse Theatre's "Night of the Assassins" and Conspiracy Theorist in Draft89's production, "FOE". He has over twenty shows, seven films, several theatre and radio shows as well as directing and producing work on his resume. Check out Mladens theatre company http://www.pulsetheatre.com/

 

 

Daniel Poulin
Daniel is an honours graduate of the University of Guelph's Drama and Geography programs. As a student he coordinated and wrote scripts for the "Wellness Education Training Troupe", a team focused on using interactive theatre for health promotion. Recently he has written and directed a short Radio Drama for CFRU Radio, worked as an Art instructor for the Guelph Youth Music Center's "Arts Adventure Camp" and performed in the 4th annual "Guelph Project" collective creation. His most exciting theatre adventure was a trip to Uganda in 2006 with Jeanette to workshop a Forum Theatre Program for HIV education and prevention. Daniel is excited to be returning for his 10th summer at Centauri.
 

Melissa Shriner

Melissa Shriner holds a Bachelor of Music Honours degree from Brock University in St. Catharines. Possessing an absolutely exquisite voice and formidable piano skills, she is in demand as both a soloist and voice teacher. Melissa is a founding member of the Avanti Chamber Singers, soloist for Windmill Theatre, featured soloist for the Jimmy Stahl Big Band, and chorus member of Opera Hamilton . Along with being a prolific songwriter, she is sought after as a high school clinician and trains up and coming Canadian musical acts. Teaching from the Melissa Shriner Vocal Studio in her home in Jordan Station, Ontario, Melissa is also in demand as a vocal coach at Elaine Overholt's Big Voice Studios in Toronto.  Most recently, Melissa was a vocal coach for the hit CBC – TV show, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria.“  She is passionate about both singing and teaching singers in every genre – classical, pop, rock, jazz and Broadway.

 

Ian Walsh
Ian is the founding Artistic Director of Blackthorn Productions in Guelph. As well as holding a B.A. in theatre from the University of Windsor, he is a theatre professional working in the areas of Stage Management, Fight Direction and Acting.  Ian has spent the last 20 years teaching and entertaining children and adults of all ages across Ontario with Medieval Demonstrations, in Workshops, at Festivals, Feasts, Schools and in Plays.  This marks Ian's first year teaching at Centauri and it should prove to be an exciting and memorable experience.

 

D'Arcy White
D’Arcy White is a fine-art photographer living and working in Toronto. She is a founding member of the photo collective The Lightkeepers and has been a member of Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography for 10 years. D’Arcy has a Professional Certificate in Photography from the Maine Photographic Workshops. This year D’Arcy completed the first of two years in a Masters Degree in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management at Ryerson University. D’Arcy just completed a twelve-week internship with the Art Gallery of Ontario Photography Curatorial Department and after camp this summer D’Arcy will be continuing her studies with Kodak’s George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. This is D’Arcy’s sixth summer at Centauri.