FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Jean-Marc Généreux presents his first dancesport event in Canada: Rocky Mountain Dancesport Grand Prix October 29–30, 2011 at Hyatt Regency Calgary

From October 29-30, 2011 the Rocky Mountain Dancesport Grand Prix will offer two days of dancesport competition, showcases featuring Canada’s best dancers, So You Think You Can Dance Canada stars, social dancing, a masquerade ball after-party, and workshops from beginner to professional levels taught by world-class instructors, all hosted by So You Think You Can Dance Canada Head Judge Jean-Marc Généreux. Produced by Calgary’s largest dance companies, Dancesport MD, Alberta Dancesport, Burlesquercise, and Salsa Rica Productions, the event will be held in the heart of downtown Calgary at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom.

Event Guests:

• Jean-Marc Généreux and his wife France Mousseau from So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars France co-organize the event and teach workshops.

• Jordan Clark: 2011 winner So You Think You Can Dance Canada to perform and teach workshops.

• Sean Cheesman: world-famous choreographer returns to Calgary and present choreography at the event and teach workshops.

• Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi: Salsa professionals from Puerto Rico to perform, present choreography, and teach workshops.

• Kelly Lannan and Eric Caty from CTV’s So You think You Can Dance Canada and CBC’s Ils Dansent co-organize event.

• Burlesquercise director Diana Lefebvre, and Dancesport MD former North American Latin Champion Martin Lefebvre co- organize event.

For more information contact:

Kelly Lannan [email protected] 403.560.0842

— 30 — Event Schedule

Saturday October 29, 2011: Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom

8am-5pm

Amateur and Pro-Am Dancesport Competitions

7pm–12am

Dancesport Competitions Grand Prix Showcase featuring So You Think You Can Dance Canada dancers

12am

Masquerade Ball After Party

Sunday October 30, 2011 Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom

9am-2pm

Amateur and Pro-Am Dancesport Competitions

12pm-6pm

Celebrity Dance Workshops Event Organizers

Jean-Marc Généreux & France Mousseau

Jean-Marc Généreux and France Mousseau are among the most respected dancesport professionals in the World. They have been finalists at all of the major dancesport competitions, including Blackpool, the World Ten-Dance Championships and are ten-time Canadian Professional Latin Champions. They judge and train many of the World’s top dancers today. Jean-Marc and France have worked for 6 years as choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance in the United States and Canada, where Jean-Marc is a permanent judge, and an audience favourite on the panel. Jean-Marc has appeared in movies with Richard Gere, , and Vanessa Williams, and has run successful dancesport events for years. Jean-Marc and France are proud to bring their experience and vision to the Rocky Mountain Dancesport Grand Prix in Calgary.

Martin & Diana Lefebvre

Martin and Diana Lefebvre are two of Canada’s top dancesport trainers. Together they represented Canada on the professional latin circuit for six years and in 2003 were Canada’s representatives at the World Professional Latin Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. Martin, a two time Canadian and North American Amateur Latin Champion and Diana, a Canadian Professional Ten-Dance Finalist, are largely responsible for facilitating Alberta’s booming ballroom scene. After starting Alberta’s first dancesport program in 1999, four of their couples have been invited to be Canada’s representatives at various World Championships. A most recent highlight is of course five of their dancers making it to the finals in So You Think You Can Dance Canada with Anthony Grafton making it to the Top 18 in Season 2 and Julia Harnett in Season 3.

In 2006, after nine years, Martin and Diana sold their studio, got married and in 2008 welcomed the birth of their baby girl Bianca.They now manage their time running their Calgary-based competitive program and Diana’s award winning fitness company Burlesquercise.

Kelly Lannan & Eric Caty

Eric and Kelly are the owners of Alberta Dancesport — Calgary’s best place to dance, the directors of Salsa Rica Productions, the organisers of the Calgary International Salsa Congress, and the Rocky Mountain Dancesport Grand Prix. Eric and Kelly are proud to be choreographers on all 4 seasons of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and on the new CBC series Ils Dansent. Eric and Kelly represent Canada at the World Professional Salsa Championships where last year they placed fourth in the World. They have danced on the local tour stop of Dancing with the Stars, judged international Salsa events, and continue to produce events, perform, choreograph, and teach internationally and at home in Calgary. Featured Guests

Sean Cheesman — Celebrity Workshop Instructor

Sean Cheesman is an internationally renowned dancer and choreographer who has worked with the world’s top entertainers including , , TLC, Vanessa Williams, Carmen Electra, , , Cher and .

A staple on the Canadian, US and British versions of So You Think You Can Dance as both a choreographer and guest judge, Cheesman has also appeared as the host, choreographer and head judge on the reality show/dance competition Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life in the United Kingdom.

Cheesman has toured with Janet Jackson as a choreographer and dancer and also choreographed the “Diamonds and Pearls” tour for as well as tours for Faith Hill and No Angels. As a performer, Cheesman appeared in The Bodyguard starring and he also choreographed the dance sequences.

Other television works include (as choreographer) Prince’s television special The Ride Divine, the series Guys Next Door and Janet Jackson’s performance on Saturday Night Live, among others. Cheesman has also written, directed, and choreographed large-scale musicals in Russia and Japan, and most recently set West Side Story in Greece and created original choreography for Daddy Cool in London’s West End for which he received a What’s On Stage Theatre Award Nomination for Best Choreographer.

Jordan Clark: Gala Showcase Performer & Celebrity Workshop Instructor

Jordan has been performing since the early age of 5, and has been dancing professionally for the past couple years. She really started focussing on the art of dance at Vlad’s Dance Company in Richmond Hill . Jordan studied there for the past 6 years and has recently graduated.

She trained in Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Acro. As she trained there she started dancing professionally. Some of her professional credits include Camp Rock 2,Sharpey’s Fabulous Adventure, Harriet The Spy, Hellcats, Frenemies and Dove Canada, including artists such as Blake McGrath, Shawn Desman, Basshunter and Aleesia.

Jordan has recently had the honour of being crowned “Canada’s Favourite Dancer” and is very excited to share her love of dance with the world. Featured Guests

Tito Ortos & Tamara Livolsi: Gala Showcase Performers & Celebrity Workshop Instructors

Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi are among the most popular Salsa dancers in the World. They are known internationally for their professionalism in their performances and instruction. Tito and Tamara have danced in movies such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, El Cantante, andAmerican Gangster. They have choreographed for artists Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, El Gran Combo, Michael Stuart, Elvis Crespo, Ricky Martin, and many more.

Tito and Tamara are known for their musicality, technique, and are in demand around the world to train Salsa’s top competitors. They are currently judges of The World Latin Dance Cup, and the Salsa Open. They are the owners of Rhythms Dance Studio and produce the Puerto Rico Hustle and Salsa Festival.

Pierre Allaire: Chairman of Judges

• Canadian Amateur Latin and Standard champion

• 12 times undefeated Canadian professional Ten-Dance champion

• Canadian and North American Professional Standard and Latin champion

• Open British Professional Rising Star Latin champion

• World Professional Ten-Dance grand finalist

• Recipient of the Feather Award for “Most Outstanding Couple outside USA.”

• Recipient of “Legends of Dance” award

• Recipient of Can-Am Dancesport “Special Achievement” award

• Choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Canada

• World Amateur and Professional Championship adjudicator

• Co-organizer of Danse Sport Montréal

For more artists and judges bios please visit www.dancesportgrandprix.com. Featured Guests

Vibeke Toft: Competition Judge and Celebrity Workshops Instructor

• Danish National Champion 1989–1996

• Scandinavian amateur Champion 1989–1992

• 1991–1992 European Latin Amateur Champion

• 1992 World Amateur Latin Champion

• 1992 International Amateur Champion

• 1993 United Kingdom Amateur Champion

• 1993 Rising Start British Open Pro Champion

• 1995 Professional European Latin Championship

• 1996 British Closed Professional Champion

• 1997 US Open Professional Champion

• Grand finalist in all major professional championships such as British, International, UK , World and European Championships

Benoît Drolet: Competition Judge

• Originally from Montreal, Canada, Benoît has traveled to over 30 countries competing, demonstrating, lecturing and adjudicating. The competitive side of his career brought some amazing moments, notably making final in Blackpool, and making the final at the European Championship in 1993 representing England, something he is extremely proud of.

• In 1999, Benoît joined the acclaimed show Burn The Floor and went on touring for over a year throughout Australia, Europe and America.

• British, Uk & International Amateur Champion, Canadian & North American Amateur Champion.

• Benoît has represented Great Britain and have earned many prestigious titles, such as: United Kingdom Closed Professional Champion, Canadian Masters Professional Champion, European Professional Ballroom & Closed British Grand Finalist. German Open, Dutch Open, Japan International Finalist.

For more artists and judges bios please visit www.dancesportgrandprix.com.