Faculty

At Soul In Motion Dance Company, high-quality dance education is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing our dancers with exceptional training in a positive, supportive, and empowering environment. Every member of our teaching team is carefully selected based on their certifications, professional training, and/or relevant industry experience to ensure our students receive the highest standard of education possible.

Our instructors are passionate not only about developing strong technical dancers, but also about building confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals. Through knowledgeable instruction, mentorship, and a genuine love for the art of dance, we strive to inspire and empower every dancer to pursue their goals both inside and outside of the studio.

Erica Gavrilos

RYT200, AAM1, AAM2, AA Preschool Dance Certified, AF1, Muv Method Lvl 1, Member of the PAA

Erica, better known to her students as “Miss Erica,” discovered her love for dance at just four years old and began her competitive dance journey by the age of six. Her passion, dedication, and commitment to growth quickly shaped a versatile and accomplished dancer trained in Jazz, Ballet, Acro, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Tap.

Throughout her competitive career, Erica earned numerous special awards and scholarships for her performances, while also completing her PAEC examinations with honours in Jazz, Acro, and Ballet from Pre-Primary through Pre-Professional levels. Her strong technical foundation and diverse training continue to influence her dynamic and thoughtful approach to teaching today.

With over 10 years of experience teaching dance and choreographing, Miss Erica is deeply passionate about creating meaningful and empowering experiences for every dancer she works with. Her routines have received overall recognition at many regional competitions, reflecting her commitment to strong technique, creativity, artistry, and performance quality. She believes that dance education should be both challenging and inspiring, and takes great pride in ensuring every class is purposeful, rewarding, and leaves students feeling stronger, more confident, and motivated to grow.

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

HEAD ACRO INSTRUCTOR

Sydney Faulkner

CDTA Ballet Instructor, Member of the PAA

Sydney is a Toronto-based dancer and choreographer who has been a part of the dance industry for over twenty years.

Training and competing across North America, she received recognition on a national level including full scholarships to train under world-renowned faculty at Dance Educators of America’s Ballet Intensive at the University of Nevada, as well as Sheer Elite International’s Pre-Professional Ballet Program.

Now specializing in contemporary and jazz, Sydney has been a sought-after teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator at studios and competitions across Ontario for the past decade and has been recognized for her choreography at regional and national-level competitions across North America.

Sydney is an Associate Member of the Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association certified in Classical Ballet and a proud member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.

Performance opportunities have taken Sydney to several notable locations including Walt Disney World, the Miss Universe Pageant, Boots & Hearts Music Festival, as well as television commercial features.

SUMMER 2026 GUEST JAZZ INSTRUCTOR

SUMMER 2026 GUEST BALLET INSTRUCTOR

Ariana Blake-Parsons

BSc (Kin), CPT

Ariana Blake-Parsons is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at McMaster University. She is a certified personal trainer and a former competitive dancer with extensive training in the Cecchetti ballet method. She has experience teaching ballet to young children and competitive dancers and has been recognized with multiple choreography awards and scholarships throughout her dance training. Combining her technical dance background with expertise in kinesiology, fitness, and rehabilitation, Ariana brings a well-rounded approach to dancer development.

Ariana is passionate about helping dancers refine their technique, build strength, and develop greater body awareness. Guided by her belief that ballet provides the foundation for all styles of dance, she emphasizes alignment, musicality, and efficient movement while supporting the long-term health and performance of each dancer.

SUMMER 2026 GUEST JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, & LYRICAL INSTRUCTOR

Paige DeCastro

BFA (Dance)

Paige deCastro is a passionate and versatile performer who began her dance journey at the age of two. With years of competitive experience across Canada and the United States, she has trained extensively in ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary styles.

Paige holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from York University, where she deepened her technical foundation and artistic expression.

Most recently, Paige has brought her talents to sea, performing as a featured dancer with Disney Cruise Line. She has entertained audiences from around the world in high energy deck shows featuring Mickey and friends, as well as Broadway style productions in the Walt Disney Theatre. She was featured in Disney’s Believe on board the Disney Fantasy getting to portray Princess Jasmine as well as Pocahontas.

Dedicated to her craft and fueled by a lifelong love of performance, Paige continues to inspire through movement, storytelling, and stage presence.

SUMMER 2026 GUEST JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, AND LYRICAL INSTRUCTOR

Julia Araujo

ADE - JAZZ

Julia Araujo is GTA based award-winning dancer and choreographer with over 18 years of competitive training and teaching across a wide range of styles. Having trained under numerous distinguished teachers, she developed a versatile and dynamic foundation that continues to inform her movement quality and creative voice. Her diverse background fostered a deep passion for contemporary, open, and jazz styles, and led her to pursue both teaching and choreography at a high level.

Julia began choreographing competitively at the age of 16 and has since been recognized for her innovative and expressive work. She is a graduate of a Regional Arts Program, where she majored in dance and expanded her training beyond the traditional studio setting. Upon graduation, Julia was awarded the Dance Program Choreographer Scholarship and was the recipient of the Spirit of Dance Award, recognizing her passion, dedication, and potential within the dance community. Following high school, Julia continued her dance career at Brock University, where she competed at the varsity level. She co-founded and served as co-captain of the EDGE Dance Team, where she choreographed and performed while competing against universities across Canada. 

Currently, Julia continues to choreograph for both competitive studios and at the university-level, while teaching across the Greater Toronto Area. She is also proud to be a faculty member with NextGen Dance Intensive, where she works with emerging artists and shares her passion for movement and creativity. Julia remains dedicated to evolving as both an artist and educator, continuously training, creating, and inspiring the next generation of dancers!

SUMMER 2026 GUEST ACRO, JAZZ, AND BALLET INSTRUCTOR

Shannon Kubes

RAD, AA, CDTA, BATD, BALLETBEFIT

Shannon Kubes is a dancer and choreographer who has been a part of this wonderful industry for over 30 years. She is extensively trained in ballet (RAD), jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, modern, acrobatics, aerial arts & heels. Shannon has worked in TV/film (Disney/City TV), worked with renowned choreographers and had the pleasure of performing for many notable celebrities and athletes. Shannon’s classes are open, welcome and encouraging to all bodies, genders and fitness levels. Her upbeat, positive vibes will have you smiling and sweating all class!!! This past season her students saw many successes, winning “Most Entertaining” choreography, “Standout Technique” & multiple scholarships. She was awarded a choreography scholarship through Adapt Syllabus to be completed this summer. She is very excited to join your dancer in the studio this summer!

SUMMER 2026 GUEST EDUCATOR - INJURY PREVENTION & RECOVERY

Amelia Cino

BSc(Kin), Athletic Therapy Student

Amelia is an upper year student in the Athletic Therapy program at Sheridan College. She obtained a degree in Kinesiology and a diploma in Health and Fitness Promotion from the University of Guelph-Humber prior to beginning Athletic Therapy. She is a competitive Highland Dancer who’s previous experience with injury and rehab has driven her interest in pursuing a career in Athletic Therapy. She has worked with professional sports teams, most recently, the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, and enjoys working with athletes of varying sports. Her experience in dance and knowledge of injury and rehab principles gives her an in depth understanding of the demands on a dancer and allows her to provide knowledge in terms of injury prevention. Upon completion of her Athletic Therapy program, she hopes to be able to work with dancers of all styles to provide therapy that is more style specific and better catered to the individual dancer.

SUMMER 2026 GUEST EDUCATOR - NUTRITION FOR DANCERS

PILATES & FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Kerri Sherk

RD, RYT200, CPT

As a Registered Dietitian, fitness professional, yoga instructor, and owner of The Fitness Firm, I have spent more than 28 years helping individuals improve their health through balanced nutrition, purposeful movement, and sustainable lifestyle habits.

Nutrition was my first profession and remains a cornerstone of my work. Since 1998, I have provided personalized nutrition counseling to help clients achieve their health goals with practical, realistic, and evidence-based strategies. My approach focuses on teaching people how to confidently build balanced meals that support their unique needs, preferences, and lifestyles. Rather than relying on restrictive diets, I help clients develop lasting habits that promote long-term success and a healthy relationship with food.

I work with individuals seeking support for weight management, cardiovascular health, diabetes, digestive concerns, and overall wellness. I also enjoy helping clients navigate the often-confusing world of nutrition by translating scientific information into practical, everyday choices that can be sustained for life.

In addition to working with the general population, I provide sports nutrition coaching for recreational and competitive athletes. Whether the goal is building muscle, improving endurance, optimizing recovery, reducing injury risk, or enhancing performance, I help athletes develop nutrition strategies that fuel both training and long-term health.

As the owner and operator of The Fitness Firm, I am grateful to combine my passions for nutrition, fitness, yoga, and education every day. Our philosophy is simple: We Educate and Motivate. By providing both knowledge and support, we help people build the confidence and skills needed to create meaningful and lasting change.

I am proud to serve the Aldershot community alongside a team of dedicated fitness professionals who share a passion for helping others live healthier, stronger, and more active lives. Whether you are just beginning your wellness journey or looking to take your health and performance to the next level, we are here to help you succeed.