2010 Artistic Staff Bios
KARL BEITLBERGER, Music Program Specialist
Coming Soon!
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LAURA BOLENDER, Dance Program Specialist
Laura is a dancer, choreographer, teacher and community artist with deep interest and zeal for all art forms. She will graduate this spring from York University with an Honors BFA in dance and a Community Arts Practice Certificate. Laura has choreographed work for ASM Dance Company (As the Spirit Moves), and rad (random acts of dance) while developing her own choreographic voice. She has performed and choreographed for Toronto dance festivals such as Nuit Blanche and Junction Arts Festival. Laura is a member of the Toronto dance company rad and toured to Saskatchewan in summer 2009, and continues to work with them as Rehearsal Director in their 09/10 season. Laura teaches a wide range of dance forms including creative movement, modern, improvisation, jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop. With over eighteen years of dance training, Laura is an advocate for dance in Toronto and beyond and is a member of The Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario Chapter. Laura continues to pursue her interests in performance, choreography and community art and is very excited to share her passion and work with the campers at Horizon Arts Camp!
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MARINA NICOLAOU, Visual Arts Program Specialist
Marina completed her Studio Art degree at the University of Guelph, where she specialized in drawing and photography. While there she also coordinated a department wide juried exhibition, and was the recipient of the annual Drawing Award. She has volunteered at many professional galleries including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the White Water Gallery and the Power Plant, where she participated in installation, advertising and general service. Her own work has been exhibited in student, members and community shows. She also has a Bachelor of Education in Visual Art, History, and Special Education, with experience teaching from the pre-school to the high school level. She is passionate about arts education, and is interested in developing arts based teaching strategies. Over the last year she has been actively involved with Horizon Arts Camp and is looking forward to the upcoming summer!
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NICKY PHILLIPS, Music Major Program Specialist
Nicky Phillips is an actor, a composer and an arts educator. A graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School, Nicky’s many credits include spending three seasons performing with Theatre Direct Canada on Dora Nominated Productions. As an emerging musical theatre writer Nicky is the composer and co-lyricist for the musical In Flanders Fields. First commissioned and produced by Smile Theatre Company, the show will receive its second production at Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre in the 2010/2011 Season. She is also currently working on two new musicals that are in development. Last summer Nicky was one of 14 songwriters accepted into the Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project in Chicago. Nicky and her collaborator were the first Canadians to be asked to participate in this week-long song-writing master class led by Tony Nominee Craig Carnelia and Tony Winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. Nicky is an accomplished musician as both a singer and pianist with over 15 years of training and experience in her field. She currently teaches at the Avenue Road Arts School, Mooredale, and coaches privately. Nicky is a proud member of ACTRA, Canadian Actors’ Equity and the Dramatists Guild of America.
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DEAN RIDEOUT, Theatre Program Specialist
Dean is an actor, improviser and variety performer. Having performed since he went to a theatre camp at the age of nine, he always aspired to be on the stage. He has performed improv with the troupe "Lightning Strikes", and also in various plays, musicals and shows in the Southern Ontario area for the last ten years. After graduating Sheridan's Music Theatre Performance program, Dean went on to work in Japan for Tokyo Disneyland for the next few years as a character performer. He has most recently been seen on stage in Toronto as the title character in Solar Stage's production of "The Little Prince". When not performing, he enjoys playing his guitar, song writing, and practicing tricks with his yo-yo.
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KATIE ROBINSON, Dance Major Program Specialist
Katie is a graduate of Queen’s University, where she received her B.A.H. in Drama, as well as her B.Ed. within the Artist in Community Education program track. Upon graduation, she continued her dance training at George Brown College and the Alvin Ailey School in New York, and currently works as a professional dancer/actor in Toronto. Past professional experiences include working as a dancer/dance captain for Norwegian Cruise Lines, dancing several seasons with the Toronto Rock, and performing as a member of Evoke Movement Dance Theatre. Katie has also been seen dancing at various high profile events throughout Toronto, including the Toronto Jazz Festival, the MMVA’s Rockstar Hotel, and the ROM’s Solid Gold Prom. In addition to performing, Katie is also a passionate teacher, who works for both the York Region District School Board and the Mississauga Living Arts Centre.
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CLAIRE WYNVEEN, Theatre Major Program Specialist
Claire is a professional actor who has been teaching theatre to children and young adults for nearly ten years. She has recently completed her MFA in Acting at York University, where she also taught acting to first-year students. Claire also holds an honours degree from Queen's University in Stage and Screen Studies -- an interdisciplinary program that fuses the study of film and theatre. Claire has lived and worked in Toronto, Kingston, Ontario and Galway, Ireland. She is currently working with the Classical Theatre Projects as an actor and teacher. Her roles for the company include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Ophelia in Hamlet and others. When she is not performing, Claire is writing for her theatre company, singing as part of Toronto's Cowgirl Choir and making short documentaries for festivals such as Hot Docs. Claire is thrilled to be involved with Horizon Arts Camp, and looks forward to an exciting and creative summer!
