Where artistry meets the world stage.
Our Story of Global Dance
Our Guiding Principles
Excellence
Discovery
Integrity
Artistry
Meet Our Leadership
Jacques Monfiston
Co-FounderJacques Monfiston
Co-FounderJacques Monfiston started dancing at the age of 7. He fell in love with the sport the day he stepped into a dance class at the Ottawa Dance Academy under the direction of Deborah Lamothe. After attending Ottawa University for 3 years and taking a long break from dance of over a decade, he decided to return to train again at the age of 25 at the Greta Leeming Studio of Dance. One of his many highlights has been to represent Canada at the World Dance Championships where he was awarded the gold medal. He has adjudicated regional competitions for the Canadian National Dance Championships and was the 1st Canadian judge at the 2001 World Jazz Dance Competition. Jacques adjudicated the 2002 World Tap Dance and Show Dance Championships in Germany and was the tap adjudicator at the Manitoba Dance Festival in 2008. He has taken numerous dance classes at Edge Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, Steps and has worked with some of L.A. and New York City’s top choreographers.
Jacques’ professional work includes traveling the world as an entertainer with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Costa Crociere Inc. Jacques was also part of the inaugural dance company Helix Dance Project in Toronto under the direction of Linda Garneau. He has appeared 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 for various dance institutions. Jacques teaches, conducts workshops and does competitive choreography for studios worldwide. Jacques made Tokyo, Japan his home for over 2 years working for Walt Disney at the Broadway Music Theatre. He has performed in musicals/plays such as My Fair Lady, Cats, Cyrano De Bergerac, Annie, Guys And Dolls, Dance Legends, Chicago, Anything Goes and the smash hit West Side Story at the Stratford Festival Theatre. Jacques was recently in Germany, Poland, China and Japan where again he was the 2009 Canadian Judge at the World Tap, Modern and Jazz Dance Championships. He conducted workshops, did some choreo and a bit of modeling during his travels in Europe and Asia.
Jacques was a featured dancer and the assistant-choreographer in the smash hit show Dance Legends. Jacques also co-directed 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 Dare To Dance. He has worked with the Canadian Opera Company in a show called Nixon In China and is the 4x gold award winner Team Canada National Choreographer.
Jacques is the proud owner of Five Star Dance Company and World Performers International Inc where he provides performance opportunities to dancers and cultural experiences abroad. On top of his busy schedule, he continues to teach for the Peel and Toronto District School Board and at numerous dance studios, schools and conventions around the world.
Nicole Garland
Co-FounderNicole Garland
Co-FounderNicole Garland brings over 35 years experience with educating young dancers in various industry leadership roles. Nicole has facilitated diverse opportunities for her students to train and perform across North America and Europe. Many of her students have advanced to professional careers in the dance industry, both as educators and performers in theatre and television.
As an experienced dance educator and entrepreneur, Nicole has developed skill-based programs for Elementary Arts Schools, created curricula for Canadian Teacher’s Associations, and participated in business development seminars for Canadian dance instructors and studio owners.
In her capacity as a mother, educator, and entrepreneur, Nicole co-founded World Performers Canada Inc. with the goal of establishing an organization that respects each student’s home studio program, broadens dancers’ exposure to international competition circuits, and offers parents a trusted, professional environment that fosters positive learning experiences for all participants.
Committed to advancing Canadian dancer opportunities and supporting their continued success, Nicole proudly produces teams across North America to participate at Dance world Cup annually representing their country on the World Stage!