the flight crew

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Briar Nolet is a Canadian actress, dancer, singer and creative producer best known for her leading role as Richelle on the hit TV series "The Next Step" and for competing as a soloist on season 3 of NBC's hit reality series “World of Dance.” After finishing in the top 5, with performances going viral, Briar’s success caught the eye of

Jennifer Lopez who invited the soloist to be the opening act for JLO’s “It’s My Party” tour.  With the exposure WOD and the platform of NBC, Briar has been candid about her battle with epilepsy, drawing awareness to the disease that she says she conquered through treatment and a positive mindset. Briar will reside in Toronto & LA to focus on diversifying her acting with roles across genres. Briar’s time on tour with JLO has reignited her passion for singing and is determined to refine her craft and get back in the studio.

Dancer, Director, Choreographer and Teacher Derek Piquette began dancing at the young age of 10 in his hometown of Chicopee, MA. From there his dance career accelerated quickly. By the age of 16, he received full scholarships for several ballet intensives and won several National Titles. Derek then moved to Miami to follow his dreams of becoming a professional dancer, training over 50 hours a week and taught at Stars Dance Company. As a performer, he was a principal dancer in the Bridge To Artists productions of Carmen and The Maid. He has also performed in the Paul Mitchell Fashion Show and MOVE the World Charity Event. One of the most exciting experiences in his young career took place in 2015, when he competed on Season 12 of So You Think You Can Dance, finishing among the top 4 stage dancers and performing for over 37 million viewers. He followed up his appearance on the show with the So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour, performing in 70 cities across North America for over 190,000 audience members. In early 2017, Derek launched his newest project, Intrepid Dance Company, which had its first performance entitled “HER” that he directed and choreographed. Most recently Derek was the lead role in Cirque Du Soleil’s KOOZA as the “Trickster” traveling under Big Top in Australia, Singapore and China.     As a teacher and choreographer, Derek has worked for various dance organizations including On the Floor, Hit the Floor, CLI Studios, Mather Dance Company Online, Acrobatic Arts, Step Up 2 Dance, Twilight Dance Convention and Top Ten Dance Challenge where he has judged, taught, and assisted top choreographers in the industry. His career has taken him to destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Central America, Australia, China and Singapore where he has taught at over 200 competitive and professional dance studios. Since 2014, Derek choreographed more than 350 award winning pieces, including pieces for stars on Dance Moms, Disney Channel’s Backstage and So You Think You Can Dance. Derek currently teaches and assists for On the Floor: The Ultimate Dance Experience, working with young dancers all over North America and is a Core Faculty member for Millennium Dance Complex Toronto. He has also choreographed pieces and been a principal dancer in On the Floor’s Gala for SickKids Hospital in Toronto for 4 years and has helped raise over $200,000 for the ChildLife Program.  With his inspirational drive and love of dance, Derek has achieved many professional and artistic goals and helped other dancers do the same.  Derek is especially focused on working with young dancers around the world, hoping to instill in them his enthusiasm for dance and inspire them to become the best they can be. A natural teacher, Derek has an exceptional way of connecting with his students, whether it be in class, through choreography or through performing. He makes a lasting impression, leaving his students touched, encouraged, and educated. 

Courtney Ortiz, a native of , Baltimore, MD, is a 2007 youngARTS award winner in Modern Dance. Her professional dance and teaching career has allowed her to travel the world performing in places such as: Dubai, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Australia and France. Her career spans from stage to screen with credits including: Company Member with The Chase Brock Experience, Choreographer and Dancer on Youtube’s hit web series "The Key of Awesome", Backup Dancer for PSY and Chris Brown on "The Today Show", Dancer for Heidi Klum at Madison Square Garden in "Macy’s Fashions Front Row" on E! Network, and  The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. One of her most favorite and memorable credits was performing throughout Europe on the International Tour of the classic musical  West Side Story as a Jet Girl and the Assistant Dance Captain.    Some of her most recent credits include the 1st National Tour of the Broadway Musical  Finding Neverland, Lin Manuel Miranda’s  In The Heights, and the first ever revival in 30 years of  Jerome Robbins’ Broadway at The Muny’s 100th Season in St. Louis, MO! You can also catch Courtney’s feet tap dancing in the hit series, FX’s “Fosse/Verdon”, where she was the dance double for Young Bob Fosse! Outside of performing, she is a master teacher on numerous Dance Conventions and also a full time competition judge. You can even see her behind the judges table on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” in Seasons 2 & 3. Currently, she resides in New York City, is repped with The Movement Talent Agency, and is the owner of Impact Dance Adjudicators! Follow her  @courtney.ortiz and tune into her podcast -  Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! 

 Antonio grew up in Chicago competing in gymnastics and performing with the Triton Trooper Circus. He became a walk-on gymnast at the University of Illinois in Chicago and shortly after moved to California to perform in our Cirque de la Mer show at SeaWorld San Diego. He has continued to be a sought-after performer in the industry and has performed acrobatics in over ten different Cirque du Soleil shows around the world! He most recently worked as a coach/strength & conditioning and consultant for new projects for Cirque de Soleil. He has also worked with Cirque Mechanics, the WNBA and as a featured stuntman in films and commercials" 

Malik Gray is a collegiate, well-rounded dancer, choreographer, and  teacher. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he found his  passion for dance and started dancing at a competitive studio. He got to work with many incredible choreographers such as, Randi Kemper & Hefa Tuita, Ade Obayami, Talia Favia, & Desiree Robbins to name a few. After he graduated high school, he attended and graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a degree in Dance and Choreography. Now he is pursuing a professional dance career in Los Angeles while traveling around the nation teaching and choreographing.  Highlights include performing in the Live Virtual Concert for 21 Pilots, “In the Thick of Things” (with Red  Desert Dance Ensemble in Greece), “Alright” (a Nya Bloom music video), and in Los Angeles’ Winter Choreographers Ball. Along with performing, he has choreographed concept videos to “In My Blood” and “Born This Way,” and worked as a faculty member on the convention Dance League. He is grateful for all the opportunities he has received, the connections he has made so far, and is looking forward to honing his performance and choreography skills as well as experiencing more of what the dance industry has to offer. 

 Lauren Yakima is trained in all styles of dance, including ballroom and has worked with many top choreographers in the industry. She competed on the NBC hit show World of Dance and danced on Disney Channels Summer Singalong. She was in music videos for singers AJ McLean, Christina Ricucci and Sam Tsui and has performed at the Capezio ACE Awards, with the Radio City Rockettes as the role of Clara as well at Tony Robbins Birthday Fundraiser. She has been a member of RoyalFlux, a contemporary company directed by Jaci Royal, and is a demonstrator at 24Seven Dance Convention. Lauren  most recently toured with JoJo Siwa as a dancer in her Nickelodeon D.R.E.A.M Tour.  

Michael Cusumano grew up in Long Island New York. He began dancing at the age of 6. At the age of 14 he won the bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, the youngest male dancer to medal in the competition’s history till then. That same year he went on to win the special Jury Prize at the Prix de Paris 1994. Michael then joined American Ballet Theater at age 15, the youngest male dancer in the company’s history. With ABT Michael danced in all the full length classics as well as works by Twyla Tharp, John Neumeier, Agnes DeMille, and Lar Lubovich to name a few. After ABT Michael danced as a principal with Alabama Ballet, then as a soloist with the Boston Ballet. He went on to perform in the original cast of “All Shook Up” on Broadway and then to star as “the jury” in the smash hit “Chicago” the musical on Broadway. Michael won the title of Mr.Broadway 2011. Other credits include “The Most Happy Fella” at New York State Theater, “On the Town” at Encores, “Live with Regis and Kelly”, “The Today’s Show”, “ABT Now for PBS”, “Le Corsaire for PBS”, feature film “Center Stage”, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", “SNL.” Michael’s alter ego Madame Olga was featured on an episode of “Joan and Melissa Joan knows Best” dancing the Black Swan coda for WE TV. Madame Olga is currently a highly sought out teacher nationally and internationally. IG @madameolgav and Madameolgatv.com . As a singer Michael performed as the lead in the BBC up-fronts performing David Bowie’s “Changes.” He appeared in the original production of "An American in Paris" on Broadway. Most recently Michael is the subject of the award winning short documentary “When I’m Her” for PBS which has been the #1 short doc since it’s release. He is currently on faculty at Pace University where he has taught for eight years, and also teaches at world renowned institutions including Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Ballet Arts at City Center. 

Yury is a World Champion and Russian National Team member in the Men's 4 Event in Sports Acrobatics, and has a Bachelors degree in Physical Education, specializing in Gymnastics. His career has taken him all over the world performing with Cirque du Soleil, for International Competitions, and America's Got Talent and Russia's Got Talent with his renowned act Duo Resonance. Yury has over 20 years of training, competitive, and performing experience in Sports Acrobatics, Voltige, Teeter Board, hand balance, and hand to hand.

Emily Torres is an Aerialist/Contortionist from Clearwater Florida. Emily has been training in circus arts for over 10 years in Florida, New York and Montreal and has been fortunate enough to be trained under former cirque du Soleil performer and world renowned coach Meaghan Wegg. Emily has gone on to help many of her own students of all ages and skill levels reach their goals. When not teaching Emily can be found performing aerial and contortion acts all around the world in America, Montreal and Macau China, with companies such as Moving Arts of Tampa bay, Stufish Asia, Creativiva, and quixotic fusion.

Alex Patrick, graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Creative Advertising, a B.A. in Dance Management and Production, as well as a minor in Dance Performance. She is certified by the Acrobatic Arts, Acro Dance Teachers Association, Progressing Ballet Technique and Alixa Flexibility.  She is the Founder and Director of SHAPPE Dance, a Dallas-based professional contemporary fusion company aimed at bringing more body diversity and emotional inclusivity to the dance industry. The company also hosts a mentorship program for youth choreographers.

 Kathy King is a Metro Detroit-based dance educator, mentor, and certified entrepreneurship coach. You can find her touring nationwide as the executive director of the Los Angeles-based Artists in Training In-Studio Dance Conventions. In 2006, Kathy founded the professional nonprofit company Michigan Dance Project, touring the Midwest for eight seasons. During that time, she also launched the Brighton Dance Festival, growing the organization into a premier international dance event. In 2013, Kathy was named as a Crain's Detroit Business "20 in their 20s" for her work as a dance educator and director in Metro Detroit. In 2019, she was presented with a "Special Tribute" from the State of Michigan for her contributions as the director of Brighton Dance Festival. Recent teaching credits include NewDANCEFest (Eisenhower Dance Detroit), Wayne State University, Concordia University, Cecchetti Council of America, American College Dance Association, Eastern Michigan University, and Michigan State University. She earned the title of NAIA WHAC Conference Coach of Character in the 2019-20 season as head coach of the Cleary University Dance Team. She has also served on several nonprofit boards including the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts, Jodie Randolph Dance Company, and the Arthur Secunda Museum, and has been a featured speaker at the DanceLife Teacher Conference and the International Dance Entrepreneurs Association. Most recently, Kathy launched her company Kathy King Strategies, LLC in 2020, providing mentorship and business coaching to creative entrepreneurs across all industries worldwide.