Board & Governance

Providing ongoing leadership

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is made up of distinguished professionals from across Canada, from within and outside the dance community, and provides ongoing leadership and strategic direction.

Chair: Patricia Fraser, C.M.
Vice-Chair: Alèn Martel
Past Chair: Monique Rabideau
Treasurer: Cynthia Bliss
Secretary: Jill Humphries

Planning

The DTRC Board Directors are chosen from across the country for their diversity of skills, experience, and knowledge; each brings their own particular perspective to the table. The Board has a profound understanding of the values and mission of the organization and keeps the DTRC on a steady path by providing leadership, direction, and accountability to ensure the organization continues to provide the services needed and valued by the dance community.

While the entire Board of Directors is engaged in strategic planning, the Board is comprised of six sub-committees, including: Executive, Awards, Finance, Fundraising & Development, Governance & Nomination, and Human Resources.

Financial Oversight

Financial planning and budgeting are conducted at the Board level, in consultation with the staff. Budgets are developed for both three-year and annual cycles, using actuals from completed years and assessing trends to forecast future need. The DTRC has a Designated Fund that is internally restricted by the Board and maintained to cover multi-year contracts and payables.

Understanding & Managing Risk

The DTRC’s financial risk tolerance is low. The Board of Directors monitors the organization’s investment portfolio in accordance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Board’s primary objective is the preservation of capital in order to ensure the funds are maintained for future needs.

Funding Strategies

The DTRC recognizes that a major portion of its annual funding comes from the public sector, rendering the DTRC vulnerable to changes in legislation and government funding priorities. The DTRC is committed to expanding its private sector fundraising across the country and continues to dedicate resources to private sector relations to meet long-term financial strategies and goals.

Founder

Founder: Joysanne Sidimus, M.S.M.

Founding President

Founding President: Karen Kain, C.C., LL.D., D.Litt., O.Ont.

A native of New York City, Joysanne Sidimus M.S.M. attended Barnard College where she studied Comparative Religion before joining the New York City Ballet. She subsequently performed as a soloist with London’s Festival Ballet and as a Principal Dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada.

After performing she taught extensively and, for the last 35 years, has been a Balanchine reptetiteur, most notably with the National Ballet of Canada and internationally. In addition to her work as a repetiteur, Ms. Sidimus is the founder of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre and was Executive Director for 20 years. She has written two books, served on numerous advisory committees and was the founding Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation (now the Artists’ Health Alliance).

Ms. Sidimus is the recipient of many awards and honours, including the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for making a significant contribution to the cultural life of Canada in founding the Dancer Transition Resource Centre. As well, Ms. Sidimus was a recipient of the 2006 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Life-time Achievement.

Brenda Gorlick is an award-winning director, choreographer, and performer with a five-decade career in the performing arts. She has worked with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Stratford Festival, and the Banff Centre for Fine Arts. Her accolades include: RWB Honour Roll inductee, WAC Career Achievement in the Arts Award, an Honorary Evie Award for Theatre Educator, the YMCA/YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture, and induction into the Rainbow Stage Wall of Fame.

Brenda was Associate Artistic Director of Winnipeg Studio Theatre for 20 years. In 2025 she co-founded AIM 4 ALL, an All Inclusive Musical Theatre company. She also founded the All Abilities Dancers with Manitoba Possible and is a certified Dancing with Parkinson’s instructor with U-Turn Parkinson’s.

Her large-scale directing and choreography credits include the Arctic Winter Games Gala, World Police & Fire Games OC/CC, Canada Summer Games, Pan Am Games, and more. Highlights from over 250+ productions include Evita, Strike! The Musical, Spring Awakening, Les Misérables, Sister Act, and West Side Story.

Brenda has starred in Great American Family and Hallmark movies, indie shorts, and choreographed Time-Cut, Séance and the feature film : November 1963. A passionate educator and mentor, Brenda has led Artist in the Schools projects for 30+ years, created U of W’s Dance for Musical Theatre program and been a mentor with Creative Manitoba since its inception. She currently serves on the Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) board. www.brendagorlick.ca aim4all.ca

Cynthia is retired after a career of over 35 years as a senior financial and operations executive in the financial services and technology industries, working in several different cities including Toronto and New York. She started her career in public accounting where she obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation.

Cynthia has been a director on various boards in the not-for-profit sector since 2008. In 2019, she took on the role of Treasurer of the DTRC and is also currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the Toronto Grace Health Centre.

Cynthia’s love of dance began at the age of 5, after taking a few months of tap dance lessons. She went on to take recreational ballet and modern jazz lessons throughout her childhood and teenage years and then transitioned to being an enthusiastic audience member of all forms of dance performance.

Lisa MacDougall was born in Middleton, Nova Scotia, where she lived for the first 3 years of her life. When her family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, when she was seven, she fell in love with dance. Lessons, at first, consisted of a weekly combination of tap, ballet and jazz with Penguin Studios. Ballet and jazz remained constants in her life whether dancing with other studios or during the time she spent in the Professional Programme of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Teachers included Jean Mackenzie, Violet Robinson, Daphne Koral, Ted Marshall, Jacques LeMay and Jacqueline Webber. Returning to a rural area of Nova Scotia in her 20’s, Lisa was offered the opportunity to take over a small ballet school in 1989. In 1992, She also spent a fair bit of time teaching ballet and jazz to elementary students during yearly “enrichment activities”. When she had her daughter in 1992, another teacher had moved to the area and took over the school. Lisa filled in for maternity leaves, on an as-needed basis for several years.

During her years in university, Lisa completed a BA/MA in Sociology. All of her research centered on the use of restorative justice. She volunteered with Valley Restorative Justice Society from 2003 to 2010, when she took on a full-time, permanent position as Caseworker. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Valley Restorative Justice Society and, along with the work referred from the justice system, is involved in several initiatives that bring restorative approaches to schools, workplaces and communities.

After reading “Turning Pointe” by Chloe Angyal during COVID, Lisa became aware of the need for resources for dancers experiencing transitions in their careers. By chance, she saw that the DTRC needed Board members and jumped at the chance to help dancers. Her experience running a non-profit organization and her love of the dance community will be instrumental in helping her fulfill her duties as a board member.

Benoît Grenier is a senior executive advisor and former Big Four consulting partner, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Deputy Minister, with more than 25 years of experience supporting executive leadership teams and Boards in highly regulated and complex environments. He has advised public and private sector organizations on leadership accountability, governance effectiveness, enterprise risk oversight, and large-scale business transformation. His experience includes senior roles at the centre of government, where he contributed to strategic coordination, institutional resilience, and public sector stewardship. Benoît is also an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, where he teaches Executive MBA leaders on the Future of Work and Leadership.

Mr. Grenier holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Arts (MA) in European Political and Governance Studies, and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Political Science – Public Administration and Public Policy. He completed his studies at HEC Montréal, the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and the University of Montréal.

Jill Humphries, Ph.D, has been Secretary of DTRC for more than 20 years and is also Chair of the Special Awards Committee. She taught at the Johnstown, PA, campus of the University of Pittsburgh for a number of years and then was a consultant in cultural policy and cultural management until she retired. She has lived Iin Toronto for more than 30 years. Although she has never been a dancer, she has had a keen interest in dance, particularly ballet, for a long time.

Tayo Adeniyi is Director of Security Risk & Audit at Upsun, a global Cloud-as-a-Service organization, where she leads governance, risk, compliance, audit and security assurance. A British-Nigerian woman with over 25 years of international experience across financial services, telecommunications, technology, non-profit, and other sectors, she brings strong expertise in governance, oversight, risk management and strategic decision-making.

As a Board Member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, Tayo is honoured to support DTRC’s mission of empowering dancers through career, life, and professional transitions. She began her career as a Chartered Accountant in the UK, holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and is a certified cybersecurity professional.

Tayo is a proud wife, mother of three daughters, immigrant, and community advocate.

Lee Sela is an Assistant Crown Attorney prosecuting criminal matters in Simcoe County, a mother of two boys, avid triathlete, rower, and former dancer. Her entrance into law followed a long history in the Arts. At a young age, Lee studied at Canada’s National Ballet School’s Professional Ballet Program and Associates Program. In her last year at NBS, Lee was cast to sing the role of the 3 Boys/Spirits in Opera Atelier’s production of The Magic Flute, and thus followed a number of years performing as an Apprentice with the Atelier Ballet and singing opera with Opera Atelier, The Canadian Childrens’ Opera Chorus and Canadian Opera Company. Her love of theatre spilled into her studies at Queens’ University, where she graduated with Honours with a BA(H) in Drama with a focus on directing and a thesis in “Body-Mind Centering: Somatic Awareness” in dance. Lee is also a graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School.

Antoinette Mak is an experienced nonprofit leader who has worked in the charitable sector for over two decades, supporting organizations focused on community impact, governance, and social change. As a young girl, she spent several years taking ballet classes, which sparked a lifelong appreciation for dance and the creative arts. As a Board Member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, she is honoured to support dancers as they navigate career transitions and continue to thrive beyond their performing careers.

Wai Liu is a Hong Kong-born artist and arts worker based in Toronto who wears many hats across the independent dance and performance community. Working through movement, arts administration, production support, communications, and community engagement, their practice is grounded in collaboration, care, and process driven artistic exchange. Alongside their work in contemporary dance, improvisation, and theatrical physicality, Wai has supported festivals, workshops, residencies, and independent productions through marketing, outreach, social media coordination, event support, and artist relations. As a newcomer to Canada, they are interested in building sustainable and community minded ways of working that support both artistic practice and collective growth. Wai continues to seek spaces rooted in curiosity, connection, and meaningful exploration.

Alèn Martel is a dancer, scholar, university educator, and performing arts centre professional working in Calgary, AB. His research includes examining how dance has been used as propaganda throughout history, dance and technology, including in social and pedagogical contexts, and the history of the intersection of computer science and dance. He has his Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary in Canada (2012) and his Master of Arts in Ethnochoreology from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick in Ireland (2014). Alèn currently serves as an Assistant Professor in Dance at the University of Calgary, is a co-founder of PIVOT. Arts and Venue Consulting, and is a current board member with W&M Dance Projects and the Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC).

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Garry Neil has worked for close to 50 years in arts and cultural policy, in Canada and internationally. He has extensive experience in policies for film, television, digital media, publishing, performing arts, visual arts, music, and organizational management. Since 1992, Mr. Neil has consulted for firms, associations, governments and international intergovernmental organizations.

During his career, Mr. Neil has been CEO of several significant cultural associations, including ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), Canadian Artists Network (formerly Canadian Senior Artists Resource Network) and the Association of Canadian Publishers. He has served on the Boards of many others, including as Chair, and has been appointed to various public bodies. Mr. Neil spearheaded three major studies for UNESCO on the state of implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the status of the artist.

Mr. Neil is an expert on issues of culture policy and trade. For more than a decade as Executive Director of the International Network for Cultural Diversity, Mr. Neil was at the forefront of the global campaign which led to the adoption of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. Mr. Neil’s book, Canadian Culture in a Globalized World: The impact of trade deals on Canada’s cultural life was published in 2019 by James Lorimer and Company Ltd.

Alex Pollard is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, and Actor based in Toronto ON with over 15 Years of experience in the Entertainment Industry. He is trained in various styles of dance such as Hip-Hop, Jazz-Funk, Heels, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood, and much more across cities such as Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Alex also holds a Bachelor of

Arts in Dance from York University. Alex has performed and choreographed across various mediums including Film/TV, Live Stage, Theatre, Commercial, and more with credits including: Amazon Prime Video, Bud Light, Nike, Adidas, Hulu/FOX, YTV’s The Next Star, Indian International Film Awards, JUNO’s Nominee Concert, Anjulie, Kiesza, David Foster, Mary Kay, Bat Out of Hell, The Empire Strips Back, Shoppers Drug Mart, Glad x Sesame Street, Downy, Meals on Wheels America, ESPN x Dos Equis, IKEA and more.Alex is a passionate instructor who has taught for institutions such as York University,

Centennial College, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, York Region District School Board, Peel District School Board, and many more at various Regional Arts Programs. He has experience in teaching individuals of all ages and abilities. Alex has also adjudicated for competitions across Canada such as VIEW Dance Challenge, Shock Dance Challenge, Dream to Dance, and more. Most notably, Alex is the Owner of City Centre Dance – The GTA’s Hottest Dance Programs. Alex is quick to learn and can adapt under any circumstances given to him, seizing any opportunity to perform, choreograph and teach. He continues to grow and learn through his passion for dance and living life through gratitude. By treating each day as a new opportunity to grow as both a person and artist, he continues to shape a journey unique to him.

Mika Manning (she/they) is a dancer, arts administrator and photographer currently residing on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC. Mika graduated with a diploma in dance from Arts Umbrella in 2016 and completed her dance training at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance from 2016-2018.

In 2019, Mika returned to Vancouver to pursue a freelance career and as a part of De leeuw/Gilbert/Manning she performed and created various works in collaboration, including “i know you know” which was presented as part of the 2022-2023 VIDF Livestream series. Mika also performed as a dancer in the Company 605 production of “Future, Futures” currently streaming on CBC Gem. Her photography work has been featured in the Dance Current Magazine’s 2020 July/Aug issue and in promotional materials for Arts Umbrella Dance.

Mika has recently completed her Bachelor’s degree with distinction in art, performance and cinema studies at Simon Fraser University.

Patricia Fraser C.M., M.A., Dance, B.A. (Hons), York University

Dance artist, teacher, and arts advisor, Patricia Fraser began her performance career with Dancemakers in 1975 (Co-Artistic Director 1980–1985), was an Assistant Professor at York University, then was appointed Artistic Director of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, a position she held for nearly three decades. A recipient of many grants and awards, she has been a juror for the Canada, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Toronto Arts Councils; the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards; the Chalmers Training Awards; and the Dora Mavor Moore Awards. She has served on the Boards of Directors of many arts organizations including 30 years on the Board of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre of which she is currently Chair. In 2023, Fraser was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her lasting contributions to Canadian contemporary dance.

Zahra Baduais a multifaceted artist whose work is deeply rooted in her love for
dance, education, and the rich cultural heritage of the African diaspora. Her mission
within the dance landscape is to preserve and celebrate the beauty and diversity of African and Caribbean-based dance forms. With extensive training in Traditional West African dance (Ghana and Guinea) and various West and Central African street styles, Zahra has performed, taught, and choreographed for numerous dance companies, schools, and events across Canada and the United States.

She is the founder of ZahraMoves, an educational and performance-based company. Its educational branch focuses on the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of African diasporic dances, while the performance branch provides a platform for emerging artists of color to grow, experiment, and develop their craft. Zahra also serves as the Production and Engagement Coordinator for dance Immersion, a Black-led non-profit organization that produces, promotes, and supports dancers and dances of the African diaspora. Her skills also extend behind the stage, where she works as a rehearsal director and stage manager for numerous artistic projects across Toronto. This breadth of experience allows her to navigate the creative process from multiple vantage points; performance, education, administration, or production. Dance lives everywhere

Monique Rabideau is Past Chair of the Board of the DTRC, a director since 2009, Chair 2014-2022.

She is the Practice Lead, Capital Markets and Securities for Practical Law Canada at Thomson Reuters where she oversees the creation and maintenance of precedents and practical guidance that lawyers rely on as critical legal know-how. She was previously a partner of Fogler, Rubinoff LLP in the corporate and securities law departments.

Monique was elected as a Member of the Executive, Business Law Section, Co-Chair, CPD Programming by members of the Ontario Bar Association and has also served as Chair of the Securities Law Committee of the Business Law Section since 2022.

Monique is a patron of the arts and an artist, engaging in numerous types of artistic expression including ballet, ballroom, jazz and tap dance.

National Office

The Lynda Hamilton Centre
Suite 303
1000 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2K2

Phone: 416-595-5655

nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

Office Hours:
By Appointment Only – Please contact nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

*Wheelchair accessible

BC Office

The BC office runs as a virtual office and is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule.

bcoffice@dtrc.ca

Quebec Office

The Quebec office runs as a virtual office and is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule.

bureauqc@crtd.ca

Regional Reps

British Columbia
Mika Manning
bcrep@dtrc.ca

Alberta
Jocelyn Mah
abrep@dtrc.ca

Manitoba
Eugene “GeNie” Baffoe
mbrep@dtrc.ca

Ontario
Alex Pollard
alex@dtrc.ca

Zahra Badua
zahra@dtrc.ca

Quebec
Giulia Tripoli
bureauqc@crtd.ca

Atlantic
Sydney Ewert
atlantic@dtrc.ca

Toll-free: 1-800-667-0851

Territory Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the lands, waterways, languages, and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – who have been living on these lands since time immemorial. As we carry out our work, digitally and in person across many distinct territories, we offer our recognition and respect to all the peoples and places that are connected through our engagement together. We, at the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, commit to the ongoing work and learning required of all of us to address past and persistent harms. We continue to deepen our understanding and we welcome dialogue as we strive to move into better relations with Indigenous peoples and with the land.

Board & Governance

Board of Directors

Tayo Adewole (BC)

Cynthia Bliss (ON)

Patricia Fraser, C.M. (ON)

Brenda Gorlick (MB)

Benoît Grenier (QC)

Jill Humphries (ON)

Lisa MacDougall (NS)

Antoinette Mak (ON)

Alèn Martel (AB)

Garry Neil (ON)

Monique Rabideau (ON)

Lee Sela (ON)