The Staff

Born in Eastern Townships, André Laprise graduated from L’École supérieure des Grands Ballets Canadiens. Teacher and choreographer at L’Académie de danse de l’Outaouais since 1979, he was appointed artistic, educational, and administrative director of this institution in 1982. In 1984, he created the “Camp d’été qui danse” and became assistant of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ Choreographer Emeritus, Fernand Nault.

His career as a dancer, teacher and rehearsal master brought him to work in Canada, United States, Europe and Asia with Atlanta Ballet, Brno National Theatre Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Danse-Partout, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Kansas City Ballet, National Ballet of Korea, Nice Ballet Théâtre, Ottawa Dance Theatre, Slovak National Ballet, Southern Ballet Theatre and Washington Ballet. André Laprise has received several grants from the Ministry of cultural affaires of Québec and has also served as a jury member for various dance competitions at the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Ottawa Arts Council.

From 1990 to 2006 he has been active as a member of different comities and board member of organizations devoted to training, production, and development of dance like the Regroupement québécois de la danse, the Réseau d’écoles partenaires en danse classique du Québec and the Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en culture. From 2002 to 2011, he was also a member of the Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine de Gatineau.

In 2002, the Prix homage de la Ville de Gatineau is presented to André Laprise for his involvement in the artistic and cultural development of the Outaouais region.

In February 2003, André Laprise was appointed Trustee of the Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault.

Originally from the Outaouais region, Clara Van Doorn discovered dance at the Académie de danse de l’Outaouais at the age of 8, where she developed a true passion. In 2022, she began her studies in contemporary dance in the professional program at The School of Dance in Ottawa.

Clara Van Doorn joined the Académie team in 2023 to teach in the Initiation program.

Originally from the Outaouais region, Louise Parent has more than 40 years of professional experience. Following training at the Groupe de la Place Royale, Ms. Parent studied dance in California, among others, and danced professionally for Montreal companies in addition to producing her own productions. Her journey has led her to enrich her training in different approaches including contact dance, tai chi and yoga. Ms. Parent also practiced massage therapy for ten years before devoting herself to teaching the Pilates method. Ms. Parent joined the Academy team in 2006 to teach Trapeze Dance, “Expo-Danse” Trapeze and Pilates

To learn more about Louise Parent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_0X9KtzZP4

Originally from Abitibi, Guy Massicotte began his dance career at the age of seven with his first steps in social dancing and then with different styles such as jazz, hiphop, salsa and tango. It was in Ottawa that he discovered Flamenco where he studied at Juliana Pulford’s studio. Passionate about this discipline, he continued his apprenticeship in Andalusia, the cradle of flamenco, with luminaries such as Mariano Cruceta, Antonio El Pipa, Manolo Marin and Marco Flores.

Cumulating more than twenty years devoted to learning and teaching flamenco, Guy Massicotte continues to perfect his art by regularly participating in training, in Spain, with recognized masters. Accomplished flamenco dancer and percussionist, Guy Massicotte joined the Académie team in 2015 to share his passion and knowledge with young people and adults.

Born in North Lincolnshire, England, Rebecca Middleton began her classical ballet training in the United Kingdom, at the Northern Ballet Academy in Leeds, and later at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester. In 2015, Ms. Middleton came to Canada to join Coastal City Ballet (CCB) in Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she danced several solo roles, including Myrtha in Giselle, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a Great Swan in Swan Lake. She has also worked with choreographers Wen Wei Wang, Joshua Beamish, Li Yaming, and Irene Schneider.

In 2016, Ms. Middleton began her teaching career in Vancouver, gaining a wide variety of experience. In 2018, upon returning to the UK, she began her dance education program at the University of Bath and the Royal Academy of Dance, where she is now a certified ballet teacher, while also teaching at dance schools in Southampton. Rebecca Middleton returned to Canada in 2022 and has chosen to settle in the Gatineau/Ottawa region to pursue her career.

Ms. Middleton teaches classical ballet, pointe work, repertoire, progressive ballet technique, jazz, and fitness.

Originally from the Eastern Townships, Martin Labrie received his training in dance teaching at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). Among others, he has danced for the Ensemble national de folklore Les Sortilèges and as a freelancer for various dance and theater companies. Today, specialist in arts education, he teaches the performing arts in the school environment and provides refresher training to the staff of the various school boards in Quebec. In 2016, he joined the preparatory school team of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec where he teaches folk dance.

Mr. Labrie first taught for the Camp d’été qui danse from 1998 to 2001 and joined the Stage intensif team in 2006 to teach Folk Dance and lead Creative Dance workshops.

Originally from Cuba, Anay Cabrera Suárez began her classical ballet studies at a young age in her hometown. At the age of 10, she began training as a dancer and classical ballet teacher at the National Ballet School of Cuba.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts, she dances professionally for the Santiago de Cuba Ballet Company, where she performs works from the classical, neoclassical, and contemporary repertoires.

Anay Cabrera Suárez continued her training at the University of the Arts and later worked as a teacher and choreographer. She passionately transmits her love of her roots through her dance, teaching salsa classes to children and adults.

Originally from Spain, Zurine Orbelzu Lacoste received training in classical dance, contemporary dance and Modern Jazz dance. She holds a State Diploma as a dance teacher with an option in contemporary dance and a Baccalaureate in Performing Arts with an option in dance from the University of Paris VIII. In 1997, she founded the Nu-Pied dance company and taught dance in several establishments in France, such as the Fosses St-Jean cultural center in Colombes.

Zurine Lacoste joined the Académie team, in 2006, upon her arrival in Canada. She teaches Mouvement créatif, Danse classique, Atelier contemporain, Expo-danse and provides dance educational workshops services in schools. As project manager for the Académie de danse de l’Outaouais, she develops various initiatives for elementary and secondary schools and innovative programs such as Expo-danse, La Galerie danse, and Danse en danse.

She also works as a specialist teacher with young children and in school settings. In June 2022, she obtained her diploma as a Feldenkrais practitioner and offers workshops as a somatic educator at the Académie de danse de l’Outaouais and privately.