The Travelling Stage
The Travelling Stage, where arts education takes centre stage! With a proud legacy spanning 22 years, we were founded by Toni Grates and have since become a leading organization in the field. Our team of dedicated professionals is committed to nurturing young minds and fostering self-confidence through the power of arts education.
THE TRAVELLING STAGE
TONI GRATES, DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER
Toni Grates is the Founding Director of The Travelling Stage; a company she started 22 years ago with a big dream, a hand-made poster and a laundry basket full of props. She spends much of her time creating and advocating for arts opportunities for young people.
She’s worked as an actor and a writer for YTV and CityTV and has performed on, directed and written for stages across North America.
In addition to her work with The Travelling Stage, she teaches Drama and Dance Education at Brock University. She is also honoured to oversee a Far North Community Engagement Initiative in remote communities in the NWT as far as the Arctic Ocean, where The Travelling Stage is working alongside consultants, elders and school superintendents to engage communities through the arts.
She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Durham Catholic District School Board, where she was first inspired by her high school drama teacher, Mr. Jim Finan. She believes that arts education is essential and has committed her career to creating as many accessible and inclusive opportunities as she can for students and teachers. She strives to lead with compassion and creativity. She is grateful for an extraordinary office and teaching team, who are also committed to impact and change through arts education.
Toni is currently completing her Master of Education from the University of Toronto with a dual emphasis in Arts in Education and Indigenous Education and Decolonization.
She is a very proud mom to two boys, ages 8 and 13.
“Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art.” — Margot Fonteyn
THE TRAVELLING STAGE
OFFICE AND SUPPORT TEAM
Introducing the dynamic individuals who form our office and support team at The Travelling Stage! They are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth execution of our programs. With their unwavering dedication, our team ensures that each initiative seamlessly complements school curricula, delivering enriching experiences that leave a lasting impact on over 5 million students across the country. Together, we strive to make arts education an accessible and transformative journey for all.
Amy
Fatima
Tanya
Dionne
Coordinator
Rheanne
Coordinator
“One who expresses one’s self through dance is a dancer. One who expresses one’s self through a dancer is a dance teacher.” — Unknown
THE TRAVELLING STAGE
Teaching Artists
Meet our exceptional team of teaching artists who are passionate about sharing their love for the arts and nurturing young talent at The Travelling Stage. With years of training and experience, they bring creativity, dedication and expertise to every class, inspiring our students to thrive in their dance journey.
![Alana Greig, dance teacher at The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Alana-Greig.jpg)
Alana Greig
![Alyssa-Webster, dance teacher at The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Alyssa-Webster.jpg)
Alyssa Webster
![Amy MacDonald, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Amy-MacDonald.jpg)
Amy MacDonald
![Amy Weslowsky, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Amy-Weslowsky.jpg)
Amy Weslowsky
![Andrea Dragosits, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Andrea-Dragosits.jpg)
Andrea Dragosits
![Ashley Comeau](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ashley-Comeau.jpg)
Ashley Comeau
![Ben Thomas, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ben-Thomas.jpg)
Benjamin Thomas
![Breanna Maloney, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Breanna-Maloney.jpg)
Breanna Maloney
![Camila Pereyra, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Camila-Pereyra.jpg)
Camila Pereyra
![Carolyn Goff, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Carolyn-Goff.jpg)
Carolyn Goff
![Celeste Chiappetta, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Celeste-Chiappetta.jpg)
Celeste Chiappetta
![Christina Breault](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Christina-Breault.jpg)
Christina Breault
![Claire Rice, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Claire-Rice.jpg)
Claire Rice
![Colleen Furlan, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Colleen-Furlan.jpg)
Colleen Furlan
![Concetta Roche, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Concetta-Roche-.jpg)
Concetta Roche
![Cora Matheson, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cora-Matheson.jpg)
Cora Matheson
![Dan Fox, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dan-Fox.jpg)
Dan Fox
![Dani Bone Corbishley, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dani-Bone-Corbishley.jpg)
Dani Bone Corbishley
![Daniel Krolik, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Daniel-Krolik.jpg)
Daniel Krolik
![Dharma Bizier, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dharma-Bizier.jpg)
Dharma Bizier
![Eddy Alvaro, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eddy-Alvaro.jpg)
Eddy Alvaro
![Elise Plant, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elise-Plant.jpg)
Elise Plant
![Elizabeth DeGrazia, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elizabeth-DeGrazia.jpg)
Elizabeth DeGrazia
![Emma Barker, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Emma-Barker.jpg)
Emma Barker
![Emma Dundas, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Emma-Dundas.jpg)
Emma Dundas
![Eric Dahlinger, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eric-Dahlinger.jpg)
Eric Dahlinger
![Erin Chappel, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Erin-Chappel.jpg)
Erin Chappel
![Gabriela Ortiz, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Gabriela-Ortiz.jpg)
Gabriela Ortiz
![Genevieve Cholette, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Genevieve-Cholette.jpg)
Geneviéve Cholette
![Gillian Brooks, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Gillian-Brooks-The-Travelling-Stage.jpg)
Gillian Brooks
![Hannah Krostewitz, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hannah-Krostewitz.jpg)
Hannah Krostewitz
![Isabella Kondrat, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Isabella-Kondrat.jpg)
Isabella Kondrat
![](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jahnelle-Jones.jpg)
Jahnelle Jones
![Jasmine Solano, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jasmine-Solano.jpg)
Jasmine Solano
![Jenny Cairney, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jenny-Cairney.jpg)
Jenny Cairney
![Jessica Balyk, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jessica-Balyk.jpg)
Jessica Balyk
![Jessica Gomes, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jessica-Gomes.jpg)
Jessica Gomes
![Jessica Rosales, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jessica-Rosales.jpg)
Jessica Rosales
![Jo Dixon, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jo-Dixon.jpg)
Jo Dixon
![Jordan Bache, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jordan-Bache.jpg)
Jordan Bache
![Josh Murray, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Josh-Murray.jpg)
Josh Murray
![Kaitlin Kawam, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kaitlin-Kawam.jpg)
Kaitlin Kawam
![Kaylah Drozda, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kaylah-Drozda.jpg)
Kaylah Drozda
![Kennedy Dale Johnson, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kennedy-Dale-Johnson.jpg)
Kennedy Dale Johnson
![Lauren Scott, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lauren-Scott.jpg)
Lauren Scott
![Leia Le Maistre, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Leia-Le-Maistre.jpg)
Leia Le Maistre
![Lena Wiklund Lorimer, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lena-Wiklund-Lorimer.jpg)
Lena Wiklund Lorimer
![Lesley Scott Wyles, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lesley-Scott-Wyles.jpg)
Lesley Scott Wyles
![Lori-Sherrit](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lori-Sherrit.jpg)
Lori Sherrit
![Madie Brown, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Madie-Brown.jpg)
Madie Brown
![Madison Mapes, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Madison-Mapes.jpg)
Madison Mapes
![Malcolm Messado, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Malcolm-Messado.jpg)
Malcolm Messado
![Margaret Legere, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Margaret-Legere.jpg)
Margaret Legere
![Margarita Camera, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Margarita-Camera.jpg)
Margarita Camera
![Marisa Blankier, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marisa-Blankier.jpg)
Marisa Blankier
![Marisa Sherk, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marisa-Sherk.jpg)
Marisa Sherk
![Maura LaRue, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Maura-LaRue.jpg)
Maura LaRue
![Michael Kosowan, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Michael-Kosowan.jpg)
Michael Kosowan
![Mya Leworthy, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mya-Leworthy.jpg)
Mya Leworthy
![Nicole Decsey, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Nicole-Decsey.jpg)
Nicole Decsey
![Noah Webster, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Noah-Webster.jpg)
Noah Webster
![Olivia Koren, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Olivia-Koren.jpg)
Olivia Koren
![Reanna Joseph, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Reanna-Joseph.jpg)
Reanna Joseph
![Reese Cowley, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Reese-Cowley.jpg)
Reese Cowley
![Riddhi Upadhyay, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Riddhi-Upadhyay.jpg)
Riddhi Upadhyay
![Roy-Mulder](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roy-Mulder-headshot.jpg)
Roy Mulder
![Shelley MacDonald](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shelley-MacDonald.jpg)
Shelley MacDonald
![Sinead Allen, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sinead-Allen.jpg)
Sinead Allen
![Sophie Brender, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sophie-Brender.jpg)
Sophie Brender
![Taylor Wiens, The Travelling Stage](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Taylor-Wiens.jpg)
Taylor Wiens
![Trevor-Martin](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Trevor-Martin.jpg)
Trevor-Martin
![Toronto District School Board Logo](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Toronto_District_School_Board_Logo.svg.png)
![York Region District School Board Logo](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/York_Region_District_School_Board_Logo.jpg)
![Plains Road Child Care](https://www.travellingstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-PRCC-logo.jpeg)