Cheryl Quiacos Upper

(RAD RTS, B.A., ARAD) Director, Teacher, Choreographer

Cheryl Upper is proud to have been a part of CDM for 20 years. Cheryl was a national level gymnast who was introduced to the magic of dance by Miss Cynthia Fisher. She was an apprentice with the Banff Festival Ballet Company and after graduating for Earl Haig Secondary School's Claude Watson Dance Program, Cheryl spent years training in contemporary dance at the The Ailey School in New York City. She has worked with choreographers such as Elisa Monte, Judith Marcuse, Talley Beatty and Fred Benjamin. Her professional dance career included dance contracts in Washington D.C., and Theatre Carre, Amsterdam with whom she toured The Netherlands, Belgium and Zurich, Switzerland.

Cheryl has a Bachelors Degree with a major in Drama and a minor in French from the University of Toronto and is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance with a major in the Vocational Levels. She holds her Advanced 2 RAD certificate and has performed the Solo Seal Award. Her innovative choreography has been well recognized and awarded within the Toronto dance industry.

A well-established, 12 year long career in the film/television industry as an dancer, actor and stunt performer gives Cheryl invaluable insight on our changing industry that she passes on to our students. Cheryl's film credits include working with Tia Carrere, Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell, Michael Cera, Paris Hilton and Natalie Reznik and Tre Armstrong of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.