Cynthia Helmer, R.A.D., D.M.A.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Cynthia Helmer's extensive background in the performing arts includes over 20 years as a performer, director, choreographerand dance educator.

Reflecting back at her experiences throughout her career, Cynthia considers herself extremely fortunate to have obtained her dance training from Canada's finest and most respected dance educators and choreographers known in the dance community.

It all began for Cynthia at the age of 9 when she started dance lessons in jazz, tap, lyrical and ballet at one of Ontario's leading dance studios in the late 70's and 80's. She was trained by Canada's most renowned and respected dance educator and choreographer, Brian Foley, founder of A.D.A.P.T. (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers).

Throughout Cynthia's training years, she excelled quickly in all disciplines and competed for several years with Brian Foley's dance groups well into her teens.

Cynthia's natural strength in ballet was demonstrated early and was fortunate to excel at her talent with training from Canada's leading specialist in movement for the young, Ballet educator Deborah Lundmark, Founder of the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre. Cynthia achieved Honours on all levels of her R.A.D. ballet exams and today is a registered R.A.D. Ballet instructor with Distinction on all elements of her Teachers.

Although the love of dance in all forms was Cynthia's passion growing up she extended her tap training from one of Canada's greatest tap dancers and award winning choreographers, William Orlowski, co-founder of the National Tap Dance Company of Canada. During her training with William, Cynthia developed tap abilities that provided her the versatility to master various styles of tap, from classical Broadway to traditional Hoofing, and now a unique modern style of her own that includes a twist of hip hop.

As a performer Cynthia's experience is broad. At the age of 17, she took her first traveling assignment touring across Canada performing on stage for a small entertainment company. By the time she was 20, she toured the country from coast to coast on three separate occasions with various performing groups. One of which she earned the lead role representing Mattel for a four month promotional tour in 1987, where her face appeared in the media in almost every province and major city across the country.

During Cynthia's peak performing years, she explored many opportunities in the performing arts involving dancing, modeling and acting. One of her film credits included assignments on the TV series Street Legal with Cynthia Dale and Sonia Schmit throughout the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

During the summer months in 1988 Cynthia performed in a production featured at the Ontario Place Forum in "Lights, Camera, Action" - a one of a kind variety show that included dancing, acting and other talent acts. These represent only a handful of Cynthia's many accomplishments throughout her professional career. In addition to commercials and printwork, some of her other credits include several assignments for Eleanor Fulcher's International for which she performed in numerous industrial shows representing Beneton, Mattel, Ford, CTV and several fashion designers for the Hudson's Bay Company.

When not working on assignments, Cynthia continued with her dance education and also developed an interest for what's involved behind the stage. Further into her career she pursued that interest and completed directing courses at Ryerson University and Second City.

After many years of performing, freelance dance instructing and taking the time to explore other opportunities, Cynthia decided it was time to open her own dance studio, and in 1992 she founded Cynthia's Creative Dance Arts (C.C.D.A.).

Throughout years of success with her studio, Cynthia earned a reputation for her strong dancers and innovative choreography that achieved an abundance of overall highest scores, special adjudication and Diamond choreography awards at various competitions throughout Canada and the U.S.

In addition, Cynthia's entertaining dance routines earned requests for her dancers to perform at various special events throughout the GTA. Some of which included Canada Day celebrations, the Toronto Film Festival, Star Light Children's Wish foundation, Anthony Sherwood Production's World AIDS Day Musical Concert, and several community festivals and corporate company functions.

As Cynthia's career progressed, she also earned assignments to choreograph and direct various performances involving actors, dancers and singers.

In 2001, she was hired as the choreographer for the Unionville Theatre Company's production of "The Wizard of Oz", and for many years worked closely with Sonar Productions, a company in Toronto who frequently hired her to choreograph and direct various performances throughout Canada, the US and Europe. One of which Cynthia worked with well-known singer Chantal Kreviazuk in 2002 for a production held at Roy Thompson Hall.

In 2004 Cynthia had the privilege of dancing with Leslie Neilson for a black and white film piece and was hired to choreograph professional dancers for a performance to be held in Mexico City representing the Investor's Group. Cynthia has taken on many assignments such as these, although due to her commitment with her dance studio, she was often limited to accept only some of the assignments offered to her.

In 2006 Cynthia made the decision to close her studio as a full service dance school and change her focus. Following the official closure in July, Cynthia immediately pursued another passion and spent a good portion of her summer under training with professional lighting and audio technicians to expand her technical knowledge in theatre production. During her experience, she was provided the opportunity to assist with a performance by the renowned adult dance company, Motus O.

In the Fall of '06 Cynthia launched her new elite dance company for competitive level students only still representing the C.C.D.A. name.

Today Cynthia holds many years under her belt as a competitive dancer, performer, director, choreographer and dance educator, providing her a wealth of knowledge in the performing arts both on and off the stage. Her assignments for film, television, live theatre and industrial shows has provided her the opportunity to work with some well respected artists and her history as an instructor includes over 20 years, teaching tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, R.A.D. Ballet and Pointe.

Cynthia's dedication, high standards and perfectionism always continually drives her to the next level in anything she does. Throughout her career she has earned a strong reputation in the dance community for her superior training and exceptional teaching abilities earning her an excellent standing with the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D) for a superior history on the success of her student's R.A.D. exam results.

Today Cynthia looks forward to moving ahead with her career in the performing arts, and continuing to develop her new elite dance company.