Our Staff
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Indeed, an organization such as ours requires the talents, passions, hard work and expertise of so many people that you could say the same of us. Say hello to our teachers and staff. Read their bios to learn more about them.
DCA STAFF
Patrick Charron
Managing Director
Bio
Kathryn Whitehead
Administrator
Bio
Anayis Ecityan
Communications Coordinator
Bio
Anayis Ecityan has taken on the roll of Communications Coordinator at the DCA. She received her Bachelors in Fine Arts at Concordia University with a major in Design, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Communications Studies.
Megan Bradley
Special Events Coordinator
Bio
Megan Bradley wears a few hats in life and at the Dollard Centre for the Arts. She is currently the Summer Fine Arts Camp Director and organizes special events at the DCA like the annual Holiday Market but started as a Theatre teacher in 2006. She studied Professional Theatre and had the privilege of working in the Montreal Theatre community for six years before studying to become a Registered Massage Therapist and becoming a mother of two.
Caroline Di Nunzio
Camp Special Needs Director
Bio
TEACHERS
Robert Ainsworth
Tango Instructor
Bio
Robert started dancing Argentine Tango in 2014 in Ottawa at Siempre Tango. Over the years his teachers have included Ivan Alexandrov and Hernan Lazart. Robert began teaching tango in 2018 in Ottawa, and in 2021 he launched Ottawa Vanguard Milonga, which continues to thrive as Milonga de la Confession, the capitals premiere weekly milonga. He moved to Montreal in 2022 where he gives private lessons and group classes in Argentine Tango. Robert is also a Secondary School teacher in the Riverside School Board and a published novelist. He lives in Ville Saint-Laurent with his wife, Myriam.
Ashley Asuncion
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Ashley is a Montreal-based artist, art instructor, and art therapist. She enjoys the process of exploration and personal expression through drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and writing. Drawn to the metaphorical layers within art-making and human beings, Ashley aspires to create a space of learning that embraces diversity and connection. She hopes to inspire young learners to develop their creative voice and to appreciate art in the everyday.
Eduardo Boletti
Music Instructor
Bio
Daniel Marmer
Music Instructor
Bio
Daniel Marmer is a Montreal-based jazz guitarist currently studying jazz performance at McGill University. As a result, he has gained recognition for his indie band I Love You Dearly, sonically blending jazz and improvised music with classic indie.
His jazz compositions mix African-American music with traditional folk music, for which he was awarded the Hnatyshyn Foundation's Developing Artist Grant in 2023.
From falling in love with the Beatles at the age of 2, to learning Hendrix and Clapton riffs, to falling in love with jazz, Daniel is always passionately pursuing music of all genres and backgrounds. This led him to diving into music theory, chord scales, improvisation, and composition with the aim to have the technical mastery to bring to guitar anything he hears in his head.
He believes his success can be attributed to his love of a wide range of genres, and a focus on creating accessible and emotionally resonant music. These same qualities can be found in his teachings – inspiring people to create, express, and have fun!
Jelani Corbie
Music Instructor
Bio
Angelo David Russo
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Russo explores themes of the human psyche, while continuously experimenting with various techniques and materials. He is currently working on The Narrative Series, a conceptual art project composed of a series of artwork inspired by the highs and lows that life has thrown his way. He describes these works as a public journal encrypted in a visual language for the viewer to decipher or relate to their own experiences.
Russo values community engagement and collaboration among his peers. Since 2015 he has directed six multi-disciplinary art showcases in Montreal, and hosted a workshop for children at the MTL en Arts 2016 festival. He is the founder of the Art for Kids Help Phone, an initiative supported by BMO Bank of Montreal where artists across Canada donate artwork for auction with all proceeds are donated to the Kids Help Phone.
Committed to his art and community, Russo continues to develop projects that encourage connections between people while incorporating digital components, reshaping the way traditional art and digital art are used in today’s modern framework.
• www.RussoArt.ca
• IG @angelorussoart
• https://www.facebook.com/russoart
Eva Ferenczy-Reichmann
Sculpture and Fine Art Instructor
Bio
Eva Ferenczy-Reichmann is a ceramic artist and multimedia artist with over 35 years of experience. Born in Canada, from Hungarian heritage, Eva has taught both adult and children’s classes, inspiring her students to learn and create from their imagination. She is passionate and skillful; her one-on-one style of teaching is unique and compelling. She encourages her students to discover their potential in art as well as the endless possibilities of creativity. Her ceramic works of art are known for their whimsical, lyrical, and elegant designs. Her one of a kind, combination of wheel-thrown and hand-built/ assembled vessels are collected and exhibited in Canada and Europe.
Angel Grondin
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Angelic, also known as Angel, teaches a painting and drawing class! Angel is currently a student at John Abbott College where she's studied a number of things, from ceramics, art history and painting, to animation, podcasting and film photography. Angel takes any opportunity to make art and is inspired by the constant flow of creativity at the centre! She's excited and looking forward to creating some awesome art with you all!
Karen Ho
Music Instructor
Bio
Jacinta Ionno
Adult Fine Art Teacher
Bio
She is the past president and juried member of the Artist Association of Dollard and an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and the Italian Cultural Center of Quebec.
Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries and community centers in Canada. She has won numerous awards for her oil paintings, including her painting ‘Pears in a Crystal Bowl,’ which earned her an ‘Award of Excellence’ in a juried show in Vancouver for the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Jacinta teaches oil painting and drawing at her home studio, at the Dollard des Ormeaux Senior’s Club, Dollard Centre for the Arts and Lambda School of Music and Fine Arts.
Marie-Jeanne Paquet
Music Instructor
Bio
Marie-Jeanne Paquet is a Jazz musician, singer-songwriter and educator based in Montreal. She graduated from McGill University with a degree in Music Performance, studying under both the great Montreal jazz figure Ranee Lee and New-York acclaimed vocalist Camille Thurman. Her musical journey started with learning the classical violin for over 10 years, after which she discovered her passion for singing and completed the music and science Double DEC program at Vanier College. Throughout her degrees, she accumulated over 5 years of experience performing, singing and acting for a live entertainment company. She has an amazing capacity to connect with her students and make learning both the basics of piano and vocal technique fun and engaging.
Corinne Krikorian
Tango Instructor
Bio
Passionate about dance from a young age and tango since 2003, Corinne Krikorian started her journey in Montreal learning from experienced Argentine teachers. She moved to Buenos Aires in 2009 to deepen her knowledge and trained with renowned tango masters. Since her return, Corinne has devoted herself entirely to teaching Argentine tango in Montreal and abroad. She hopes to transmit her passion and love for tango and help her students discover the endless wonders of this incredible dance.
Natasha Martel
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Website: www.natashamartel.com Instagram: @waxpigment
Renée Mizgala
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Paula Pazdan
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Ana Ruiz
Belly Dancing Instructor
Bio
Harvey Segal
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
www.harveysegal.com
Jackson Thouret
Theatre Teacher
Bio
Konstantin Vleitchkov
Sculpting Teacher
Bio
Beverly Wight
Fine Art Teacher
Bio
Kayla Dalterio
Dance Instructor
Bio
Kayla Dalterio has been dancing since the age of 3. A big dream of hers was to watch her choreography come to life! For Kayla, teaching dance doesn’t feel like a job, it’s definitely a passion. In 2019, she was a part of a production called “Six Degrees Of Broadway” where she was able to perform different numbers from multiple musicals. Tap has always been one of her favourites, but she also loves hip hop and musical theatre. Not only does she love to perform, but she admire the children that she teaches for wanting to do and be their best. They inspire her and in return, she teaches them to be their most confident self.