ABOUT US
MOVMNT Collective is a community designed to provide dance artists with the tools and support they need to build sustainable careers and make a meaningful impact through their artistic practice.
Whether you are just starting out on your journey or are exploring new professional pathways, our goal is to help you reach your goals.
MOVMNT Faculty
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From left to right: Faith Jade, Lyza Manalo, Leah Totten, Ashley Cole-Daley
Artistic Director - Leah Totten
With over 16 years of experience in the dance industry, Leah Totten is a choreographer, educator, creative director, producer, adjudicator and the founder of MOVMNT Collective. She has worked with hundreds of dancers and studios across Canada, the U.S., and Europe including the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Hungary, and Romania sharing her passion and expertise worldwide.
Leah has self-produced and choreographed nine large-scale theatre shows. Her earlier leadership includes founding BOSS Dance Company (2012–2022), one of the first industry training programs for womxn in Toronto.
She also spent seven years as a Commercial Dance Professor at Centennial College and worked as an instructor at some of Toronto's most notable studios including OIP Dance Centre, RightFoot, Underground Dance Centre, Millennium Dance Complex Toronto, Run The Flex and many more.
Beyond the studio, Leah holds a postgraduate certificate in Arts Management, with roles in the non profit arts sector as Festival Coordinator at Fall for Dance North and producer for TO Live’s 'Discover Dance' series.
Among Leah’s commercial credits, she has served as Resident Choreographer and Co-Creative Director along with Senior Project Manager for Mini Pop Kids, choreographing, managing and producing three North American concert tours along with numerous live performances and music videos.
Her work is dedicated to helping artists discover their unique voice and pave their own path in the industry.
Core Faculty - Faith Jade
Faith Jade is an educator, dance artist, adjudicator and choreographer in Toronto, Ontario. She is an accomplished performer and continues to work as a commercial dancer across the GTA. Faith Jade has over 10 years of teaching experience and her knowledge as a dance artist and educator is supported by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Education (BFA), a Bachelor of Education (BEd), and a Master of Education (MEd).
Faith Jade’s passion for arts education and Black liberation through the arts stems from a desire to use her gift of creation to facilitate and hold space for underrepresented voices. As a Black dance artist, her own struggles with racism and identity have led her to recognize the need for affirming, excellence-driven spaces and opportunities in order to elevate arts education within her sphere of influence.
Faith Jade is the Founder and Artistic Director of For The Culture Co. (@forthecultureco_) which was created to elevate dance education and center black influences in dance. It is the company's goal to pay homage to the pioneers of Afro-diasporic dance and culture by educating and empowering dancers to be knowledgeable stewards of the culture for future generations. Faith Jade is also the current commercial dance professor with Centennial College’s Commercial Dance Program.
Core Faculty - Lyza Manalo
Lyza Manalo (she/her) is a Filipina artist based in Toronto, ON. She has been passionate about dance since the age of three and has trained in multiple styles including Heels, Commercial, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Lyrical/Contemporary. In 2015, she discovered the Heels community and trained under Kaela Faloon with Sensual Heeling Company, while also learning from artists such as Galen Hooks, Kira Harper, and Aisha Francis.
Lyza was featured as an Emerging Artist Choreographer under the MOVMNT Collective and has now moved up to a Faculty role for the past 3 seasons. She is the founder of Bevel Bootcamp, a preprofessional Heels and Commercial dance training program - now in its seventh season. Her work blends technical precision with proud femininity, pushing artistic boundaries beyond stylistic boxes.
As a teacher, Lyza focuses on strong technique, empathy, and connection within her classes. Her choreography aims to captivate audiences through honest performance and movement led by emotion, always grounded in the human experience.
Core Faculty - Ashley Cole-Daley
Ashley is a 26-year-old dancer, videographer, and educator based in Toronto, with 18 years of experience in dance and just over 3 in videography. Her foundation is rooted in street dance styles such as hip-hop, clowning, and stepping, which were introduced to her at a young age. During her years in high school, Ashley delved into technical dance forms such as contemporary, jazz, and ballet, which facilitated her transition into college. In addition to her dance career, Ashley’s passion extends to capturing moments behind the camera, capturing behind-the-scenes moments to full conceptualized visuals.
Ashley currently teach intermediate commercial choreography classes at Run the Flex dance studio and is a faculty member with the MOVMNT Collective. Ashley maintains a commitment to continuous learning by attending classes. Ashley is always on the lookout for opportunities to share her love of dance and videography with others.