
Meet The Team

KATIE WILSON
Founder & Artistic Director
Head of Intermediate & Senior Programing
At the age of three, Katie started training in the strict principles of dance. After graduating high school she decided to continue her dance education at Concordia University majoring in Contemporary Dance. From here Katie quickly learned that she had a great interest in the health industry as a whole and decided to expand her knowledge to encompass many different areas of physical activity. She enrolled full time at St. Lawrence College in the Fitness and Health Promotions program in hopes to further her education. Upon graduation, she has earned her Fitness Consultant and Personal Training license through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology as well as her Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist license through Can Fit Pro. Once Katie completed her education she taught Anatomy at St. Lawrence College in Brockville for the Musical Theatre program, adjudicated several dance competitions, and taught at several well known schools in Kingston and surrounding area. Katie is currently the artistic director of Four Season Dance Academy where she focuses on developing strong, confident, smart dancers who understand the athleticism of dance as well as artistic expression.

CRYSTAL LAFFOLEY
Head of Primary & Acro Programing
Crystal started dance at a young age participating in as many principles as possible. As a student, dance was her "one true love". Crystal was a televised competitive dancer and very successful in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and lyrical. Following her passion Crystal furthered her dance training by completing many levels of dance exams through the Canadian Dance Teachers Association (CDTA). Upon completing school she was able to pursue Martial Arts where she trained, coached and competed in full contact Karate and Ju-Jitsu for ten years. Throughout her training Crystals love for dance continued into adulthood where she continued to train with a high focus on teaching and coaching. Crystal has also achieved her Level 3 in Multi-Sport Theory and Level 3 in Women's Artistic Gymnastics NCCP Certification as well as becoming a WAG Provincial Judge. Currently Crystal is furthering her dance training and choreography through workshops and seminars.

DIEGO ARVELO
Head of Ballet and Exam Programing
Born in the Dominican Republic, Diego Arvelo started ballet at nine years of age. With his father’s influence and training, he became the youngest dancer in the Ballet of Santo Domingo, joining the company at age 16. While the company toured through South America, (Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba), Mr. Arvelo had the opportunity to appear in such productions as Stravinsky’s “Firebird” and Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mr. Arvelo continued his education in dance, studying the techniques of such greats as Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, and Martha Graham. Since he came to Canada, he has furthered that training by studying R.A.D Ballet as well as C.D.T.A Jazz and Ballet, as well as Vaganova Ballet Technique. In May of 1998 he became a certified instructor for the British Association of Teachers of Dance (B.A.T.D).
Mr. Arvelo has performed with Ballet Extra of Ottawa in such productions as “The Messiah” and in June of 1998 he produced his first original ballet, “Cry for the Damned” followed by a second ballet entitled, “Reflexion”.
Mr. Arvelo has also worked as an instructor with the St. Lawrence College Musical Theatre program where he taught both jazz and partnering work, as well as modern technique. In April 2009, he was given the opportunity to choreograph their Broadway Style Musical, “Footloose”.
Most recently Diego was presented with the coveted title of, “Guest International Choreographer” for EDANCO 2011, an International Festival of Contemporary Dance, hosted in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Diego was honoured for a second time in September 2012, and again in 2013, when he was asked once again to be a part of this prestigious festival.
In 2018 he embarked on his latest creative endeavor as the star of his very own television program entitled, "The Dancing Chef". This show was extraordinarily well received by both the community and critics alike. In 2019 "The Dancing Chef" won the award for "Outstanding Lifestyle Program" at the annual COGECO Star Awards. This successful show is set to begin production on season 5.

TOUWANNA ROUGHTON
Guest Teacher
Touwanna-Shell began her journey in dance at the age of 3 taking part in Pikwakanagan First Nations Traditional Powwows. From there, her love of dance and music drove her to begin formal training in her hometown of Brockville, Ontario under the direction of Mr. Diego Arvelo. In 2008 Touwanna-Shell was accepted into the Performance Dance program at Ryerson University and in June 2012 graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance. While at Ryerson she had the opportunity to work with such esteemed choreographers as Kate Hilliard and Allen Kaeja. During this time she also studied at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s summer intensive programs appearing in works by Christopher House and Julia Sasso as well as attending various summer training programs with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
In October of 2012 Touwanna-Shell appeared in her first professional work “I’m not the Indian you had in mind” Choreographed by Carlos Rivera. She went on to become a company member of Lickety Split Entertainment under the direction of Clayton Scott.
Her love of dance, creation, and performance led her to teaching and she has had the privilege of being a faculty teacher and department head at Turning Pointe Academy of Dance in Toronto since 2014.

CLAYTON SCOTT
Guest Choreographer and Technique Coach
Clayton was born in Surrey and raised in Chilliwack BC, Canada; he is an actor, dancer, and choreographer working in the film and television industry. He graduated the Ryerson Dance Program in Toronto with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2012.
Dance credits include Elton John's 25th Fashion Cares, Carly Rae Jepsen at MuchMusic, American Gods, Orphan Black, Reign, Country Crush, Recipe to
Riches, Alan Thicke at Global, Contessa Hair Awards, Alice and Wonderland at the National Ballet of Canada, Vlad’s Bridge to Artists, Toronto Fashion Week, Ryerson Dances, Choreographic Works, EnChoreo, New Voices, PNE’s Pyrotechnic Kaboom & Parades and many live events. Clayton has choreographed across North Americas
competitive dance industry and on ACTRA productions featured on Netflix, Hallmark, and MGM Entertainment. Clayton was involved in the making of Guillermo Del Toro’s
The Strain and The Shape of Water. Locally he has choreographed for his own comedic production at Dancemakers, OutSport Charities, and Vlad's Bridge to Artists, as well as various drag performances, weddings and charities.
Shortly after graduation Clayton’s focus broadened from dancing and choreography to acting in film, television and commercials. He has acted in creature roles on the
Emmy award winning Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, The Strain, and was featured on Condor, Shadowhunters, Total Frat Movie, In The Tall Grass, 9 Films About Technology and various national commercials. During his time at Ryerson Clayton competed on Wipeout Canada filmed in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Clayton has adjudicated dance and talent competitions across North America, most recently for Starpower Nationals in Ocean City MD and Branson MO, and at regional events in Hartford CT, Spartanburg SC, East Brunswick NJ, and Niagara Falls NY to name a few. Scott has recently had the pleasure of judging Dance Power Burnaby, the Crystal Grand Championships in Kelowna and various festivals he once competed at
himself. Clayton looks forward to collaborating with artists globally and contributing to the arts industry that has brought him much fulfilment.

KRISTA GRIFFITH
Guest Choreographer
When Krista took her first dance class at the age of 13 she knew it was an art form in which she belonged. After graduating high school, she made the move to the big city to attend George Brown College’s dance program in Toronto, ON. There she was trained in jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical/contemporary, modern, acrobatics and hip-hop.
She has performed with many different dance groups including Toronto Marlies Dance Pak, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dance Team, Lindsay Ritter Productions, DivaGirl Entertainment and The Dance Company. She has had the amazing opportunities to perform at the 2008 Grey Cup, Casino Rama, Canadian Children’s Aid Foundation Gala, Much Music Doritos Award show, Dance Ontario, Shawn Desman’s “Night Like This” video, and Hennessy’s Black
Seduction promotional party. She also has worked internationally with the Edanco Festival De Danza Contemporánea and Academia Balleteatro Dominicano in Dominican Republic, as well as choreographing at the Royalton Punta Cana Resort.
Krista had the amazing experience of holding the position of Assistant Director of LR Dance, where she worked with new upcoming dancers and choreographers to help them
break into the entertainment industry. Krista has taught in studios across Canada and has a special place in her heart for teaching and seeing her students excel in their own technique in a positive environment. She loves teaching, adjudicating, choreographing and seeing her
students performing and having fun.

"A dance teacher's job is to guide their students to find the song in their hearts, the beat in their feet and the passion in their soul."