Co-founders
Sarahi Cardenas | Saltillo, México
Originally from Saltillo, México. Sarahí started her dance training at the age of eleven. She learned the foundations of ballet at Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey. She also completed a year at The Rock School of Dance Education in Philadelphia, PA (USA) before graduating from high school. Since 2007, both the Ballet Metropolitano de Monterrey and Ballet de Monterrey included Sarahí in their corps de ballet. She gained professional experience dancing in many classical ballets like Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadere, Don Quixote and The Nutcracker, to name a few. Neoclassical works like Diving into the Lilacs by Yuri Possokhov, Bruch Violin Concerto by Clark Tippet and Symphony in C and Western Symphony by George Balanchine. Modern dance works include Desdemona in José Limon’s The Moors Pavane. She was fortunate to train with renowned teachers and perform both as a soloist and principal dancer. Sarahí joined Canada’s Ballet Jörgen for the 2015-2016 season where she further enriched her artistic repertoire and learned firsthand the importance of outreach and accessibility in dance. In September 2019, Sarahi had the opportunity to join The Canadian Opera Company’s ensemble as a dancer in their production of Rusalka, La Traviata in 2022 and Don Giovanni in 2024. Sarahi completed her 200hr yoga teacher training in 2020 and Progressing Ballet Technique Certificate in 2021. Sarahí is currently a part of the Faculty at George Brown College, York University and InStudio. Sarahí co-founded The Fifth Dance, a drop-in dance studio in Toronto in 2019. After founding The Fifth, she took on the responsibility of organizing and producing the summer intensive and its respective showings for the last 3 years. Notably, she orchestrated and managed all logistics for TISI, a summer intensive program that brings together over 30 youth dancers from Monterrey, Mexico, fostering cross-cultural exchange and artistic growth.
Sarahi’s current schedule at The Fifth
Saturdays - Absolute Beginner Ballet & Absolute Beginner Pointe
Minami Suzuki | Tokyo, Japan
Minami was born and raised in Japan. She started dancing ballet when she was 3 years old and since then, her life was all about ballet. After receiving numerous awards at domestic and international competitions such as a Silver Medal at Le Chausson D’or International Competition In Paris and 1st prize at the National Ballet Competition of Tokyo in Japan. She became a professional ballet dancer when she was 15 and made her principal role debut when she was only 20 years old. She has worked with Star Dancers Ballet in Tokyo, Ballet Jorgen in Canada and various international projects with famous dancers and choreographers. She has been dancing various repertories such as Sir. Peter Wright's Coppelia/Nutcracker, Nacho Duato and William Forsythe amongst others. Minami is currently performing as a freelancer with a few Toronto local companies.
Weekly Faculty
Järvi Raudsepp |
Toronto, ON
Järvi Raudsepp is a professional ballet dancer and teacher trained by Nadia Veselova Tencer. She began her career at the age of 17, dancing with international ballet companies such as Estonian National Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Ontario Ballet Theatre, and Festival Ballet Providence.
Järvi has been teaching students ages three through to adult since 2010. Her teaching career was launched by Aly and Yossi Niznik at A2Y Dance Inc. in Aurora, Ontario, where she was the competitive ballet instructor for over six years. She has also guest taught and choreographed for multiple studios in and around Toronto, including Academy of Ballet and Jazz, the school where she received her training.
In 2018, Järvi earned a coveted spot as a cast member of the Phantom of the Opera World Tour, performing the Broadway production eight shows a week for two years. She toured to Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tel Aviv, Dubai, and throughout South Korea as a member of the company's corps de ballet.
As a teacher, Järvi trains students to grow through the demands and precision of classical ballet with an inspired, passionate mindset. Using the world-class Vaganova method (both the most technically challenging and the most expressive method of ballet), Järvi joins time-tested ballet instruction with body-positivity and inclusion, moving classical ballet towards becoming a more accessible art form.
Järvi’s current schedule at The Fifth
Mondays - Int/Adv Ballet & Int/Adv Pointe + Variations
Thiago Dos Santos |
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Originally from Brazil, Thiago Dos Santos moved to Canada in 2007 after receiving a full scholarship to train at Pacific Dance Arts in Vancouver, BC. In 2008, Thiago started his professional dance career at Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where he toured across North America, Europe, China, and Israel. Highlights have been working with Twyla Tharp, James Kudelka and Evelyn Hart as well as performing in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, and Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude.After a decade with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Thiago transitioned his talents to TV and Film. He has worked on Channel Zero: Butcher's Block as the Meat Servant, and Burden Of Truth (Season 2). Most recently he has worked with choreographer Roberto Campanella, directors Andy Muschietti in IT: Chapter 2, and Taika Waititi in What We Do In The Shadows (TV series).
Thiago’s current schedule at The Fifth
Tuesdays - Int/Adv Ballet, Inter Ballet &
Jumps & Turns
Thursdays - Inter Ballet
Cynthia Macedo | Carmel, CA
Cynthia Macedo was born in Carmel, California and entered the National Ballet School at the age of 10 under the directorship of Betty Oliphant.
While training, she received a Peter Dwyer Scholarship and the Firemen’s Fund Scholarship. Upon graduating from grade 12, she joined The National Ballet of Canada.
Cynthia performed many roles from the classic to the contemporary that ranged from Corps de Ballet to Principal. As a Soloist with the National Ballet, she worked with many directors and choreographers such as Erik Bruhn, Rudolph Nureyev, Natalia Makarova, Glen Tetley, David Earl, Robert Desrossiers, Danny Grossman, Bengt Jorgen, John Alleyne and David Parsons. She also performed in the inaugural days of Canada's Ballet Jorgen and numerous guest artist appearances across North America. Additionally, she has appeared in numerous dance film productions.
Upon retiring from dancing professionally, Cynthia pursued a teaching career. She is currently a company Teacher and Rehearsal coach with Canada's Ballet Jorgen, a full-time Ballet/Pointe Instructor and Choreographer at George Brown College, a Contract Lecturer at Ryerson University and an established open class teacher. Her teaching credits include the National Ballet of Canada, the Cecchetti Society of Canada and the Royal Academy of Dance Canada. She has coached Junior and Senior world-ranked figure skaters in artistry on the ice to develop performance enhancement.
Cindy’s current schedule at The Fifth
Wednesdays - Int/Adv Ballet
Riho Dantow | Kyoto, Japan
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Riho discovered her love for ballet at the age of three. Throughout her training at a ballet school in Kyoto, she flourished and had the privilege of performing as the main character in iconic ballets like Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and more.
In 2015, she achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious Uiro Prize at the National Ballet Competition held in Nagoya, Japan. Seeking further growth, she embarked on an enriching experience in New York City, training alongside renowned ballet dancers and teachers from 2016 to 2017.
After relocating to Toronto in 2018, she continued to shine on stage, captivating audiences as the lead in the Nutcracker and other notable productions with the esteemed Toronto International Ballet Theatre. She also delighted audiences with guest appearances on various ballet school stages.
In 2023, she realized her dream of founding her own ballet school, the Ogata Ballet School. Through this endeavor, she passionately shares her love for ballet and aims to inspire young children and adults, passing on the essence of this timeless art form.
Riho’s current schedule at The Fifth
Thursdays - Int/Adv Ballet
Eric Hall | Woodstock, ON.
Eric Hall has danced professionally with performance companies across Canada, including Ballet Victoria, Ballet Kelowna, and Suddenly Dance Theatre in British Columbia, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal in Quebec, and Canada’s Ballet Jorgen as well as Opera Atelier here in Toronto. His favourite character that he’s performed (also his alter ego) is Dr. Frankenstein! Imparting knowledge he has gained from his professional experience as well as from his training at institutions such as the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, George Brown Dance and the School of Alberta Ballet, Eric creates movement inspired by a large variety of instructors including Mrs. Nancy Kilgour, Mr. Murray Kilgour, Mr. Owen Montague, Mr. Chi Chun, Ms. Svea Eklof, Ms. Kathleen Rea, and Ms. Christine Wright. Since beginning teaching, Eric has had the pleasure of teaching at various schools such as InStudio, Metro Movement, Extension Method, Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance, Ballet Victoria Conservatory, Victoria Academy of Ballet, and now excitingly at The Fifth! Eric incorporates his knowledge from his Massage Therapy studies, approaching ballet from an anatomical perspective, yet is known for creating very dancey, movement-oriented classes.
Eric’s current schedule at The Fifth
Fridays - Int/Adv Ballet
Stefanie Tsabar | Los Angeles, CA
Stefanie is a ballet dancer and poet based in Toronto. She was awarded a full scholarship throughout her ballet training at Houston Ballet Academy. In 1993, she was invited by Ben Stevenson to join the main company as an apprentice. In 1994, Stefanie was invited by Keven McKenzie to become a member of American Ballet Theatre where she danced from 1994-1999. During her tenure, she danced the full canon of classical ballets, including Natalia Makarova's La Bayadere, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Ben Stevenson's Cinderella, Etudes, George Balanchine's Ballet Imperial as well as Lar Lubovitch's Othello, Agnes de Mille's Rodeo, among many others. She danced on stages from The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. She is thankful for the opportunity to pass on her knowledge to dancers today, from adult beginners to professionals.
Stefanie’s current schedule at The Fifth
Sundays - Beg Ballet
Sam Grist | Winnipeg, MB
Originally from Winnipeg Manitoba, Sam Grist is a Toronto based contemporary dancer, teacher, and fitness instructor. She has been a dancer and collaborator for Toronto based absurdist dance-theatre company Rock Bottom Movement since 2012, winning the 2020 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for both Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble and Outstanding Production for the company's work, hollow mountain. In addition to her work with Rock Bottom, Sam has collaborated and performed with choreographers including Hanna Kiel, David Earle, Susie Burpee, Shannon Litzenberger, Julia Aplin, Jennifer Nichols, Anisa Tejpar, and Clare Preuss.
When she is not performing, Sam is a passionate teacher for students of all ages. She has shared her love and knowledge of dance, movement, and fitness through workshops and master classes across Canada. Sam has been a guest teacher with Rock Bottom Movement, VIEW Dance Convention, Toronto Metropolitan University, Cawthra Park Secondary School, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Unionville High School, and Kalos Collectives. In 2020, the pandemic inspired Sam pursued her Mat Pilates teacher training through the Mindful Movement Centre, under the tutelage of Leslie Parker. Sam earned her BFA in Performance Dance from the Toronto Metropolitan University in 2013, and is also a certified Extension Method™ teacher. Sam loves blending dance and fitness to create a fun and challenging workout experience, and is thrilled to be a part of the Fifth family!
Sam’s current schedule at The Fifth
Wednesdays - Beginner Ballet & AB Ballet
Saturdays - Pilates
Yiming Cai | Singapore
Yiming Cai (@yimscai) is a dance artist from Singapore, based in Toronto and currently collaborates in different projects as a performing artist, dance teacher and in rehearsal direction. Yiming is passionate about embodied wellness through movement and the process of self-study and practice. His professional credits as a performer include Tiger Princess Dance Projects, Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre, JD Dance, Danny Grossman Dance Company, Little Pear Garden Dance Company, The Platform, Adelheid. Since 2020, Yiming has taught professional and open level workshops, and he currently teaches out of The Fifth Dance. His other passions include Nogi jiujitsu and Brazilian Zouk.
Yimings’s current schedule at The Fifth
Thursdays and Sunday - Beg Contemporary
Sze-Yang Lam | Vancouver, BC.
Sze-Yang Ade-Lam is a queer asian nonbinary dancer, choreographer, martial artist, actor, advocate, and community developer. Sze-Yang shares stories for love, liberation, representation & empowerment, as an independent artist, and as part of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company. Since 2011 Sze-Yang has created more accessible affirming dance education and performance opportunities for QT2SBIPOC’s and their adjacent communities, advocated for change in the arts, and is the force behind the Dora Mavor Moore Awards shift to gender neutral categories. They are the proud recipient of the Dirt Underneath Actors’ Space: Artistic Resident Programme 2022-23. Watch Sze-Yang in Age of Samurai on Netflix, Peggy Baker’s Her Body As Words, & their work in New Monuments on CBC Gem.
Sze-Yangs’s current schedule at The Fifth
Sundays - Beginner Contemporary
