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MEET OUR JUDGES

MATT ANCTIL

Matt is a Manhattan resident and proud member of Actors Equity Association. His list of credits include the 2010 Tony Award winning Broadway revival/National Tour of La Cage Aux Folles, national tour of Flashdance the musical (dance captain), 6 touring seasons of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The View Upstairs (Drama Desk/Lucielle Lortel Award nominated Off-B road way production), The Doors Project, PLATFORMS, Ticket To Ride, numerous industrials/commercials/company work as well as master class faculty for Broadway Inbound and Broadway Dance Center. Charitable events include Broadway Bares, Fire Island Dance Festival (amongst others) benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Dancers Responding to AIDS. His concert dance/company work includes the launch of Chet Walker’s WALKERDANCE, creative assistant/company member for Gilmore Boyz (dir. Vernard Gilmore), Max Luna Dance Co. (soloist/Horton seminar assistant), Cecilia Marta Dance Co. (soloist) and assistant to Hope Boykin for “Go In Grace” (Ailey’s 50th Anniversary). Matt is forever grateful for his training which included The Ailey School (Oprah Winfrey Foundation Scholarship), Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theater scholar (dir. Chet Walker), Boston Youth Moves (Dorothy Rogers Conneely Scholarship), in addition to intensive musical theater training alongside David Marquez and high school direction from Joan Sheary in the arts magnet program at Burncoat Senior High School in Worcester, MA. Most recently, Matt was honored to be a judge for the inaugural voyage of DANCE WAVE in the Caribbean.

ALEXANDER JAMES EDWARDS

Alexander attributes his core training to Jana Block Mitchell, Malana Murphy, and Michelle Sherrill, his teachers in Lewisville, Texas where he honed his skills in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, african, modern, and musical theater. Since then, he has worked alongside notable dancers, teachers, and choreographers such as Alexander Pelham, Robert Battle, Debbie Allen, Latrina Bolger, Tyrell Washington, Kevin Harris, Todrick Hall, CK Edwards, Christopher Huggins, William Wingfield, William B. McClellan, Jr., and Jason Samuels-Smith. He has also performed with artists MC Hammer, Lalah Hathaway, Shirley Murdock and Destiny’s Child, appeared in The Nutcracker with The Moscow Ballet and also on Barney and Friends, So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Moms, Todrick, and Wife Swap. Edwards is an alumnus of the world-renowned Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas and is also a graduate of Point Park University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance. He was a member of the world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company of Dayton, Ohio, where he toured and performed many great repertory works nationally and internationally. His choreography has been showcased across the country. He is currently a guest artist with Rhythmic Souls Tap Company. Alex is also a freelance guest dancer, teacher, choreographer, singer, songwriter, actor.

KEVIN FREY

Kevin Frey had one dream when he was young, and that dream was to become a professional dancer. Getting his training at dance studios in San Diego, California, Kevin quickly became acquainted in various styles of dance such as Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. With his eyes always on the dream, he quickly moved to Los Angeles, the center of the commercial dance world. 
 

Kevin has been featured on hit television shows such as The Voice, America’s Got Talent, The MTV Video Music Awards, Disney’s Shake It Up, CW’s My Crazy Ex Girlfriend and many more. In addition, Kevin has worked with incredible musical talents such as Taylor Swift, Bebe Rexha, Idina Menzel, and others. However, for the past decade Kevin has been, and continues to be, a dancer for the global superstar Lady Gaga! Joining her on 3 world tours, a Las Vegas residency, and countless promotional performances and music videos, including the 51st Superbowl Halftime Show and the Met Gala! 

BARRY BUSBY

Barry is a Texas native, MFA graduate from the University of Oklahoma, and has lived in NYC for 11+ years where he just recently closed the 11- time Tony nominated production of Tootsie. He has been the Associate choreographer to Denis Jones for over 8 years and together they have collaborated on Broadway, all over the country, and internationally on over 40+ productions. His Broadway credits include: Honeymoon in Vegas, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close, and Tootsie. Regionally he has worked at some of North America‘s most prominent theatres including: The MUNY, Goodspeed, Papermill Playhouse, The Kennedy Center, Dallas Theatre Center, TUTS, The Alley Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In 2014 and ‘16 he was featured on the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and most recently in the 73rd annual Tony Awards hosted by James Corden! When his schedule allows, Barry travels the world teaching master classes to the next generation of musical theatre hopefuls.

DERRICK BOYCE

Derrick hails from his home town of Florrisant, Missorui. He discovered his love for the art of dance after learning about the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He began his early training at the age of 12 at the St. Louis Dancers' Academy and completed his studies there as an apprentice. Derrick received a full scholarship to study dance at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy at Southwest Missouri State University where he was taught by international teachers and choreographers. His professional career includes Legends in Concert, iCandy INC, Royal Caribbean, Cirque du Soleil, Tokyo Disney Resort, Donn Arden's Jubilee, Billboard Awards, and Hanz Zimmer & the Donny & Marie Show. He is currently working on the film "The Prom" for Netflix.

DREW BURGESS

Ohio native, Drew made his industry debut on “Live with Regis” during Amazing Kids Week. Upon relocating to California, he trained at L.A.’s best studios including EDGE, Millennium, Fusion, and the PAC Annex. Involved in many facets of the dance world, he is highly sought after as a dance supervisor, choreographer, & performer. Drew also judges for NexStar, American Dance Awards, and Dance Masters of America. A former competitor himself, Drew’s titles include Master, Junior, and Teen Mr. Dance of Ohio, as well as, Jr. Mr. and Mr. Dance of America. Drew is certified by test to teach through DMA & DEA, he is honored to be one of the newest faculty members with Dance Educators of America, as well.

 

Drew's passion for dance circles the globe year round. Drew teaches, choreographs & performs throughout all over the world. His credits include: GMC, Kia, UnitedHealth, Nestle`, Reebok, CitiGroup, and Taylor Swift. Drew lived & worked in Phoenix as the Tap Director at Spisak Dance Academy for four years. Drew also served as Dance Company Director for Above the Barre in Cleveland. His students have achieved awards such as: Teen Miss Dance of Arizona, Miss Arizona’s Outstanding Teen, Female Dancer of the Year, Male Dancer of the Year, Junior Miss SuperStar & Senior Miss NexStar for Cleveland. Drew was the teacher & choreographer for Mr. Dance of America in 2014. Drew has also toured extensively with Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance in ROMEO & JULIET and ROCK the BALLET 2. Drew is currently teaching, judging, choreographing & inspiring dancers of all ages worldwide.

STEVEN VAUGHN

STEVEN VAUGHN earned his BFA in Modern Dance on scholarship from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA earning several honors, including Excellence in Modern Dance. Vaughn danced for Parsons Dance, directed by David Parsons from 2008-2014, working with artists including Kate Skarpetowska and Robert Battle while teaching and performing around the world.  He earned his MFA in Dance from Hollins University in 2017 where he also achieved the rank of Assistant Professor in Fall 2020. 

 

His teaching credits include several years at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ, and guest teaching and choreography at University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Harvard University, as well as youth and pre-professional programs across the country including Forrest Academy of Ballet and Broadway Dance Center, both in New York City. Steven has worked in physical therapy as an exercise trainer and is fully certified in Pilates, applying his unique approach to body form and function to all age and experience levels including first time movers, professionals and US Olympians. His film and TV credits include: Law & Order: SVU, New Amsterdam, The Sinner, 10 Shots, and Good Morning America with country music star, Luke Bryan.

 

Steven lives in Massachusetts where he is on faculty at the CLI Conservatory, directed by Teddy Forance, and The Gold School, directed by Rennie Gold. He owns and operates The Studio on Pope’s Island, in New Bedford, MA teaching Pilates and dance with his partner, Nicole. 

Are you interested in judging for Leap!?

Please send us your information for consideration. All submissions MUST include a Headshot, Resume, and Short Bio. Please send your information to drew@LeapCompetition.com.

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