Dance, Fitness & Wellness Studio

 

 

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INSTRUCTORS

 

Gerie Tiqui   Isaac Ishak  Catherine Javier   Cathie Saunders

 

 

GERIE TIQUI

Gerie Tiqui's first experience dancing in front of a crowd was when she was 8 years old at the CNE performing tahitian and hawaiian dances with her family dance troupe consisting of sisters and cousins, with lead dancer Catherine Javier (nee Tiqui).  She choreographed as early as the age of 10 routines for two 5th grade classes and danced at various events such as: Cultural centre openings, community centre openings, Canada Day celebrations, CNE yearly, weddings and fund raisers.  After hanging up her grass skirt in her mid teens, Hawaiian dancing took a back seat to her education and other dance forms and artistic endeavours and fitness classes.

 

She acquired a passion for Latin Dancing, specifically Salsa dancing that began in February 1991 when a friend from the U of T "dragged" her to Berlin night club on a Tuesday night.  After watching a spectacular performance by Josie Neglia and Abby Mina, she realized that this was a dance style that was the right fit for her.    After taking formal lessons with various instructors in Toronto: (City Dance Corps, Hip Action, Latin Energy, Magical Motions) and  learning the various styles of salsa through workshops attended in: Montreal, LA, New York and Dubai she has come full circle and teaches with an energy and enthusiasm that students find comfortable, encouraging and contagious.  She also teaches Merengue, Bachata, Hip Hop  and finally Bellydance. 

 

Gerie is also a certified fitness instructor who has taught group fitness classes at clubs such as: Premier Fitness (Burnhamthorpe & Erindale Station, Trafalgar & Dundas, Milton, Erin Mills Pkwy & QEW),   The Oakville Club and The Ontario Racquet Club (Mississauga), and a certified personal trainer training private clients at the Training Spot, in client homes and at the studio.  Gerie has also taught in salsa dance and belly dance classes as part of the high school physical education curriculum in Oakville/Mississauga:  Oakville Trafalgar High school, Clarkson High School and Woodlands High School and more recently St. Martins Catholic Highschool.

 

Gerie's professional background includes: the financial services and investment industry working in the areas of corporate compliance, marketing, sales, project management, business development, consulting; the cosmetic/fragrance industry as a make-up artist (Quadrant, Givenchy, L'Oreal, Lancaster, Arden), voice-over/radio commercials, web/graphic design and finally in the fitness industry as fitness manager, membership sales and director of sales and marketing.  Now, she adds the titles of Certified Foot Reflexologist, Reiki Master/Teacher and student of Akashic Records Consulting to her list of skill sets. Described by many who know her as a "a female Forrest Gump",  she plays the piano, sings and paints and always tries something new just because.  In whatever role she takes on, whether as: a Reiki Master/Teacher, Dance/Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Foot Reflexologist, Performer, etc. her main goal is to ensure that some level of healing energy is transferred and shared with all who surround her. You can send any questions or comments to: gerie@mistiki.com.

 

 

ISAAC ISHAK

Isaac discovers his love for SALSA while visiting various Salsa night clubs in the Toronto area.  His knowledge of Salsa basics and easy-going dance style make learning as a beginner easy as pie.  With a preference for LA Style salsa, Isaac breaks down many complicated cross-body lead moves and intricate spins that will keep lead and followers coming back to learn more.  Contact him at: isaac@mistiki.com

 

 

CATHERINE JAVIER

Catherine is a City of Toronto employee residing in the greater Oakville area.  Born in the Philippines where she discovered her love for dance and trained as a professional Hawaiian dancer.  She immigrated to Canada in 1976 with her family at the age of 14, and graduated from Seneca College.  Her father, her biggest fan believed in her talents and promoted her to dance at local ethnic venues.  As word in the community spread around, Catherine was invited to perform her graceful Hawaiian dance at the Canadian National Exhibition, Philippine gala events and private functions such as family weddings.  Catherine was the lead dancer and choreographer in her family's dance troupe.  Now married with 3 teenage children, Catherine continues to maintain an active life style with her husband Mario.   They are running partners who proudly support charity events such as the National Capital Race weekend in Ottawa, Toronto Marathon for Princess Margaret Hospital, Robbie Burns Race in Burlington and other local fund raising events. Currently, Catherine has discovered a new aerobic type dance technique better known as Zumba and has taken the initiative to educate herself and master this new exercise phenomenon.

Together with her husband they now both teach this fun, dynamic and exciting fitness program.

 

Contact Catherine at: zumba@mistiki.com or 905-467-1314, http://zumba4ever.googlepages.com/

 

CATHIE SAUNDERS

For the past 25 years,  Cathie Saunders has been teaching group fitness classes.
She has been working for the Town Of Oakville – Parks and Recreation since it opened in the early  90’s.   Throughout these years, the ever increasing number of participants in Cathie’s classes is a testimonial to both the explosive interest in personal fitness and the awareness to its benefits.  Cathie has also experienced
first hand just how important it is to care for ones own body.   Having survived 35 sessions of chemotherapy and radiation after being diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago,  Cathie knows that her excellent physical condition not only greatly reduced her recovery time, it may have saved her life.  The doctors often said just how amazed they were by Cathie’s progress and credited her superb conditioning with her ability to endure these terrible times.  However her fight took its toll, losing the muscle tone, definition and stamina that she worked so hard to develop over the years.  Almost a year later, Cathie was back in the gym with a passion, determined to regain what  her bout with cancer  had taken away.  Within several months she was
back (almost) to her old self.


Cathie’s new love in fitness is Zumba.  Zumba is a latin inspired aerobic fitness class which is rapidly becoming the next fitness sensation!  Zumba is hot, sexy, soulful and most exciting workout ever, DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE.  You do not have to dance to Zumba.  Zumba’s party-like atmosphere, creates a less intimidating class for students with little co-ordination.  Students know they can just go with the flow and enjoy the party.   Because of the hot, sexy, and explosive latin and exotic music rhythms – all participants will be motivated to return to Zumba again and again.  Go to www.zumba.com and see for yourself.  Cathie is also nicknamed ZumbaQueen. 

 

Contact Cathie at 905-336-9861 or cathie3105@hotmail.com or cathie@mistiki.com