Harriet Chung

HCPA Artistic Director
Musical Theatre, Ballet, and Contemporary Instructor

Harriet Chung is an internationally acclaimed performer, choreographer, and educator whose career spans ballet, musical theatre, and film. Born in Hong Kong, she trained at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts before advancing her studies with the National Ballet of Canada. She went on to perform with Empire State Ballet, Ontario Ballet Theatre, and Xing Dance Theatre, later starring in major international productions including The Phantom of the Opera (Toronto), Cats (Hamburg), and The King & I, where she earned an Ovation Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography.

Harriet received critical acclaim for her starring role in the award-winning musical Golden Lotus, which earned her a Hecklers Award nomination for Best Actress. She went on to win multiple Best Actress awards for the internationally recognized film adaptation, also contributing to its official soundtrack. Expanding into music, Harriet released the hit single A World Away (Remix), winner of Best Original Song at the Hollywood Gold Awards, followed by her debut album A World Away (2023), featuring award-winning tracks such as Today and Tomorrow and Old Montreal.

As an educator, Harriet has taught internationally, leading musical theatre master classes across Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Canada. She is the Artistic Director of Harriet Chung Performing Arts (HCPA), where she develops and trains triple-threat performers, and previously served as Director of YIPs Canada Musical Theatre Program. Many of her students have gone on to perform professionally in productions such as Mirvish’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Room, and Disney’s The Lion King (Toronto). Harriet has also been invited to serve as a judge for major events including the Calgary Music Festival and the Vancouver Provincials (Performing Arts BC).

Harriet’s students have earned top recognition at the Ontario Music Festivals Association (OMFA), Kiwanis Festival, and achieved numerous placements in local music festivals and competitions. They have also competed at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), earning top placements at the finals, with some receiving full scholarships to the National Ballet of Canada. HCPA itself has been recognized with the Top Studio Award at Inspire Dance Challenge, with dancers also receiving scholarships and top honors at national-level dance competitions.

Harriet is a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), where her students have achieved top placements at competitions in Detroit and Philadelphia. She continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her contributions to theatre, film, music, and education.

Most recently, Harriet earned widespread praise for her dual roles and choreography in the world premiere of Salesman in China at the Stratford Festival (2024), reprising her role at the National Arts Centre in 2025.

Mariana Mangevil Alvarez

Ballet and Lyrical Instructor

Mariana began her studies at The National Ballet School and Fine Arts in Mexico City. In 2001 she graduated with a special Honors in Ballet and with a bachelor’s degree in Dance.

She trained in Ballet (Vaganova methodology), modern and contemporary dance, among Folklore dance, Music, Theater, Choreography, and Visual Arts.

At the age of 13 she played the role of “Clara” in The Nutcracker with the National Ballet of Mexico and the same year she obtained a scholarship at the Kirov Academy Ballet School, in Washington, D.C. for their summer program and school program.

Mariana has participated in several Ballet competitions at a National and International Level representing the best in her Country.

At the National Ballet Competition, she won a bronze Medal in 1999 and silver medal in 2001 and 2002.

In 2001 Mariana was invited to participate and represent Mexico at the most prestigious International Ballet competitions in the world. “The Grand Prix de Lausanne” in Lausanne, Switzerland. There, she had the opportunity to take classes and to work with the best teachers and choreographers in the world of dance.

In 2002, she won a Gold Medal at The XXI International Ballet Competition for Latin America, celebrated in Yucatan, Mexico.

From 2002 to 2008 she danced with The National Ballet Company of Mexico as a Corps of Ballet and was given the opportunity to performed soloist roles such as Two swans of Swan Lake, fairies from sleeping Beauty, among others. She participated in productions such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Carmina Burana, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, just to mention a few.

Since she moved to Canada Mariana continued her dance career performing with Motus O Dance Theatre and as an independent choreographer and dancer, she participated in festivals such as The Uxbridge Studio Tour in 2013 and Vanguardia Dance Festival for Latin American Choreographers at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Mariana has been teaching and choreographing in Canada since 2011, for recreational and competitive programs all around York Region, Durham, and Mexico.

She obtained her PBT Certification “Progressing Ballet Technique”, and She continues her professional training at “In Studio” at the National Ballet in Toronto, Dance Teq and Metromovement, just to mention a few and continues to help her students achieve their dreams and share her passion for Dance.

Juliya Valasevich

Ballet and Acro Instructor

Juliya's passion for dance started when she was 5 years old. Once turned 10 she entered a nine year full time ballet program, since then she achieved impressive results as a ballerina, teacher and artist. 

After the graduation from Balarusian State Choreographic College Juliya became a successful ballet dancer and a professional teacher of Russian classical dance. Her talent and skills brought her all over the world, she participated in international competitions and multiple ballet tours. She perfomed in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and South Korea. 

During the time at Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus Juliya's hard work and extraordinary determination helped her to be chosen to take part in various ballets of the theatre repertoire including The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Spartacus, Don Quixote , Romeo and Juliet ,Giselle, Cinderella, Bolero, La Bayadere , La Sylphide , La Esmeralda, Anyuta , Carmina Burana , Chopiniana , Cipollino , Creation of the World, La Fille Mal Gardee , Flower Festival in Genzano , etc. 

After moving to Canada with her family Juliya's main focus fell on her teaching career. Since then she's been working for many dance studios around GTA teaching both recreational and competitive divisions. Always feeling interest to other styles of dance and looking for the new opportunities to grow and expand her business, Juliya successfully completed the certification course in Acrobatic Arts and is recognized as a fully certified and qualified Module One Acrobatic Dance Teacher. She also spent some time learning and mastering contemporary dance and jazz in Germany and Poland, where she was also honored with certificates. 

Alongside the teaching Juliya never loses her passion to perform for the audience, she often takes part in local dance projects, collaborates with singers, musicians and circus artists and became a co-choreographer and a soloist with the Ismailova Theatre of Dance. She continues to seek out professional development opportunities and during her time away from Canada has recently attended a teacher training seminar (Vaganova method)  and classical dance teacher workshops in Minsk and St.Petersbourg. 

Juliya is very excited to continue sharing her knowledge with the shining stars of HCPA family!

Jazlynn Su

jazz, Lyrical, ballet and K-pop instructor

Jazlynn began dancing at the age of four and joined Harriet Chung Performing Arts (HCPA) at eight. She proudly holds the distinction of being the first student to receive the Triple Threat Award at HCPA. Currently, she is a senior student in the prestigious Arts Dance Program at Unionville High School, where she has had the privilege of working with a wide range of industry choreographers.

At nine, Jazlynn joined the HCPA Full-Time Dance Competition Team. Since then, she has earned numerous overall awards and scholarships at both international and local dance competitions. In addition to performing, Jazlynn is passionate about choreography. Her self-choreographed pieces—and those created for her students—have received first-place honors and special judges' awards.

Jazlynn is also an accomplished vocalist. She has received first-place awards and scholarships at festivals including the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival, Unionville Music Festival, Yip’s Music Festival, and Take The Stage Festival. She was honored to represent Take The Stage Festival at the Ontario Music Festival Association (OMFA). She is also the lead singer of a live band that regularly performs at various school events.

Expanding her training internationally, Jazlynn attended dance workshops at Pineapple Studios and Danceworks in London, UK. She is also the lead dancer in Unionville High School’s largest production, Showtime.

Outside of performing arts, Jazlynn volunteers at her church, working with young children. She also enjoys a variety of sports, including volleyball, badminton, and snowboarding.

Eric Tran

break dancing Instructor

Eric Tran also known as "Transitionz" has been dancing for over 10 years.

He started his journey in high school where a group of breakdancers inspired him to pursue this unique journey.

Over the decade, he has competed many times in Toronto and even extended all over North America. He has  won and has been placed in the top spots in numerous competitions.

He is also an important member of the Breakdancing community as he has hosted many competitions since the pandemic to keep the community engaged.

After being a business professional for 3 years who graduated from Ryerson University in HR, he has decided to share his passion of dance to the younger generation and wishes to grow the dancing scene.

He has taught students of all ages for over 2 years now, and takes great pleasure in seeing his students progress and improve!

Etsuko Ng

Ballet, Jazz and assistant musical theatre Instructor

In 2020 Etsuko graduated from the associates program at Canada’s National Ballet School, and was given the opportunity to perform in The Nutcracker (2017-2020) with The National Ballet of Canada. Over the past 6 years, Etsuko has competed in provincial, national as well as international competitions. Etsuko started competing at the age of 8 and has since won solos, duets and group awards, including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre. She has competed at Youth America Grand Prix, Toronto Kiwanis Festival, International Dance Talent Competition Italy, Take The Stage Festival, The National American Dance Awards, StarCatchers Dance Competition, Inspire Dance Challenge, SHOCK Dance Challenge, Northern Star Dance Challenge, etc.

Etsuko’s passion for dance started at the age of 3. She started her Royal Academy of Dance ballet training and examinations at Jean Wong School of Ballet Hong Kong, where she was able to achieve distinction on all of her exams (2009-2022). Etsuko also performed in La Fille Mal Gradee (2007) as well as Sleeping Beauty (2008).

In 2012 she joined The Conservatory of International Style and Cultural Arts (CISCA) to continue her RAD ballet exams and training while discovering different dance styles such as Jazz, Lyrical, Hip hop, and Modern. There Etsuko was privileged to learn and work with Flora Zeta Elizabeth Cheong-Leen and Johan Stjernholm, as well as the honor to perform the lead role in The Nutcracker (2012-2014) and Sleeping Beauty (2015-2017), along with charity events at the Rotary Club of Beijing. Etsuko was also given the opportunity to visit and attend classes at The Joffrey Ballet School in New York.

In 2018 Etsuko joined the Harriet Chung Performing Arts (HCPA), where she continued her dance training and discovered her voice as a singer. Since then she was able to learn and work with Harriet Chung, and won multiple overall awards in musical theatre as well as in dance. In 2021 Etsuko became a teacher at HCPA, she started teaching ballet and being an assistant teacher in musical theatre.

Recently, Etsuko has completed her Advanced 1 Royal Academy of Dance Examination, and is looking forward to completing her Advanced 2 examination.

Charlotte Hoxey

Acro, TAP, Ballet and Lyrical instructor

Charlotte is a passionate and accomplished dancer, performer, and teacher whose dance journey began at the age of three. After moving to Stouffville, she trained competitively at Dance Creations in styles including Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Acro, Musical Theatre, Modern, and Hip Hop from age seven through to her graduation at eighteen.

Charlotte has earned numerous overall, special, and high-scoring awards for her solo work and has been recognized at the World Ballet Art Grand Prix, Youth America Grand Prix, and invitations as Junior, Teen, and Senior Miss Dance with Dance Canada and World Performers Canada. She holds Intermediate II Ballet and Jazz certifications with honours from Performing Arts Educators of Canada (P.A.E.C.).

Her professional credits include modeling for The Tutu Gallery, performing in the Rooms In This House music video by Savage Patch Kidds, and appearing in the 2024 Women of Inspiration Awards with Isenberg Entertainment.

Most recently, she performed on board the Disney Wish with Disney Cruise Line, from December 2024-June 2025 dancing in: Seas the Adventure, Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Deck Party, Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party. She also performed in, Set Sail on a Wish, Olaf’s Royal Picnic, Wishing Ever After, and Mickey and Minnie’s Pirates in the Caribbean.

With a deep love for teaching, Charlotte began assisting classes at age 9 and started teaching by 16. She has also worked as a camp counsellor for Dance Creations and the Town of Stouffville and holds certifications in Standard First Aid and HIGH FIVE® Healthy Child Development.

Charlotte joined Harriet Chung Performing Arts in 2024, where she teaches Acro, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. She is thrilled to be part of the HCPA. family!

Victoria Mione

Acro instructor

Victoria began her dance journey at the age of five at Dance Creations, where she trained for ten years in various styles; ballet, tap, acro, jazz, hiphop, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, and began competing at age seven. After taking a short break, she realized how much she missed dance and returned with renewed passion. Victoria has since joined Harriet Chung Performing Arts, where she now trains in ballet and shares her love of movement as an instructor in both acro.

Throughout her dance career, Victoria has performed at numerous community events, including multiple appearances at the Stouffville Strawberry Festival and showcases at local senior residences. She has received several overalls for hiphop and acro trios and special awards for her contemporary solo, jazz duet, and trio performances, as well as multiple invitations to compete for Miss Dance Canada. Victoria’s dedication, artistry, and joy for performance continue to shine both on stage and in the classroom, where she inspires her students to express themselves through dance.

Ela Weinreich

assistant musical Theatre instructor

Ela is a passionate and creative performer with a profound love for dancing, singing, and musicals. She brings a natural talent to the stage, seamlessly conveying the emotions behind each piece of music or story. Ela's artistic journey includes five years of full-time competitive dancing, during which she honed her skills and gained extensive experience.

In addition to her dancing prowess, Ela has excelled in various singing competitions, earning numerous awards. Her exceptional talent was recognized by Louise Pitre (Tony Awards Winner)  in Music Theatre Competition 2022, who commended her for her authentic presence and performance.

Ela's versatility extends to the theater, where she participated in the professional production of "Matilda" in 2022, portraying the role of Alice. She has also appeared in various commercials, showcasing her adaptability and broad range of skills.

Ela’s innate ability to connect with her audience through heartfelt performances sets her apart as a truly exceptional artist.

Aaden Leung

Production Manager

Aaden began his vocal training with Ms. Harriet Chung at the age of six and stepped onto the stage for his first performance at just seven years old. Since then, he has pursued his love of music through countless competitions, including Yip’s Music Festival, Unionville Music Competition, Toronto Kiwanis Festival, Take the Stage Music Festival, and community showcases such as the Strawberry Festival. Over the years, he has earned multiple awards in singing competitions and proudly achieved second place in Stouffville’s Got Talent. His dedication and talent have also led him to advance to provincial competitions on multiple occasions, where he continues to shine as a strong and confident performer.

More recently, Aaden has developed a passion for the technical side of music, with a focus on audio and live production. He regularly contributes his expertise to HCPA’s annual musical productions, supporting behind the scenes in technical operations while also sharing the stage alongside his fellow performers.

Elizabeth DeGrazia

guest instructor - musical theatre

Elizabeth spent 5 years singing the lead role of Christine Daae in the Toronto Production of Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre. Elizabeth originated the role of Blanche Ingram in the Canadian premiere of JANE EYRE which played at the Royal Alexander theatre and then went onto Broadway. Elizabeth can be heard on both the Canadian and Broadway full cast recordings. Elizabeth Earned the Garland Award for her performance in Jane Eyre on Broadway.

Elizabeth has sung with the Naples Philharmonic, the Cincinnati and Boston Pops orchestras, Opera Omaha and the Glimmerglass and Santa Fe Operas. A highlight for Elizabeth was being guest soloist at the Seoul Arts Center with Conductor Jung-Ho, Pak.

Elizabeth was also seen at Hope Harcourt in ANYTHING GOES with the Stratford Festival.

Elizabeth Currently lives in Toronto with her husband and 3 sons where she teaches and performs regularly with the Toronto Operetta Theatre company.

Mikayla Madronich

guest instructor - Acro and Contemporary

Mikayla grew up dancing in Hamilton Ontario, where she quickly discovered it was her passion. She began competing at the age of 5, which opened up so many opportunities for her as a dancer. As a teenager Mikayla had won scholarships letting her perform and take classes from Top Industry Professionals in LA, Vegas, and New York, where she danced in concept videos, a live show at the Minskoff Theater in NYC, and in Times Square. Growing up she completed all of her CDTA Ballet Exams, and trained at Zacada Circus on Aerial Silks, Aerial Hoop, and Trapeze. After graduating she continued her training as a CLI trainee, where she was directed under her mentor, Teddy Forance. Mikayla then attended Intrepid Dance Company learning from Choreographers such as Derek Piquette, and Mitchell Jackson, and graduated in 2022. Mikayla has also had the opportunity to assist the well known choreographer Mitchell Jackson. She performed on Canada’s Got Talent Season 1 as a contestant with Intrepid Dance Company, she danced as an opening act for Blake Mcgraths Live Promo Tour, Back Up danced for REVE, and Local Toronto artist Nadia Stone, and danced in multiple music videos.

On top of her love for performing she found a drive for Choreography, she first started choreographing competitive routines at the age of 16 and has since been awarded multiple choreography awards, and concept awards for her routines. Aside from the competitive industry Mikayla has choreographed Concept videos, Event performances, and multiple routines for a Nadia Stone virtual concert.

She is Certified with “International Dance Teaching Standards”, “Progressing Ballet Technique”, “Acrobatic Arts”, and is a “canadian Dance Teachers Association” affiliate.

Jennifer Ip

general manager

With a background in Bachelor of Administrative Studies and Marketing, Jenn Ip has seamlessly transitioned from academia to a dynamic career in event planning and management. Starting in 2018, Jenn took on the role of General Manager at Harriet Chung Performing Arts (HCPA), where she has been instrumental in orchestrating a variety of successful events such as the Take The Stage Music Festival and HCPA Annual Year End shows . Her role involves managing and liaising with parents, schools, and music festivals, ensuring smooth operations and exceptional experiences for all involved.

In addition to her achievements at HCPA, Jenn brings a wealth of experience from the media industry, where she work full-time in mainstream television. Her expertise in customer service has been a cornerstone of her professional journey, underscoring her commitment to delivering high-quality, client-focused solutions across all her roles.