Annie Wood

Charismatic, Passionate, Tenacious and Committed are just a few words to describe Annie.

Owner and Artistic Director of Breaking Bounds, Annie’s life work has been devoted to dance education and the performing arts. Annie holds a Master’s degree in Dance Studies. She also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in dance and theatre performance. To add, Annie is a certified professional teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers. She is also graduate of the Randolph College of Performing Arts and she studied intensively at Edge Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Annie brings over twenty- five years of experience in multiple aspects of the dance and entertainment industry including choreographing and performing in concert dance, musical theatre, film, television and commercial dance as well as extensive involvement in dance studio life and competitive dance. Annie is one of Canada’s top educators, choreographers and event producers in the business and her vast professional network spans world-wide.

Annie was founder and director of former Canadian dance convention, DanceFuzion for over 10 years. She was also director and choreographer of concert dance company, Company Verve. Annie’s work has been presented at FFIDA for three consecutive years, Dance Ontario, Harbourfront Festival, Just Jazz 2000 and 2001, Dusk Dances and many other dance festival events across Canada. She was a member of Siona Jackson’s dance company, J’danse, she was a founding member of Toronto based dance company, Tin Pan Alley Dance Project and she was a member of Jeff Amsden’s dance company, Angel City Dance Company in Los Angeles.

Annie’s choreography has been seen on television networks including CTV, City TV, CBC, Bravo and TVO
She was choreographer for the Show Choir, Splash at Etobicoke School of the Arts and received critical acclaim for her work in their productions of Fosse and West Side Story. Annie was also featured in the TVO documentary, Unsung: Behind the Glee. Annie choreographed musical productions including: Rent, Urinetown, Anne of Green Gables, Across the Universe, West Side Story, and Fosse. She has also choreographed several Broadway review productions.

Annie performed on Princess Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines. She was a featured dancer in the production of Swing at the Elgin and Wintergarden Theatre in Toronto. She has appeared in countless live industrial and commercial events nation wide and throughout the United States. She appeared in films including: Blues Brothers 2000, Superstar, Honey and Year of the Pheonix.

Annie has worked with celebrities including: Glee star, Naya Rivera, Nelly Furtado, Jon Secada, Gregory Hines, M2M, Alanis Morissette, and Michael Buble to name a few.

Currently Annie is on faculty as Dance Director at the prestigious International school for girls, Branksome Hall in Toronto, Canada. Annie has taught in many distinguished performing arts programs including Etobicoke School for the Arts, Sheridan College, George Brown College, York University, Ryerson University and The Randolph College for Performing Arts Quinte Ballet School and Alberta Ballet Summer School. She has also judged at competitions across North America with prestigious dance competitions such as American Dance Awards Dance Masters of America and Terpsichore Dance Celebration. She has taught internationally through workshops and master class events. Annie has had the privilege of teaching on panels alongside dance industry icons such as Mia Michaels, Chet Walker, Tyce Diorio, Frank Augustine, Marty Kudelka and Michael Weaver to name a few.

As a teacher, Annie is known for her challenging and inspiring classes. Her work focuses in on building physical strength and stamina. In addition, Annie works with dancers to develop a strong connection to breath, emotion and dynamics. Utilizing a strong ballet foundation, the energy and force of Jazz dance and the bold trends in modern and contemporary dance, Annie’s unique movement style and challenging, artistic choreography is filled with expressive nuances and compelling qualities.

A life-long learner herself, Annie is always striving to develop her knowledge and expand her skills both in the arts and in business.

Annie has pledged herself to the development of young talent. She constantly works to champion the notion that positive mental health and well being are critical to address within the dance community. She also continues to foster opportunities for leadership and learning through her mentorship programs at Breaking Bounds. As the director of Breaking Bounds Annie strives to continue developing innovative and meaningful platforms for dancers to experience quality training and education in dance. Taking brave creative risks, stepping outside of oneself into zones of discomfort and working for deeper self- discovery are principals that are at the heart of Annie’s teaching and the philosophy of Breaking Bounds.