Ella Steele - Co-Artistic Director

Ella Steele (she/her) is a Tap dancer based in Winnipeg with experience both nationally and internationally. Some highlights include being a part of Nicholas Van Young’s Institute for the Rhythmic Arts, Chicago 2015, performing in shows presented by Toffan Rhythm Projects since 2016, training with Heather Cornell and Jim Donica in New York, summer 2019, and being selected for The School at Jacob’s Pillow Virtual Tap Dance Program, summer 2021. Ella has also choreographed and performed in multiple music videos, live shows, and video art pieces created by local musicians and artists in Winnipeg. Additionally, with 12 years of experience across Canada as a teacher and choreographer, Ella prides herself in being a dedicated dance educator. This includes founding and directing Language of Rhythm Pre-Professional Tap Dance Company with the goal of developing Tap dance community in Winnipeg, sharing with young artists, and creating connections with the local Jazz music scene. Ella is co-artistic director of (in)sight alongside David Lafleur, a new cross-Canadian multi-disciplinary Tap dance rooted collective. An excerpt of (in)sight’s debut work, Mirror/Water/Doorway, was presented as a part of the Toronto International Tap Dance Festival, summer 2022, and has recently been selected by La Danse Sur Les Routes Du Quebec for Parcours Dance, fall 2023. Ella has been a main cast member of Rhythm & Sound since 2017, performing in shows in both Toronto and Edmonton and is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform with them at the Toronto Fringe Festival for their current work, “In Passing”

David Lafleur - Co-Artistic Director

David Lafleur (he/him) is a tap dancer based in the National Capital Region. He is the co-artistic director of (in)sight, a cross-canadian multi-disciplinary tap dance rooted collective, alongside Ella Steele, which strives to create, produce, and disseminate work across Canada. Most recently, they have launched their summer series programming in which students are able to train and learn from some of the most devoted and passionate educators in North America. (in)sight also has debuted new work at the Toronto International Tap Dance Festival in August 2022 produced by Toffan Rhythm Projects. David danced in Dianne Montgomery’s Fall For Dance North 2022 Commission and World Premiere, Softly Losing, Softly Gaining. He has also been a main cast member for Rhythm and Sound, directed by Johnathan Morin and Cori Giannotta, since their 2017 fall iteration “Illumination”, and most recently as a part of “In Passing” in July 2023 for the Toronto Fringe Festival. He has performed in various productions across North America, including the School at Jacob’s Pillow (directed by Michelle Dorrance, Derick Grant and Dormeshia), the Just for Laughs Festival (opening for Aba and Preach with the Montreal Swing Riot), Toffan Rhythm Projects (Allison Toffan and Juliana Kelly), and the Ottawa Jazz Festival (with the Ottawa Rhythm Initiative). He is a sought-after tap dance educator and is devoted to sharing his love of tap dance with his community. In addition to his professional tap dance career, David has recently completed his master’s degree in human kinetics with a specialization in neuroscience at the University of Ottawa.