The Groove Crew

City Dance Corps Hip Hop Performance Crew

About the crew

Welcome to The Groove Crew at City Dance Corps! We empower young dancers aged 8- 12 through hip-hop and street style dance, fostering confidence, creativity, and community engagement. Our supportive environment emphasizes inclusivity, professional guidance, fun, and respect, helping dancers grow both artistically and personally.

At City Dance Corps Groove Crew, we nurture the creative potential of young dancers, instilling confidence and passion for hip-hop and street style dance. Our mission is to provide a supportive and inclusive space for artistic and personal growth, while positively impacting our communities through performances and local event participation.

Dancers are accepted into the crew through video auditions and are required to dance 2.5 hours per week.

Our Values

Empowerment:

We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our crew feels empowered and confident to express themselves through dance. We provide the tools, techniques, and knowledge required to develop strong hip-hop and street style foundations.

Creativity

Creativity is at the heart of hip-hop culture. We encourage our young

dancers to embrace their unique artistic voices, fostering creativity through choreography, freestyling, and improvisation.

Community Engagement:

We understand the importance of giving back to

our communities. Our crew members will have opportunities to showcase their talent at local performances and community events, spreading joy and positivity through their art.

Fun & Friendship

While we strive for excellence, we also prioritize fun and the development of lasting friendships among our crew members. Dance should be an enjoyable journey of self-discovery.

Respect & Discipline

We instill a sense of respect for oneself, fellow dancers, instructors, and the art of dance. Discipline and commitment are essential for growth, and we encourage our dancers to embrace these values.

Meet the choreographers

Crew Director

Ashley Maia

Ashley started dancing at the age of 6, in Toronto. Began as a technical and competitive dancer for 11 years, trained in ADAPT and RAD while completing all examinations. In summer 2017 she was accepted and trained at the Joffery Ballet School in New York City in ballet, jazz and hiphop styles. Ashley has performed and opened for Portuguese artists including Mickael Carriera’s Toronto concert and the Miss Portugal Canada Pageant in Toronto. Since 2020 Ashley has also branched out into more urban styles and has worked on some amazing projects. Some of these projects include campaign videos and concept videos with the following Toronto artists: Tatiana Parker, Shavar Blackwood and Leon Blackwood. She is a member of a Hip Hop dance team from Toronto and expanding her training through it. Always a student growing her knowledge and experience as a dancer to bring the best guidance to her students.

Crew Director

Alysis Davis

Alysis Davis is a performer, dance educator, and emerging choreographer based in Toronto, ON. Introduced to dance at the young age of 3 at Canada’s National Ballet School, she moved on to Toronto’s competitive dance scene, then became a member of DancEast’s Youth Performance Company in Moncton, New Brunswick. Alysis holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University, complemented by minors in Entrepreneurship and Psychology. Her professional training spans Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, and Ballet, including certification as an ADAPT Jazz and Tap instructor. Beyond TMU, she has had the pleasure of training under and performing in works across Ontario by notable artists such as Natasha Powell, Angela Blumberg, Vicki St. Denys, Raoul Wilke, Alysa Pires, Louis Laberge-Cote, Roberto Campanella, Rock Bottom Movement, and more. During her studies, Alysis received the New Brunswick Arts Board Full-Time Arts Scholarship based on her on-stage and film choreographic and performance portfolio. Alysis actively seeks opportunities to enhance her training and knowledge, maintaining a deep passion for dance in every role she steps into, and is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers in becoming confident, resilient, and creative movers.