World-renowned dancer, choreographer returns home to teach Sudbury students

World renowned dancer teaches in Sudbury A Sudbury-born dancer and choreographer was back in his hometown teaching students.

World-renowned dancer and choreographer Mitchell Jackson returned to his hometown high school in Sudbury this week to teach the next generation of artists.

"I remember sitting in this room when we'd be given this opportunity to work with professionals in the industry and knowing that’s what I wanted to do," Jackson said.

"So any time I can come back and inspire and give that feedback, that motivation to help them pursue their career, it just feels so full circle, it feels so good."

Jackson taught a contemporary routine to students at Sudbury Secondary School, as well as offering career advice. Dance teacher Ashley Rantala said it was a good opportunity for students to get exposed to a different style of dance and learn about career paths.

"It may not be dancing itself, but wearing different hats as a choreographer, a teacher, a judicator, a convention director, there's so many opportunities," Rantala said.

"It was really important that the students understand that and get that hands-on experience to see what they can possibly do with their dance education."

Grade 12 student Caterina Eaton-Boehm said she hopes to one day open a dance studio, to share the same passion she feels for dance with others. She said she found the choreography challenging, but enjoyable.

"It was really good to learn from someone who has graduated from here and gone through all the same things we've gone through currently," Eaton-Boehm said.

"It's really nice to see he's went out there and did some things id love to do on the future."

Jackson auditioned for the dance program at Sudbury Secondary School and made it, despite having no formal training.

His former teacher and now principal of the school, Heather Downey, said she knew there was something special about him as soon as she saw him.

"He had said to me he had never danced before, he had no formal training, but he loved it," Downey said.

'IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING'

"He had perfectly memorized the choreo for the piece. It was absolutely amazing. It took me aback actually."

Downey recalled how hard working he was to improve as a dancer.

"Not one time did he eat lunch in the cafeteria, he'd eat in the dance studio," she said.

"He was rehearsing every single day, he was practising, even if it wasn’t a group he was in, he was watching, he was learning, he was working on his flexibility, he was working on his coordination."

Downey said she regularly keeps in touch with Jackson and she's proud of his success.

"Like all teachers, it’s a parent thing, you want your kids to be better than you," she said.

"You want your kids to aim higher and achieve more than you, and he absolutely has done that."

Jackson competed on dance show So You Think You Can Dance Canada three times, and has choreographed routines for show World of Dance, the Junos, and worked for celebrities from the likes of REV and Jennifer Lopez.

Some of his students have gone on to be on Taylor Swift's Eras tour and Beyonce's Renaissance tour. Just last year, he won multiple awards globally for his routines.

He is also founder of dance competition On The Floor and Intrepid Dance Company, based out of Markham.

Jackson will be undertaking numerous projects in the new year, and working with a number of artists.