My name is Debbie Upwood, the director and developer of Pilates for Dancers™. I am registered in STOTT Pilates®, TOTAL BARRE® and Acrobatic Arts instruction. I am also a dance studio owner with over 20 years of experience. 

I began developing the Pilates for Dancers™ program in 2024. My passion to incorporate pilates and functional training into dancers’ weekly technique and conditioning classes stemmed from the physical demands that dancing at a competitive level has on a dancer’s body today. I had noticed there was a need for improvement in dancers’ technical training, and that their fundamental technique classes, such as ballet, jazz, tap, and acro, were not always providing them with the tools to fully understand how to engage and coordinate the body’s muscle groups to maximize their technique and help prevent injury. 

Injury prevention should be industry standard, and I believe in shifting the mindset from “push through” to “train smart”. Dancers train just as hard as any athlete and the physical demands placed on their bodies calls for supportive, supplemental training. I have developed a program that gives dancers a solid foundation from head to toe and provides them with a deeper understanding of the muscle engagement and alignment that is needed to support technical execution. 

This program will have a lasting effect on dancers throughout their dance careers and encourage them to continue this kind of self-care post-graduation. My goal is for Pilates for Dancers™ to help elevate industry standards and encourage dancers to train smarter, get stronger, and sustain long, healthy careers in dance.

Coming soon

Tamya Christogu began dancing at the age of four, training in a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. A proud alumna of the Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance, she was a dedicated member of their competitive team, earning numerous awards at competitions across Canada and the United States. 

Tamya continued her training at Cawthra Park Secondary School’s Regional Arts Program in Dance, where she studied RAD Ballet as well as Graham and Limón techniques, and further expanded her education at the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Summer Intensive in New York City. In her current professional work, Tamya dances for the Toronto Argonauts A-Team in the Canadian Football League, along with many other performance opportunities. 

As a Licentiate Member with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association with over a decade of teaching experience, Tamya is passionate about fostering a positive and supportive space where dancers can grow in both skill and confidence. She is excited to share the Pilates for Dancers™ syllabus with young dancers, helping them develop strength, stability, and greater awareness within their movement. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies and a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and Education, bringing a thoughtful and informed approach to her work with dancers.