NOVEMBER 7-8, 2027
Westin Edmonton 10135 100 Street NW

2026 Edmonton Gala Judges

Martin Lefèbvre - Calgary

Martin Lefebvre

A Montreal Native, Martin Lefebvre is one of Canada’s most popular and charismatic Dancesport coaches. Dancing since the age of nine, he had a successful and colourful career winning a few titles as Quebec Champion, Canadian Champion and North American Amateur Latin Champion. He has also represented Canada many times at various World Championships both as an amateur and professional.

Martin moved to Calgary in 1999 and has been running his own youth dancesport program since. He trains artists and competitors in Ballroom, Latin, Salsa, Country, Swing and Cirque du Soleil. He also works closely with ice dancers and Skate Canada. Aside from coaching, Martin also keeps busy as an event organizer and judge. He is currently focused on a new project to develop a Ballroom Dance Program for kids in the school system.

 Judging Credentials:

World Dancesport Council (WDC) World Championship Licensed

National Dance Council Canada National Championship Licensed

NDCC Chairman of Judges

STD A, LA A, SM A, RHY A, NCA 2, Scrutineer

Benoit Drolet - Edmonton

Judge / MC

Benoit Drolet

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Benoit has traveled to over 30 countries competing, demonstrating, lecturing and adjudicating. The competitive side of his career brought some amazing moments, notably making final in Blackpool, and making the final at the European Championship in 1993 representing England, something he is extremely proud of. In 1999, Benoit joined the acclaimed show Burn The Floor and went on touring for over a year throughout Australia, Europe and America. Benoit ran most of the Ballroom rehearsals as well as tweaking choreographies and coaching couples for the show. Accomplishments

  • BRITISH, UK & INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPION

  • CANADIAN & NORTH AMERICAN AMATEUR CHAMPION

Benoit has represented Great Britain and has earned many prestigious titles, such as:

  • UNITED KINGDOM CLOSED PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION

  • CANADIAN MASTERS PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION

  • EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL BALLROOM & CLOSED BRITISH GRAND FINALIST

  • GERMAN OPEN, DUTCH OPEN, JAPAN INTERNATIONAL FINALIST

Daniel Héroux - Montreal

Judge

Artur Adamski - Toronto

Judge

Chairman of Judges

Daniel Héroux

World adjudicator NDCC & WDC

Examiner and member of the dance board of Arthur Murray International.

Co-Organizer of the prestigious dance sport competition LA CLASSIQUE DU QUEBEC.

Artur Adamski

National and World Championship Adjudicator with the Canadian Dancesport Federation (CDF) and World Dance Council (WDC)

Canadian National Finalist, Runner-Up at the London Open, 2-Time French Open Champion

Coach to multiple past and current Canadian National Champions in all age divisions including Juvenile, Junior, Youth, Under 21, and Amateur categories. 

ABC’s (USA) “Dancing with the Stars” Professional Alumni 

Sherry Tovell

Judge

Sherry Tovell

Sherry was the first woman and Canadian to be elected to the international “United Country Western Dance Council” as president and was inducted into the UCWDC Hall of Fame in 2006. She has maintained the highest level as a Master Level Certified Judge in both Couples and Line categories. Both Sherry and her husband have had the pleasure, along with their students, to obtain World Champion Status in the Pro-Am Division and coaching couples to World Champion Awards.

Producing and maintaining the international competitive dance event, “River City Dance Festival” and the well known “Dance With Me Studio” were among the most exciting and enjoyable accomplishments of her career. Ballroom, Country, Latin, WCSwing along with the Home School Dance Education were among the many programs. A Home School Dance program will be started this year in Camrose.

Adjacent to her Country roots, she has enjoyed teaching, judging and coaching at WSDC (Westcoast Swing Dance Council) and has performed the duties as a Chief Judge. WCS is one of the fastest growing social dances in the world.

Since relocating to Camrose, Sherry continues to teach and coach dancers in Camrose and Edmonton. She is always proud to ensure students have dance success in their social activities, to enrich their lives.

Roland Mitchenko - Vancouver

Judge

Roland — Professional Latin Ballroom Dancer, DanceSport Coach, Studio Owner & International Adjudicator

Roland is a highly accomplished professional Latin Ballroom dancer, DanceSport coach, studio owner, and international adjudicator with an extensive career in competitive and professional dance.

He is a former Canadian Professional Latin-American Champion and represented Canada at the World DanceSport Championships. Roland was also a finalist at the Professional World Show Dance Championships and competed as a Canadian representative in major professional DanceSport competitions throughout North America and Europe.

As co-owner and lead instructor of Fiesta DanceSport Club, Roland has dedicated his career to developing dancers from beginner through elite competitive levels in Latin Ballroom and DanceSport. He has coached students who went on to become Canadian Champions and representatives of Canada at World DanceSport Championships.

His coaching and teaching emphasize technique, artistry, musicality, performance quality, confidence, and competition preparation. Roland has taught Latin, Ballroom, and social dance programs to children, youth, adults, and seniors at community centres throughout Vancouver and Richmond.

He has also choreographed competitive routines, showcase performances, and exhibition dances for students, special events, and performances.

Roland holds an International Adjudicator License in International Ballroom and Latin Dance, bringing extensive experience and professional expertise from both the competitive and adjudication sides of DanceSport.

Throughout his career, Roland has built a strong reputation for excellence in dance instruction, competitive coaching, choreography, and community engagement, and he is passionate about helping dancers of all ages and abilities reach their full potential.

Aleksandra Antonova

Judge

Aleksandra Antonova

Aleksandra is a professional ballroom dance choreographer, dance teacher and licensed judge with over 20 years of teaching, coaching and judging experience.

Aleksandra has been accepted by the Canadian DanceSport Federation as national-level judge in International Latin American, Ballroom, American Smooth and American Rhythm dance programs. She is qualified to judge at the championship level and is a Licensed World Dance Council judge.

Aleksandra has been dancing since she was six years old. In 2006 she graduated from the Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (Ukraine) where she received a Master of Science degree in Foreign Languages.

Aleksandra is a winner and finalist of many Ukrainian and International competitions. Her students became winners of Ukrainian and European dance competitions. In 2011, Aleksandra received the “Best Coach of the Eastern Region of Ukraine” award.

Since 2011, Aleksandra has successfully continued to work in Canada as a ballroom choreographer and dance teacher. She constantly improves her knowledge and skills in the dance industry. Her students achieve high results in Canadian and International dance competitions.

Diana Lefebvre

Judge

Diana Lefebvre is a Calgary-based performance coach, confidence mentor, and retired professional Ballroom dancer—affectionately known as one of Canada’s dancing sweethearts.

With over 30 years in the dance world, she’s worn every hat: pro competitor, national judge, coach, studio owner, competition organizer and the visionary behind Burlesquercise Canada. In 2024 she won Calgary’s Top Wedding Dance Coach and in 2025 was “white hatted” by the city of Calgary for her contribution to the dance industry in Alberta. Diana teaches seminars across Canada in various genres from Ballroom to Broadway and also works as a consultant for Skate Canada.