Sumera Garcia-Quadri
"My journey into dance and wellness was born from a personal struggle with body issues that began in my childhood. Raised in a single-parent household by my dad, I saw firsthand the challenges of limited mobility as he navigated life with Type 2 Diabetes and used a scooter. After his passing, my grandparents took care of me and kept me grounded through girl’s baseball, basketball, and community arts and crafts programs.
The turning point came at 13 yrs-old when my Aunt Rubina introduced me to Cuban Salsa and Latin dances - that spark of joy stayed with me. Although Funk and Hip-hop dances were my first entry into dance thanks to my dad who had a strong love of Black culture and music. Later, while working for cancer and sports charities, I witnessed the life-saving benefits of weekly exercise—from improved metabolism and mood to the vital social connections it creates. Although I prioritize strength training and mobility now, I realized I needed a plan that went beyond the traditional gym setting. I returned to my first love: dance. Moving to Funk, Old-Skool Hip-hop, and Latin music transformed my life in ways I never imagined.”
My goal for 2026: to support 2 groups very close to my heart while recovering from injuries
Supporting Young Creators: Drawing on the same community craft programs that supported me as a child, I am launching Saturday Craft Workshops in High Park. My goal for 2026 is to provide kids ages 7–11 a space to explore their creativity and build confidence through hands-on making.
Pain-Free Longevity: For my adult programs, I am integrating personalized movement assessments. My focus is helping you identify mobility gaps so you can move, dance, and live pain-free
Getting out of pain: recovering from chronic jaw pain (which started in 2024 after ineffective dental procedures) that has since affected the right side of my body, causing hip and knee pain and even my arch to collapse. As someone who had multiple injuries as a child, I know that recovery is a slow process and that the body heals once it’s ready
I am beyond grateful to share these my passions—creativity and wellness—with our community
CERTIFICATIONS
Fitness Instructor Specialist (FIS) | Canadian Fitness Professionals
Children's Fitness Coach (Ages 7 to 12 Yrs) | Canadian Fitness Professionals
NCCP Coach | Coaching Association of Canada
Exercise Therapy | Exercise Therapy Association
Fundamental Movement Skills Certification | Coaching Association of Canada
Prenatal and Postpartum Exercise Design Course | Human Kinetics
2016 - 21 Pound Pro Instructor License | Pound Fitness
2014 -15 Zumba Fitness B1 Instructor License | Zumba Fitness
Valid CPR Level C & AED Training (level C) | Toronto CPR
2023 Police Reference Check | Toronto Police Services
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
2026: Safe Sport Training-Direct Athlete Contact | Coaching Association of Canada
2025: Fit to Lead: Accessibility in Fitness | Abilities Centre | Whitby, ON
2024 Temporomandibular Disorders | Advanced Physical Therapy Education Institute | Toronto, ON
2024 Coaching Athletes with a Disability | Coaching Association of Canada
2023: Sports Nutrition | Coaching Association of Canada
2022: Mental Health In Sport | Coaching Association of Canada
2019: Leadership Workshop for Women in Coaching | Coaches Association of Ontario, Toronto, ON
2018: Keeping Girls in Sport: Learning Through Action | CAAWS, Toronto, ON
2017: Introduction to Prenatal Fitness Programming
INSTRUCTION/FACILITATION EXPERIENCE
More than 12 years of experience in instructing women’s and kid’s dance and fitness classes
Over 10 years of experience in organizing community and special projects for special populations including newcomers with a refugee background, new moms, and youth
10 years of experience working in community and health settings and spaces
Experience in instructing classes with over 50 participants
More than 5 years of experience in facilitating community arts and craft programs
DANCE EXPERIENCE
Funk and Old Skool Hip-hop (Age 9), Cuban Salsa & Latin dance (age 13), Jazz ( Age 14)
More than 20 years of dance training in Latin Dances: Cuban Salsa/Salsa on1, New York Salsa/Mambo, Pachanga, Cuban Rumba (Guanguanco), and Merengue
Salsa Styling: Antonio Leon Rayo (Salsa Axe, Cancun, Mexico)
Salsa on 1 (LA Style): with Stephanie Gurnon (GoDanz Mambo)
Salsa Grooves (New York Salsa/Mambo): with Shani Talmor
Pachanga Program: Eddie and Maria Torres
Latin Boogaloo (Cha Cha) Program: Eddie Torres Jr. and Eddie Torres
Belly Dance Training (Beginner Levels) with Souhaer Zarik of HipKik Dance
International ballroom dance training includes: Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha
Brazilian Dance Training: Samba No Pe (Afro Latino Dance Company) | Forro (Terraca De Danca, and dança carlinhos araujo, Fortaleza, Brazil ) | Samba De Gafiera (Baila Toronto)
Specialty Jazz workshops include: Charleston and Lindy Hop
DANCE PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Salsa & Latin Dance Performer (2014 to 2017)
Cuban Rumba and Salsa Team under Dailyn Martinez of Shum De Salsa (2015)
SPECIAL DANCE AND MOVEMENT PROJECTS
2019 to Current: Annual Youth Dance and Street Safety Series (which has been funded by the Toronto Arts Council, ParticiPACTION, Safe Sport-Coaches Ontario, and the City of Toronto)
Organizer: Sumera
Self-defense provided by: Niv Goffman and Jesse Salloum from Krav Maga Maleh Canada (2019 to 2023), Gemma from Girls Who Fight (2021), Nikki from Six Krav Maga (2023), Kris R. (2024)
Dance Instruction: Ceejay and Denise (Caribbean dance), Michita (Samba and Latin Dance), and Jess (Urban and Hip-hop)
Host partners have included:
Success Beyond Limits- Jane-Finch (Black Creek)
Weston Frontlines (York)
Albion Boys and Girls Club (Rexdale)
Rexdale Community Health Center (Rexdale)
Various City of Toronto Community Centers
TNG Community Services - Kick Start After School Club
YMCA Scarborough (Scarborough)
Flemingdon Health Center
2018 to 19 Newcomer’s Dance Too! Project For Newcomer women and girls living in Flemingdon Park (Funded by the Toronto Arts Council)
Organizer and Primary Artist: Sumera
Supporting artists: Zahira (Co-creator of Dragonfly Belly Dance) and Dailyn Martinez (Shum De Salsa)
Dance classes offered: Bollywood Dance, Egyptian Dance, Latin and Cuban Dances
Host organizations: The Afghan Women's Organization and Flemingdon Health Center
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
2021 to 2022: Jean Augustine Center For Girl’s Empowerment
Organizer and dance instructor: Sumera (Latin Dance Fitness)
Supporting Instructors: Ceejay (Caribbean and Yoga), Michitia (Latin Dance and Brazilian Samba), and Cheryl (Hula/Polynesian Dance), Victoria (Zumba Fitness)
2021 Online: Autism Ontario
Organizer and instructor: Sumera (Latin dance fitness)
Supporting Instructors: Ceejay (Caribbean and Yoga), Michita (Latin Dance and Brazilian Samba), Victoria (Zumba Fitness)
2021 Online: Routes - Canadian Mental Health Association
Organizer and main instructor: Sumera (Latin dance fusion)
Supporting Instructors: Ceejay (Caribbean and Yoga), Pekhna (Bollywood) and Cheryl (Hula/Polynesian Dance), Dailyn (Cuban Salsa)
2020 to 2021 Online: Albion Boys and Girls Club
Organizer and dance instructor: Sumera (Latin Fusion)
Supporting Instructors: Dailyn Martinez (Afro Cuban/Cuban Rumba), Ampritta (Barre Fitness), Ceejay (Caribbean), Cheryl (Hula Dances), Pekhna (Bollywood), Mithila (Indian Classical Dance Fusion)
2020: Free Dance and Fitness Programs (ONLINE) with Flemingdon Health Center
Leading instructor: Sumera
Barre: Amprita (Barre Ballet Dance Fit)
Bollywood Fitness: Pekhna and Mithila
Caribbean Dance Fitness and Yoga: Ceejay
2020: Valentine’s Dance, Self-Image & Self-Defense Series
Organizer and dance instructor: Sumera
Self-defense instructor: Niv from Krav Maga Maleh Canada
Hosts: Scarborough Women’s Organization and L’Amoreaux Community Center
2019: Halloween Thriller and HipHop Dance series
Organizer and Hip Hop and Fitness instructor: Sumera
Hosts: Frontlines-Weston Youth Center, Success Beyond Limits-Jane/Finch & The Neighborhood Link
The Spot - Jane and Finch Community and Family Center – Toronto, ON
2016 Creator and Instructor, Girls Summer HipHop/Latin Dance & Fitness Project
The Afghan Women’s Organization – Toronto Canada
2016-17 Creator and Instructor, Newcomer Women's Bollywood Fitness Project
ARTS AND CRAFT CLASSES
Creative Saturdays at High Park - Toronto, ON
a kid’s arts program celebrating world festivals using wood, recycled cardboard, card stock, and more
Arts Etobicoke - Toronto, ON
2025: Kid’s after school arts and crafts program (6-week programs)
Toronto Public Libraries - Toronto, ON
2022 to current: kid’s arts and crafts (sessions across multiple locations)
Weston Frontlines - Toronto, ON
2020 to current: kid’s arts and crafts (seasonal)
Kickstart - Toronto, ON
2019 to current: Kid’s craft and street safety session
COMMUNITY CLASSES
Toronto Public Libraries - Toronto, ON
2022: Bollywood dance and Latin dance classes
Arts Etobicoke - Toronto, ON
2024 to 2025: The Senior Movement Program
2023: Kid’s Dance Fitness Party
2022: Kid’s Latin Dance and Bollywood at Arts in Wincott Park
Silver Services - Mississauga, ON
2023 Online: Older Adult Dance Fitness (Latin and Bollywood)
Rexdale Child and Family Services – Toronto, ON
2020 Online: Youth Classical Indian Dance Online Class (ages 10 +) with Mithila
Kick Start (The Neighborhood Link) – Toronto, ON
2019: Kids Halloween Dance Fitness and Circuit Training (ages 7 to 12)
L’Amoreaux Community Center – Toronto, ON
2018: Instructor, Newcomer Girls Bollywood Dance Class
Arab Community Center of Toronto– Toronto, ON
Newcomer Girls Zumba® Class
Success Beyond Limits, Westview High School– Toronto, ON
2017: Instructor, Girl's Latin Dance
Flemingdon Health Center – Toronto, ON
2017: Instructor, Mom and Baby Latin Dance Fitness Program and Pound Fit Program
The Spot - Jane and Finch Community and Family Center – Toronto, ON
2016: Creator and Instructor, Girls Zumba Fitness
Youth Hub - Yorkwoods Toronto Public Library – Toronto, ON
2016: Instructor, Hip Hop Dance Fusion and Pound Rockout Workout
The Afghan Women’s Organization – Toronto Canada
2016-17: Newcomer Women Zumba Fitness
EVENT ENERGIZERS / DEMONSTRATIONS
2024: The Latin Fair - Family and Kids Latin Dance
2024: India Pavillion - Bollywood Fusion Energizer
2022: Etobicoke Arts, Arts In Wincott Park - Kid’s Bollywood with Scarves Workshops
2021: Etobicoke Arts, Arts In Wincott Park - Kid’s Latin Dance Fusion Workshops
2019: North York Winter Fest - Interactive Adult Latin Dance Demonstration
2019: North York Winter Fest - Kids Fitness Fun & Circuits
2019: TD Festival of South Asia - Gerrard-India Bazaar - Women’s Bollywood & Scarves Demonstration, Girls Bollywood-Barre (Ballet) and Kids Bollywood Dance
2019: Hijabi Ballers Sports Festival - Bollywood Dance Demonstration
2019: Hijabi Ballers Sports Festival - Self-Defense Workshop with Krav Maga Maleh Canada
2018: Flemingdon CSS Fall Festival: Interactive Latin & Hiphop Dance Demonstrations
2018: L’Amoreaux Community Center: Halloween Girls Latin HipHop Dance Event
2018: FHC Fall Block Party: Interactive Funk & HipHop Dance Demonstration
2018: Healthy Kids Community Challenge - Dance Demonstrations (Funk, Latin & Bollywood)
2017: North York Winter Festival - Interactive Kids Zumba® Demonstration
2017: Jane-Finch Center Annual General Meeting - Interactive Latin Line Dance,
2017: Afghan Women’s Organization Syrian Wellness Conference - Bollywood Dance Session
2016: Afghan Women’s Organization Newcomer Syrian Conference - Kids Bollywood Dance Classes
2016: Jane-Finch Center’s 40th Anniversary - Interactive Zumba® Demonstration
2016: Diva Girl Fashion Show Latin Dance Fitness Demonstration
RELEVANT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
2011-2019: Run for the Cure Registration Coordinator, The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
2015-2017: Committee Member, Make The First Move Program, Afghan Women’s Organization
2012: Hockey for Heart Committee Member, Heart & Stroke Foundation
2011-2017: Events Team, War Child Canada - Toronto, ON