Sumera Garcia-Quadri
"My journey into dance and wellness was born from a personal struggle with body issues that began in my childhood. I was raised for most of my childhood in a single-parent household by my dad - I saw first-hand 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 athletic training in yearly girl’s baseball and basketball camps, Jeet Kune Do self-defense (under Makoto) in my later years, and community arts and crafts.
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 sister and my first entry into dance thanks to my dad who had a strong love of Black culture and music.
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. While I prioritize strength training and mobility now, I wanted an exercise plan that went beyond the traditional gym setting. I returned to my love of 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
Encouraging Pain-Free Dance and Exercise: I am now offering personalized movement assessments and corrective exercises - my goal is to help our clients understand what may be causing pain when they dance. I work with them to reduce the pain level through corrective exercises so that they can keep dancing and moving the way they used to (or maybe even better than before!).
Supporting Young Creators: Drawing on the same community craft programs that supported me as a child, I am launching Craft Saturdays in High Park to provide kids with a safe space to explore their creativity and build confidence through hands-on making.
Getting out of pain: Recovering from chronic jaw pain, which started in 2024 after ineffective dental procedures, has since affected the right side of my body - causing hip and knee pain and even my arches to collapse. As someone who has recovered from childhood injuries, I know 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 members
CERTIFICATIONS
Fitness Instructor Specialist (FIS) | Canadian Fitness Professionals
Children's Fitness Coach (Ages 7 to 12) | Canadian Fitness Professionals
Exercise Therapy | Exercise Therapy Association
NCCP Multi-Sport Coach Training | Coaching Association of Ontario
NCCP Foundations of Coaching Softball | Softball Canada
Fundamental Movement Skills | Coaching Association of Ontario
Prenatal and Postpartum Exercise Design | Human Kinetics
Valid CPR Level C & AED Training | Toronto CPR
Police Reference Check | Toronto Police Services
(2014 -15) Zumba Fitness B1 and (2016-21) Pound Pro
FITNESS & SPORTS CONTINUED EDUCATION - FOCUSED ON KIDS/YOUTH AND WOMEN
2026: Injury Prevention and Recovery - in progress | Coaching Association of Ontario
2026: Leading a Return to Sport Participation | Coaching Association of Ontario
2026: Safe Sport Training: Athlete Contact | Coaching Association of Ontario
2025: Understanding Teen Dating Violence | Coaching Association of Ontario
2025: Fit to Lead: Accessibility in Fitness | Abilities Centre
2024 Temporomandibular Disorders | Advanced Physical Therapy Education Institute
2023: Coaching Athletes with a Disability | Coaching Association of Ontario
2023: Making Head Way In Sport (Concussions) | Coaching Association of Canada
2022: Mental Health In Sport | Coaching Association of Canada
2019: Leadership Workshop for Women in Coaching | Coaches Association of Ontario
2018: Keeping Girls in Sport: Learning Through Action | Canadian Women & Sport (CAAWS)
2017: Introduction to Pre and Post Natal Fitness
DANCE TRAINING
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, Cha Cha, Cuban Rumba (Guanguanco), and Merengue
Salsa on 1 (LA Style): with Stephanie Gurnon (Go Danz Mambo)
Salsa Styling: Antonio Leon Rayo (Salsa Axe, Cancun, Mexico)
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
Brazilian Dances: 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: Charleston and Lindy Hop
Belly Dance Training (Beginner Levels) with Souhaer Zarik of HipKik Dance
International ballroom dance training includes: Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha
INSTRUCTION AND PROGRAM DESIGN EXPERIENCE
More than 12 years of experience in instructing women’s and kid’s dance and group fitness classes
10 years of experience instructing in community and healthcare settings
Over 10 years of experience in designing and leading community movement projects for special populations including newcomers with a refugee background, new moms, and vulnerable kids and youth
5 years of experience in designing and leading kids craft programs in the libraries, art centers and galleries, and community-settings
Experience in instructing class sizes ranging from 8 to 50+ participants
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)
Project coordinator and leading artist: 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: Alejandra (Jazz and Hip-hop), Ceejay and Denise (Soca/Trinidadian Folklore), Michita (Brazilian Samba and Latin Dance), Nelcy (Latin/Colombian), 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)
Project coordinator and leading 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
Elora Arts Centre- Guelph, ON
senior’s sessions pairing light movement and crafts such as Filipino Kiping Art activities
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
Albion Boys and Girls Club
2026: Kid’s dance and fitness instructor (ages 6 to 12)
Toronto Public Libraries - Toronto, ON
2022: Bollywood dance and Latin dance classes
Arts Etobicoke - Toronto, ON
2024 to 2026: Senior’s Dance and 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
NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE - FOCUSED ON KIDS/YOUTH AND WOMEN
2011-2019: Run for the Cure Registration Coordinator |The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
2015-2017: Make The First Move Steering Committee | Afghan Women’s Organization
2012: Hockey for Heart Steering Committee | The Heart & Stroke Foundation