TDR TEAM
The hype crew you didn't know you needed.
DIRECTORS | OWNERS
TESSA & JOHN NEUHOEFEL
Tessa has been a part of the Dance Industry & Competitive World as an Award-Winning Choreographer and Instructor. Her innovative concepts, passion and love for dance has allowed her the opportunity to create The Dance Rage Dance Competition.
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Starting dance at age 6, Tessa grew as a Dancer and danced Competitively throughout Ontario. She has extensive training in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Ballet & Hiphop. Introducing herself as a Competitive Dance Instructor, her students successfully received many Scholarships, Top Scores and Professional Opportunities. Tessa has Choreographed for Walt Disney World's Magic Music Days, endless Community Productions, Events and High School Curriculums in Ontario. Tessa has also been exposed as a Dancer in Music Videos & many local events and as an Adjudicator for Ontario Dance Competitions.
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To further be proficient in her Dance Education, Tessa is a proud Certified Member of Dance Masters of America and the Professional Adjudicators Alliance.
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Tessa is constantly inspired from the talent brought by the dancers who hit the TDR Stage, the ever growing Dance World, and her role as Owner + Director of The Dance Rage Dance Competition. She continues to educate herself by attending Workshops, Seminars & Conventions across North America.
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Tessa lives on creativity and passion. She encourages every dancer to trust in themselves, express their emotions with every breath, and strive to reach their potential. She urges dancers to take advantage of every stage as an outlet to exude and share with the Audience & Judges how beautiful the Art of Dance is.
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Tessa & John together have been pouring their hearts into every event over the last 10 seasons and continue to grow their passion for seasons to come.
"We consider ourselves the luckiest couple not only because of our two beautiful children but because we get to live this dream, make magic with you on our favourite weekends & witness unbelievable talent across Ontario!
We cannot thank each of you enough for always showing TDR nothing but love & support and allowing us to host you year after year!"
SO MUCH LOVE RIGHT BACK!
- Tessa & John Xo
HOST
DHANUNG BULSARA "BIG UPS"
Hey Dancers and Ragers! Welcome to the wonderful experience that is The Dance Rage! My name is Dhanung Bulsara, however some folks like to call me D for short. BUT, because you’ve now entered this exclusive club and it just seems to be a lot more funner (that’s a word right?!), YOU can call me Big Ups :).
I am your extremely lucky host and guide through competition weekend. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I’ve been to be a part of this journey since day one. An opportunity that only gets bigger and better with every season and every city!
Growing up in a South Asian household, Bollywood movies became a staple during my childhood. My parents filled our home with the tunes and beats from my native country of India. So I often found myself (or caught by others) either singing or dancing, and this is where I developed my passion for not only dancing but entertaining people as well!
As I got older, I gained more confidence in my dancing skills but more importantly performing in front of a crowd. As time went on, I also really gained a knack for public speaking and hosting events. My passion led me to an education in Film & Broadcast Journalism.
My life has been filled with so many different experiences and unique opportunities. Spent the earliest part of my career with the digital publication blogTO as a digital host. Spent two seasons as the In-Game host for the Raptors 905. The last two summers digital hosting the Women’s and Men’s Open for Golf Canada and last year completed my third season as the In Field Host for the Toronto Blue Jays.
I’ve got everything from fashion shows, music show cases, sporting and community events under my belt. But nothing’s been more special than my time with The Dance Rage. Competition weekend’s are some of my most exciting experiences of the year for me and I look forward to it every time. My goal is to deliver not only incredible time, but my hope is that you will carry an unforgettable memory with you forever!
I really hope that I have the pleasure of meeting you in person for the first time. If I’ve met you already, I look forward to seeing you again!
- D
EVENT MANAGER
MATTIE BOWER
Hey dancers! I CANNOT WAIT for another season of all things TDR! I have been working with TDR and and have been one of the faces of TDR since season one. Fun fact: Director Tessa also taught me dance growing up! I started dancing at the age of 3 and danced competitively since I was 5.
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During my university career I was the lead of the Guelph Gryphons Fitness & Recreational dance program where I continued to share my passion and love for dance. In this time I also was part of the Flight Crew a dance team for the CEBL Guelph Nighthawks professional basketball team and choreographed performances for the She's Got Game Enchanted Masquerade Fashion Show - which Big Ups was the host of btw :).
I continue to teach locally and hope to further explore this route of dance.
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At 11 years old I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes the weekend of my last dance competition of that season. During my time in the hospital the only place I wanted to be was at the studio and on the stage. It was my passion and dedication for dance that motivated me to get well and learn how I needed to take care of myself and stay well with a diagnosis that would now impact my life on a 24/7 basis. I am endlessly grateful that my story inspired the Mattie Bower Award. At each TDR the judges select a dancer that they feel demonstrates a similar passion and determination that I have. They recognize a dancer that they can tell doesn't just want to dance but NEEDS to dance.
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​Currently I am TDR's Event Manager. You can find me behind the scenes, getting in my steps all over the competition venue, doing mini mic interviews and capturing competition moments for that recap reel. I'm here to help with anything you may need throughout the competition. I am so excited for another season and can't wait to see all of you light up our stage!
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- Mattie
WE LOVE OUR DANCE RAGE CREW
MARISSA HILLER | BACKSTAGE MANAGER
CARRIGAN CRAIGIE
ERIKA MCMILLAN
CATHY STEFFLER
DAN MCDERMOTT
SANDI DUNN​
Our team is solid, supportive & full of sweet dance moves!
