The Judges

Cynthia Dea

Cynthia Dea began teaching with eye towards providing quality dance instruction to all levels of dancers in a group environment. Cynthia's belief in quality dance instruction to group classes has been born out by the fact that after only a year of working out of school gyms and community halls, she opened her first permanent studio in South Edmonton. From humble beginnings of a small class of ten students, Foot Notes now has 2 permanent studios that accommodate over 400 students per session.

Cynthia started taking ballroom dancing lessons as a teen. She later went on to work and receive training as an instructor at one of the established franchise studios. She is an accredited WDF instructor and a member of CDF. Accredited in both the American and International styles of ballroom dancing, through DVIDA her goal has always been to provide her students with the most current ballroom movement and technique.

Cynthia and her staff continue to receive coaching from internationally renowned experts in the field of ballroom dancing on a regular basis.

Benoit Drolet

Benoit Drolet's professional dance career has taken him to over 30 different countries for competing, demonstrating, lecturing and adjudicating. He is accredited with Licentiate qualifications from the ISTD and the UKA, in ballroom and Latin dance and is an affiliate member of the NATD. Benoit also has qualifications and affiliation with the Canadian Dancesport Federation.

Benoit started his dance career in his native Montreal, and his amateur days culminated by winning the Canadian and North American Championships in the late 80's. In 1990 he moved to England to dance with Lorraine Heeks, who was then British champion. This new partnership resulted in championships in Canada, USA, Britain, and the rest of Europe as well as Asia, and for a period extending some 8 years they were ranked in the top ten in the world. After retiring from competition in 1999, they toured throughout Australia, Europe and America with the critically acclaimed show "Burn the Floor" (currently on Broadway) as performers, coaches, and choreographers.

Today Benoit still travels extensively to coach couples, mostly throughout Canada and Europe but has now chosen Edmonton as his home.

Daryl MacIntyre

Daryl McIntyre is co-anchor of CTV News at 6:00 in Edmonton. He’s been at the station for 23 of his 26 years in broadcasting Daryl is a graduate of the Radio and Television Arts program at NAIT. Daryl’s early childhood was spent in Edmonton before moving to a farm near Vermilion. Who knew that a farm boy from east central Alberta would grow up to become a dancing news anchor! Daryl is the 2008 Dancing for the Kids Champion courtesy a lindy hop routine with professional Samantha Gotlib.

As the reigning champion, Daryl is thrilled to have the honor of sitting on the judging panel this year although he’s also questioning his own qualifications!