Tori Ladd, Senior Staff

Advanced Acro

Tori Ladd is a passionate and dynamic dance and acrobatics educator based in Charleston, South Carolina. With over nine years of teaching experience and more than two decades of training, she brings a unique blend of technical expertise, artistic versatility, and a deep understanding of movement to every class she leads.

Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Tori began dancing at the age of two and has trained extensively in jazz, ballet, pointe, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, acrobatics, flexibility and contortion, hand balancing, and tumbling. As a young performer, she was featured in several major performances, including the Grey Cup Halftime Show (2014), the FIFA Women’s World Cup Opening Ceremonies (2015), and a Halftime Show with the Harlem Globetrotters (2015). She also performed in the Disneyland Parade (2014), K-Days Parade (2012 & 2013), and numerous community and charity events.

In 2016, Tori represented Team Canada at the IDO World Championships in Germany, earning a silver medal in the jazz duet category and placing on the podium in all seven of her routines. That same year, she was accepted into the prestigious École Nationale de Cirque in Montréal, where she trained with world-renowned circus coaches in hand balancing, contortion, partner acrobatics, aerial work, and movement science.

Since 2016, Tori has taught dancers ages 2 to adult, in both group and private settings. Her classes include acrobatics, flexibility, contortion, tumbling, hand balancing, partnering, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and improvisation. She holds multiple certifications with Acrobatic Arts, and other institutions, and has successfully prepared students for exams, performances, and competitions across Canada and the U.S.

In addition to her work with dancers, gymnasts, and circus artists, Tori has taught flexibility and muscle recovery classes to athletes in a wide range of sports including hockey, soccer, football, and diving. Most notably, she worked with the Montreal Alouettes CFL team, helping professional football players improve muscle and joint mobility, body awareness, and injury prevention through specialized flexibility training.

Tori has also adjudicated both regional and national dance competitions since 2019, earning a reputation for her clear, constructive, and encouraging feedback. She is also a skilled costume designer, seamstress, dedicated mentor, and experienced medical caregiver. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, deepening her understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics—knowledge she integrates directly into her teaching.

In 2024, Tori was diagnosed with Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)—a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects joint stability, skin elasticity, and the body’s ability to regulate pain and fatigue. Though she is not currently performing due to the physical impact of the condition, her diagnosis has profoundly enhanced her approach to instruction. It has deepened her empathy, sharpened her awareness of physical limitations and adaptations, and strengthened her commitment to safe, sustainable training practices.

Tori now brings an even more informed and compassionate perspective to her students, helping them understand their own bodies and build strength with care. Her mission is to inspire young dancers and acrobats to move with confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness—no matter where they are in their journey. Teaching, to her, is more than a career; it’s a calling rooted in growth, joy, and transformation.