PPE Waves: A New Normal?

Henry Daniel

Currently an SFU Distinguished Professor, Daniel has had an international professional career in Dance and Theatre in his Caribbean home country, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA, Germany and the UK. He is currently Professor of Dance, Performance Studies and New Media Technologies in the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU.

Amber Barton

Amber Barton is a contemporary dance artist and choreographer born and raised on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Musqueum, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Her professional career spans over 20 years in Vancouver and her work has been presented across Canada and internationally in Wales (UK), Seattle and the Bronx (New York). Amber is currently training to become a Yoga Therapist as she continues to collaborate with dance and theatre artists and companies.

Choreographer’s Note: I want to take this opportunity that while a lot of the movement used in my work for this program comes naturally to me that it is also important to also recognize that a lot of the movement used in this piece (and the contemporary field at large) is the result of Black and LGBTQ culture and communities.  May we all acknowledge the beauty and the depth of contribution these cultures and folx have made towards the arts.

Emily Bosak

Emily Bosak (she/her) was raised in Abbotsford on the unceded ancestral lands of the Matsqui and Sumas First Nations and currently practices in Vancouver on the unceded ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Emily is interested in working with movement to physicalize different images and prompts while mindfully pushing the boundaries of her body. Emily loves to perform and aspires to work with more of Vancouver’s amazing dance artists and companies/collectives. 

Nicole Dreher

Nicole Dreher (they/she) was born and raised on the Indigenous homelands of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee), Anishinabewaki, Mississauga, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the Attiwonderonk (Neutral) peoples, colonially known as Cambridge, Ontario. Their current focus in their dance practice is exploring the boundaries of what makes a 'dance artist' through engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations. As her practice evolves, Nicole hopes to present work on stage and on screen, to communicate stories with a wide range of audiences. 

Brooklyn Fowler

Born in Lethbridge, Alberta on the traditional lands of the Ktunaxa, Michif Piyii (Metis), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii (Blackfoot), Očhéthi Šakówin, and Tsuu T’ina, Brooklyn is an emerging dance artist and aspiring choreographer who is interested in expanding her choreographic process and learning how to navigate within the scope of the professional dance world. 

Andrea Isea Galindo

Andrea Isea Galindo was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She utilizes this time of growth to learn as much as she can from other artists while developing her own artistic voice in the process. Her future aspiration is to pay it forward by sharing the knowledge she has gathered throughout her life with young artists and her students.

Jay Gignac

Jay Gignac (he/him) was born in Vancouver BC on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh First Nations, and raised in Vernon, BC, on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Sylix/Okanagan First Nations. Jay aspires to make dance that can take the audience through the whole spectrum of human emotion in a minute, and is currently exploring the line between contemporary dance and performance art.

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy was born and raised on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudeno-saunee and the Anishinaabe peoples, the place now commonly known as Newmarket, Ontario. Sarah is currently incorporating her love of acrobatics into her practice of contemporary dance and hopes to continue this in the future. She aims to share this knowledge and passion for dance with children with varying communication and developmental disabilities.

Zaarah Lopez

Zaarah Lopez was born and raised in the Indigenous homelands of the Mayan people, in the place now known as Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Her current focus within her art form is to explore how her cultural heritage influences her movement. Zaarah’s future aspiration is to pursue a masters degree in screen dance.

Rose Lynn

Rose Lynn was born and raised in Squamish, BC, on the traditional Indigenous homelands of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh and L̓il̓wat7úl peoples. She is in her third year of study at SFU, where she has been focused on exploring different philosophies of movement, the artist/athlete/spiritualist dichotomy, and expanding her repertoire of teaching techniques. She plans to attend Canada’s National Ballet School following her third year at SFU to complete her BFA and Royal Academy of Dance teacher training.

Natalia Martineau

Natalia Martineau was born and raised in Canmore, on the Indigenous homelands of the Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy in the Treaty 7 region of southern Alberta. Interested in how everyday experiences can be mediated through movement, Natalia’s current focus is on broadening her movement abilities and personal dance practice. In the future, Natalia hopes to continue developing her choreographic practice and making dance works.

Jessica Mckeown

Jessica was born on the ancestral territories of the Ligwiłda’xw people, the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations, the place now commonly known as Campbell River, BC. Her current interest in her art practice is choreography and expanding her knowledge of movement vocabulary. As a dance artist, she hopes to have the opportunity to perform, choreograph, and produce her performances.

Quinn Muylaert

Quinn Muylaert was born and raised in Port Perry, Ontario, a place that settles itself on the ancestral lands of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation territories. She is currently most interested in learning how to 'dance bigger' as well as connect movements cohesively and smoothly. Ultimately, Quinn hopes to choreograph, dance, and perform for as long as her body allows.

Paris Pelan

Paris Pelan was raised in Victoria, British Columbia, on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples. Paris is currently interested in furthering her contemporary and commercial dance techniques to prepare for future opportunities and collaborations after graduation. As a dance artist, she aspires to pursue a professional career in dance performance and to explore the health and fitness industry surrounding dancers.

Roya Pishvaei

Roya Pishvaei was born and raised with Fijian & Iranian ancestry on the Indigenous homelands of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, and Tsawwassen First Nations. As a current Dance major and English minor, she has a fascination with the relationship between movement and language. Written language, though it is beautiful, can be inaccessible without translation. Roya is passionate about breaking down language barriers and creating space for all audiences to interpret the narrative that her pieces explore. Her aspirations as a dance artist are to welcome and inspire others with the joy of movement, and to help establish more positive dance environments for future generations to learn and study in.

Thomas Smallwood

Thomas Smallwood was born on the Indigenous territories of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/ Chippewa peoples, land that is home to Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, in the place now commonly known as Brampton, Ontario. Thomas is currently seeking to diversify his movement vocabularies as he immerses in his training. He hopes to broaden his aesthetic / creative vocabulary to garner the tools for affective self-expression.

Emma Tweedie

Emma Tweedie was born in Vancouver and raised in Burnaby, British Columbia, which are on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Her current focus within dance is to expose herself to as much growth and experience possible in the duration of her training at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts. Her future aspirations include travelling the world to share her artwork with others and to perform in a professional company.

Mikela Vuorensivu

Mikela Vuorensivu was born with Finnish ancestry on the Indigenous homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-waututh First Nations, the place now commonly known as Vancouver. She has greatly missed performing live and continues to rediscover her love for in-person shows. Mikela pursues her interest in capturing movement on film and photography and aspires to expand her portfolio in these areas.

Anna Wang-Albini

Anna is of Chinese and Uruguayan descent and was born on the territories of the Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda, and Siksika Nation, in the place now commonly known as Calgary.  She is working to utilize the space around her and how to physically communicate ​clear intention even when still in the phase of developing the idea behind the movement. Anna plans to learn more dance styles and discover the different avenues available to curate an enriched creative practice in the future.

Diane Sowter / Daniel (Guest Artist, Dancer)

Diane studied Classical Ballet at the Hammond School in Chester, UK, and danced professionally with Arcadia Dance Company in London, The Israeli Ballet in Tel Aviv, Stadttheater Krefeld/Mönchengladbach, Tanztheater Heidelberg, Tanztheater Freiburg, Tanztheater Münster and Henry Daniel and Dancers in Germany. She is a certified Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer and Pilates Instructor with over twenty five years of experience in the field.

Kyle Toy (Guest Artist, Dancer)

From a small town of 125 people, Toy is a dancer, actor, choreographer & producer currently based in Vancouver, the ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh First Nations. After attending the National Ballet School of Canada on scholarship, Toy danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Alberta Ballet, Canadian Opera Company among others and his acting and choreography have brought him to Hollywood movies & TV, including “The Arrangement” (NBC) and “Center Stage: On Pointe” (Sony Pictures). He is currently in the final stages of co-producing the first ever scripted comedy series for The Green Channel (thegreenchannel.tv).