Our Lineup

Elder Joan Milliea

Joan Milliea is a Traditional Knowledge Keeper and Teacher from Mi’kmaw of Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick.

Natasha Martin-Mitchell

Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada Board Member

Natasha Martin-Mitchell is from the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation, a community bordering the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada. She is currently the Development Officer for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Business New Brunswick. In this capacity she is supporting indigenous women province-wide and has established and maintained lasting partnerships with internal and external stakeholders across all levels of government. Natasha is a strong community minded individual, who is also passionate, ambitious and motivated. She holds a Bachelor of Integrated Studies and a Masters of Education from the University of New Brunswick. She co-founded (2016) and co-chaired the annual Red Shawl Campaign held to bring attention to the important social injustice issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Natasha was the first indigenous post-graduate to present a traditional Mi’gmaq regalia to the University of New Brunswick (UNB) as a capstone project. She volunteers as a board member for Gignoo Women’s Transition House (the only transition house for Indigenous women in New Brunswick) and Mawi’Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective and Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada. Prior to moving to New Brunswick Natasha held positions with Federal Government -  Public Works, Government Services Canada & Revenue Canada.

Igor Dobrovolskiy, M.S.M., O.M.

Artistic Director/ Choreographer | Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada

Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada, Igor Dobrovolskiy is one of Canada’s most prolific choreographers - having created 15 full length ballets, one one-act ballet and over 50 short works in 20 years. Igor Dobrovolskiy’s creative work catapulted the Company onto the international stage. Beginning in 2006, his works have toured regularly throughout Europe - Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United States, including two invitations to present his work in Brooklyn, NY.

In 2014, he received the Lieutenant Governor’s award for High Achievement in the Performing Arts for his outstanding contribution to artistic excellence in New Brunswick. He was named as a recipient of RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award in 2016, which recognizes inspirational immigrants who have come to Canada, achieved success, made a positive difference living here and helped make Canada a better country. In 2017, he was awarded the Senate of Canada’s 150^th Anniversary Medal. That same year, Mr. Dobrovolskiy was one of the 2017 recipients of the Order of Moncton, our city’s highest honour recognizing those who have contributed to bettering the community. In 2021, Igor and Atlantic Ballet co-founder, Susan Chalmers-Gauvin, were awarded a Governor General’s Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division). Igor Dobrovolskiy’s works weave dramatic narrative with inventive choreography to create powerful, emotional and lyrical forms which explore the human condition. Drawing on an extensive musical and literary background, as well as his experience as a dancer, teacher and choreographer, Mr. Dobrovolskiy uses the solid foundation of classical ballet technique as a springboard for an expressive dance lexicon limited only by his boundless imagination. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in pedagogy of ballet, dance and choreography from the Kiev National University of the Arts. His professional career has taken him across Europe, and South America. Collaborating with like-minded artists attracted by his vision and his artistic philosophy, Mr. Dobrovolskiy has created a work environment which has become a focus for exploration and discovery. He has built a company of high artistic standard and international appeal which has resulted in a loyal and growing audience, nationally and globally.

Keira Loughran

Artistic Associate & Festival Curator

Keira Loughran is an award-winning artist with over 25 years experience as an actor, director, playwright, dramaturg and producer. She is currently on faculty at York University, teaching Acting, Devised Theatre, Playwriting and Performance Creation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She was the inaugural Associate Producer at the Stratford Festival (2012-2018) where she spearheaded organizational change to support new work, diversity, inclusion and Indigenous reconciliation. Selected directing credits include four productions at Stratford (Wendy and Peter Pan, The Comedy of Errors, The Komagata Maru Incident, The Aeneid), Pu-Erh (K’Now Theatre, Dora nomination), Deportation Cast (York University), Titus Andronicus (Canadian Stage) and Little Dragon (Co-directed with Marion DeVries). As an actor, Keira has performed in theatres across the country. She has appeared in several movies, short films and television, including CBS’s Good Sam, and Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch. Ms. Loughran lives in Stratford with her partner and two children, where she also trains Aikido, in which she holds a third degree black belt.

NIPAHTUWET NAKA WESPAHTUWET POSSESOM (POSSESOM PAUL)

Director of Indigenous Programming

Possesom’ [Ba-zaz-um] is a Wolastoqiyik multi-disciplinary artist, curator, director and cultural educator. Possesom is a major contributor and resource to the Indigenous artistic community leading a new generation into a significant period of growth, development and opportunity across the entire Atlantic region. He is a member of the Wabanaki Grass Dance Society, and a keeper of traditional knowledge. As a champion dancer, accomplished director and actor, educator & choreographer — he has toured throughout turtle island, sharing knowledge, engaging audiences and community in critical thought towards understanding of their own origins, and the first peoples of the world.

Kyana ​Kingbird

Kyana Kingbird is a Mi'kmaq and Ojibwe fancy shawl and jingle dress dancer, from Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church) First Nation.  Her dance forms include the fancy shawl and jingle dress, which not only serve as textile wearable art but also as captivating performances.

Growing up, it was Kyana's Grandfather who made it a tradition to attend Powwows regularly, especially during the summer. During this time, her aunt played a significant role in introducing her to the world of dance by creating one of her first regalia, the fancy shawl. As a passionate dancer, Kyana participates in both traditional and competitive Pow-Wows, showcasing her skills and bringing joy to the audience.

In 2022, Kyana's talent and dedication were recognized when she was selected to be a part of the NBA team's Welcome Toronto creators program. This prestigious opportunity highlights her creativity and showcases her as a remarkable artist.

Yvonne Ng

Born and raised in Singapore, Yvonne Ng| 黄碧琬, B.F.A., M.A. (York Uni) is founder, choreographer, presenter, arts educator and artistic director of tiger princess dance projects. The company’s repertoire includes Yvonne’s works and commissioned work, creating original roles for Bill James, José Navas, Dominique Dumais, Kevin O’Day, Marie-Josée Chartier, Robert Glumbek, Stephanie Skura and Tedd Robinson. tiger princess dance projects has toured to Singapore, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Australia, China, Canada and the USA. 

Yvonne is a certified Open Source Forms© and Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Trained in Partners for Youth Empowerment Creative Facilitator (Level 1& 2), C-I Training™, Senior Fitness (CCAA) and Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s). She has taught at and created work for Toronto Metropolitan University, York University & University of Waterloo, and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and La Salle College of the Arts, Singapore and for 6 years at Juniata College, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.  

A recipient of 2022 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in Performing Arts, 2017 Muriel Sherrin Award, Jacqueline Lemieux Award, K.M. Hunter Artist Award, New Pioneers Arts Award, Chalmers Arts Fellowship, Soulpepper’s Community Artist Award and Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts – New Talent.   In 2000, received a Dora Mavor Moore Award for best performance and has received multiple nominations.  Yvonne is also the Artistic and Co-Festival director of dance: made in /fait au canada Festival. www.princessproductions.ca / www.dancemadeincanada.ca 
 

Jera Wolfe

Born in Tkaronto (Toronto), Jera Wolfe is a choreographer and performer of Métis heritage.​

His captivating choreography has awarded him the 2019 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Original Choreography for Trace by Red Sky Performance. He has demonstrated an impressive repertoire of works presented by Canadian Stage, Fall For Dance North, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur, Danse Danse and Jacob's Pillow.​

His choreographic works include creations with Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canada's National Ballet School, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and Red Sky Performance. Recently, Jera presented an evening of works titled Reverie at Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur.​

Lydia Zimmer

Lydia Zimmer, a graduate of The Boston Conservatory (BFA ’11), is a dancer and choreographer in Halifax, NS. Lydia has created several works supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia. These include Bonne Nuit, Live Art Dance (2016); Embankment, Votive Dance (2017, 2021); Sonderlings, Nostos Collectives (2018), Sonderling, FODAR, (2019) & Extremophile, FODAR (2021). Her most recent creations include Mercurials commissioned by Mocean Dance (2022), and a work for The Boston Conservatory's First-year students (2023). This summer Lydia launched ZIMMERDANS at Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal where an excerpt of The Devil’s Intervals was performed, a full-length work that will premiere through Live Art Dance in December 2023. Lydia is so honoured and excited to be a resident choreographer with Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada and to premiere Xenofauna at IMPACTFest!

Rodney Diverlus

Rodney Diverlus is a Haitian-Canadian movement artist whose work encapsulates dance, physical theatre, puppetry, and diasporic traditions. His works have been presented at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Gardiner Museum, SummerWorks Festival, Irie Music Festival, Footsteps Across Canada Showcase, Annual Alberta Dance Festival and Tableau d’Hôte Theatre. Previously, Rodney danced with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks during the 2014-2018 seasons, and has worked with Peter Hinton/Denise Clarke [Canadian Opera Company], Darryl Hoskins [Dietrich Group], Noemi Lafrance [Bentway], Kevin Ormsby [Kashe Dance], Mumbi Tindyebwa, [IFT Theatre], Eddie Elliott [Red Sky Performance], Charles Smith [Wind in Leaves Collective], Hannah Kiel, Michele Moss and others. Rodney is the recipient of the 2019 Canadian Stage Award for Direction.​

Central to his work is an obsession with Black moving bodies interacting with anomalous, and often public performance spaces; bunker, phone screen, gallery, container, & the street as examples. Rodney moonlights as an artivist and community advocate. He is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter – Toronto and has co-curated a series of large-scale public installations that blur the lines of protest and performance, most notably #Won’t Back Down (2017) and #blackPride.

Gene Cormier

Chef, culinary curator IMPACTfest
Chef Gene Cormier is the owner of Euston Park Social, an outdoor terrace seasonal restaurant located in the heart of downtown Moncton with a satellite location near Parlee Beach in Shediac. He also founded the wildly popular bakery Halo Donuts (St. George Street, Moncton). Born and raised in Dieppe a professional career in the world of flavours has brought Chef Cormier to travel to far away places with significant stops at New York’s famous Plaza Hotel, the Fairmont /Swisshôtel in Singapour, the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and in Doha Qatar where he was head corporate chef for a company owning a portfolio of more than 50 establishments. Gene has always returned to his home. Memories and influences of Acadie emerge in his culinary creations. With a strong curiosity for discovering and supporting local Chef Gene creates exciting culinary concepts and experiences.

Orchid M. Sewell

Owner Orchid's Caribbean Kitchen
I am a simple, uncomplicated, and straight forward person who loves food and people. I enjoy the look on peoples' faces when they eat my food. I'm not a chef, but I've always been fascinated with food. I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica from a family of 8, 6 girls and 2 boys, with our mom and dad. I used to watch my older sister and mother cooking, or they would have me in the kitchen doing something with them. I used to get upset, but later I realized I loved cooking. As I got older, I started trying different foods on my own. I have many years of experience working with different event companies, restaurants, doing parties, BBQ and picnics. Because of my love for food and people, it took me to this Province of New Brunswick, looking for amazing Lobster to eat. I found my home here in Beautiful New Brunswick and set up my business Orchid's Caribbean Kitchen.  I strive to provide wholesome authentic Jamaican cuisines for a flavorful experience to take you to the Island. As I've said, "You don't need a vacation to Taste the Caribbean"

Jenna White

Founder “A Taste of Atlantic”

Jenna White is a multifaceted individual whose life revolves around the rich tapestry of food, culture, and connection. As an indigenous chef, and restaurateur, devoted mother, loving wife, astute entrepreneur, and the visionary founder of "A Taste of Atlantic," Jenna has carved out a unique niche in the culinary world.

Jenna's philosophy is simple yet profound: food brings people to the table and creates a doorway to experience the vibrant diversity of cultures. For her, food is a time machine, a bridge to the past, a means to forge connections, a tangible piece of history, and a vessel to share the essence of culture.

Kayleb-don Francis

Kwe’ Niin Telosi Kayleb-Don Francis, and I’m from Elsipogtog First Nation. At 16, I’m a passionate Mi’kmaq aspiring chef, dedicated to learning how to interweave tradition and culture into my cooking. 
From my earliest memories, I’ve been interested in cooking, starting at the age of 9, side by side with my father, mimi and my metata. I've been honoured to work alongside renowned chef Gene Cormier for the last 2 years and my love for cooking has taken flight. But my all-time favorite will always be cooking bread with Mimi or Sunday dinners with my grandfather. It's there that I feel the most grounded to my own identity. To celebrate and share the profound richness of my Indigenous culture is very important to me.  Wela’lioq

Ida Chen

Owner Cinta ria

 

Ida comes from Kuala Lumpur and food was always important, the food courts/ hawker centre was a part of daily life. Pretty much all meals come from outside the home because people specialize in different foods.

Ida has been in Moncton for a total of 17 years and has been an owner of Cinta ria for just over 9 years. She is a self taught chef who wanted to share her food and culture with Moncton.  

The food at the restaurant represents for Ida a way to have a memory of home here. Some times her Char kuey teow is better than the ones in Malaysian!

Ukrainian Association of Moncton

The Ukrainian Association of Moncton, also known as the Ukrainian Club of Moncton, is a non-profit organization established in 1975 which has over 500 active members as of September 2023. Since inception our primary mission has been to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture through educational initiatives and community gatherings. In response to the full-scale russian war in Ukraine that began in February 2022, we shifted our focus towards fundraising efforts to support the Ukrainian Army and war-affected civilians. Additionally, we have been actively advocating for the needs of Ukrainian arrivals who have started coming in Greater Moncton in great numbers fleeing the war. In April 2022, we proudly established the Ukrainian Hub at 90 Park Street. This hub has become a thriving center for cultural and community events, houses our Ukrainian School and after-school activities, and serves as a central location for community donations.

Boulangerie Tony

Boulangerie Tony is a cozy patisserie and cafe in downtown Dieppe featuring classic European pastries, viennoiserie, soups and sandwiches, and more. Built with intimate conversations over espresso and chocolate in mind, the Boulangerie is run by the same team as Atelier Tony, which is down the hall in the same building.

Kevin Ormsby

Artistic Director of KasheDance, IMPACTfest Host

Dancer, Choreographer and Artistic Director of KasheDance, Kevin A. Ormsby has performed in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Nominee for the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize 2023 and finalist for the Arts Prize 2021, he is a recipient of Canada Council for the Arts’ Victor Martyn Lynch – Staunton Award, a Chalmers Fellowship, and was a Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Fellow.   

He has been featured in works by Marie-Josée Chartier, Allison Cummings, Patrick Parson, Ronald Taylor, Ron K. Brown, Menaka Thakkar, Garth Fagan, Liz Lerman, Bageshree Vaze,  Lemi Ponifasio, Christopher Walker, Denise Fujiwara among others.  

Faculty member of Centennial College’s Dance Performance Program, he has been a Guest Artist at Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts - University of the West Indies (Mona), University of Wisconsin – Madison, Northwestern University, and the University of Texas - Austin. His research and creative practice exist in constant interrogation and navigation of Caribbean and African Diasporic cultural practices towards a methodology of investigation in research, creation and presentation. 

Miguel Roy

Miguel Roy is an Actor, Director, and Theatre Educator from Oromocto, New Brunswick who specializes in Improvisation, Movement, Mask, and Voice Over. Having worked with artists such as Lisa Anne Ross (Solo Chicken Productions) and Len Falkenstein (NotaBle Acts) in the Fredericton area, he now brings his work to the Moncton Area where he teaches the next generation at the School of Atlantic Ballet as their Theatre Director.

As a performer, he has been a part of many productions in the Fredericton area over the years, including Rabbittown, Richard III, Chicago: The Musical, and many others. Recently, he was a part of the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar (Hubcity Theatre).

As an educator, his time is split working with various age groups from 5 - 12 years old in the Arts After School program, as well as Musical Theatre courses which offer direct development and performance opportunities to children ages 9 and up. Under his tutelage, classes have performed Matilda: The Musical and Madagascar: A Musical Adventure for audiences in Moncton, with more shows on their way.

Through Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada, he also takes on the role of Ballet by the Ocean’s MC, which runs throughout July and September every year. After being a part of the audience during the last IMPACTfest, he is very excited to help bring the festival to life this year.

Sara Coffin

Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance, co-curator of Shifting Tides: Dance Films from Atlantic Canada

Sara Coffin is an award winning dance artist / educator and choreographer. She has been the Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance for over a decade, teaching and creating interdisciplinary contemporary dance for twenty years and has created over 30 dance works.  She holds a MFA in Choreography (Smith College), BFA in Dance (Simon Fraser) and BSc Kinesiology (Dalhousie), and NS Established Artist Award (2018). Her research interests include the poetic junction between vulnerability, resiliency, and courage and is a proud mother of her two-year old Maya. 

Mourad Badirou (Dj Mobaws)

Dj Anonymous, under his new stage name Dj Mobaws, is an international DJ who started his career in the music industry in early 2010 as dj and beatmaker. In 2013, after his arrival in Canada, responding to various opportunities with his talent, he won over a new Canadian audience. He became in great demand in the Moncton area and in Montreal, as DJ at ROUGE and the Cosmo in Moncton, and as DJ at blv44, Don B and more recently at the Candi bar in Montréal. Mobaws has also graced several major scenes such as the Beach club in Quebec City, Isonic Festival, Afrofest in Ottawa and Moncton as well as the Caribana in Toronto and many more. Mobaws’ colourful stylings range from, Hip-hop, R & B, House, Salsa and Soca among others. He was featured in events in France and Bénin and other countries as well as private gatherings such as weddings, anniversaries and staff parties. DJ MOBAWS is present on Facebook and Instagram, and to hear his mixes on Sound Cloud or Mix Cloud, search under DJ Mobaws.

Arun Srinivasan

Designer

Arun has worked extensively in the performing arts for the last 25 years. Dance collaborators include Robert Desrosiers, Peter Chin, Danny Grossman, ProArteDanza, COBA and tiger princess dance projects. He has been the resident designer for Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre since 2002. Theatre credits include Factory Theatre, The Canadian Stage Co., The Globe Theatre, Expect Theatre, fu-GEN, Cahoots Theatre Projects & Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. His career has garnered him eight Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Outstanding Lighting Design. He has had the privilege of teaching lighting design at both York and Ryerson Universities, the University of Waterloo and The National Theatre School. He has production managed shows for The CanAsian Dance Festival, Living Ritual, DanceWorks, Fall for Dance North and most recently Luminato. Productions have taken him to Ukraine, Malaysia, Singapore, India, China and across North America.

Charles Pan

Photography expert

With post-graduate certificates in Advanced Film & TV and Journalism - New Media, a master's degree in Educational Leadership, and a diploma in Music, Charles brings over ten years of exceptional experience in project management within the media production field.

As a producer, director, scriptwriter, editor, and sound mixer, he has worked on multiple well-received Canadian documentaries and cultural events. Additionally, he has spent four years providing media consulting services to school boards and post-secondary institutions in Canada.

Simon Rossiter

Designer

Simon Rossiter is a Toronto-based lighting designer who occasionally designs scenery. He has created more than 250 original designs for a variety of dance and theatre compa-nies, including works for Citadel+ Compagnie, the National Ballet of Canada, CôtéDanse, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Théâtre français de Toronto, Toronto Dance Theatre, and is Director of Design for Fall for Dance North. Simon has received three Dora Mavor Moore awards and six further nominations for outstanding lighting design and was twice nom- inated for the Ontario Arts Council’s Pauline McGibbon award. Simon also serves as Business Agent for the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

Silvie Varone

Designer

Silvie Varone brings her experience as a prop builder and her craftsmanship as a woodworker to this design and dance collaboration with Yvonne Ng. Silvie spent many years working as a prop builder for numerous productions and theatre companies developing her skills and expanding her art as a maker and designer. In 2013, Silvie founded Silvie Varone Design&Build a custom furniture design& build studio in Toronto.  With an emphasis on custom, SVd&b has also begun to build and stock home accessories and is working on a furniture line she hopes to launch at a future date. Apart from working long hours continuing to grow and build her business Silvie is a mother to a lively teenager, wife of a stagehand and owner to Lola the labradoodle.

Florian Marcelino

Originally from Dijon France, Florian Marcelino joins us for his first season with Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada. Mr. Marcelino recently graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon with a concentration in ballet but also received extensive training in contemporary dance, jazz, Hip-Hop and neoclassical dance. His repertory includes worked from choreographer Maurice Béjart and Ruben Julliard.

Hiroto Yamaguchi

Hiroto Yamaguchi is from Kanagawa, Japan. After studying at the Sakaki Mika Ballet Academy, he graduated from the professional program of Ellison Ballet in New York. In 2019 he won 2nd prize at YAGP Senior Men’s Division Indianapolis. Hiroto joined the South Bohemia Ballet in the Czech Republic where he performed the works of Viktor Konvalinka, Tomáš Rychetský, and Ondřej Vinklát. This is his first season with Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada.

Olga Petiteau

Olga Petiteau trained at the Académie américaine de danse de Paris in France. She joined Ballet Cymru in 2009, where she performed on national and international tours. She has also been involved in the creation and inception of many neoclassical and contemporary pieces. Olga danced with Vienna Festival Ballet and Les Ballets classiques de Paris. She brilliantly interpreted the role of Edith Piaf in Atlantic Ballet Canada’s original production of Piaf. She has also performed in Ghosts of Violence, Phantom of the Opera, Iceman, Carmen, Don Juan, and Figaro with the Company.

Laura Flydorf

Laura Flydorf is from Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. She began her professional training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and studied there for five years until she graduated in 2018. Ms Flydorf was then accepted into the post graduate aspirant program of the company where she had the privilege to dance roles in repertoire from La Bayadère, the Wizard of Oz, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker. This is Ms Flydorf third season with Atlantic Ballet Canada. During the 2020-2021 season with the Company, she performed in Ballet by the Ocean and in Amadeus.

Eldiyar Daniyarov

Originally from Kyrgyzstan, Eldiyar Daniyarov joined Atlantic Ballet Canada in 2012. Prior to coming to Canada, he danced as a soloist with the prestigious Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. He trained and graduated from the esteemed Kazakh National Academy of Arts and went on to become a principal dancer with the National Academic Ballet of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Center of Contemporary Dance, and the Crown of Russian Ballet Moscow. For Atlantic Ballet Canada, he has danced in various productions including Romeo and Juliette, Piaf, Phantom of the Opera, Iceman, Ghosts of Violence, and Carmen. Eldiyar has worked as rehearsal assistant & resident teacher for Atlantic Ballet Canada.

Thomas Badrock

Thomas Finnigan-Badrock is from Liverpool, England and began his training at The Dance School of Scotland which he attended for four years. During his third year at Central School of Ballet in London, he competed in Prix De Lausanne and was a part of Ballet Central with which he toured the U.K. After graduating in 2016, Mr. Finnigan-Badrock attended a postgraduate year at Palucca Hochschule Für Tanz in Dresden where he was involved in a new creation by Ihsan Rustem. Since joining Atlantic Ballet in 2017, he has danced in Carmen, Piaf, Phantom of the Opera, Don Juan, Figaro, and held the leading role in Igor Dobrovolskiy’s original ballet Alien as well as in Amadeus.

Stéphanie Audet

Stéphanie Audet was born in Montreal, Quebec. She started dancing at the age of four with a recreational dance studio in her hometown. At the age of 14, she began studying at l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. Stéphanie has been dancing with the Atlantic Ballet Canada since the 2013-14 season. She performed many roles in Igor Dobrovolskiy’s original works including Carmen in Carmen, Mômone in PIAF, and Constanza in Amadeus. Stephanie’s repertoire also includes Ghosts of Violence, Phantom of the Opera, King Lear, Iceman, Don Juan, and Figaro.

Nozomi Nakabayashi

Nozomi Nakabayashi, from Kawasaki in Japan begins her first season with Atlantic Ballet Canada. She has just completed her studies at the Dance Ensemble of the Royal Conservatoire, in The Hague. Nozomi began her dance journey at the Kumagai Yuri Ballet School in 2006 and in the summer 2017 she studied at the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham. In 2020, she competed in the Japan International Ballet Festival where she won prizes in contemporary and in classical. She has received numerous dance scholarships over the years, has taken part inmaster classes in Barcelona, and followed intensive classes at NK in London. Ms. Nakabayashi is very excited to begin her second with Atlantic Ballet Canada.

SAMUEL PITMAN

A native of Buckinghamshire England, Samuel Pitman joins Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada for the 2023 season. A recent graduate with honors of the Central School of Ballet in London with training in ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, choreography, and improvisation. Mr. Pitman repertoire includes the work of British choreographers Sir Fredick Ashton and Michael Pink.

Kristin Fung

Returning to Vancouver after seven years in Toronto, Kristin Fung’s ferocious, tender, and captivating voice as a lead singer, keyboardist, composer, and improviser traverse musical landscapes of “soulful grace” and “jazzy joy” (From The Intercom), and funky R&B. Her deeply earnest and uplifting originals evoke the sounds of self-accompanying piano queens Alicia Keys and Patrice Rushen, showing off her powerhouse lungs and groovy piano chops. Performance highlights include: bandleader of her original music at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival (2021) and Markham Jazz Festival (2019); member of Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Vocal Ensemble at Roulette (New York, 2019); artistic director of celeste, the experimental vocal/movement trio at Aga Khan Museum (Toronto, 2018); and one half of K Funk and Lady Ree, the singing ukulele ladies of the Toronto subway (since 2015). Fung's forthcoming electro-R&B single, "Why Don't You Dance" will hit worldwide platforms and roller rinks since early summer 2022. www.kristinfung.com

Brayden Cairns

Brayden Jamil Cairns is a Toronto based artist and member of Alyssa Martin's company, Rock Bottom Movement. Brayden is Interested in movement that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. They enjoys binding dance and lived experience to create challenging works of art, utilising different media such as writing and film. Many of these ideas come from a powerful need to uplift the queer and BIPOC communities. Brayden will often be found researching what it is to feel pleasure and what can come from self-exploration.

Kwasi Obeng Adjei

Kwasi Obeng-Adjei is an African-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, emerging choreographer and dance educator based in Brampton Ontario. Acceptance into the regional arts program at St Roch Catholic Secondary School is where he began his journey and developed his foundation. Training with Leading Artistic directors and choreographers  that include the likes of Esie Mensah, and Lua Shayenne to name a few, have led to  opportunity that include Pan-American Games, Kira, The Path | La Voie, The Raptors half-time show, Zayo and more. Kwasi believes dance is a spiritual experience that involves connecting all that is among us.

Rose-Mary Harbans

Rose-Mary “Rosie” Harbans (she/her) is a Dora-nominated multifaceted performer, choreographer, and dance educator from Toronto, Ontario. Her artistic practice centres art as a vessel for inner transformation and movement as a powerful form of medicine and healing. Rosie is of Caribbean ancestry, and this greatly informs her passion for rhythm and storytelling. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (BFA). Some of her credits include Dixon Road (Musical Stage Co./ Ray Hogg), A Revolution for Love (Esie Mensah), Kira, The Path | La Voie (Lua Shayenne Dance Company), After Midnight (Norwegian Cruise Lines/ Warren Carlyle), and Trinity: Music, Dance & You (Vicki St. Denys). She is a teacher at Etobicoke School of the Arts and Canada's National Ballet School.

MIYEKO FERGUSON

Miyeko Ferguson is a Tkaronto / Toronto based dance artist. In 2016, she received her BFA in Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University. Since graduation, Miyeko has worked with choreographers such as Naishi Wang, Jera Wolfe, Kate Hilliard, Jennifer Nichols, Julia Aplin, and Vicki St. Denys. She has been nominated for 2 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for her performances in 2020 and 2022. Miyeko performed for Red Sky Performance from 2016-2022 and toured across North America with their production, Trace. More recently, she performed with the Canadian Opera Company in Atom Egoyan’s production of Salome and was a dancer in the film, SWEAT by The Bicycle Opera Project which premiered at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival 2023. She assisted Jera Wolfe in remounting his production, Arise for Fall for Dance North’s 2022 Signature Program and for Canada’s National Ballet School’s Assemblée Internationale and Spring Showcase in 2023.

Photo by Kendra Epik

NATASHA KANAPÉ FONTAINE

Natasha Kanapé Fontaine is an Innu poet from the community of Pessamit on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River. She is a slam artist, an actor, a visual artist and an activist for Aboriginal and environmental rights. She has published several collections of poetry, and more recently her first novel, Nauetakuan. She currently lives in Montreal.

Photo by Julien Lajoie-Lemay

Driftnote (Omar David Rivero)

Sound Designer + Live Mixer-  Driftnote (Omar David Rivero) (She/They)

Omar David Rivero, also known as Driftnote, is a musician and multimedia artist born in Venezuela and currently based out of Tkaronto whose work is centred around improvisation, interactivity, audio and visual installations as well as 3D imaging. Rivero explores questions of materiality and embodiment when looking at systems, cultural erasure, and identity in the African/indigenous diaspora. Their research is situated in reassessing methodologies of image making, archives, and self-portraiture.

Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone

Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone, is a Barbadian-Canadian multi hyphenate artist based in Toronto ON. She started her career in 2007 and for the past 15 years has been building her career as a performance artist, choreographer, movement director, dancer, singer/musician, outside eye/creative mentor, group facilitator and more recently, handmade skincare small business owner.  Jaz ‘Fairy J’ has created over 30 original dance works, presented in Toronto, Montreal, North Bay, Brooklyn NY, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Berlin, Birmingham UK and Sinop, Turkey. Her choreography has been commissioned by Toronto Dance Theatre, Art Gallery of Ontario, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Cawthra Park Secondary School, Dance Immersion, Etobicoke School of the Arts and the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival.   Last Fall she premiered her interactive art experience titled “The Reception” at Nuit Blanche.  She was the choreographer for the 20th year anniversary of “Da Kink in my Hair” (Dec 2022) and she was a Dancer/Singer/Dance Captain for Scott Joplin’s “Treemonisha” (June 2023).

Kate Mitchell

Designer

Kate Mitchell is a Nova Scotian artist, designer and dance enthusiast. She is a graduate of NSCAD University’s Interdisciplinary Design program as well as the Costume Studies Diploma program at Dalhousie University. Kate has completed two summer intensive sessions in dance costume construction in New York and has been designing and creating costumes for ballet and contemporary dance in Atlantic Canada for several years. Kate is currently the Costume Director at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and Costume Manager for the Symphony Nova Scotia production of The Nutcracker. Kate has most recently had the privilege of working with Lydia Zimmer and Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada to create the costumes for Xenofauna at IMPACTFest.