Member of the month

Where are you from? 

I was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland.

What dance genres do you practice? 

I have studied many different movement practices. Some fall under the contemporary dance umbrella and others take on a more somatic approach. 

What role does dance play in your day-to-day life? What role does it play in your culture, community, family or background? 

I grew up in a very artistic home, my Dad has always played music and he's a painter. My Mom sewed a lot of our clothes growing up, and she was heavily into crafts. It was awesome growing up in a home where expressing yourself artistically was encouraged. I'm also a proud Newfoundlander and I remain tied to the province's distinct culture. It is very near and dear to my heart. The warmth of the people and the isolation of the landscape are inspirations in my art and day-to-day life. 

Why did you join CADA-ON? 

When I first joined, I was young and the Training Subsidy Program was definitely a draw. Later down the road, it became more about fairness and the rights of dance artists. I am a strong believer that dancers/choreographers/teachers should be paid fairly and the CADA-ON guidelines and standards are very helpful when negotiating fees and understanding your rights as a dance artist. 

Why do you train at GMD? 

GMD offers the Toronto dance community fantastic training. They bring in high calibre teachers and accompanists. I love the GMD team and I think Kenny Pearl is a modern dance rock star with the biggest heart! 

What upcoming projects are you working on? 

I'm currently working on a new solo project called Everything Dies alongside Greg Harrison (a GMD accompanist) and Brendan Jensen who is the Artistic Advisor on the project. I'll also be presenting my full length work Waving is Funny once again as part of Summerworks 2016. Lastly, I just became the TO Love-In's newest lover, which I am extremely excited about!