We are proud to present our 2023 Series roster of presenting artists!
2023 Series Presentation
1. In The After - Hilary James, Naomi Wiebe, Kristie Enns, Laina Brown
2. Careful - Laura Vriend
3. i’m not today what i’d imagined…thank God - Chelsea Tielman
4. Cumulus - Sam Penner
5. Secancy - Jocelyn Mah & Daniel Pelton
6. I know you are, but what am I? - Cai Glover, A Fichu Turning
- Intermission -
7. TOUCH - Kyra Jean Green & Brittany Canda
8. Not Structurally Sound - Shayla Rudd
9. MARA - Kathleen Hiley & Stephanie Ballard
10. Through - Nicole Kepp
11. Revival - Corinne Vessey & Matt McKinney, Ember Dance Company
12. Only - Madison Cronk
2023 Series Roster
CAI GLOVER
In an ever-going discovery and study of dance, Cai Glover has been training, performing and creating in the art form for over 25 years. From 2012 to 2022 Cai was working as a dance interpreter and choreographer for Cas Public and has been a part of 8 creations for the company. Most recently Cai has been developing his own expression in poetry and in a language of movement putting the dancing body to task in a search of an embodied expression of poetics through the transposition of language into movement under the name of his company, A Fichu Turning. Cai has had the great privilege, over the course of his career, of working with creators Helene Blackburn, John McFall, Simone Orlando, Lauri Stallings, Edgar Zendejas, Mathieu Murphy-Perron and many others. He never tires of the search in finding ways to affect audiences through this art form and to appeal to the varied and countless emotional experiences of the human being. As a hard of hearing artist, hearing differently has become a driving force of his artistry and originality as a mover, interpreter and choreographer.
En constante découverte et étude de la danse, Cai Glover s'entraîne, joue et crée dans cette forme d'art depuis plus de 25 ans. De 2012 à 2022, Cai a travaillé comme interprète de danse et chorégraphe pour Cas Public et a participé à 8 créations pour la compagnie. Plus récemment, Cai a développé sa propre expression dans la poésie et le langage du mouvement, mettant le corps dansant à contribution dans la recherche d'une expression incarnée de la poétique à travers la transposition du langage dans le mouvement, sous le nom de sa compagnie, A Fichu Turning. Au cours de sa carrière, Cai a eu le grand privilège de travailler avec les créateurs Helene Blackburn, John McFall, Simone Orlando, Lauri Stallings, Edgar Zendejas, Mathieu Murphy-Perron et bien d'autres. Il ne se lasse pas de chercher des moyens de toucher le public à travers cette forme d'art et de faire appel aux expériences émotionnelles variées et innombrables de l'être humain. En tant qu'artiste malentendant, le fait d'entendre différemment est devenu une force motrice de son art et de son originalité en tant que déménageur, interprète et chorégraphe.
https://linktr.ee/a_fichu_turning
Title: I Know You Are, But What Am I?
Creation, Concept, Choreograpy: Cai Glover
Performers: Cai Glover, Caroline Namts, Léa Noblet Di Ziranaldi
Sound/ Music Composition: Leon J Dinfach
Lighting: Etienne Fournier
Rehearsal Director: Kennedy Henry
Communications: Steffie Boucher
CHELSEA TIELMAN
Chelsea Tielman is proud to be born, raised, and presently residing in Winnipeg, MB, developing her career as an emerging dance artist and movement educator. A versatile performer with over twenty years of diverse training, her journey has been enriched by renowned institutions like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and Harbour Dance Center, while also influenced heavily by training grounds in the Winnipeg and Vancouver hip hop scenes. Chelsea's performances with esteemed companies and choreographers such as Paula Blair, Vincent Hardy, BOSS Dance Team, Project Dance Company, Unity Dance Co, and ZION Dance Project, have been milestones. In 2021, Chelsea completed the Surfacing pre-professional dance and theology program led by Kristie Sidwall, fuelled by her shared passion for dance and faith. During this significant experience, she had the privilege to study under Johanna Riley, Claire Marshall, Laura Elliott, and Paula Blair. She is excited to be continuing her professional training at the School of Contemporary Dancers, beginning fall 2023.
Currently, she's thrilled to present "i’m not today what i’d imagined, thank God" in Skylines 2023 Series. Originally created for live performance, the piece was reimagined for film in collaboration with Folks Films due to the pandemic. The resulting work beautifully captures the theme of transformation against the backdrop of the Canadian shield and shores of Lake Winnipeg, reflecting a profound personal journey of growth and change.
Choreography and Performance: Chelsea Tielman
Videography: Laina Brown, Folks Films
Music : Jean-Michel Blais
Special thanks to
Strahan Coleman - for the poetic prayers that spoke to my soul, and inspired movement
Kim Hildebrand - for your guidance and direction throughout the initial creative process, from which this piece was born
Holly Plett, dancer (live performance, 2021) - for your engagement in the rehearsal process, bringing life to the piece through your beautiful movement
Phillippe Larouche, 2021 Artistic Coordinator of RWB First Steps Audience Participation initiative - for your contribution to the revision process, providing feedback that helped shape a re-imagining of the piece for film
Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Rushing River Provincial Park - for helping us capture and reflect the natural wonder and beauty of the Canadian Shield, transformative in it's movement, and ours.
Corinne Vessey
Corinne Vessey is a dance professional who has been training for over twenty years in various styles of dance. She has studied at world renowned facilities including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Shelley Shearer School of Dance, Harbour Dance Centre, The Source Dance Company, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and University of Calgary where she received her Bachelor of Arts (English, Dance minor) and a Bachelor of Education. Corinne continues to perform professionally and has appeared in "Acquiescence" in Soulocentric Festival, 49th Parallel Dance Company's "Watering Hole," Michele Moss' "Where in the World," The Toy Castle television series, The Source Dance Company's "Stranded," Royal Winnipeg Ballet School's "Peter Pan," and the Juno Awards, to name a few. Corinne's choreography has won numerous awards, and has appeared in the Soulocentric Festival, multiple Mpact Dance Company productions, Ignite! Festival, Alberta Culture Days, and at the Grande Opening of the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, as well as many other venues. Corinne is the Artistic Director and founder of Ember Dance Company, a semi-professional contemporary dance company based out of Calgary that has been producing its own feature shows and dance films since its inception in 2012.
HILARY JAMES, KRISTIE ENNS & NAOMI WIEBE
Hilary James is a dance performer, choreographer, and teacher hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Hilary received her Bachelor in Fine Arts, Major in Dance from the University of Calgary in 2017 where she trained in contemporary, jazz, and composition with local professionals Melanie Kloetzel, Marie-France Forcier, Michèle Moss, Melissa Monteros, and Wojtiech Mochniej, as well as many international guest artists. She also spent 2 years studying and performing with the Professional Training Program at the renowned company and studio Decidedly Jazz Danceworks where she fostered a love of jazz dance and music. Most recently, she created and performed a full length dance theatre production “Pull Yourself Together” in the 2019 and 2023 Winnipeg Fringe Festivals. Other performance credits include the Ignite! Festival of Emerging Artists, Alberta Dance Festival, Skylines Dance & Film Festival (2017, 2018, and 2023), Fluid Festival’s Physical Therapy Cabaret, Rainbow Trout Music Festival, Nuit Blanche, and several productions with M Funk Dance.
Kristie Enns is a dance educator based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up in Ohio, Kristie trained under Barbara Pontecorvo with Pontecorvo Ballet Studios and later on with South Dayton School of Dance. She has participated in pre-professional training programs in Dublin, Ireland with the Goode School of Dance and Sydney, Australia with Hillsong International Leadership College. After training with the dance department at Anderson University, Kristie graduated with a B.A. in Christian Ministries and Dance Complimentary before moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2016. She is one of the founders and currently teaches dance with Genesis School of Dance in Winnipeg.
Naomi Wiebe is a Winnipeg based dance artist and movement educator. In 2016, she graduated from the School of Contemporary Dancers honors degree program. As a part of her last year, she was privileged to travel to Ottawa to participate in Canada Dance Festival's 50 Dancer Project, choreographed by Robert Desrosiers. The following year, she traveled to Montreal for an apprenticeship with SinhaDanse and was honored to perform in the company's 25th anniversary show, the company’s “MoW!” project, and several local arts festivals. In the summer of 2018, her choreography was presented in the first ever Skylines Dance & Film Series here in Winnipeg. Other projects include Brianna Ferguson: Inertial Response, hiljames Movement: “Pull Yourself Together”, Ruah Dance: “Lost & ….”, Sinha Danse for NAfro’s Moving Inspirations Festival, Nafro Dance Productions’ “Mapiko”, Ruah Dance: Summertide Theatre Festival, Company Link, Johanna Riley: Mentorship, YoungLungs Dance Exchange, and Stephanie Ballard and Dancers. Naomi is also a passionate movement educator and has been teaching dance in Winnipeg for ten years.
JOCELYN MAH & DANIEL PELTON
Jocelyn Mah is a diverse performer in the mediums of contemporary dance, puppetry, mask and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and holds her Master of Arts in Contemporary Dance Performance from The London Contemporary Dance School (London, UK). As a creator, her award-winning choreography has been presented at festivals throughout Canada, the UK, and Europe.
Daniel Pelton is a 2018 music graduate from the University of Calgary, where he studied under award-winning musicians. Daniel’s training has made him a versatile performer in classical, jazz, and contemporary music styles. Performing across Western Canada, Daniel’s acclaimed horn band Long Time No Time has shared the stage with notable acts, including New York’s Too Many Zooz. He also leads The Daniel Pelton Collective, featuring a diverse array of Calgary musicians.
Daniel and Jocelyn's dance-music film Secancy embodies music and movement as two interdependent and playful entities..
KATHLEEN HILEY, STEPHANIE BALLARD & LANDON LAKE
As director, performer and producer of Kathleen Hiley Solo Projects, Kathleen has performed solo works by Stephanie Ballard, Patricia Beatty, Jeanne Bresciani, Rachel Browne, Isadora Duncan, Margie Gillis, Gaile Petursson-Hiley and Peter Quanz. Her performances have been presented across Europe, Canada and The United States. Kathleen’s upcoming season includes performances with the Isadora Duncan International Institute in Italy, New York and France. Kathleen was commissioned to choreograph and perform in four new solo works in collaboration with composers, musicians and film makers that were presented in the 2021 Clearlake Chamber Music Festival. She has been invited to present and perform her choreography in within New York, Connecticut and as an Artist in Residence at the Lakkos Residency in Crete, Greece. She will be an artist in residence at Gallery Huit (France) in 2024. Kathleen has been a featured artist with The Margie Gillis Dance Foundation, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Q Dance, The Isadora Duncan International Institute, Toronto Heritage Dance, Mouvement Winnipeg Dance Projects, and Stephanie Ballard and Dancers. She graduated from the School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program in affiliation with the University of Winnipeg with a BA Honours in Dance, a BA in Psychology and received the Gold Medal in Theatre and Film.
Stephanie Ballard is a critically acclaimed choreographer, personal coach and educator whose work has garnered the prestigious Clifford E. Lee Award and the Canada Council for the Arts Jacqueline Lemieux Prize. She has been affiliated with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers for over 50 years. As Artistic Advisor, Company Manager and Choreographer for the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation she toured extensively in Asia, the US, Canada and Europe. She is Artist in Residence and Archivist for the School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program and is Artistic Advisor for Peter Quanz and QDance. She is an active member of The Canadian Dance Alliance. As Director of the Winnipeg Dance Preservation Initiative she plays an active role in advocating for Dance in Manitoba and throughout Canada.
Landon Lake was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but spent the majority of his 20s in Tokyo, Japan, where he worked as an English teacher. He started playing drums for a Japanese punk band, and through making music videos for his band, discovered his love for filmmaking. He went on to direct music videos for many other Japanese bands, and eventually decided to move back to Winnipeg to further pursue his career. He has since been doing all kinds of things film-related, such as music videos, commercials, short films, and even performing as a stunt double. In 2018, his video for Don Amero’s “Church” won best video of the year at the Manitoba Country Music Awards. Photo: Symon Ptashnick
KYRA JEAN GREEN & BRITTNEY CANDA
Kyra Jean Green, a Canadian-American artist, calls Montreal her home, living on the unceded territory of Tiotaké. Her heritage weaves a diverse tapestry of 2nd-generation Mexican, 3rd-generation Hungarian and Irish, and Scottish roots, and she is the first of her family to immigrate to Canada. Kyra earned her B.F.A. from The Juilliard School in 2006. Since then, she has been humbly dedicated to her craft. In 2007, she won the Hubbard Street II choreographic competition and had the privilege of presenting her work at the esteemed Kennedy Center. In 2019, Kyra embarked on a meaningful creative exploration, crafting new works for Choreolab in Ulm, Germany, and in Seattle, Washington, for Whim W'him's choreographic shindig. That same year, she proudly presented two choreographic pieces from her company, Trip The Light Fantastic, at the Prisma Dance Festival in Panama. After a decade of dancing, Kyra felt it was to create her own company in 2017. Trip The Light Fantastic emerged, a collective of talented dancers, visual artists, and filmmakers from Montreal. With a fusion of contemporary, urban styles and structured improvisation, the company delves into the complexities of the human psyche, aiming to challenge societal stigmas and liberate souls through dance and mixed media. Kyra's heart lies in pursuing positive social change, and her artistic endeavors continue to inspire as she explores the power of dance and mixed media. For more about Kyra and her incredible journey with Trip The Light Fantastic, visit www.TripTheLightFantastic.me.
Brittney Canda is a dance artist, film director, and educator based in Montreal, Canada. Her creative processes are collaborative, and often combines a multitude of artistic disciplines. Canda’s works are theatrical, emotional, physical, and imaginative, often exploring themes of magic, isolation, unity, and violence. Several of her projects have been supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Factor, and CALQ. She was awarded Best Choreography in a Music Video at the UKMVAs in 2020 with her piece, WRAP ME UP for independent musician, Sheenah Ko. At the UKMVAs, her choreographic work on the small budget indie video ousted significantly larger productions, such as works for Beyoncé, Christine and the Queens, and George Michael and Mary J Blige. Brittney has worked as a choreographer and movement director on music videos for Celine Dion, The Barr Brothers, Richard Reed Parry (of Arcade Fire), Owen Pallet, Elisapie, Calum Graham, Ada Lea, Simon Leoza (formerly Tambour) and members of Wintersleep. In 2020, she was selected as an Emerging Choreographer for the internationally recognized dance event, SPRINGBOARD. Her solo film directing debut TOUCH, in collaboration with Kyra Jean Green’s Trip the Light Fantastic was awarded Best Film at its premiere at Festival Quartiers Danses in 2020. She is currently working on another dance film with the same company, based on their original full length work, THE SMILE CLUB. She holds a Juno nomination for Music Video of The Year for her work as a co-director in Sheenah Ko’s WRAP ME UP. As an interpret, she is a company member of Kyra Jean Greens contemporary dance ensemble, Trip the Light Fantastic. With the company, she has performed works THE MAN WHO TRAVELED NOWHERE IN TIME, and YOU CAN ONLY BE WHERE YOU ARE. Brittney is one half of an interdisciplinary duo heavily based in audience interaction with for-mentioned experimental electronic-pop musician, Sheenah Ko. The pair have performed internationally and have shared the stage with Ex Eye, The Barr Brothers, and Besnard Lakes. Brittney has performed and starred in several dance films and music videos for renowned Canadian artists. She studied ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, and tap in her youth, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University. Brittney has been teaching those same styles in competitive studios across Canada for over 10 years (LAT Montreal, Scream Danse Academy, Louise La Pierre, Studio Danse MP, Trip the Light Fantastic Summer Intensive). She has also mentored individuals in the creation of dance for film, and has given guest lectures at the Laban Conservatory in London UK, and Concordia University in Montreal. Brittney is also a film editor (SIT STILL- Jacob Jonas the Company), model (Reitmans, Vouge Italia, VonWong, Damian Siqueiros), vocalist, and ammeter ukulele player. She loves daydreaming and snuggling her dog.
LAURA VRIEND & SOPHIE MILORD
Laura Vriend is an independent dance artist and scholar born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, MB. Having lived in the US for over 20 years, she holds a BA in Dance with a double major in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College and a PhD in Critical Dance Studies from the University of California, Riverside. She spent 12 years in Philadelphia as a dance artist, dance dramaturge and Adjunct Professor of Dance at Temple University and Bryn Mawr College. In Philadelphia, she has had the pleasure of working with Headlong Dance Theater, Annie Wilson, Irina Varina and Megan Bridge/<fidget>. Laura’s research as a scholar and dance artist has centered around social theories of space and cultural geography, writing extensively on how choreography makes space in site-specific experimental dance in Philadelphia, and centering her dance practice around formal qualities and childhood memories of growing up on the prairies. Her new project “Vignettes for Sewing Dances and Choreographing Clothing” with collaborator Katherine Magne of Winnipeg Sews, was recently supported by Young Lungs Dance Exchange’s 2023 Research Residency. Laura also maintains a cross-border collaboration with artist Leigh Huster with whom she makes movement-based films exploring ritual and grief. She identifies as a fat and disabled dance artist and seeks to make space for body diversity in dance while actively engaging the movements of fat (like jiggling flesh) to which typically thin dancing bodies do not have access.
Sophie Milord received most of her dance training in Vancouver, BC at the Avant Dance Company before moving to Winnipeg in 2017. Since graduating the School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program and earning her BA (Hons) in dance, she has been pursuing a professional dance career in the prairies; performing in shows such as “Looking Glass”, “Up Close and disDANCING” and “RECONNECT” with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Robin Poitras contracted Sophie to perform in her show “Rouge-gorge” on tour last fall in Regina and Moose Jaw. Sophie has also danced in five performances under the guidance of Ian Mozdzen, most recently in “PEOPLE FIGURE AGAIN AND AGAIN” this past July. She has gone on to teach at schools such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, while continuing to be the director of the Lord Roberts Community Centre Dance Program. This season Sophie has danced in many arts festivals/series such as “Botany in Motion Performing Arts Festival”, “Hatch”, and soon to be “Skylines Dance and Film.” She is honoured to be dancing in “Careful”, created by Laura Vriend.
Title: Careful (2013)
Choreography by Laura Vriend
Performed by Sophie Milord and Laura Vriend
Sound by Laura Vriend, Neil Diamond
“I would like to acknowledge Ellen Gerdes contributions to the choreography of this piece during its creation in 2012/2013.”
MADISON CRONK
Madison Cronk is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She loves to create welcoming and inclusive dance classes where she can share her love of dance with others. Madison is on faculty at The Dance Method and is passionate about teaching and helping young people achieve their dreams. She has taught dance in public schools in the local area and continues to explore and perfect her craft. Madison is always looking for new opportunities to inspire others and to grow as a dancer and artist herself. She is committed to giving other dancers the chance to express themselves and live their passion for dance. Madison values the opportunity to create pieces for dancers in many different settings. She enjoys the creative process of crafting performance pieces and takes pride in helping dancers bring those pieces to life on the stage.
In "Only" we explore the intricate complexity of human emotions; unraveling how each person resonates with and expresses their emotions in their own distinctive manner. Shot by local videographer David MacDonald and photographed by David McDougall, "Only" was a video created in Summer 2022 uniting 24 dancers from diverse backgrounds across the city. In continuation with the film, 20+ dancers come together to perform live once more and dive deeper into 8 different emotions. While we may feel sentiments of joy or grief, how we portray those emotions and experiences are unique to us all.
Title: Only
Choreography: Madison Cronk
Music: RY X
Acknowledgements: David MacDonald, David MacDougall, Orielle Marcus and The Dance Method. Extra special thank you to all the dancers for their talents, energy, and commitment to bringing this work to life.
Madison Cronk’s Performers: Alyx Clarke, Anna Njegovan Rosenberger, Ashley Purdie, Chelsea Tielman, Claire d’Almeida, Claire Doyle, Claire Morton, Ella Rumak, Emma Braun, Hailey Bazan, Hudson Francis, Jen Atkinson, Kai Bestvater, MarieAnne Champagne, Mélodie Sugnami, Mia Fontaine, Mickey Leuzzi, Orchid Tesoro, Raegen McGinnis, Sarah Kowall, Taylor Sakwi
NICOLE KEPP
Nicole Kepp is a teacher, and choreographer living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As Principal of the Recreational Division for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Nicole is passionate about dance education and providing meaningful experiences for her students, in the studio and on the stage. As a creator, her choreography for both the Recreational and Professional Divisions of the school have been presented at various events and received several notable awards over the years. Last season she was also celebrated for her work on Royal MTC’s production of The Three Musketeers.
Through, this new creation explores the process of continuous motion through both internal and external thoughts and actions.
Title: Through
Nicole Kepp’s Performers: Sarah Zaugg, Sarah Froese, and Elisha Woo.
Choreography: Nicole Kepp
Music: Rain, in Your Black Eyes by Ezio Bosso
SAM PENNER
Sam Penner is an independent contemporary dance artist, currently living and working in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. After training at the School of Contemporary Dancers, she performed and worked extensively in Manitoba for many years, with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and Gearshifting Performance Works, working with choreographers such as Peggy Baker, Johanna Riley, Brent Lott, and Jolene Bailie. Her choreographic practice encompasses collaborative projects and partnerships for stage and screen, as well as community-based work. Recent creative highlights include: performing in Where Dance & Music Meet (2023) by Susanne Chui; leading Porifera 2.0, a community circle discussion of choreographic practice; and writing, directing, and performing in her first short film Cumulus (2022). Headshot credit: Chris Mutimer
SHAYLA RUDD
Shayla Rudd (she/her) is a freelance contemporary dance artist based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She started her professional career in 2020 after graduating from the Professional Program at the School of Contemporary Dancers. In her emerging artist years she was given the opportunities to perform works by Harold Rhume at the New Blue Festival in Toronto, Willow Island choreographed by Rachel Browne in Verge with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, as well as WCD’s Emerging Artist Initiative Project in 2019, 2020, and 2021 choreographed by Jolene Baile. After her years as an emerging artist Shayla has continued to perform with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers in full-length works by Jolene Baile. As well as performing with Winnipeg’s Symphony Orchestra in works by Odette Heyn and in Winnipeg’s Women Dancing choreographed by Stephanie Ballard. Parallel to Shayla’s performance career she has taught and choreographed for various studios in the Winnipeg area. During the COVID 19 Pandemic Shayla was able to teach for a studio through Zoom in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. Shayla recently presented her piece Boss Man in June 2023 in Paula Blair’s Prairie Dancer’s Show. Her professional dance career and work as a choreographer lead Shayla to find a passion in show directing, ultimately leading to being a co-director and co-founder of Botany in Motion Performing Arts Festival that takes place annually at St. Norbert Arts Centre.
Title: Not Structurally Sound
Music: Steve Reich
“My piece is about my experience of dealing with pain that comes from a chronic health condition. It is about the exhaustion of persistence, and starting to feel the relief from acceptance.”