CHOREOGRAPHERS

MENTORSHIP - CREATION - RESEARCH - DEVELOPMENT

Congratulations to our choreographers of our INNOVATION PROGRAM !

We are so thrilled and inspired to welcome these fabulous artists in residency:

Each of the choreographers in the INNOVATION program is allocated valuable studio time at Les Studios/GB and is mentored by a selected group of highly experienced mentors. They are also awarded access to workshops and support with our partner La Danse Sur les Routes.

The mentor committee is made up of recognized and experienced professionals (dramatists, rehearsal directors, sound, stage and lighting designers) who have a wealth of professional experience and vast knowledge in their respective fields.

INNOVATION 24-25

Cai Glover - "d/Deaf r/Republic"

Nicholas Bellefleur - "Coworker"

Emma-Lynn & Jovick - "Silent Conversations"
Jake Poloz - "You or Someone Like You"
Kyana Lyne - "Plutonian Remedy"
Pénélope Gromko - "Dévorée"
Inès Chiha - "Trouvez (la femme)"

Jossua Satinée - "Strasse"

Cai Glover

Since the age of 10, Cai Glover has been passionate about dance, which he explores through his company, A Fichu Turning. He seeks to express poetry through movement, going beyond the literal meaning of words. As a hearing-impaired artist, his unique perception of sound fuels his art, enriching his approach as a leader, performer and choreographer. He aims to convey deep emotions to the audience, rooted in the varied human experiences.

Emma-Lynn MacKay-Ronacher

Emma-Lynn MacKay-Ronacher, originally from Kemptville, Ontario, studied at L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. She has collaborated with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and participated in numerous festivals. She has also worked with numerous choreographers, enriching her artistic journey. A member of RUBBERBAND Dance Company since 2021, she explores her choreographic path, creating works such as What She Saw and Silent Conversations.

Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui

Jovick Pavajeau-Orostegui, influenced by breakdance and capoeira, is a Montreal-based dance artist originally from Miami and previously living in Bogotá. With a BFA in dance, he has worked with David Dorfman Dance and RUBBERBAND. He recently co-created the duo Silent Conversations with Emma-Lynn MacKay-Ronacher

Kyana Lyne

Kyana Lyne is a multidisciplinary artist who explores phenomenology, identity and healing through contemporary dance and film. Based in Montreal, she reconnects with her Anishinaabe roots and questions cultural identity. Her films have screened at various festivals, and she dances for the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation.

Penelope Gromko

A graduate in contemporary dance in 2018, Pénélope Gromko distinguished herself with her solo Mes désirs sont désordres and has collaborated with various choreographers and artists. In 2020, she learned artistic welding, creating a collection of clothing-accessories presented at the Montreal Fashion and Design Festival. She is currently working on a new solo creation integrating her metal sculptures.

Jake Poloz

Jake Poloz, a dancer and choreographer from northern Alberta and based in Montreal, has worked with renowned choreographers and danced for ProArteDanza (2018-2022) and Ballet Kelowna (2022-2024). He choreographed The Royal We for Ballet Kelowna in 2023 and presented his first full-length work i’ve seen you naked. Selected for various festivals, including Quartiers Danse in Montreal, he received the Prix Coup de Cœur Artiste Émergent. His work is recognized for its humour and originality.

Ines Chiha

Inès Chiha is a self-taught French-Tunisian multidisciplinary performer. She completed her dance training at the Big Bang program (2024) at Tiohtià:ke Montréal. Her art explores identity, faith and language. She began breakdancing after collaborating with Lazylegz and the Les Muses school to promote inclusivity on stage. In the process, she founded the Molokhia Squad collective with Bashir Al Mahayni aka Beasho. Their first piece Collapse was presented at the end of 2024 at Ecotone, Studio 303 and broadcast in full at the end of November by eXplo Lab at Patro Villeray. Defending collective action for social change, she works alongside her artistic practice with marginalized communities.

Jossua Satin

Jossua Satinée first evolved in hip-hop dance with the group Rockwell Family. A graduate of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 2014, they have collaborated with several choreographers and danced for Destins Croisés. A member of the Marie Chouinard company from 2019 to 2024, Satinée seeks plurality and diversity in her art.

Nicholas Bellefleur

Nicholas Bellefleur explores performance as a liberating practice, connecting the collective unconscious to human experience. His work, influenced by his queer and neurodivergent perspective, multiplies choreographic possibilities and proposes sensitive alternatives. With Montreal queer artists, he presents RAVERIE at FIERTÉ MTL in 2024 and participates in various choreographic projects, while collaborating with renowned artists to expand his practice.

INNOVATION 23-24

Jessica Muszynski & Paco Ziel – “Portals”

Voodoo House - "You think like a square"

Robert Cookson & Daniel Stefek - “Nonsense”
Amara Barner - "Mongrel"
Tentacle Tribe - "Dirt"
Wyeth Walker - "Love shack lullaby"
Catch Step – “ Catch Step (HYA REMIX) ”

Jessica Muszynski

Jessica Joy Muszynski is a Canadian dancer and choreographer of Filipino and Polish descent. She began her training in Richmond, BC and received her BFA in Dance from the University of Southern California in 2019. After dancing with Aszure Barton & Artists, she joined the Montreal company RUBBERBAND. Jessica has presented her work at dance festivals and received the Discovery Award for her piece "fam ly". Her mission is to create movement that fosters inclusion and joy, while encouraging the exploration of the audience's inner world.

Paco Ziel

Paco Ziel, a Mexican artist, excels in contemporary dance, filmmaking, photography and electronic music composition. His work explores the body, movement and nature. Co-directing Vías with Diana León, they created "Origen," an internationally recognized practice that stimulates sensory perception, explores complex movement, subjective time and the interconnectedness of life. Paco dances with RUBBERBAND and has collaborated with Montreal artists while teaching at renowned dance schools, playing a vital role in promoting the art of dance.

Amara Barner

Amara Barner, an American multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal, began her career as an assistant to renowned choreographers and quickly progressed into the dance world working for artists such as Emma Porter and Sia. At 18, Barner became the youngest dancer hired by Montreal-based company, RUBBERBAND. She danced there from 2016 to 2021, touring around the world. Since then, Amara has performed works for artists such as Anne Plamondon, Dana Gingras/Animals of Distinction, and Elon Höglund/Tentacle Tribe. Amara has also danced in several music videos, has been a judge for dance competitions, and was recognized by Dance Magazine in 2020 as an “ON THE RISE” artist.

Daniel Stefek

Daniel Stefek developed an interest in martial arts, particularly capoeira. Later in life, this curiosity turned into a broader passion, leading him to explore various disciplines, from martial arts to dance, acrobatics and theatre. Capoeira provided him with a solid foundation to further his acrobatic research. In 2020, he graduated from the National Circus School, specializing in acrobatic dance duo. Since graduating, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with various institutions and perform at events such as "Fall For Dance North" and "Montreal Completement Cirque". Currently, his work is deeply marked by the exploration of the cyclical nature of life, drawing inspiration from his acrobatic journey to address themes such as repetition, inexplicable moments and nostalgia.

Robert Cookson

Bobby Cookson, a creative and experimentalist, had a traditional childhood punctuated by school, sports and music. Despite a degree in mechanical engineering, his interest in the arts led him to theatre and international musical tours. This experience shaped his work by combining the physicality of movement with music, leading him towards the circus. After graduating from the National Circus School with a degree in circus, he worked for prestigious companies and co-founded artistic collectives, integrating music, acrobatic movement and visual art. Currently, Bobby Cookson is a multidisciplinary artist, exploring new interactions between objects and people to create innovative experiences for performers and audiences.

Wyeth Walker

Wyeth Walker, a dancer and choreographer from Virginia Beach, grew up under the tutelage of Denise Wall. A graduate of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, he developed his choreographic voice, particularly in the areas of site-specific dance and installation. During his studies, he collaborated with renowned artists such as Barak Marshall, Jermaine Spivey, Bret Easterling, and William Forsythe. In 2022, after graduation, Walker joined RUBBERBAND, a company directed by Victor Quijada, establishing his base in Montreal.

Voodoo House

A separate entity that wants to be above all a vision and an artistic signature advocating the art of dance before the artist as well as characters before the dancer. The goal is to be recognized by one's total art and not to be known by one's person. This is why we keep the anonymity of the choreographer in front of the public. Voodoo House is a vast imaginary world in which any artistic medium is invited to work with this cornerstone that is dance. The bigger the house, the more solid the foundations. Mixing dreamlike and mythological worlds, our inspirations come above all from music but also from philosophy and spirituality. We aspire to develop a choreographic style that is surrealist and metaphorical.

Tentacle Tribe - Elon Höglund

Elon is an artist from Stockholm, coming from a family of artists. He grew up passionate about hip-hop music and developed his love for dance by exploring various styles including kung fu, capoeira and popping. He quickly found inspiration in urban dance, theatre and contemporary dance, creating his own philosophy of movement.

Since 2001, Elon has choreographed and danced in contemporary fusion dance productions. He joined Cirque du Soleil in 2005 for the creation of "The Beatles Love" in Las Vegas, where he choreographed his own solo. He has worked with various dance companies in North America, Europe and Asia, collaborating with renowned choreographers.

In 2012, Elon co-founded Tentacle Tribe with Canadian choreographer Emmanuelle Lê Phan, creating several works that have been presented in many international cities. In addition to dance, Elon is a multidisciplinary artist involved in music composition, painting, and filmmaking. Currently, as an independent choreographer, he is working on his project "Dirt".

Catch Step

*Victoria Mackenzie*
Victoria Mackenzie/VicVersa is an independent dance artist based in Montreal, specializing in performance, choreography, teaching, and event coordination. With a diverse background in dance, she combines classical, b-girl, and clubbing skills. She is active on local and international stages, emphasizing musicality, self-expression, and catharsis in her work.

*Anaïs Chloé Gilles*
Anaïs Chloé Gilles, a multifaceted artist from Montreal's street dance community, explores hip-hop, house, and ballroom cultures to reconnect with her roots. She is involved in community projects, including "Ballroom For Community", and seeks to honor Afro-descendant cultures while discovering herself through dance.

*Delande "Djungle" Dorsaint*
A Montreal artist, Delande "Djungle" Dorsaint is a professional dancer affiliated with the companies Or Pur and Ebnfloh. Specializing in house and hip-hop, he has participated in renowned events, worked with renowned choreographers, and considers dance as a way of life that continually enriches him. His passion for dance is unwavering.

INNOVATION 22-23

Jessica Muszynski - "One-on-One"

Stephanie Fromentin - "Descendant"

Sara & Lila-Mae - "AUTOTOMY"
Kunal Ranchod – “An Ode to Kiran and Pradeep”
Bulbe Collective - "Entr t'Enir"
Naomi Gwynn - "SEVEN"
Valerie "Taminator" Chartier - " Thin "

Jessica Muszynski

Jessica Muszynski is a Filipino-Polish-Canadian choreographer and dancer born in Burnaby, BC where she began her ballet training at Richmond Academy of Dance before moving to Calgary, AB in 2012. In May 2019, she graduated from the University of Southern California, where she performed excerpts from works by William Forsythe, Crystal Pite, and Victor Quijada. She earned a BFA in Dance. After graduation, Jessica starred in a music video for Half•alive, danced with Aszure Barton & Artists in the world premiere of Where There’s Form. Currently, Jessica is a member of the Montreal dance company RUBBERBAND, and is also co-founder of the Bulbe Collective, an all-female choreographic collective created in October 2020. Alongside her collaboration with RUBBERBAND and Bulbe, Jessica has presented works in the 18th, 19th & 20th editions of the Quartiers Danses Festival where she received the Discovery Prize for her piece Fam ly.

Valerie "Taminator" Chartier

Valérie Chartier has accumulated extensive dance experience for 39 years ranging from ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, house, waacking and Krump. Valérie aka Taminator aka Lady Maddripp, is a pioneer of Krump in Canada and an influential and world-renowned leader in this movement. She has traveled around the world to compete, teach and judge events. Taminator is also vice-president of the non-profit organization Montreal Krump Alliance. Also director of the educational and artistic program LeadHers, the latter aims to develop the full physical and mental potential of women through learning the foundations and essence of Krump. She is also a performer and choreographer. She was recently a candidate on season 3 of the show Révolution, choreographer and performer of the duo Krump Dualis, which was presented in April 2022 at Maison de la Culture Mercier.

Kunal Ranchod

Kunal Ranchod is a choreographer and graduate of Metropolitan University of Toronto and L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec. His works have been performed internationally including: Canada, the United States, India and Japan. He has choreographed various works for The National Ballet of Canada, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Radio Canada, the National Film Board of Canada, The Luminato Festival, Ballet Kelowna, Ballet Ouest de Montréal and most recently Metropolitan University of Toronto. In 2017, Ranchod launched his own company, Compagnie Kunal Ranchod. His company has been fortunate to receive residencies and scholarships through Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Danse à la Carte, L’École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

Naomi Gwynn

Naomi Gwynn is a dance artist based between Montreal, Quebec City and New York. Naomi has performed and presented choreographic works in Ottawa, Montreal, Israel, Europe and the United States. In 2019, she completed the International Dance Journey program at Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Northern Israel. In 2019-20, she was a member of Cobos Mika’s Junior Company in Palamos, Spain and in 2022, she was a member of Gibney Company’s first PRO Pilot cohort. Her formal dance training includes work with Rubberband Dance Group, Margie Gillis, Batsheva Dance Company, Trip the Light Fantastic, Julia Adam Dance and Sidra Bell Dance New York.

Sara Harton

Sara graduated from the École Supérieure de Ballet Contemporain. From 2006 to 2009, she joined BJM Danse where she performed in pieces by Azure Barton, Rodrigo Pederneiras, Crystal Pite and Mauro Bigonzetti. Since 2009, Sara has joined ezdanza, Danse K par K, P.P.S. Danse, Les 7 doigts de la main (Triptyque), Trip the Light Fantastic, Umanoove/Didy Veldman and Cirque Éloize, among others. She also collaborates with different schools as a teacher, assistant choreographer and choreographer.

Lila-Mae Talbot

Following classical training at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec, Lila-Mae joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and danced a classical and contemporary repertoire such as pieces by Ohad Naharin, Jean-Christophe Maillot and Balanchine. She then became a member of Rubberbandance Group, a company in which she was involved for several years. An independent dancer since 2012, she has been seen in the work of Crystal Pite (Opera “The Tempest”) Andrew Skeels, Karine Ledoyen, Harold Rhéaume, PPS Danse, Illusion Théatre de Marionnette and Sylvain Émard.

Stephanie Fromentin

Stéphanie Fromentin is a French-American choreographer, coach, performer and teacher based in Montreal. She graduated with distinction with a BFA in contemporary dance from Concordia University (2004) and a Masters in dance from UQÀM (2014). Her research-creation focuses on the perception and sensation of the present time experienced by the performer while dancing, where she was honored as the recipient of the Pierre Lapointe Scholarship for Academic Excellence (2011). Stéphanie has presented her own creations in MTL, TO, NYC, Paris and Grenoble and has performed for Daina Ashbee, Martin Messier, Helen Simard, WAFD Créations Interdisciplinaires, Mathieu Leroux, Wants&Needs Dance, Parts+Labour_Danse, Anne-Flore de Rochambeau, among others.

Collective Bulb

*Member of the collective*
Sylvia Bergman
Hanna Jane Clutchey
Emma-Lynn Mackay-Ronacher
Anja Fanslau
Sophie Qin
Jessica Muszynski

PARTNERS