THE CHOREOGRAPHERS IN RESIDENCE

MENTORSHIP - CREATION - RESEARCH - DEVELOPMENT

Congratulations to our choreographers of our INNOVATION PROGRAM !

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

Jessica Muszynski & Paco Ziel - "Portals"

Voodoo House - "You think like a square"

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

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.

Jessica Muszynski

Jessica Joy Muszynski is a Canadian dancer and choreographer of Filipino and Polish descent. She began her training in Richmond, British Columbia, then 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 Prize for her piece "fam ly". Its mission is to create movements that promote inclusion and joy, while encouraging exploration of the inner world of viewers.

Paco Ziel

Mexican artist Paco Ziel excels in contemporary dance, filmmaking, photography and electronic music composition. Her work explores the body, movement and nature. Co-directing Vías with Diana León, they created “Origen,” an internationally recognized practice that stimulates sensory perception, exploring 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 an essential role in promoting the art of dance.

Amara Barner

Amara Barner, an American multidisciplinary artist living in Montreal, began her career as an assistant to renowned choreographers and quickly moved into the world of dance working for artists like Emma Porter and Sia. At age 18, Barner became the youngest dancer hired for the Montreal company, RUBBERBAND. She danced there from 2016 to 2021, touring all over the world. Since then, Amara has_11100000-0000-0 000-0000-000000000111_interpreted the works of artists such as Anne Plamondon, Dana Gingras/Animals of Distinction, and Elon Höglund/Tentacle_11100000-0000-000 0-0000-000000000111_Tribe. Amara also danced in several music videos, served as a dance competition jury member, 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 grew into a broader passion, leading him to explore various disciplines, from martial arts to dance, acrobatics and theater. Capoeira provided him with a solid foundation to deepen his acrobatic research. In 2020, he graduated from the National Circus School, specializing in acrobatic duo dance. Since his graduation, 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 fan of creation and experimentation, lived a traditional childhood punctuated by school, sports and music. Despite a degree in mechanical engineering, his interest in the arts led him to theater and international musical tours. This experience shaped his work by combining the physicality of movement with music, directing him towards the circus. After obtaining a circus diploma at the National Circus School, 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 has developed his choreographic voice, particularly in the areas of site-specific dance and installation. While studying, he collaborated with renowned artists such as Barak Marshall, Jermaine Spivey, Bret Easterling and William Forsythe. In 2022, after graduating, Walker joined RUBBERBAND, a company led by Victor Quijada, establishing his base in Montreal.

Voodoo House

An entity in its own right aiming above all to be 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 your total art and not to be known by your person. This is why we keep the choreographer anonymous to the public. Voodoo House is a vast imaginary world in which all artistic media are invited to work with this cornerstone that is dance. The bigger the house, the stronger the foundation. 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 surreal and metaphorical.

Tentacle Tribe - Elon Höglund

Elon is an artist from Stockholm, 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 drew inspiration from urban dance, theater 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 presented in numerous 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, pedagogy and event coordination. With a varied dance background, she blends classical skills, b-girl, and nightclub style. She is active on local and international stages, highlighting 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 engages in community projects, including "Ballroom For Community", and seeks to honor Afro-descendant cultures while discovering herself through dance.

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