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TEACHERS

Raphael Bouchard
Ballet A native of Baie-Saint-Paul in the Charlevoix region, Raphaël Bouchard began dancing at the age of 16 at the National School of Contemporary Ballet, under the direction of Didier Chirpaz. A few months later, he joined the young ballet of Quebec where he participated in creations with renowned choreographers. In 2005, Jean-Christophe Maillot invited him to join the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, where he was appointed soloist a few years later. In 2013, he joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet. In 2015, he returned to his native Quebec and joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. He is named principal dancer for the 2020-2021 season.

Lisa Davies
Ballet
Lisa's career in the performing arts spans 27 years and 15 world-renowned dance companies. Lisa is known for her integrity, quality, passion and dedication to exploring and advancing contemporary ballet and dance on a community and global scale.
Lisa's career in the performing arts spans 27 years and 15 world-renowned dance companies. Lisa is known for her integrity, quality, passion and dedication to exploring and advancing contemporary ballet and dance on a community and global scale.

Stephanie Dalphond
Ballet
Originally from Montreal, Stéphanie Dalphond trained at the École Supérieure de Danse
du Québec and at the Ballet School of the Paris Opera. At the age of 16, she joined the
Grands Ballets Canadiens. After 6 years with the company, Stéphanie becomes
rehearsal mistress for a season. She then leaves for Europe to continue her
career as a dancer. She dances with Kevin O'Day and
Dominique Dumais in Mannheim, then with Serge Campardon and the Company
Nomads. She ends her 20-year long career with the Compañia Nacional de Danza
with renowned choreographer Nacho Duato. Stéphanie currently teaches at the L'école supérieure de ballet du Québec. While teaching, she finished her
collegial studies as a classical dance teacher at the same
school.
Originally from Montreal, Stéphanie Dalphond trained at the École Supérieure de Danse
du Québec and at the Ballet School of the Paris Opera. At the age of 16, she joined the
Grands Ballets Canadiens. After 6 years with the company, Stéphanie becomes
rehearsal mistress for a season. She then leaves for Europe to continue her
career as a dancer. She dances with Kevin O'Day and
Dominique Dumais in Mannheim, then with Serge Campardon and the Company
Nomads. She ends her 20-year long career with the Compañia Nacional de Danza
with renowned choreographer Nacho Duato. Stéphanie currently teaches at the L'école supérieure de ballet du Québec. While teaching, she finished her
collegial studies as a classical dance teacher at the same
school.

Jeremy galdeano
Ballet Jeremy Galdeano has danced with the Grands Ballets Canadiens since 2001 and was first soloist there. Since 2006, Jeremy has also worn the choreographer's hat that has enabled him to produce pieces on the Grands Ballets Canadiens, and to present at the Quartier Danse Festival and the Mexico City Festival.

Véronique Giasson
Ballet Véronique's professional career is dotted with multiple and varied experiences, halfway between ballet and the contemporary. She has danced for the Ballet Preljocaj in France and for the Théâtre National de la Sarre (Germany), and as a freelance artist for the Compagnie Marie Chouinard, the Compañia Tania Perez Salas (Mexico), Ezdanza, the Cirque du Soleil, Ballet Ouest and Andrea Peña & Artists.

Sarah Gibson
Gaga / dancers
Sarah Gibson has danced with Alberta Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She is now a Certified Essentrics Technique Instructor and teaches Gaga. Sarah is very happy to share her passion for dance.
Sarah Gibson has danced with Alberta Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She is now a Certified Essentrics Technique Instructor and teaches Gaga. Sarah is very happy to share her passion for dance.

Charles Brecard
Fluidify
Born in Kanaky / New Caledonia and of Vietnamese origin, Charles Brecard lives in Tio’tia:ke /
Montreal since 2013 where he trained at the Montreal School of Contemporary Dance (EDCM).
Since then, he has collaborated with several artists from various disciplines such as AP&A, Lilith&Cie,
Parts+Labour_Dance, Animals of Distinction, Big Pony, 14Lieux, Skeels Dance, Nyian,
Private Altars, Aisha Fukushima, Mateo, Bradyworks, Nelson Henricks.
His infinite curiosity led him to develop a personal practice called “FLUIDIFY,”
influenced by urban, traditional and contemporary dances and by his profession as
sports massage therapist. He intervenes in festivals, cultural mediation contexts
or educational courses such as EDCM, Sinedomo, DansEncorps, Tjibaou Cultural Center,
Festival Quartiers Danses, Akropoditi, Big Bang, Classes du RQD to share his
methodology.
His choreographic work, imbued with great physicality, poetry and a touch
of activism, leads it to deploy locally and internationally.
His solo "SOLILOQUY" is notably rewarded with the prize for Best Interpretation
in 2021. He is co-founder of the “Le Bercail” project, a nomadic place of practice, sharing and
research for Montreal dance communities.
His residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, supported by the Poemart de Nouvelle-
Caledonia and the Canada Council for the Arts, aims to expand its artistic approach.
A passionate researcher, he aims to approach his practice in a systemic way. Establishing
links between fields as varied as theatre, issues of decolonization, sociology,
philosophy, geopolitics and ecology in order to understand how to fit into a
system that crumbles as an emerging artist. Wishing to incite a revolution
political, poetic and spiritual bodies and minds.
Born in Kanaky / New Caledonia and of Vietnamese origin, Charles Brecard lives in Tio’tia:ke /
Montreal since 2013 where he trained at the Montreal School of Contemporary Dance (EDCM).
Since then, he has collaborated with several artists from various disciplines such as AP&A, Lilith&Cie,
Parts+Labour_Dance, Animals of Distinction, Big Pony, 14Lieux, Skeels Dance, Nyian,
Private Altars, Aisha Fukushima, Mateo, Bradyworks, Nelson Henricks.
His infinite curiosity led him to develop a personal practice called “FLUIDIFY,”
influenced by urban, traditional and contemporary dances and by his profession as
sports massage therapist. He intervenes in festivals, cultural mediation contexts
or educational courses such as EDCM, Sinedomo, DansEncorps, Tjibaou Cultural Center,
Festival Quartiers Danses, Akropoditi, Big Bang, Classes du RQD to share his
methodology.
His choreographic work, imbued with great physicality, poetry and a touch
of activism, leads it to deploy locally and internationally.
His solo "SOLILOQUY" is notably rewarded with the prize for Best Interpretation
in 2021. He is co-founder of the “Le Bercail” project, a nomadic place of practice, sharing and
research for Montreal dance communities.
His residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, supported by the Poemart de Nouvelle-
Caledonia and the Canada Council for the Arts, aims to expand its artistic approach.
A passionate researcher, he aims to approach his practice in a systemic way. Establishing
links between fields as varied as theatre, issues of decolonization, sociology,
philosophy, geopolitics and ecology in order to understand how to fit into a
system that crumbles as an emerging artist. Wishing to incite a revolution
political, poetic and spiritual bodies and minds.

Alisia Pobega
Ballet
Alisia Pobega is a dancer, teacher and artistic co-director of LIBERAMAE performance & films, a dance film company. After 12 years at the Grands Ballets Canadiens (soloist), she is now an independent artist, and dances main roles (Skeels Danse, Margie Gillis - Heritage Project, Jane Mappin Danse) and can be seen in several dance films. She is a guest ballet master with BJM Danse and Cas Public, and teaches for institutions such as the National Ballet School of Canada, the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, the EDCM and Springboard Danse Montreal.
Alisia Pobega is a dancer, teacher and artistic co-director of LIBERAMAE performance & films, a dance film company. After 12 years at the Grands Ballets Canadiens (soloist), she is now an independent artist, and dances main roles (Skeels Danse, Margie Gillis - Heritage Project, Jane Mappin Danse) and can be seen in several dance films. She is a guest ballet master with BJM Danse and Cas Public, and teaches for institutions such as the National Ballet School of Canada, the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, the EDCM and Springboard Danse Montreal.

James Viveiros
Contemporary (VIVUS / movement)
James' career as a dancer spanned more than 25 years, mostly with Compagnie Marie Chouinard. James has danced all over the world to diverse audiences at festivals and in renowned venues. In addition to choreographing, collaborating, performing and directing rehearsals for other artists nationally and internationally, James travels frequently to share his passion for movement. He is a visiting professor in multiple establishments, vocational schools and universities.
James' career as a dancer spanned more than 25 years, mostly with Compagnie Marie Chouinard. James has danced all over the world to diverse audiences at festivals and in renowned venues. In addition to choreographing, collaborating, performing and directing rehearsals for other artists nationally and internationally, James travels frequently to share his passion for movement. He is a visiting professor in multiple establishments, vocational schools and universities.

Diana Leon
Born in Mexico City, Diana trained in dance at the Estudio de Ballet Tecamachalco, the Cuban National Ballet School and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She was a member of the National Dance Company of Mexico before joining the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, where she danced between 2014 and 2019, performing the repertoire of Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Jean Christophe Maillot, Stephan Thoss, Edward Clug, and Didy Veldman, among others, and touring in Canada and abroad. In 2015, she founded Vías, a dance company that she now co-directs with Paco Ziel. Since leaving Les Grands Ballets in 2019, Diana has worked as a freelance writer with Anne Plamondon, Sylvain Émard and Andrew Skeels. She is a member of the Danse à la Carte faculty and has been a guest professor at the Victoria Academy of Ballet, at the Mexican National Ballet Competition, at the Estudio de Ballet Tecamachalco, at the Centro de las Artes de San Agustín, at the Festival Connection.

Peter Jasko
flying-low
Peter Jasko was born in 1982 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia. Her first dance class was
with the traditional dance company Dumbier Slovakia, with whom he remained for eleven years. From 1996 to 2001 Peter studied at J. L. Bella Conservatory of Dance in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. He continued his studies at Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava before entering P.A.R.T.S. School for Contemporary Dance in Brussels (2002), under the direction of Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker.
His professional experience as a dancer includes international companies and artists such as Opera Banska Bystrica, ASpO, Company Roberto Olivan, OXOXOX – Juri Konjar, G. Barberio Corsetti & Fatou Traore, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Since 2001, he has also collaborated with David Zambrano as a dancer but also as an assistant in his classes and workshops. Peter Jasko is the co-founder of Les SlovaKs Dance Collective, whose productions include Opening Night (2007), Journey Home (2009), The Koncert (2010) and Fragments (2012).
In 2014 he led the Svalbard Company's All Genius All Idiot. The following year, Peter Jasko created Untied Tales (The Vanished Power of the Usual Reign) in collaboration with Clara Furey, which premiered at La Chapelle in Montreal.
In the same year, Peter Jasko created a representation for 300 seniors for the European Capital of Culture 2015, Plzen (Czech Republic). Over the past twelve years, Peter has taught in several countries around the world.
Peter Jasko was born in 1982 in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia. Her first dance class was
with the traditional dance company Dumbier Slovakia, with whom he remained for eleven years. From 1996 to 2001 Peter studied at J. L. Bella Conservatory of Dance in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. He continued his studies at Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava before entering P.A.R.T.S. School for Contemporary Dance in Brussels (2002), under the direction of Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker.
His professional experience as a dancer includes international companies and artists such as Opera Banska Bystrica, ASpO, Company Roberto Olivan, OXOXOX – Juri Konjar, G. Barberio Corsetti & Fatou Traore, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Since 2001, he has also collaborated with David Zambrano as a dancer but also as an assistant in his classes and workshops. Peter Jasko is the co-founder of Les SlovaKs Dance Collective, whose productions include Opening Night (2007), Journey Home (2009), The Koncert (2010) and Fragments (2012).
In 2014 he led the Svalbard Company's All Genius All Idiot. The following year, Peter Jasko created Untied Tales (The Vanished Power of the Usual Reign) in collaboration with Clara Furey, which premiered at La Chapelle in Montreal.
In the same year, Peter Jasko created a representation for 300 seniors for the European Capital of Culture 2015, Plzen (Czech Republic). Over the past twelve years, Peter has taught in several countries around the world.

Paco Ziel
ORIGIN
Born in Mexico City, Paco started his career in classical dance at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec, which developed in him an early interest
for a greater body awareness, bringing him to discover different ways of training such as Rubberband method, Gaga, Yoga, Feldenkrais and
meditation. Since 2015, he has been a dancer with RUBBERBAND, currently artistic coordinator and dancer, under the direction of Victor Quijada, Paco has toured with the company in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Germany and Poland. In 2014 he founded the multidisciplinary lab Quantum Collective, which was
presented twice by Tangente in Montreal. Paco has worked with other Montreal based artists and companies like PPS Danse, Anne Plamondon,
Martin Messier, Je suis Julio and independent choreographers, he has been a guest teacher at Springboard Danse Montreal, Domaine Forget and Danse a la Carte. He is a self taught filmmaker, photographer and electronic music composer with a main focus on the human body, movement and natural landscapes.
Born in Mexico City, Paco started his career in classical dance at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec, which developed in him an early interest
for a greater body awareness, bringing him to discover different ways of training such as Rubberband method, Gaga, Yoga, Feldenkrais and
meditation. Since 2015, he has been a dancer with RUBBERBAND, currently artistic coordinator and dancer, under the direction of Victor Quijada, Paco has toured with the company in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Germany and Poland. In 2014 he founded the multidisciplinary lab Quantum Collective, which was
presented twice by Tangente in Montreal. Paco has worked with other Montreal based artists and companies like PPS Danse, Anne Plamondon,
Martin Messier, Je suis Julio and independent choreographers, he has been a guest teacher at Springboard Danse Montreal, Domaine Forget and Danse a la Carte. He is a self taught filmmaker, photographer and electronic music composer with a main focus on the human body, movement and natural landscapes.

Alanna Kraaijeveld
Fighting Monkey
Alanna Kraaijeveld is a dancer who works as a performer, improviser, teacher and creator. Her approach includes context-focused and collaborative practices. She is curious about how specificity of relationship has the potential to motivate intention, movement and meaning. She uses improvisation and is driven by her dynamic ability. She makes room for both simplicity and vagueness in her art.
Alanna Kraaijeveld is a dancer who works as a performer, improviser, teacher and creator. Her approach includes context-focused and collaborative practices. She is curious about how specificity of relationship has the potential to motivate intention, movement and meaning. She uses improvisation and is driven by her dynamic ability. She makes room for both simplicity and vagueness in her art.

Shay Kuebler

Melih Mertel
Ballet
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Melih started dancing at the age of 11
years at the Istanbul National Dance Conservatory.
After completing her baccalaureate in dance in 2003, Melih
joined the state company of Antalya in Turkey, where he danced until
2007.
In 2008 he completed a master's degree in dance and decided to join the
national state company in Istanbul, where he dances as
principal dancer until 2018.
From 2012 to 2013, Melih took a year off and danced as
guest principal dancer with the Washington State Ballet.
He did the same from 2015 to 2016 and danced as a soloist at Les Ballets
From Monte Carlo. Melih has been awarded twice, in 2011 and in
2015, the “Best dancer” award by the magazine “Andante Dance
Magazine ".
In 2018, he joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and then made his
reconversion in 2022. After this great career, Melih uses all
the knowledge he has acquired over the years and obtains a
Pilates instructor certificate. He is also very enthusiastic about
the idea of sharing its knowledge with the new generations of
dancers as well as all dance enthusiasts!
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Melih started dancing at the age of 11
years at the Istanbul National Dance Conservatory.
After completing her baccalaureate in dance in 2003, Melih
joined the state company of Antalya in Turkey, where he danced until
2007.
In 2008 he completed a master's degree in dance and decided to join the
national state company in Istanbul, where he dances as
principal dancer until 2018.
From 2012 to 2013, Melih took a year off and danced as
guest principal dancer with the Washington State Ballet.
He did the same from 2015 to 2016 and danced as a soloist at Les Ballets
From Monte Carlo. Melih has been awarded twice, in 2011 and in
2015, the “Best dancer” award by the magazine “Andante Dance
Magazine ".
In 2018, he joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and then made his
reconversion in 2022. After this great career, Melih uses all
the knowledge he has acquired over the years and obtains a
Pilates instructor certificate. He is also very enthusiastic about
the idea of sharing its knowledge with the new generations of
dancers as well as all dance enthusiasts!

Hofesh Shechter
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