PAST SEASON: 2019 – 2020

Jolene Bailie

Jolene Bailie is Artistic Director of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Her work reflects on soul and identity to express a deeply human experience that is honest, complex and thorough. A choreographer, director and producer of contemporary dance, she has created 40 original works, including ten full length works, self-produced over 450 performances, performed the work of many national and international choreographers, and toured her work to national and international acclaim for 19 years, including for festivals, museums and galleries. Bailie has pursued professional development projects annually 1994-2019, holds a MFA from The American Dance Festival/Hollins University, a BA Honours from The University of Manitoba, a Teacher’s Certificate from The Royal Academy of Dance, is a graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers, and is Founding Artistic Director of Gearshifting Performance Works.

Photo by Gary Sewell

Zorya Arrow

Zorya is exploring what place hope and faith have in her life. Since her last performance creation, commissioned in 2017, she has worked on an array of artistic projects, including: lead acting in an indie feature film; dancing for Alexandra Elliott; choreographing for The Threepenny Opera (Sick + Twisted/AA Battery); performing with Theatre Projects Manitoba, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (for Artist in Residence, Danielle Sturk) and The Mariachi Ghost in Halifax. Grotowski and Viewpoints hugely influence Zorya’s practice, alongside her interests in Contact Improvisation, psychology of the body, Clown, communication, abstraction and realism, boundary setting and storytelling. Zorya is a School of Contemporary Dancers Senior Professional Program graduate, holds a BA Honours, and is a Young Lungs Dance Exchange board member. Catch her in Hamlet, January 2020 (ShakespeareFest).

Photo by Erin Beulow

Ming Hon

Ming Hon is a dancer, choreographer and performance artist, incorporating elements of video and installation. Her practice investigates themes of work, pleasure and the economy/politics of the cis woman’s body. Her works have shown locally and internationally including SummerWorks Festival, as part of The NAC’s Prairie Scene, Fluid Fest, Rich Mix London, and was part of the award winning 2018 programming of CanadaHub in Scotland, among others. She has been featured on CBC, Vice, The Guardian, The BBC and many more. She will be premiering a new solo work ‘Exciting Consequences’ commissioned by Prairie Theatre Exchange in 2020 under her new company A.O.V. Adults Only Video. Hon created Forever in Blue Jeans for WCD in 2014, this is Hon’s second commission for WCD.

Photo by Calvin Lee

Hugh Conacher

Hugh Conacher is a lighting and multi-media designer, and a photographer. He has collaborated with choreographers, directors, visual artists, and dance and theatre companies throughout Canada and around the world, in venues large and small. Hugh has a long association with WCD, having worked as Resident Lighting Designer at WCD from 1983-2007, with WCD Artistic Directors Bill Evans, Tedd Robinson, and Tom Stroud. Hugh was a long time collaborator with WCD founder Rachel Browne, as well as current AD Jolene Bailie, having worked with Bailie on over 450 performances.

Emma Beech

Emma Beech is a dance artist from Winnipeg. She graduated from The School of Contemporary Dancers in 2016 and holds a BA (Hons) in dance. Recent credits include performing works by Alex Elliot in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Sam Penner in Inertial Response, Carol-Ann Bohrn at Marathon De Creation at Cercle Moliere, Sharon Alward in Sparks and Ali Robson and Natasha Torres-Garner with Weather Parade Dance Theatre. Emma is also studying fine arts at the University of Manitoba. Emma danced as an Emerging Artist in WCD’s Verge (2017).

Carol-Ann Bohrn

Carol-Ann Bohrn grew up in Brandon, MB, and has worked with choreographers in Winnipeg and beyond. Select credits: Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (2019), Gearshifting Performance Works, Sick + Twisted Theatre, Ming Hon, White Birch Ballet, and for television commercials. Previously, Carol-Ann danced under the direction of Bailie at Gearshifting Performance Works for 47 performances, performing works by Jolene Bailie, Rachel Browne and Marie-Josee Chartier, including originating roles in new works and performing on several tours. Recent professional development: Cartae Open School, aceartinc; Foundation Mentorship Program, MAWA. Carol-Ann will be featured in Prairie Theatre Exchange’s By Grand Central Station in March.

Alexandra Garrido

Alexandra Garrido is a contemporary dance artist and choreographer. Recent work includes: The Mariachi Ghost’s Puro Dolor Album Release 2019, a collaboration with Canzona for Membra Jesu Nostri 2018, Previously Untitled with sound artist Joel Mierau, for Mujer Artista: Speaking in Tongues 2017, and Rencor Vivo premiered in Halifax’s Prismatic Arts Festival 2018. Garrido is currently rehearsing By Grand Central Station for Prairie Theatre Exchange this March. Garrido apprenticed with NAfro Dance Company (2012-2014) and is a co-founder of Nova Dance Collective (2008-2017). Garrido holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours from the University of Winnipeg and the Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers.

D-Anne Kuby

Several decades and myriad roles; performer, choreographer, rehearsal director, outside eye, videographer, teacher, student, mentor, muse… D-Anne started her professional dance career as an apprentice to Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers in 1978 and danced with the company until 1991, after which she began a more freelance dance existence. D-Anne relocated to Vancouver in 1994 where she was a vital part of the professional community for many years. She has had the great pleasure of studying with and/or dancing for some of Canada’s most renowned dance artists. She returned to Winnipeg in 2008. For the weather.

Shawn Maclaine

Shawn started training at the National Ballet School’s professional program, where he trained for 4 years. After additional training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Professional Division, his focus shifted to contemporary dance. Shawn is a graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers where he performed in projects with Odette Heyn, WCD’s Verge and GPS Dance Collective (in Leon, Mexico). Prior to ACTUALIZE, Shawn danced under the direction of Bailie at Gearshifting Performance Works for 26 performances, originating roles in numerous works, performing on tour and in works by Jolene Bailie and Marie-Josee Chartier.

Warren McClelland

Warren McClelland is a graduate from the Professional Program of The School of Contemporary Dancers. Warren previously worked with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, 2014-2017, including productions: GORGE, For the Turnstiles, and As Though I Had Wings. Prior to ACTUALIZE, Warren danced under the direction of Bailie at Gearshifting Performance Works for 16 performances and several works. Warren has worked with many choreographers both locally and internationally. Additional credits: Weather Parade Dance Theatre, Alex Elliot, Johanna Riley and WCD’s Verge.

Arlo Reva

Arlo Reva is a Métis dance artist born and raised in Winnipeg. She is a 2008 graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers Professional Program. She has twice attended the Banff Centre’s Indigenous Dance Residency surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Arlo has worked with two of Canada’s top Indigenous dance companies, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Red Sky Performance. In Winnipeg, Arlo has worked with her mentor Stephanie Ballard for 11 years, has performed in numerous productions by Gaile Petursson-Hiley, been featured in a film choreographed by Peter Quanz, worked with her sister, Zorya Arrow, and danced in WCD’s Verge (2018).

Camila Schujman

Camila Schujman is a dancer and performer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Schujman began her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School through their Intensive Training Program. In 2016, Schujman graduated from the Senior Professional Program at The School of Contemporary Dancers. Schujman has performed extensively with Gearshifting Performance Works (GPW) under the artistic direction of Jolene Bailie, originating numerous roles, performing in 29 performances and in works by Jolene Bailie and Marie-Josée Chartier. Additional credits: Pablo Bronstein (facilitated by Rosalie Wahlfrid), Roger Sinha, Patti Caplette and Alexandra Garrido.

Emily Solstice Tait

Emily Solstice Tait is of mixed Ojibway and Settler heritage living in Treaty 1 Territory. She is the Artistic Associate of IndiArts & Mixed Blood Productions. A multidisciplinary artist working in theatre, devising, stage management and performance. Including: Théâtre Cercle Molière Marathon De Crèation (Miguel Fortier), Sarasvati Productions, Theatre New Brunswick and Confederation Centre for the Arts, Raven Spirit Dance, Rouge-Gorge. She is a graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers where she had the opportunity to perform with Odette Heyn-Projects & Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Stephanie Ballard and Dancers, WCD’s Verge, WCD’s Emerging Artist Initiative, and Creando Lazos a Través de la Danza (Léon & Guanajuato).

Natasha Torres-Garner

Natasha Torres-Garner has a long history with WCD, performing in original works for WCD by more than ten choreographers, 2002-present. In addition, she has performed with Montreal’s Fortier Danse Création, Bill Coleman, in repertoire by Toronto’s Marie-Josée Chartier (with Gearshifting Performance Works) and by the late Jean-Pierre Perreault. Natasha’s dedication to the independent community in Winnipeg has included working with Tom Stroud, out of line theatre, TRIP Dance Company, Treasure Waddell, Ali Robson, Johanna Riley, Alex Elliott, Leigh Anne Parry, Danielle Sturk, Ming Hon and Mia Van Leeuwen and with directors Arne MacPherson and Hope McIntyre.