Dance Artist Bios
-KO Dance Project-
KATHY OCHOA
Kathleen Ochoa is a Canadian-based independent dance artist, who most recently has been studying dance and movement exploration intensively throughout NY City. She has been working for Brooklyn-based dance company, Human Behavior Explorers, and her choreography has been presented in New York as part of Movement Research Works-in-Progress Series, as guest artist for ProjectLimbs Dance Company and as part of the Metro Dance Project Series. In Canada she has presented work in Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary and has worked both as dancer and choreographer for Edmonton’s Mile Zero Dance Company and the Brian Webb Company. Her dance studies have brought her to Montreal where she earned her BFA in contemporary dance from Concordia University, New York, Paris, and London, England where she worked as an apprentice for Union Dance Company. She co-created two Canadian dance collectives and has worked as a freelance dance writer for Vue Weekly Magazine and The Dance Current.
-Workshop Instructors-
WYNN HOLMES
Wynn Holmes has performed and choreographed for various stage, film, and live performances. Some of her credits include MTV’s Battlegrounds featuring Ludacris, Wannabe’s & TRL, VH1, BET, CBS’ Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, VIBE's Hip Hop & Soul Festival, and SONY’s “Up & Coming” showcases. She has choreographed and performed with Seattle crew Circle of Fire in DJ Kemo's video "Rhythm Is A Ride", live with Grandmaster Flash, NBA Vancouver Grizzlies and CFL BC Lions, and for Canadian stage shows "A Choreographer's Ball" in Toronto, and "Source" in Vancouver. Currently residing in New York, Wynn is a member of ‘Rhapsody’ the company out of Broadway Dance Centre, and has been active in NY’s International Dance Festival. She is a sought after choreographer and instructor for various workshops and conventions and dance companies across North America. Wynn's unique style cannot be categorized as it is a dynamic fusion of the various styles she has trained in; hiphop, house, dancehall, jazz, irish and ballet. She is always looking to use her choreography and teaching to inspire dancers to use all forms of dance, music and art to create and discover their own personal style.
RICHARD O'SULLIVAN
Richard O’Sullivan is a multi-talented individual who has for several years has been involved in the creative arts field. He is a choreographer, dancer, teacher, actor and model.
He studied various types dance i.e. jazz, ballet and hip-hop for a couple of years at Dance West. He also trained hip- hop and street jazz in Los Angeles.
Now, he is currently teaches Hip-Hop and Street Jazz at several dance studios over the lower mainland, some of which are Horbour Dance Center, Dance West, Dance Mode, Arts Umbrella and many others.
Richard played Ben in Rumble in the Bronx with Jackie Chang and also had a part on Like Mike 2. In addition, he has performed as a dancer for the feature film Scooby Doo 2, Harry Connick Jr video, Minolta commercial, Knocking on Heaven Door a drunk driving video, a t.v. show called 2Gether on Much Music and The Goodbye Girl. Richard has choreographed for t.v. Shows such as Romeo featuring Master P and Little Romeo, L Word, and Connection with M.C. Hammer. He has opened up for SWV and 98 Degrees and in addition he toured with Japanese singer Anri in Japan. As for local talent Richard has choreographed and performed for singers Corey Lee, Jade, Kiara Hunter, Monica from the New School, Aiden and Kyle. German artist named Sara for X-cell records is also a singer that Richard has choreographed and danced for. In addition to all of that he has also choreographed and performed for events such as Molson Indy Fashion Show, 1996-2000 Ski Show, Bootlegger Show, 1996 Show of Hearts Telethon, Jr. Black Achievement Awards; dancer /model, Dragon Boat Festival, Tommy Hilfiger Show and Polo show.
Richard not only enjoys the performing side of the business but takes great pride and pleasure in seeing the pieces he choreographs come alive and expressed by the many individual he teaches or choreographs for.
ALLISON BRADLEY
Allison has had a passion for dance since the age of three. She trained at Dansation in her home town of St. Albert, Alberta. The lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap, musical theatre and ballet training, workshops, conventions, competitions and performances she participated in over a fifteen year time span inspired Allison to pursue her love of dance outside of Alberta once she graduated from high school.
Allison’s desire to enter into the professional dance scene took her to Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto for intensive training. She has performed with Nexx Level (Chris Clarke), Grace N Style (Kareem Byfield) and danced for Fashion Cares in the 2005 production of Bollywood Cowboy.
More recently Allison has created opportunities for herself and others by creating her own dance company, A L I Entertainment. Her dance crew worked with N5 Pictures and performed for the music video Man-0 Kabootar by Sasha. Allison is continuing to create dance opportunities within the company and loves to inspire her audiences with the professional team productions choreographed for A L I. Allison is thrilled with the opportunity to get back to her tapping roots and is honored to be a part of Shawn Byfield’s tap crew.
CARLOS BUSTAMANTE
Tapping since he was eight years old, Carlos Bustamante has trained and performed across the U.S. and Canada. His dancing has given him the opportunity to work with many amazing talents, among them are members of the Tap Dogs, choreographer Marguerrite Derricks, and his own hero, Gregory Hines.
Aside from dance, Carlos is known as the host of YTV’s “The Zone”, which is the most watched after school block of programming in Canada. Known for his dynamic on-camera presence and light hearted, quirky sense of humour, he is watched by millions of viewers a week. Carlos is now excited to be a part of Toronto’s newest Tap Dance company, Funk Factory.
KYLE BROWN
Originally from Victoria B.C., Kyle began tap dancing at the age of 6. In the years that followed he rounded off his dance repertoire with modern, ballet, jazz and hip-hop, which led him to perform for many years at the world famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC.
After years of competing and performing out in the west, Kyle moved to Toronto in 2001 to continue his dancing career. He is currently a featured dancer in upcoming film Ring of Change featuring Neve Campbell.
JULIANA KELLY
Juliana began her dance career at the age of three. For fourteen years she continued her dance studies in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, pointe and acrobatics where she completed her BATD associate members exam in jazz and tap. During that time Juliana performed in many events including the Fundraiser for Diabetes.
Upon graduation of high school Juliana joined Downbeats Tap Company under the direction of Cathy Duncan where she danced for two years. Highlights of her performances include: the East Coast Tap Conference (ECTC) alongside Brill Barrett, Martin Tre’ Dumas III, Jumaane Taylor, Van Porter, Travis Knight and Lisa LaTouche and many other shows across Ontario. Her love of dance has also led her to many teaching opportunities across the GTA. Juliana is currently dancing as a proud member of Funk Factory under the direction of Shawn Byfield.
LINDSAY KRAMER
Lindsay hails from Edmonton, Alberta and is a graduate of the prestigious Triple Threat Program at The Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts in Toronto. Multi-talented, she has been singing, dancing and acting since the age of three. Performing credits include Tales of Ti- Jean with the Really Little Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Virgil in Twisted, VAL in A Chorus Line, THRIVE! Entertainment and The Stardust Follies.
She worked for the Britney Spears promotional tour “Curious” and has performed on Much on Demand, the Toronto Film Festival, International Jazz Awards, Fashion Cares and national music videos. Currently she lives in Toronto where she teaches dance at the Randolph Academy and at the Oakville Academy of the Arts. Lindsay is thrilled to be a company member of Funk Factory and is happy to come home to perform!
REBECCA LEWIS
What happens when your grandma’s a dance teacher? Well, first your mom becomes a dancer, then she teaches her daughter how to dance…and so the story goes. Rebecca walked at 8 months, although she probably came out dancing. Rebecca is professionally trained as a performer and teacher in ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop through the N.A.T.D. (National Association of Teachers of Dance) based in London, England.
Her passion for dance is a family affair, and she trained throughout her youth at her mom’s studio Kamloops Dance Academy in British Columbia. She is a veteran to the stage and her passion for dance is apparent in the energy of her classes. Sacrifice the body because it’s all about the beat!
SHAWN BYFIELD
Shawn Byfield is widely recognized as a leading instructor of tap dance classes and choreography. With over 22 years of experience in the dance industry, he has been an energetic tap dance instructor and choreographer to thousands of students across the country.
Not only does he teach people how to become a better tap dancer, Shawn also practices what he preaches- performing in live shows and events, and on various television programs, commercials and films. Some of his credits include Breakfast Television, Much Fandemonium, Class Act, Blues Brothers 2000, The Ladies Man, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and the tap dance movie Bojangles starring Gregory Hines.
In addition to being a director of Toronto’s hip hop company Thrive! Entertainment, Shawn is also the director of Canada’s newest tap dance ensemble, Funk Factory.
DEANNE WALSH
Deanne Walsh was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and has studied dance since the age of 5. As a teen she danced with the touring performance company Youth Dance Unlimited (now eko dance projects) from Calgary and later returned as a dance captain for the company. In 2003, Deanne completed her B.A. Dance degree with distinction from the University of Calgary. She began dancing with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in September 2003 and is currently a full-time company dancer in her third season. Her love of jazz and the pursuit of its roots has taken her to Guinea and Ghana, West Africa as well as Cuba and New York. Her travels have been a great source of inspiration artistically and personally. Deanne has choreographed for the U of C’s Dance Montage, Alberta Dance Explosions, eko Dance Projects and DJD’s dancer choreographed show Larimer St. in 2005. She is a regular teacher of jazz, funk and West African dance at the School of Decidedly Jazz and she is a coveted instructor for classes and special workshops in and around Calgary.
-Lush and In Bloom-
RAENA WADDELL
A graduate from the Grant MacEwan Dance Program in 2000 and recipient of the Brian Webb Dance Company Award, Raena has been actively performing for various festivals and companies in Alberta for the past 5 years. She is a founding member of the NewDance Collective, a certified Pilates instructor and away from the stage teaches a variety of classes at Integration Studio. Recently, Raena choreographed and performed in EXPANSE New Works festival and in Dancefest at NextFest with fellow collective members.
LINDA TURNBULL
Linda is a graduate of both Grant MacEwan's Dance Program and has received her BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University. She is currently working in Edmonton as Dance Curator of Nextfest, a founding member of the NewDance Collective, and certified Pilates Instructor. Linda performed for both Raena Waddell's and Tracy Freisen's dances this year at Expanse New Work's Festival and will be premiering her latest work "Yellow Fever" at the Fringe this year in Edmonton.
CHERYL FONTAINE
A local dancer in Edmonton, Cheryl is a founding member of the NewDance Collective. She has her BFA from Simon Fraser University and also a Dance Diploma from Grant MacEwan College. She teaches jazz and hip hop in St. Albert, but her passion is modern dance. As an emerging choreographer/dancer, Cheryl recently presented her latest dance in NextFest 2006.
TRACY FRIESEN
Tracy Friesen is a local choreographer and dancer. She owns and teaches at Integration Pilates Studios, where she is also able to work on her dance projects. Tracy graduated from York University's dance program in 1994, and has presented choreography extensively in Toronto, England, and Edmonton. Last year she presented Against Empire at Expanse, a commentary on the invasion of Iraq by the US featuring text by Michael Parenti
MAYA LEWANDOWSKY
With strong classical and mondern backround Mayay Lewandowsky started her career in the Israeli dance company at Bat-Dpr as a dancer ans a soloist, later she joined a fast growing contemporary group Inbal Pinto Dance Company
In 2001 Lewandowsky beagn her career as a choreographer. Among her creations are “Nexus,” In- Proximity and “Slugs.” In those early creations she explores the connection of the body movement and vocal and created language in which movements stems from the breath and the body’s variations of it. In 2004, after three years as a solo performer & choreographer, Maya Lewandowsky started her company, Le Caravan Dance Theatre.
La Caravan Dance Theatre is a platform facilitating the ongoing investigation and exploration of virgin territories of the mind, an approach that results in an original and unique choreographic expression that expands the perceptions of the beholder through it’s very touch.
LINNAE BELLAY
Originally from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Linnae beagn early training with the Doris Sitter School of Dance. Spending several summers, training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and at the Banff School for Fine Arts, she later continued her training with the professional program at the School of Alberta Ballet, Banff Festival Ballet and Ballet Jorgen. She has danced a wide variety of both Classical and Contemporary roles, as well as presenting her own choreography.
Linnae has had the opportunity to extensively tour Europe, training with many dance companies. As well as dancing with La Caravan, Linnae is also a teacher at the School of Alberta Ballet. With her backround in Classical, Modern, Jazz and Tap dance styles, Linnae looks forward to her first year with La Caravan!!!
CHRISTI JOY CUNNINGHAM
Christie Cunningham was born in Vancouver, B.C. and beagn her training at the Goh Ballet Academy. Christie discouverd new dance techniques such as modern, jazz and flamenco when she moved to Vancouver Island and joined Dancestreams Youth dance Company as well as the Terpsichore dance troupe with Amalia Schelhorn, In 2000 Christie moved back to Vancouver where she continued to dance with the Arts Umbrella Youth dance company. With Arts Umbrella, Christie toured to Montreal twice where she took master classes with Margie Gillis and Bev Aitchison at L’Ecole Superior de danse du Quebec. In 2004 Christie decided to move to Calgary to join the dance program at the University of Calgary in conjuction with the School of Alberta Ballet. Outside of dance, Christi has been involved in acting and statue modeling projects. She may also be found practicing the cello, reading or choreographing for her University dance classes.
GARY LUCICH
Born and raised in Springfield, Oregon Gary moved with his family to Saltspring Island, British Columbia at the age of sixteen. After having been in gymnastics and tap while still living in Oregon, Gary continued to study dance on Saltspring and in Victoria, upon graduation moved to Los Angeles to train in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, voice and acting.
After a year- and- a – half he moved back to Canada and is currently in Pre-Professional Programs of both the School of Alberta Ballet and DecidedlyJazz Danceworks.
JODY CUMBERBATCH
Jody Cumberbatch is a native Calgarian who has extensively studied dance at home and abroad. Jody has trained with several highly acclaimed dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre (New York), Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadelphia), Desrosiers Dance Theatre (Toronto), Ballet Creole (Toronto), School of Toronto Dance Theatre (Toronto), and the Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff). Closer to home, she has been involved with Birds and Stone Theatre and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. Her choreography has been performed at Alberta Dance Explosions and her own independent dance projects within the city. She has taught Horton and Graham techniques in many dance schools as well as being certified and teaching yoga in Calgary. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary and is currently studying Holistic Nutrition. Jody is a co-founder of and choreographer/dancer for GroundWorks Integrated Arts Collective (est. 2002) in Calgary, AB.
TINA GUTHRIE
A native Calgarian, Tina Guthrie is a graduate of the University of Calgary, Bachelor of Arts Dance Programme (2000). Having trained broadly in a variety of dance forms, Tina has studied extensively at the U of C, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, the Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta Ballet, and the National Ballet School of Canada. Tina’s performance experience consists of working with some of Calgary’s top choreographers, including those with the University of Calgary, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, One Yellow Rabbit, the Dance Theatre of Gdansk, Alberta Ballet, and several highly acclaimed independent artists. Career highlights include training with the late Gregory Hines and Buster Brown in New York, and Jump Rhythm Jazz Project in Chicago. Along with teaching across the city, Tina has choreographed pieces for both Alberta Dance Explosions and Dance Montage at the U of C, as well as many of Calgary’s independent dance schools’ pre-professional programs. Tina is a co-founding member of GroundWorks Integrated Arts Collective where she has choreographed and danced in the company’s productions since its establishment in 2002.
MATTHEW POPOFF
In June 2005, Matthew graduated with a BA in Dance from the University of Calgary, where he studied contemporary technique and choreography with Melissa Monteros, Davida Monk and Tedd Robinson.
Since moving to Calgary in 2000, he has danced in 14 publicly performed dance pieces, eight of which being his own works. He has choreographed a total of eleven original dance pieces that have been publicly performed at various venues in Calgary.
In a project initiated by Springboard Dance entitled Choreographic Hothouse, Matthew was one of three Calgary-based choreographers chosen to work under the mentorship of Tedd Robinson in November of 2003. The 16-minute solo he created during this intensive was performed at the Vertigo Studio Theatre.
In the summer of 2005, Matthew studied intensively for three weeks at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City, and also spent a month of intensive training, rehearsals and performance in the Butoh dance form with Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi of Kokoro Dance in Vancouver.
He has been exploring the potential of Butoh in his own work ever since he was inspired by the form during workshops in Calgary with Denise Fujiwara in the winters of 2003 and 2004.
He is continuing his training at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks School.
JOY YIANNAKOULIAS
Joy Yiannakoulias loves dancing and she is a real encourager of everyone acknowledging the dancer within themselves. Other than being of Greek dancing stock, Joy’s dance experience includes ballet, highland dancing, belly dancing and anything else she can get her hands into. She has just recently discovered contact improvisation and she looks forward to finding a dance partner in Medicine Hat.
Having recently turned 35, Joy was overjoyed to realize that she has at least a good 60 years of dancing ahead of her.
NEAH KALCOUNIS
Neah Kalcounis is a cutting edge dance maker. Underlining her rigor and intelligence, Calgary’s Avenue Magazine chose her as one of the Top Ten Calgarians to Watch in the millennium. Over eight years, she's pursued dance from her base in Calgary, Alberta.Where Canada Magazine chose her as one of Calgary's top "Nine Artists Rising",
Neah knows she's intense...Her own physical language is gestural
and gnarled, with a hint of something ancient as the Earth...
Kalcounis is passionate about dance, not in an airy-fairy way, but driven by a much larger impulse...-Melanie Jones, March 2005.
Neah entered the ‘90s with Advanced Royal Academy of Dancing and ISTD ballet certification. She went on to university studies in philosophy (Regina, SK); spent two years at Grant MacEwan Community College (Edmonton, AB), graduating in Dance Performance on the Dean’s Honour Roll (modern technique, composition and teaching studies). She then ventured forth to Ottawa's Le Groupe Dance Lab , Canada's premiere choreographic laboratory, for her professional debut and immersion in Eastern Canadian dance. In 1998, she returned to Calgary to found Footprints, to study philosophy, and to mount professional chorepgraphy with a corps of modern dancers.