ARTISTS
GUSTAVO BARROS
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Goiânia, Brasil
TRAINING
Studio Dançarte, Intermediate Royal Dance Academy
COMPANIES
Deborah Colker Dance Company, Balé da Cidade de São Paulo, Ballethagen, Staatstheater Augsburg
REPERTOIRE
Alexander Ekman, Mauro Bigonzzetti, Cayetano Soto, Marco Goecke, Peter Chu, Ihsan Rustem, Alejandro Cerrudo, Marguerite Donlon, Regina Van Berkel, Henrique Rodovalho, Young Soon Hue, Hugo Viera, Ricardo Fernando
QUOTE
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
- Proverbs 4:23
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Forward, Trust, Movement
Born in Brazil, Gustavo began his professional path as a dancer in his hometown, Goiânia, under the direction of Gisela Vaz. He then joined some of the best contemporary dance companies in the country such as Deborah Colker cia de Dança and Balé da Cidade de São Paulo. He continued his career in Germany, where he danced for Ballethagen and Staatstheater Augsburg. In the course of his career, he has performed works by many renowned choreographers such as Ihsan Rustem, Stephen Delattre, Itzik Galili and Cayetano Soto. He joined the company in 2020.
GUSTAVO BARROS
JOHN CANFIELD
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2021
BIRTHPLACE
Oakland, Maryland U.S
TRAINING
Canada’s National Ballet School
COMPANIES
Alberta Ballet, Cas Public
REPERTOIRE
Wen Wei Wang, Anne Plammondon, Hélène Blackburn, Alejandro Cerrudo, Aszure Barton, Helen Pickett, Yukichi Hattori, Jean Grand Maître, Demis Volpi, William Forsythe, Rob Binet, Marcelino Sambé
QUOTE
“The perfect song is framed with silence. It speaks of places never seen.”
- Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Thomas Bangalter
BALLET JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN THREE WORDS
Empathetic, New, Learning
Originally from Virginia, John Canfield grew up training at local dance studios before moving to Canada to attend Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. Upon graduating in 2014 he joined the Alberta Ballet, where he danced for five seasons, working directly with choreographers Aszure Barton, Jean Grand Maitre, Anne Plamondon, Yukhichi Hattori and Wen Wei Wang, among others. In 2020, John joined Cas Public as a dancer, performing the work of Helene Blackburn for one season. In addition to his involvement with a number of private movement research programs across Canada, John has also attended Springboard Danse Montréal as well as Creative Gesture at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2021.
JOHN CANFIELD
DIANA CEDEÑO
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Panama City, Panama
TRAINING
Academia de Danzas Steps (Panama), The Boston Conservatory, Springboard Danse Montréal
REPERTOIRE
Shannon Gillen, Loni Landon, Catherine Coury, Darrell Moultrie, Fernando Hurtado, Virginia Garcia, Damian Muñoz
QUOTE
“Trust the process.”
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Virtuosity, Experience, Determination
Originally from Panama, Diana began her dance training at Academia de Danzas Steps. Upon completing her training, she continued exploring contemporary dance and ballet at the Boston Conservatory. Diana had the opportunity to attend various intensive programs and festivals such as Juilliard Summer Intensive, VIM VIGOR, Springboard Danse Montréal, Opus Ballet and b12 in Berlin. She has also worked under the direction of distinguished choreographers such as Shannon Gillen, Catherine Coury, Loni Landon, La Intrusa, and Darrell Moultrie among others. She joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
DIANA CEDEÑO
ASTRID DANGEARD
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Paris, France
TRAINING
Conservatoire de Boulogne, Steps on Broadway, Verdon/Fosse Legacy
REPERTOIRE
James Kinney, Alex Frei, Bob Fosse, Sarah Miles
QUOTE
“Dance expresses joy better than anything else.”
- Bob Fosse
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Dream, Fiery, Style
Born in Paris, Astrid Dangeard obtained her National Diploma in Choreographic Studies in 2016 with honours from the jury at the Conservatoire de Boulogne-Billancourt in the Paris region. At the same time, she studied classical acting at Cours Cochet Delavène in Paris. In 2017, she moved to New York City to study at the Steps On Broadway dance studio, as well as with the Bob Fosse Legacy. Simultaneously, she pursued acting training, delving into Contemporary American Theatre. In New York, she danced for choreographer James Kinney and played the role of Déa in The Man who Laughs at the Producers Club. In 2020, she played “Iris Kelly” in Casino de Paris’ production of Fame, directed by Ned Grujice. Astrid appeared in several music videos, such as the one created for the song Flame by French artist Naë. She joined the Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
ASTRID DANGEARD
HANNAH KATE GALBRAITH
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Nelson, New Zealand
TRAINING
Rebecca Bignall Academy of Dance (New Zealand), Southern Ballet (New Zealand), Tanya Pearson Academy (Australia), The Ailey School (New York)
COMPANIES
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Futorian Dance Company
REPERTOIRE
Alvin Ailey, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Cayetano Soto Ramirez, Ronald K Brown, Didi Veldman, Dwight Rhoden
QUOTE
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”
- Jennifer Lee
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Vivacious, Bold, Original
Born in Nelson, New Zealand, Hannah Kate Galbraith began her dance training at the Rebecca Bignall Academy of Dance and Southern Ballet Christchurch. She then studied at the Tanya Pearson Academy in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Lucinda Dunn. At the age of 17, she moved to New York City to study at the Ailey School as a scholarship student under Milton Myers, Ana Marie Forsythe, Caridad Martinez and Jacquelin Buglisi. In the course of her journey, she performed works by Alvin Ailey, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Cayetano Soto Ramirez, Ronald K Brown, Dwight Rhoden. Hannah has worked with many renowned companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Futorian Dance. She joined the company in 2020.
HANNAH KATE GALBRAITH
SHANNA IRWIN
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2019
BIRTHPLACE
New Jersey, United States
TRAINING
New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, Marymount Manhattan College
COMPANY
Complexions Contemporary Ballet
REPERTOIRE
Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Lar Lubovitch, Jae Man Joo, Pedro Ruiz, Emery Lecrone, Cherice Barton
QUOTE
“Set goals that are not about the outcome, but about the process of reaching the outcome.”
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Defined, Physical, Articulate
Shanna Irwin grew up in New Jersey, USA, where she began training as a competitive dancer. She switched her focus towards ballet when she was accepted into The New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, under the direction of Nancy Turano. She spent summers training with World Dance Movement- Italy, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and The Vancouver Arts Umbrella. Irwin went on to continue her studies at Marymount Manhattan College, under the direction of Katie Langan. She began touring with Complexions Contemporary Ballet during her senior year and graduated with a BFA in Dance in May 2014. She completed five seasons with Complexions, and in 2019 accepted a position with Ballets Jazz Montréal. A recognition from Dance Teacher Magazine said, “Shanna Irwin has been dazzling audiences with her undeniable strength, full-bodied performances, and eternally lengthened lines.”
SHANNA IRWIN
AUSIA JONES
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Dallas, Texas
TRAINING
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Dallas, TX), The Dallas Conservatory (Dallas, TX), USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance (Los Angeles, CA)
REPERTOIRE
George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, Ronald K. Brown, Alejandro Cerrudo, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Lar Lubovitch, Barak Marshall, Dwight Rhoden, Cayetano Soto, Takehiro Ueyama, Didy Veldman, Manuel Vignoulle, Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit
QUOTE
“If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down.”
- Buddha
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Possibility, Sensitivity, Growth
Born in Dallas, Texas, Ausia Jones is a graduate of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance with a focus on choreography. Throughout her career, she has had the honour of performing works by William Forsythe, Robert Battle, Cayetano Soto, Azure Barton, Jiri Kylian, and more. She also has received many awards including Young Arts winner in both choreography and dance. During her time at USC Kaufman, she trained at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Orsolina Forsythe/Pite, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. She joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
AUSIA JONES
AUSTIN LICHTY
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Stratford, Ontario, Canada
TRAINING
Arts Umbrella, Springboard Danse Montréal
REPERTOIRE
James Kudelka, Crystal Pite, Emily Molnar, Kate Hilliard, Guillaume Cote, Stephen Shropshire, Ihsan Rustem, Amos Ben Tal, Marco Goecke
QUOTE
“If not now, when?”
- Ekhart Tolle
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Experience, Growth, Strength
Born in Stratford, Ontario, Austin pursued professional dance training at the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program under Artemis Gordon in Vancouver. He has participated in the Springboard Danse Montréal, Arts Umbrella International Summer Dance Intensive, TransFormation Danse, and ProArté Danza Summer Intensive programs. Throughout his professional career, Austin has worked with choreographers such as James Kudelka, Crystal Pite, Guillaume Côté, Emily Molnar, Simone Orlando, Lukas Timulak, Amos Ben Tal, and Ihsan Rustem, to name a few. He joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
AUSTIN LICHTY
MARCEL MEJIA
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2019
BIRTHPLACE
Miami, Florida
TRAINING
Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, New World School of the Arts, George Mason University (Bachelor in Fine Arts), Springboard Danse Montreal, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
REPERTOIRE
Nacho Duato, Lar Lubovitch, Alejandro Cerrudo, Yin Yue, Doug Varone, Soon Ho Park, Johannes Weiland, Andonis Foniadakis, Lucinda Childs, Tom Weinberger, Ohad Naharin, Mark Morris, Ivan Perez, Robert Battle, Dave Grenke, Nick Pupillo, Alex Ketley, Courtney Mazeika
QUOTE
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
- T.S. Eliot
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Responsibility, New Beginnings
Marcel Mejia is originally from Miami, Florida. He graduated from New World School of the Arts and later attended George Mason University’s School of Dance under the direction of Susan Shields. He has performed works from world-renowned choreographers such as Lar Lubovitch, Nacho Duato, Andonis Foniadakis, Ivan Perez, and Alejandro Cerrudo. Mr. Mejia has also attended summer dance programs such as Springboard Danse Montréal in Canada – where he performed works by Johannes Wieland and Rachel Erdos – and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, dancing original works by Tom Weinberger, Alex Ketley, and excerpts of Ohad Naharin’s repertory. Marcel has served on the faculty of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet and as a volunteer dance instructor at the Lotus House Shelter in Miami, Florida. He joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2019.
MARCEL MEJIA
ANDREW MIKHAIEL
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2017
BIRTHPLACE
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
TRAINING
Marymount Manhattan College, Springboard Danse Montréal
COMPANIES
Marymount Manhattan College Dance Company
REPERTOIRE
Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, Fernando Melo, Jo Stømgren, Alexandra Damiani, Darell Grand Moultrie, Larry Keigwin, Norbert de la Cruz III, Adam Barruch, Breton Tyner-Bryan, May O’Donnell, Murray Louis
QUOTE
“Be somebody nobody thought you could be.”
- William Chapman
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Powerful, Energetic, Athletic
Andrew Mikhaiel is originally from Mississauga, Ontario and earned a BFA at Marymount Manhattan College in 2017, under the direction of Katie Langan. During his tenure at MMC, he danced in works choreographed by Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, Alexandra Damiani, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Norbert De La Cruz III, Adam Barruch, Larry Keigwin, and Jo Strømgren. He performed at The Joyce Theater for the Martha Graham Company’s University Partners Showcase, at the 92nd Street Y’s Fridays at Noon Series, and for the American Dance Guild. In his senior year, Andrew directed and organized a dance outreach program for NYC public schools, serving 240 3rd-5th graders. He was accepted to and attended Springboard Danse Montréal in the summer of 2016. Andrew joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2017 and became the artistic coordinator of the company in 2020.
ANDREW MIKHAIEL
EDEN SOLOMON
Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Montréal, Canada
TRAINING
École supérieure de ballet du Québec, Arts Umbrella, Performance Research Program
COMPANIES
Inverso Productions (Lesley Telford), Wen Wei Dance (Wen Wei Wang), Jasmine Ellis Projects (Jasmine Ellis), ate9 (Danielle Agami)
REPERTOIRE
Lesley Telford, Sharon Eyal, Jasmine Ellis, Crystal Pite, Micaela Taylor, Tom Weinberger, Wen Wei Wang, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Danielle Agami, David Harvey, Livona Ellis, Jason Mabana, Mehdi Walerski
QUOTE
“So be it! See to it!”
- Octavia E. Butler
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
New Experience, Performance
Eden Solomon grew up in Montréal. She studied at l’École supérieure de ballet du Québec and continued her education at Arts Umbrella and at the Performance Research Project in Vancouver. She also attended programs such as Springboard Danse Montréal, the Creative Gesture (Banff Centre for the Arts), and Gaga intensives (SF, NYC). As a freelancer, Eden has worked with several choreographers, including Lesley Telford, Wen Wei Wang, Jasmine Ellis, Danielle Agami, and David Harvey. She has been a member of TWObigsteps Collective and collaborates with the multimedia collective Crack Cloud. Eden has presented choreographic research in Vancouver. She joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
EDEN SOLOMON
Sophia Shaw
Intern
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020
BIRTHPLACE
Vancouver, Canada
TRAINING
Arts Umbrella, Ballet Junior de Genève
REPERTOIRE
Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal, Barak Marshall, Mats Ek, Aszure Barton, Emanuel Gat, Cayetano Soto, Fernando Magadan, James Kudelka, Olivier Dubois, Lesley Telford
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Innovative, Complex, Mesmeric
Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Sophia’s studies in contemporary dance began with Arts Umbrella under the direction of Artemis Gordon. There, she performed works by many renowned artists such as Crystal Pite, Mats Ek, Sharon Eyal and Aszure Barton. While touring Europe with the company, she has also performed the creations of choreographers Fernando Hernando Magadan, Cayetano Soto, Lukas Timulak and Emanuel Gat. She has also participated in intensive summer workshops at the San Francisco Conservatory, the Banff Centre for the Arts and Jacobs Pillow. After graduating, Sophia joined the Ballet Junior de Genève in Switzerland and was an apprentice with Didy Veldman’s company Humanoove for the creation of @Home. She joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2020.
SOPHIA SHAW
YOSMELL CALDERON MEJIAS
Principal Artist
Joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in 2016
BIRTHPLACE
Oriol, Russia
TRAINING
National School of Dance (Havana, Cuba), University of Art (Havana, Cuba)
COMPANIES
Danza contemporanea de Cuba, Pal Frenak Company (Hungary)
REPERTOIRE
Rafael Bonachela, Mats Ek, Itzik Galili, Carlos Junior Acosta, Jan Linkens, Ana Laguna, Juan Cruz
QUOTE
“The usefulness of the cup is its emptiness.”
WHY BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL IN 3 WORDS
Learn To Learn
Born in Russia, Yosmell graduated as a dancer and teacher of contemporary dance and folk dance from Cuba’s National School of Dance (ENA) in Havana in 2005, and also received a diploma from the University of Arts (ISA) in 2014. Yosmell has collaborated with outstanding figures in the world of dance such as Rafael Bonachela, Mats Ek, Itzik Galili, Carlos Junior Acosta, Jan Linkens, Juan Cuz, and Ana Laguna. He has performed as a principal dancer of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba in Pal Frenak Company, in more than 22 works by Cuban and foreign choreographers, touring important festivals and theatre venues around the world. He is a choreographer for the Cuban National Ballet School and its performances at the International Ballet Festival of Havana and, thanks to his background in Olympic gymnastics, he also choreographs for circus performances. He joined Ballets Jazz Montréal in July 2016 and was promoted to principal artist in 2019.
YOSMELL CALDERON MEJIAS
“Dance Me took the audience on a wide-ranging emotional journey. Artistically, it was beautiful in its precision and grace. The show’s choreography played continuously with shape, as dancers entwined as supposed lovers or performed impressive lifts. Clothed mostly in black, the dancers created not a visual spectacle, but a profoundly moving and aesthetically fascinating, visceral experience.”
– Katherine DeCoste, The Gateway
“BJM is known for presenting contemporary work that fuses different genres, while still basing itself on the aesthetics of ballet (…). Under the artistic direction of Louis Robitaille, the company strives to present work that is both high quality and accessible to audiences. Dance Me truly represented those key values with brilliant dance artists and innovative musical, light, and media design.
– Debra Danese, The Dance Journal
“Under the artistic direction of Louis Robitaille from Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, the production oscillates between contemporary dance with a capital C and theatrical performance art. Sweeping, fast-paced and sensuous, dancers lock tight in various entanglements then explode across the stage drenched in strobes of white light, silhouette and shadow. A spectacular display of nuevo ballet that’s charged and intense throughout.”
– B. Simm, Beatroute.ca
“Performing at a sadistically fast pace, BJM’s dancers blazed through fitful and relentless choreography dense with flailing arm movements, jumps, roundhouse kicks and falls. If the character Hilarion in classical ballet’s “Giselle” were forced to dance to death in present time, it would surely look like this. The stamina-busting choreography was something to marvel at for its sheer creativity and exhilarating brilliance.”
– Steve Sucato, Cleveland Dance
