Connecting in community
CO-FOUNDER/ PRODUCER/ HOST
Nicole Inica Hamilton is an award-winning choreographer and the Founder/ Artistic Director of Inica Dance Industries. A certified educator and member of Dance Masters of Canada and Dance Masters of America, Hamilton has served as a guest teacher, mentor and speaker at institutes across Canada including but not limited to; George Brown College, University of Toronto, York University and University of Calgary. She has presented at national and international conventions including; the En Avant-RAD World Convention, the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, Creation Championships, the Performing Arts Medicine Association and more.
Hamilton is an on-air radio host at CIUT 89.5 FM and the producer/ host of Turn Out Radio. She reports on the current news affairs of our time with a special focus on arts, health, career, and business news. Hamilton is the in-suite moderator for the Dora Mavor Moore award-winning dance Immersion and has operated as a guest correspondent on media and discussion platforms across Canada including the Career Buzz Show, and Fall for Dance North’s Mambo Podcast. Her voice has been featured on national commercials, film, and television networks where she has moderated, and facilitated conversations with leaders across the globe. Learn more about Nicole Inica Hamilton HERE.
CO-FOUNDER
Current founding Artistic Director of The Chimera Project Dance Theatre, Malgorzata Nowacka-May created over 20 critically acclaimed works described as “most exciting” and “most original in Canada” (The Globe and Mail) and garnered accolades including Top 10 performances of the year in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, NOW and FASHION. Her work showcased at the Canada Dance Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, DanceWorks Mainstage Series, Dance Victoria, and internationally.
Between 2015-2018, Nowacka-May created works seen across Canada for Canada’s Ballet Jörgen. In 2014 she created Bears Stars and Trees for the Algoma Fall Festival, guided by Missanabie Cree First Nation elder Shirley Horn which has been touring since. Nowacka-May also created Chimera’s Company B, a program that supported 33 young dance artists since 2010, and in partnership with Harbourfront Centre, FRESH BLOOD (2009-2016), an annual festival that brought 297 artists to stage. Learn more about Malgorzata Nowacka-May HERE.
CO-FOUNDER
Samara Thompson is an independent choreographer and dance educator, specializing in the integration of computer technology with dance. She has presented her choreography across Canada, was the recipient of a Paula Citron Dance Award for choreography, written for the Dance Current, and was a co-host on the radio show Evi-Dance.
Thompson graduated with her MA and Honours BFA in Dance from York University and trained in and performed the works of many notable artists in Canada and the United States. She currently teaches dance at York University and is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Dance Ontario. Learn more about Samara Thompson HERE.
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER/ EDITOR
Amber Downie-Back is a dancer and interdisciplinary artist interested in integrating dance in collaborative contexts with other media such as music and video art. Her practice views the reflection of natural spaces in the digital world through transformative experiences that are intimate, communal, and atmospheric.
Downie-Back has a BFA in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University and has performed professionally at Festival TransAmeriques (2019), Montréal Fringe Festival (2018), Art Matters (2018), and others. Her creations have been exhibited by the Toronto Harbourfront Centre, Impulse Theatre (Victoria), Leonardo Institute, and Kalyx Collective (Montréal). Her works have been funded by Concordia University, Healthy Dancer Canada, and the BC Arts Council. Amber is currently living on the traditional, ancestral unceded territory belonging to the Lekwungen Peoples, on whose territory she is grateful to perform and dance. Follow Amber Downie-Back HERE.
GUEST HOST/ YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
Nathaniel Chua has been training since the age of 4 and has been competing in dance for 8 years. He has now transitioned to the professional ballet program at the National Ballet of Canada. In 2016 Chua performed live onstage with Justin Bieber in Minneapolis for the WORLD PURPOSE TOUR. In December 2019, he performed in the 2 -week run of the Nutcracker at the Four Seasons in Toronto. Chua is the 2018 Canadian National Exhibition’s Rising Star Junior Grand Champion and has appeared in several music videos and commercials for the MiniPop Kids. He is grateful to have worked with Hip Hop Choreographers Misha Gabriel, Randi and Hefa for performance opportunities in Las Vegas and Orlando. Follow Nathaniel Chua HERE.
GUEST HOST/ YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
Emma Lesly Francis is a native New Yorker, born to a Haitian mom and Jamaican dad, and is a big sister to her best friend, Jayme. She is an exceptional student, who models, writes, and acts. Francis is a trained dancer who studies tap, ballet, contemporary, street jazz, hip hop, and Afrobeats. She is already being mentored by some of the best, including Chloe and Maud Arnold, Charis Moses, Darlene Niara Arrington, Charles Smith, and Nicole Ohr. Francis has an already promising resume that includes music videos (Fatman Scoop and Eddy Kenzo), tapping at Radio City Music Hall (Chloe & Maud Arnold and the Syncopated Ladies), and television appearances that include Saturday Night Live with Chance the Rapper, and the Disney Channel. Follow Emma Lesly Francis HERE.
GUEST HOST
Travis Knights is a Tap Dancer.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Knights was introduced to the rich oral tradition of Tap by his teacher Ethel Bruneau at age 10. He went on to travel the world spreading his love of rhythm across 4 continents, touring with Tap Dogs, Tapestry Dance Company, and the self-produced Tap Love Tour. He is the 2020 recipient of the Jaqueline Lemieux Prize for outstanding contribution to dance in Canada.
In December 2021, in partnership with Dance Immersion, Knights, along with renowned Tap Dancer Lisa LaTouche, created and directed Legacy Series: Tap Dance Symposium which aimed to re-introduce Tap Dance to the local Black community in Toronto. In 2022, he debuted Anandam Dance Theatre’s innovative new work, ‘Ephemeral Artifacts’, a one-person show that to date has toured 4 countries. He is the 2022 Dora Award winner for Outstanding Performance by an Individual. Knights is currently a Slaight Music Artist in Residence at Soulpepper Theatre Company. He currently lives in Brampton, Ontario and hosts The Tap Love Tour Podcast, available on Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple podcasts, (make sure to subscribe) featuring interviews of a myriad of inspiring tap dance artists.
Learn more about Travis Knights HERE.
GUEST HOST
Blessyl Buan is a multidisciplinary dancer, choreographer, and Doctor of Chiropractic. She leverages her diverse expertise as a movement coach, clinician, and dancer to craft a training method that imparts advanced knowledge and embodiment of anatomy and kinesiology. Most importantly, she recognizes performers as spiritual, energetic beings with stories to share. Her philosophy underscores that movement proficiency and intention unlock creative expression. Learn more about Blessyl Buan HERE.
GUEST HOST
Sara Shanazarian has worked as a CBC producer/reporter for “Newsday in BC”, television host/content writer for “Burnaby Connect” — a Shaw Community Access show, and as an on-air host/creator/writer for “Various Voices” on CJSF Radio. She has worked in New York at Stewart/Whitley Casting, where she managed/organized Broadway auditions, as well as liaising with a variety of clients from dance, music, film, TV and stage. As of late, Shanazarian has had the opportunity to host on-air at Boom 97.3 FM. She runs her own theatre company Party Time Productions, which produced the award-winning musical comedy “Twinsations.” Shanazarian is a former competitive dancer with credits throughout Canada and the U.S.A. Follow Sara Shanazarian HERE.
GUEST HOST
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Jamie Hodgins has danced for MADONNA, ARIANA GRANDE, NICK JONAS, KIESZA, DEMI LOVATO, The JONAS BROTHERS, VITA CHAMBERS, SHILOH, and many more. On-screen, you can see Hodgins as a featured dancer in Disney’s CAMP ROCK 2. He was one of the top 5 male Triple Threat finalists on CBC’s hit reality TV series, “TRIPLE SENSATION.” Following the run of the TV show, Hodgins was cast in the last professional Broadway production of HAIRSPRAY (Charlottetown Festival). He played the role of FENDER and was thrilled to share the stage with George Wendt (Norm from “Cheers”). His Film/Video credits include leading roles in the award-winning History Television feature, “Death or Canada,” TVO’s “Explore My World,” CBC’s “Breakout!,” and the Much Music Video Awards. Follow Jamie Hodgins HERE.
GUEST HOST
Ashleigh Powell began her ballet training in Ottawa at the Kanata Ballet School. In 2009, she graduated from Canada’s National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program with Distinction. During her training at the NBS she obtained her teaching qualifications with the Cecchetti Society of Canada, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and the Royal Academy of Dance – as well as her Advance II dancing qualifications from all three organizations. Powell is the recipient of both the Carole Chadwick Award and the Betty Oliphant Award for teaching and holds an Honours Degree in History and Sociology from the University of Toronto. In addition to teaching, Powell works as a choreographer.
Learn more about Ashleigh Powell HERE.
GUEST HOST
Jeff Dimitriou is a World Renowned Choreographer, director, creator and artist. His artistic projects include creating for film, television, world ceremonies, theatre, live events, and art installations. He is the creator of JDX Creative, his very own production entertainment funhouse. He has created 6 original JDX Creative theatrical stage presentations that are currently playing worldwide with ongoing plans to open a satellite office in Mumbai, India to bring acclaimed musicals to a new market. Dimitriou has the rare privilege of working in many different genres of the arts and production. Learn more about Jeff Dimitriou HERE.
GUEST HOST
Since her professional beginning in 1995, Amy Wright has become one of Canada’s most in-demand Choreographers. Her work includes feature films, movies of the week, television series, reality TV, commercials and stage musicals, including Canada’s prestigious SHAW FESTIVAL. Wright is the Casting Director, Choreographer and Producer for the sensational television series The Next Step watched by millions around the world. Most recently, Wright has choreographed dances with Jason Priestly for PRIVATE EYES (Global), a Christmas Pageant for ANNE WITH AN E (Netflix and CBC), the series finale of KILLJOYS (Crave), spectacular Vaudeville routines for AMERICAN GODS (Amazon Prime), and lots of cheerleading for DARE ME, a pilot for NBC/USA Network. Learn more about Amy Wright HERE.
GUEST HOST
Ryan Foley has had the opportunity to study and perform with many talented artists over the years. Foley currently teaches and performs in Toronto with the Toronto Rhythm Initiative, City Dance Corps, the Tap Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex and his family-owned studio Performing Dance Arts. He has worked with TRI in many live shows since their conception in 2011, featuring music from a wide range of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles and many more. In the summer of 2013, Foley was a featured artist at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and performed in Tap Internationals as part of the NYC Tap City Festival. Foley’s most recent ventures have been as a guest teacher and performer at ECTC (Eastern Canadian Tap Conference ) as well as a guest teacher and performer at Tapper Fest. Learn more about Ryan Foley HERE.
GUEST HOST
Michael Caldwell is a Toronto-based choreographer, performer, curator, and arts advocate. An ‘intense dynamo on stage’ (Scene4) with ‘exceptional interpretive skills’ (Globe & Mail), Caldwell has performed/collaborated with over 50 of Canada’s esteemed dance creators/companies, including Peggy Baker, Sylvie Bouchard, Emmanuel Jouthe, James Kudelka, Laurence Lemieux, Tedd Robinson, Santee Smith, Heidi Strauss, and William Yong, among others, and has worked internationally with Antony Hamilton (Australia), Tomeo Vergés (France), and Sacha Steenks (Netherlands). He has performed across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His performances have earned him two (2) Dora Mavor Moore Awards for outstanding performance in dance.
Follow Michael Caldwell HERE.
GUEST HOST
Jay T Schramek is a Dora nominated performer, choreographer, teacher and one of the nation’s most prolific dance adjudicators. Onstage, he has performed for Mirvish, Stratford, Drayton & Broadway Tours. For over 20 years he has taught at some of North America’s finest arts institutions such as Sheridan College, Randolph College, St.Lawrence College, Etobicoke School for the Arts, Duboforce Mexico and the Eastern Arkansas Ballet. Schramek is a former Mr. Dance of Canada and a graduate of Ryerson University. He is the Host/Co-Ordinator for Dance Attack Competitions and the Exclusive Distributor of Miller and Ben Tap Shoes. Learn more about Jay T. Schramek HERE.
GUEST HOST
Ilter Ibrahimof is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Fall for Dance North, Toronto’s Premier International Dance Festival. Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Ibrahimof moved to North America in 1998, first to attend Emerson College in Boston and then living and working in New York City and Montréal before settling in Toronto. As a creative mind in the dance field, Ibrahimof is regularly invited to participate in various festivals and conferences in Canada and around the globe as a curator and speaker. In 2020, Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame awarded Ibrahimof the Sandra Faire Next Generation Award. Learn more about Ilter Ibrahimof HERE.