Behind the scenes
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 teaching member of Dance Masters of Canada / Dance Masters of America, Hamilton has served as a guest teacher, mentor and speaker at institutes across Canada including; George Brown College, University of Toronto, York University and University of Calgary.
Hamilton is a counselling member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and Vice President of Healthy Dancer Canada. She works actively in the dance health and science sector. Her creations and research have examined and explored diverse realities and experiences of the human condition, healing practices, and care centered ecosystems. Hamilton’s research on injury prevention, holistic teaching practices and impacts of psychological stress has been presented at national and international conventions including; the En Avant-RAD World Convention, the Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, and the Performing Arts Medicine Association. Hamilton is a counsellor at Jörgen Dance.
Hamilton reports on the current news affairs of our time with special focus on arts, health, career, and business news at CIUT 89.5 FM. She is the in-suite moderator for the Dora Mavor Moore award-winning dance Immersion, and has operated as a guest correspondent and host on media and discussion platforms across Canada including the Career Buzz Show, Evi-Dance Radio, the AMANI Project, and Fall for Dance North’s Mambo Podcast. Her voice has been featured on national commercials, film, television networks and stages where she has moderated, and facilitated conversations with leaders across the world. Follow Hamilton on Instagram @nicoleinicahamilton.
PRODUCTION EDITOR
S-Quire Johnson (they/he) is a multi-hyphenate creator that brings thoughtfulness and passion for cultural identity, awareness and inclusion to their work. They have worked with some of the brightest contemporary artists and produced content for a variety of events and mediums, including national conferences, film festivals and broadcast television shows. S-Quire’s expertise in videography has afforded them the opportunity to create features and capture interviews with the likes of Jessie Reyez, Esie Mensah, Machel Montano, Tanika Charles and Future. They have produced feature-length documentaries and short-form projects showcased at the Regent Park Film Festival, CaribbeanTales Film Festival, and transitioned into broadcast television work as an Associate Producer for Caribbean Vibrations TV.
As a performing artist and DJ, S-Quire has shared stages internationally with Emmanuel Jal, Nelly Furtado, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. They are also a frequent collaborator with notable arts companies, including KasheDance, wind in the leaves collective, Nova Dance, Watah Theatre, and Coco Collective. S-Quire balances their creative ventures with a strong commitment to community development work. As a Community Facilitator and Consultant, they develop and facilitate workshops that spark discussions around navigating race relations, amplifying youth voices, and strengthening racialized families. Learn more about S-Quire at www.squiretdot.com, and follow them on Instagram @squiretdot.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Aleisha LaCruise is an experienced operations manager specializing in executive assistance, administration support, digital marketing and event production. She has produced and managed a portfolio of events grossing over $500,000 in revenue, and managed the executive needs of Fortune 500 companies.
LaCruise has a rich background in creative arts, and a Bachelors Degree in Film & Digital Media, with extensive coursework in Theatre and Games & Playable Media.
As a former competitive dancer, LaCruise enjoys capturing movement whenever possible. Follow LaCruise on Instagram @leahkeys9.
SPECIAL EVENTS CORRESPONDENT
Collette “Coco” Murray is an award-winning dance artist-scholar, cultural arts programmer, educator, and arts consultant whose work bridges performance, education, and advocacy. With over 25 years in Canada’s arts sector, Coco specializes in Afro-diasporic dance forms, including West African, Caribbean folk, carnival arts, and stilt-dancing as Coco Moko Jumbie. Her multifaceted practice is rooted in reclaiming cultural narratives and amplifying African diasporic traditions through performance, community engagement, and scholarship. Miss Coco’s artistry spans teaching, guest lecturing, mentorship, and publishing, with a focus on equity and anti-racism in the arts. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Dance Studies (York University), deepening her commitment to integrating African diasporic arts into Canadian public education and advancing culturally relevant dance pedagogy.
As the artistic director of Coco Collective, she curates culturally relevant and responsive programming that draws from African and Caribbean aesthetics, collaborating with intergenerational artists to foster inclusive and transformative cultural experiences. Coco’s work and leadership are recognized for their impact on arts organizations, community empowerment, cultural preservation, and education reform. Follow Murray on Instagram @misscocomurray.
SPECIAL EVENTS CORRESPONDENT
Michele Ponniah is a Toronto-based arts administrator, stage manager and musical theatre performer. An alumni of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature, Ponniah furthered her education at Ryerson University with focused studies in Arts and Entertainment Administration.
Ponniah’s history of diverse work in the arts includes; The Toronto International Film Festival, The Canadian Stage Company, and The Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival. As a performer and stage manager in theatre, she has worked with various theatre performances, fulfilling her deep passion to create meaningful art.
Selected stage management credits include: As You Like It (2011), Much Ado About Nothing (2012), Behold the Time of Mercy (2012), and The Singers (2014). Ponniah also worked on the feature film, The Protégé (2015), acting as Second Assistant Director, Script Supervisor, and Art Director.
Selected musical credits include: Sweeney Todd, Doctor Bird Productions (2023), The Hunchback of NotreDame, Doctor Bird Productions (2024), That Community Choir (2025-2026). Follow Ponniah on Instagram @rentjunkie86.