At the age of 17 Onija’s love and appreciation for the arts began to bloom into a passion for dance. With no prior dance experience, he started educating himself by watching videos from YouTube and his friends dancing. His love for dance and the arts grew and he moved to Toronto to pursue a career in dance. After dancing for a year, Onija was convinced that this was the path he wanted to follow and he began to explore the opportunities of the dance community in Toronto, which eventually brought him to DARK dance company where he joined both the hip-hop company headed by Lineen Doung and the Contemporary company headed by Allison Bradley. Now at twenty-three years old, Onija has had time to grow and develop as an industry professional which has in turn provided him many opportunities to share and express his artistry these include production titles such as Akoma, Ashes, Child Soldier, Iceberg Principle as well as many community performances such as Choreographers Ball, Fever After Dark, Industry Night, Bazzar and others. As a current member of AIM (Artists in Motion) dance company directed by Shameka Blake, Onija has been fortunate enough to have had opportunities to expand on his artistry and has had the pleasure of learning from some of Toronto’s best dancers and choreographers; e.g Shameka Blake, Allison Bradely, Leon Blackwood, Hollywood Jade, Lineen Doung , Chris Clarke, Esie Mensah, Siona Jackson and many more. With a strive and ambition for performance, Onija trains to continue to widen his scope of the arts to become a more versatile performer, while cultivating his own unique style of dance by blending elements and techniques from his favourite styles. He would like to eventually start his own company to help train the next generation of artists.
Yuichiro Inoue
Dancer, Withrow Park
Yuichiro Inoue has danced with the Toronto Dance Theatre for the last fifteen years. Born in Japan where he received his initial training in ballet at the age of 11, Yuichiro moved to Germany at the age of 15 where he studied full time on scholarship at the John Cranko Ballet School in Stuttgart Germany. He spent five years performing with Staatstheater Braunschweig and additional two years with Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe before moving to Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbruecken and danced in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Croatia, China, Ukraine, USA, Japan. Mr. Inoue is a RAD certified teacher. In addition to teaching at Canada’s National Ballet School, Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement, the Canadian School of Ballet, the Quinte Ballet School, Kobe Jogakuin University Japan, and numerous schools and dance companies throughout Japan, Yuichiro teaches both ballet and contemporary classes for Toronto Dance Theatre. As a choreographer, his works have included commissions for an award-winning short film, festivals and international competitions.
Diane Jean-Louis
Dancer, Withrow Park
Diane Jean-Louis was born in Haiti and raised in the US and Canada. She is very passionate about the arts and she knew from a very young age that it is something she wanted to pursue. At the age of 16, Diane decided to submerge herself in the art form that is dance and since then she has never looked back. In 2014, at the age of 18, Diane moved to Toronto to pursue her acting career and then began exploring the
opportunities within the Toronto dance scene. Diane started her Toronto training at Dark Dance Company taking Hip hop led by Lineen Doung and contemporary led by Allison Bradley. Now at twenty-five years old, Diane has had the time to develop into an industry professional which has given her many opportunities to share her passion. Diane has been fortunate enough to have opportunities to learn from Toronto’s best dancers and choreographers; e.g. Shameka Blake, Allison Bradley, Chris Clarke, Amanda-May Wilson, Esie Mensah and many more. As a current member of AIM (Artist In Motion) Dance Company directed by Shameka Blake, Diane is thrilled to see where this chapter of her dance journey will take her, and is looking forward to continuing performing and growing in multiple elements and styles, into the versatile artist she knows she is. Diane would one day like to fuse all her favourite styles and everything she has learned in her dance career and create a unique style in hopes to teach and inspire the younger generation of dancers.
Paromita Kar
Dancer, Withrow Park
Paromita Kar is a Toronto- and Hamilton-based dance artist and is the first to complete a PhD in Dance Studies in Canada (York University, Toronto). A performer of different world dance styles, she attributes her core training in dance to classical Indian Odissi dance. Paromita was introduced to Central Asian dance styles in 2008, when she worked under a celebrated visiting choreographer from Iran for tour performing different dance styles of Iran. She is today an active fulltime performer of dances of Afghan, Kurdish, South Asian and Iranian heritage, and is the choreographer and lead dancer of Ensemble Topaz, a Toronto-based integrated dance-music ensemble dedicated to dance and music of Central Asia and South Asia. Paromita has also danced in and choreographed for a number of international and Afghan music videos. paromitakar.wix.com/danseuse.
Sydney Keir
Dancer, touring & WITHROW PARK
Sydney Keir started her formal training in Toronto, Ontario at Canada's National Ballet School and Karpov Ballet Academy. She later relocated to New York, where she attended the Ailey Fordham BFA Program, a joint program between Fordham University and the Ailey School, where she completed a double major in Dance and Communications/Media Studies. She has performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Canadian Opera Company, Ardani Arts Management, National Ballet of Canada, Nathaniel Hunt Dance Project, Boston Dance Theater, Cadence Contemporary Ballet, Karpov Ballet, Ballet Jorgen, Awaken Dance Theater and Buglisi Dance Theatre. Sydney was also an original cast member of the international touring show Isadora featuring Natalia Osipova. As a dancer, choreographer and teacher, Sydney hopes to continue to push the envelope of dance in Canada.
Ryan Kostyniuk
Dancer, touring
Ryan Kostyniuk is a queer dance artist born and raised in Sylvan Lake, Alberta and is now based in Tkaronto, they are a graduate from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (2019) and are currently an ensemble member with Toronto Dance Theatre. They have performed works by Christopher House, Danny Grossman, Emese Nagy (MA•ZE) and Shannon Gillen (VimVigor). They have also produced solo/duet works which have been performed in Toronto, and internationally.
Zoe Kwan
Dancer, touring
Zoe Kwan is a dance artist and creator from Toronto, Ontario. She has worked with a number of renowned artists and has danced choreography by Robert Desrosiers, David Earle, Robert Glumbek, Roberto Campenella, Guillaume Côté, Alysa Pires, David Norsworthy, Angela Blumberg, and more. She has created original works for EnChoreo, Theatre Oculus’ Digital Creation Residency, and Collections Dance. In 2020, Zoe was involved in dance films by Hanna Kiel, Andrea Nann, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Or Schraiber. In 2021, she was a member of Frog In Hand’s Summer Company, a resident artist for Theatre Oculus’ Digital Creation Residency, and was selected to participate in a Jazz residency in partnership with Fall For Dance North and the Orillia Centre for Arts and Culture. As a choreographer, Zoe’s goal is to create something powerful and emotionally gratifying for both dancers and audience members to enjoy. Zoe graduated with a BFA in Performance Dance in spring 2022. She was recently awarded the Lipson Family Endowment Award for an Emerging Choreographer, as well as the Performance Dance: Highest CGPA award, and the Orly Watkin Dance Award in 2021. Her work “I Woke Up” was selected to be featured in Ryerson Choreographic Film Festival, Bloom Festival, the fifth edition of Artists For Peace, and in Lisbon Dance Platform.
Jason Martin
Dancer, Withrow Park
Jason Martin is a dancer, movement teacher and choreographer based in Montreal, Quebec. After graduating from École de Danse Contemporaine de Montréal in 2012, he performed with Compagnie Marie Chouinard, Compagnie Dave St-Pierre, Daniel Léveillé Danse, The Holy Body Tattoo, le Carré des Lombes, Sylvain Émard Danse, Compagnie Virginie Brunelle, Louise Bédard Danse, VIVUS - James Viveiros, Skeels Danse, Danse K par K, Le Fils d'Adrien Danse and Lina Cruz. In 2016, he founded his company ENTITEY/jason martin, creating pieces that revolve around the interdependence of the human condition. He presented his work in Canada, Israel, Mexico, Germany, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Hungary and Spain. In 2018, he was selected as Artist in Residence at Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers. In 2021, Jason was named Awarded Dancer for his solo Study n0.1 at the SoloDuo NRW + Friends International Dance Festival in Cologne, Germany, before winning the jury prize for best choreography at the Choreographic Competition 10 Sentidos in Valencia, Spain in 2022 for the same piece. He is now touring his new solo work Plea for Impermanence which premiered at the Festival From Jaffa to Agripas in Jerusalem in October 2021.
Anne Millaire
Host, touring
After professional studies in music and dance, including the research for Pigeon International and assistant conductor for the sopranos at the Chantemuse choir, Anne Millaire trained in both French and English theater. She has been part of the captivating American adventures of Caravan Stage Company, NTE and many more. With a Masters’ degree in Theatre and a PhD in Literary Studies, she’s equipped with the essentials to produce, design and create her own shows; in Montreal, including venues like Espace Libre, Salle Fred-Barry of Théâtre Denise- Pelletier, Jeunesses musicales Canada; and on tour. Combining writing to her approach, several collaborations with musicians and music bands produce hybrid concerts immersed in theatrical universes. Teaching dramaturgy has also become her second hobby, in conjunction with lectures and talks about Quebec theatre history.
Diana C. Reyes - Fly Lady Di
Host & DJ, Withrow Park
Diana Reyes also known as Fly Lady Di (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist, recognized for her work as a street dance artist, and DJ. Born and raised in Toronto, her current explorations combine her ancestral Filipino heritage with contemporary concepts - through dance choreography, performance making and joke writing. Most notably, her work includes Honey (Universal), Fall Out Boy's 'Dance Dance', and performances with artists like Ciara, Jason Derulo, the Clipse feat. Pharrell, MC Lyte and BlackSTREET to name just a few. She's been featured on etalk, Toronto Life, Toronto Star, Dance Current and countless publications in North America and abroad. Her work has also brought her all over Europe, Asia and South America and she's been supported by federal, provincial and city granting bodies. She plans to further investigate pre-colonial Filipino culture and incorporate that into her work as a performance maker. www.flyladydi.com
Derick Robinson
Dancer, Withrow Park
Derick “XclusiV” Robinson is a soulful, experienced and unique individual who doesn’t fear exploring creativity and innovation as a dancer, teacher and mentor. His distinct style is anything but ordinary, his ability to think outside the box is what truly makes him an addition to the dance community. He is a seasoned educator with knowledge in Hip Hop, Commercial and street dance dedicated to helping his students be the absolute best version of themselves both on and off the stage. Excited to continue his journey with dance; Derick is eager, enthusiastic and strives to bring something new and different to this world.
Willem Sadler
Dancer, touring & WITHROW PARK
Willem Sadler has been training as a performer since the age of 8. He began his professional career at the age of 11 when he joined the Artists in Motion Dance Company. He has trained in a variety of dance styles and has performed for institutions like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Shoppers Drugmart, Roots Canada and Mirvish. As a young dancer and performer his drive has always come from his love for movement and the art of dance. He began his training solely based in Street Styles, as he continued to explore the art of dance, he began to train in a multitude of styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Ballroom, Modern, etc. He currently dances as a Performance Guest Artist for the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theater. Willem is grateful for this experience and hopes, with every performance, to bring some light and positivity into every viewer's day!
Marquisha Sparkes
Dancer, Withrow Park
Marquisha Sparkes found her passion for dance at the age of 17. With no prior training she was accepted into the Fine Arts Dance Program at York University where she studied ballet and contemporary modern dance. There she was recruited into multiple dance companies such as Urbanesque, Aim Toronto, Dark Dance and Duality Entertainment where she trained and performed in various styles with a variety of choreographers including Allison Bradley, Shameka Blake, and Hollywood Jade. At the age of 26 she is ecstatic to have danced for artist like Sean Paul and Keri Hilson, as well as for various films for Netflix, Disney and Lifetime television. She has always felt gratification by exploring diverse personas but especially enjoys hip hop, jazz funk, and heels choreography. Marquisha aspires to explore dance to the fullest and to inspire others to appreciate its artistic value.
Sandra To - Iced Misto
DJ, Withrow Park
Iced Misto (part of Funky Facilitators) is a Toronto-based DJ that ignites the soul at both dance battles and parties. She has years of experience playing major roles in street dance events; whether it’s providing the tunes, working behind the scenes at events or community work, advising peers, or spreading the word of what’s happening this week. She is one of the staple DJs of many battles like Crystallized, KOD Canada, Unity Charity, UW Community Battles, Bentway Battle, and Experience Point. Iced Misto plays her sets like no other. She presents nostalgic songs that you are familiar with while combining new, progressive sounds to remix into her set. Though she is known for her House and Soul parties, she is well-versed in all genres that will make you dance all night! When she’s DJing an all-styles battle, you best believe she will be playing all styles of dance music. She was a resident and host of several regular parties such as Vibe Parade, Ah Nu, Secret Garden, Deep & Disco, Night Ride, Beyond the Dance, Brighter Days, and Footprints. Seasoned dancers, average party goers, and even wall flowers can enjoy party vibes by Iced Misto.
Antoine Turmine
Dancer, Withrow Park
Coming from the world of traditional and folk dances, Antoine Turmine defines himself as a dance artist investing proposals that lie at the border between conceptual works and sensitive performances where rhythm, sound and the body in movement are at the forefront. Holder of a bachelor's degree in contemporary dance from UQAM (2014) and a master's degree in dance (2020), he aims to make his practice a real laboratory and thus seeks devices and contexts that transform and renew his dance practice.
Raoul Jiggyman Wilke
Workshop Leader, Withrow Park
Raoul Wilke’s extensive training in house, hip hop and vernacular jazz has led him to perform for years with professional companies The Moon Runners and Holla Jazz. He also continues to work on film, choreograph his own work, and establish a name for himself internationally through battle competitions. Raoul continues to travel and study these dance forms to better understand their historical and contemporary contexts, and he aims to share his love of dance by creating a safe space where movement is the primary voice.
