About
Samara Dos Santos
Founder, Lead Artist & Innovator
Samara is a multidisciplinary artist with a foundation in movement.
Holding an M.A. in Development Economics, Samara focuses her artistic work on social + socioeconomic themes and outcomes.
Her movement studies have included Contemporary & Modern Dance (Release, Horton, Limon and Dunham Technique), Oriental Dance, Russian Romany Dance, Afro-Caribbean dance and Somatic Movement methodologies (Franklin, Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques), in addition to variety of world folk dances. She has been recognized by the Canada Council as a Cultural Connector, and has been funded by both the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council to undertake choreography projects in Canada and abroad.
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As a teacher, her course offerings have included: Holistic Bellydance, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Dance Improvisation, Movement Meditation, Supple & Strong: Hip and Pelvic Floor Training and SocaFit.
Rhea Bowman
Associate Artistic Director
Rhea is a proud and dedicated dance educator that has performed in the arts industry since the age of 4. She is a graduate of York University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts (Honours) in Dance, specializing in Pedagogy and Movement Analysis.
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Rhea has trained extensively over two decades in the following dance disciplines; Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Afro-Caribbean dance. She trained and worked closely with dance artists and educators from all over Canada and the United States, some of which include John Ottman (National Ballet of Canada), Patrick Parson (Ballet Creole), Helen Jones (Toronto Dance Theatre), and Donna Krasnow (York University and The Limón Institute NYC).
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Rhea holds memberships and certifications with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers, Royal Academy of Dancing RTS, Acrobatic Arts, High Five Quality at Play: Healthy Child Development, PBT as well as, the Professional Adjudicators Alliance. Additionally, Rhea is an Ontario Certified Teacher and has spent a large part of her career teaching dance in Performing Arts schools across Toronto and the Durham Regions, and in the Caribbean.
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Rhea's wish is to spread her joy and passion for the performing arts to whomever she encounters along the way.
Dayle McLeod
Production Manager
Dayle McLeod is a fully initiated South African shaman (Sangoma), multi-disciplinary Artist, (Actress, Musician/DJ and Author) & coach to visionary artist-activists.
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Born in rural Alliston, Ontario, Dayle was the only coloured, queer person in her community and survived her childhood by connecting with the arts, singing in church and performing in community theatre.
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Dayle has over 14 years of experience of coordinating the productions of music videos, short films, theatre productions, concerts, live events, commercials and trailers. As a self-published author and independent filmmaker, she has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in private funding for her self-produced projects as well as won grants from the Toronto Arts Council.
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A storyteller, her Folk Album ‘In Bloom’ has been featured in multiple films and tv shows such as CBC’s ‘Kim’s Convenience’ & Mary Harron’s ‘Charlie Says’.
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Dayle is the author of 'The Big Dream; My Terrifyingly Beautiful Shamanic Initiation into the Arts' a memoir chronicling the spiritual-crisis of being called to become an indigenous healer.
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She is currently working on completing a documentary that followed her initiation as a sangoma in South Africa.
Contributors
Annalisa Dayao
Board President
Jonny Riddim
Board Member
Kanda Farkollie
Board Member
Meraki Moyo
Board Member
(pending)
Sabrina Thomann