Sophie Brassard is a Vancouver-based contemporary dance artist who is currently completing her BFA in dance from Simon Fraser University. During her time at SFU she has choreographed several pieces for undergraduate productions as well as performed in the works of many local choreographers such as Rob Kitsos, 605 Collective, Daisy Thompson and Vanessa Goodman. Sophie has also had the privilege of dancing in a reconstruction of Merce Cunningham’s Native Green under the guidance and direction of Megan Walker-Straight. In the past few months, she has danced with project CPR under the direction of Claire French as well as worked as a stage manager for Launch, a Dezza Dance performance. Sophie also loves to read, travel and volunteer in the francophone community as a board member for the Conseil Jeunesse Francophone de la C.-B.

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Catalyst photo of Sophie Brassard by Brenda Kent

Lily Cryan is a dancer, choreographer, and performing artist based in the Pacific Northwest.  Lily will complete her BFA and BA in Dance and Communications from Simon Fraser University in December 2015. Lily is classically trained in ballet but is a contemporary dance with a strong background in Graham and Cunningham and is starting to explore theatre, Butoh, and other interdisciplinary work.  Lily’s artistic process is highly collaborative and strongly based in movement but usually uses text, unconventional music, humor, satire, and a mixed cast of dancers and actors.  

Jenna-Lee Hay's  life-long investigation of dance has taken her on many extraordinary journeys around the globe, from performing professionally onboard Carnival Cruise Line ships to dancing upon the world stage of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Currently, she is in the process of completing her BFA in modern dance from Simon Fraser University.  During her time at SFU she has trained and originated roles in works by renowned artists such as Megan Walker-Straight, Judith Garay, Robert Kitsos, Desirée Dunbar, Marla Eist, Emmalena Fredrickson, Henry Daniel, Vanessa Goodman, Santa Aloi, and Gioconda Barbuto. She has trained and professionally performed repertoire with the Merce Cunningham Trust, New York City and most recently she will be understudying Cunningham’s Split Sides and performing Landrover during the summer of 2015. Jenna Lee has a passion for choreography and dance education and loves to guide her students in to expanded potential.

Rachel Helten is a movement artist based in Vancouver presently completing her BFA in dance at Simon Fraser University. She has been blessed with numerous opportunities to perform works by an array of brilliant artists such as Gioconda Barbuto, Crystal Pite, Wen Wei Wang, Vanessa Goodman, and Emmalena Fredrikkson. Rachel has immense gratitude also for the experiences she has had choreographing and creating her own works such as “Ellery Zephyr and The Whispering Winds” A children’s musical she co-created and performed around the lower mainland, as well as various undergraduate performances within SFU. Dance is the language she most often speaks in, but she is a strong advocate for interdisciplinary works as she is enamored with all art forms and loves to write, sing, and act. She feels at home on stage but also in the studio, choreographing, collaborating and exploring ways to express the ineffable.

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Catalyst photo of Rachel Helten by Brenda Kent

Lesley Kosinski is originally from St. Albert, Alberta and moved to Vancouver to pursue her life long passion in dance. Since graduating from Simon Fraser University’s Contemporary Dance Program in 2014, she has received a scholarship from theTraining Society of Vancouver, worked with choreographer Heather Lamoureux for Mascall Dance’s Bloom, and on an interdisciplinary multimedia project with professors from SFU SIAT and Emily Carr. Dance is not only for those who have trained; it is a powerful healing and expressive tool for all. These beliefs are practiced volunteering at the BC Center for Ability, taking community dance and yoga classes, and jamming with musicians in local parks. Lesley finds spiritual grounding and peace with Mother Nature,in her leafy green forests, on soft fields of grass, and in revitalizing ocean waters.

Melissa Panetta began training at the young age of five years old with most of her time spent at The Oakville Academy for the Arts in Oakville, Ontario. She trained and competed in a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and acrobatics. Melissa is now entering her fourth year at Simon Fraser University majoring in a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and minoring in kinesiology. She continues to grow as a dancer performing and choreographing in multiple shows and events. Melissa is a talented and dedicated emerging artist who hopes to share her passion of dance with the world.