WINTER INTENSIVE FACULTY

Kylie thompson

Kylie Thompson (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary performer, creator and educator residing in Toronto, Ontario, her credits including the Barenaked Ladies, Finger Eleven, Kiesza, the Garage, Gadfly Dance Company, TIFF, Hit and Run Productions, Dance: Made in Canada Festival, DanceWorks, Toronto Fringe, Vancouver Fringe, Orlando Fringe and more. She considers herself an ally to the BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ communities. She is also an accomplished photographer, and has made a number of well presented dance films including “Versus” and “Intrinsecus Latet”. As an experienced educator having taught at events large and small all across Canada, she loves to see dancers thriving in class and discovering their own unique voices and pathways in the world of dance.

Kylie is passionate about training and nurturing a generous, thoughtful and collaborative dancer. Through her series of classes at the winter intensive, students will not only expand their arsenal of tools and pathways, but develop collaborative skills, team building, creative writing and critical thinking.

lukas malkowski

Lukas Malkowski is a CODA(Child of Deaf Adult), performance maker and Aquarius based between Canada/Germany, working with embodiments of physics, voice, and Sign. He has choreographed and performed in ambient sets, music videos, and films for Sam Slater(Joker OST), LBT, 7th Plain(Luke Slater), John Wick 4, CTM Festival, Festival Trans Amérique(Montreal), and Schrittmacher Festival(Holland). He teaches and performs in festivals, companies, and schools across North America and Europe.

flowmentum embodies science physics principles to flow like water & fly like the wind. Harnessing gravity to turn falling into flying, this class aims to build dynamic, reactive movement in and out of the floor, flowmentum is influenced by contemporary dance, yoga, acrobatics and break (breakdance) techniques.

Jumping between functional improvisation concepts and choreographed combinations, participants will unlock their own dynamic flow and harness the power of their own momentum!

natasha poon woo

Natasha Poon Woo is a Dora Award-winning dancer and freelance artist based in Toronto. She began training with Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT) before earning her BFA from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of Dance. Natasha currently performs with Rock Bottom Movement, Côté Danse, and Compagnie de la Citadelle. She has been the Rehearsal Director for companies including CCDT, Human Body Expression, and Transcen|Dance Project. Natasha regularly teaches Limón-based modern classes and has guest taught for companies and institutions such as the Limón Dance Company, Toronto Dance Theatre, CCDT, The Fifth, ProArteDanza’s SIP, and many performing arts schools across the GTA.

Natasha’s classes are founded strongly on the principles of Limón modern dance, exploring the use of breath, fall and rebound, fall and recovery, moving off-centre, musicality and more with an emphasis on sound anatomical alignment and kinaesthetic efficiency. These classes are fast-paced and dense with movement as Natasha challenges dancers to use their weight to support dynamic and full-bodied motion in a fun yet rigorous environment.

Live accompaniment will be provided!

sarah di iorio and alexander herrera

Sarah Di Iorio is a movement artist, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Toronto Metropolitan  University. She has performed at renowned dance festivals such as Jacob’s Pillow and Les Festivals des  Arts de Saint-Sauveur, and has toured with Red Sky Performance across North America. Her newest  creation, Meet You At The Surface, was recently presented as a part of the Night Shift 2024 festival co presented by The Citadel and Fall For Dance North. Locally, she has showcased her talent in works by  Angela Blumberg, Hanna Kiel, Canadian Stage/Dusk Dances, and Little Pear Garden. Sarah is enthusiastic  about sharing her passion and knowledge of this art form. She has done so through teaching classes and  creating choreography for aspiring dance students at multiple performing arts high schools across the  GTA. 

Alexander Herrera, a professional contemporary dancer with over eight years of experience. He has built  his journey under the guidance of many mentors from his home in Mexico, and he is now in Toronto to  share the richness of Latin movement. His dance style primarily focuses on floor work, drawing  inspiration from everyday movements, infused with the ferocity of animals and the delicacy of  emotions. This unique blend allows each phrase learned to carry a distinct interpretation for every  practitioner. 

In this two-part workshop series, you will be re-introduced to the principles of lifting, discover different  tactics of how to give and receive weight, and explore ways that you can make unique choices through  new and exciting points of contact. You will be given the opportunity to play in both the role of the  support and the role of the flyer, and learn how to stabilize yourself in both positions to maximize trust  between you and those who you are dancing with.