WORKSHOPS

My-Van Dam is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal. She graduated from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in visual and media arts and is a member of the CODE BLANC collective, alongside Stanley Février and Maryam Izadifard. Her practice focuses on the transmission of intergenerational trauma and its multiple physical and psychological impacts. She also explores body memory and healing processes that foster personal and collective emancipation from oppressive systems. Her current research is rooted in the exploration of somatic theories and practices to propose a vision of care that is interdependent and collaborative.

Dam has exhibited across Québec, notably as part of the Musée d’art actuel/Département des invisibles (MAADI) at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (2022) and at the University of Sherbrooke (2021). She has also presented works at the Rad Hourani Foundation (2021), at Montréal’s Place des Arts (2021), at Projet Casa (2022), at the Art Souterrain festival (2022), at the Centre culturel Georges-Vanier (2024) as part of the POST-INVISIBLE biennial, and at MAI - Montréal, arts interculturels (2024). She completed a residency at SBC Gallery of Contemporary Art in 2023.

Aurélie Ann Figaro is a performer from Haiti. In addition to training in traditional Haitian dances with Shérane Figaro, she graduated from the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 2022. Since then, she has collaborated with several companies such as Compagnie Oredans, Other Animals: Interdisciplinary Arts, Le Carré des Lombes/Danièle Desnoyers, Compagnie Catherine Gaudet, and WAFD Interdisciplinary Creations. Ancestrality, eclecticism, and versatility guide Aurélie in her practice as a dance artist.

Jeimy Oviedo Quesada is a multidimensional artist of Costa Rican origin, whose work combines contemporary dance with therapeutic body practices. Trained at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec and then at LADMMI, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Dance (Interpretation) from UQAM in 2014. Her journey has led her to collaborate with companies and artists such as Nyata Nyata, Hanna Abdel Nour, Mandoline Hydride, the Danza Descalza collective, the Tondoa collective, as well as Ariane Dessaulles, Sarah Elola, and Laurence Dufour.

Her rich and diverse artistic universe navigates between contemporary dance, performative theatre, Colombian and African folk dances. In parallel, Jeimy has been a massage therapist since 2015 and is pursuing studies in aromatherapy and naturopathy, guided by her curiosity and constant desire to deepen her knowledge. This dual expertise in art and therapy nourishes a holistic vision of the human body, bringing a unique depth to her collaborations and her commitment to movement and well-being.

Nicole Jacobs is a member of Curve Lake First Nation and Montreal-based choreographer, teacher, and dance artist. A graduate of Concordia University's contemporary dance program, Nicole has collaborated with notable creators such as Theatre Junction, A’nó:wara Dance Theatre, Corpuscule Danse, My-Van Dam, and Ange Loft.

Her ongoing research explores the intersection of contemporary dance and acrobatics, which she shares through classes and workshops at training institutions including Espace Ouvert, UQAM, Studio-303, Watershed Dance Program, and École Nationale de Danse du Canada.

Nicole's choreographic work has been presented at the St. Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival, Festival Quartiers Danses, Here&Now Festival, Quai 5160 - Maison de la Culture Verdun, and Tangente. Her choreography creates emotionally and physically immersive experiences, transforming space and energy through intimate staging, movement, and design, while drawing from her interest in lighting and the influence of her experiences in theatre and circus arts.

Gabrielle HB is a sound artist living between the ancestral territories of Tiotià:ke (Montreal) and Nitaskinan (northern Lanaudière). In her performances, she seeks to cultivate forms of tenderness, play, and transparency. Through sound, she creates minimal and immersive spaces, focusing on the precision of gestures and the conciseness of the systems she employs. With analog synthesis, voice, and digital tools, she draws inspiration from the work of Radigue, Ciani, and Oliveros, composing fluid and luminous soundscapes that are deliberately slow.

Rad Hourani is an interdisciplinary artist who transcends conventional boundaries, exploring identity politics through diverse media, including sculpture, 3D, costume, performance, textile, and architecture. At the core of Rad’s hybrid practice is a critical approach that challenges artistic conventions, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and activism. Classified as a BIPOC, queer, and neurodivergent artist, Rad confronts cultural generalizations and rigid hierarchies through the visual arts, promoting inclusion and equality. By engaging in collaborative projects, Rad’s creative process serves as a conduit for connection, intertwining diverse concepts to reflect the complexities of the human condition. Rad’s work has been exhibited and featured internationally, amplifying marginalized voices in artistic discourse and inspiring meaningful conversations about identity and the boundless possibilities of human expression.