The Company
Naishi Wang
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Naishi Wang is a dance artist based in Toronto. Originally born in Changchun, China. At age 11 years old, he began with Chinese folk dances and Ballet training at Jilin College of Art. In 2004, he moved to Canada and joined Toronto Dance Theatre, where he was active as a full time company member for nine years. Since 2015, the award-winning performer has been inspired to work as an independent choreographer. Wang shares in the belief that performing arts create imaginary perspectives that expand what dance can be in the 21st century. His rigorous practice themed on intertwined approaches from “communication” to “translation” in a somatic and conceptual point of view. Desire and honesty are a huge part in his works, expressed through repetition, contortions, waving, impulsion, and shaking. Currently, Naishi is one of the residency artists at Citadel in Toronto and in the VDA program at NAC in Ottawa.
Naishi Wang is a dance artist based in Toronto. Originally born in Changchun, China. At age 11 years old, he began with Chinese folk dances and Ballet training at Jilin College of Art. In 2004, he moved to Canada and joined Toronto Dance Theatre, where he was active as a full time company member for nine years. Since 2015, the award-winning performer has been inspired to work as an independent choreographer. Wang shares in the belief that performing arts create imaginary perspectives that expand what dance can be in the 21st century. His rigorous practice themed on intertwined approaches from “communication” to “translation” in a somatic and conceptual point of view. Desire and honesty are a huge part in his works, expressed through repetition, contortions, waving, impulsion, and shaking. Currently, Naishi is one of the residency artists at Citadel in Toronto and in the VDA program at NAC in Ottawa.
Susana Pous
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Susana Pous is the director and choreographer of MiCOMPAÑIA, Cuban contemporary dance company based in Havana. Born in 1971 in Barcelona, she studied dance, performance and direction in parallel at the Catalonian Centre for Cinematographic Studies. For more than 18 years she developed her career within the context of DanzAbierta, first as dancer and teacher, and later as its exclusive in- house choreographer, and then director.
Susana has established herself as one of the most relevant and creative voices in Cuban performing arts, not only for the innovation and quality which she has brought to choreography on the island, but also because of her profound use of Cuban cultural memory in the choreographic process. She has received national awards and international awards and is critically acclaimed. Her Works have toured internationally allowing her to participate in prestigious festivals the whole world over
In 2017 she created VillaLola, a space for creation, exchange and artistic formation, as well as being her company’s headquarters in Havana,
In 2018 she founded her own company, MiCOMPAÑIA, in order to be more faithful to her own artistic vision.
Susana Pous is the director and choreographer of MiCOMPAÑIA, Cuban contemporary dance company based in Havana. Born in 1971 in Barcelona, she studied dance, performance and direction in parallel at the Catalonian Centre for Cinematographic Studies. For more than 18 years she developed her career within the context of DanzAbierta, first as dancer and teacher, and later as its exclusive in- house choreographer, and then director.
Susana has established herself as one of the most relevant and creative voices in Cuban performing arts, not only for the innovation and quality which she has brought to choreography on the island, but also because of her profound use of Cuban cultural memory in the choreographic process. She has received national awards and international awards and is critically acclaimed. Her Works have toured internationally allowing her to participate in prestigious festivals the whole world over
In 2017 she created VillaLola, a space for creation, exchange and artistic formation, as well as being her company’s headquarters in Havana,
In 2018 she founded her own company, MiCOMPAÑIA, in order to be more faithful to her own artistic vision.
Seyong Kim
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Seyong Kim, Assistant Professor of Dance at Western Michigan University, holds an MA in Dance Education from New York University and an MA/BA in Dance from Sung-Kyun-Kwan University in South Korea. He is an ABT® Certified Teacher, a CMA (Certified Movement Analyst), and a RSME (Registered Somatic Movement Educator). He has taught for Rutgers University, Kent State University, Randolph College, Peridance, American College Dance Association, Alabama Dance Festival, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, and Charlottesville Ballet. Seyong has danced with Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Albania Opera Ballet Theatre, Traverse City Dance Project, Neglia Ballet, TAKE Dance, and Oakland Ballet Company. His choreographies were performed at the BAM Fisher, Jazz in Lincoln Center, Landestheater Coburg in Germany, Dance in ITALY Festival, Dzul International Dance Festival in Mexico, JueDai Taipei International Dance Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK, Dumbo Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Lindenwood University, Cleveland Dance Festival, Midwest RAD Festival, Chicago International Dance Forum, Detroit Dance City Festival, and Boston Contemporary Dance Festival.
Seyong Kim, Assistant Professor of Dance at Western Michigan University, holds an MA in Dance Education from New York University and an MA/BA in Dance from Sung-Kyun-Kwan University in South Korea. He is an ABT® Certified Teacher, a CMA (Certified Movement Analyst), and a RSME (Registered Somatic Movement Educator). He has taught for Rutgers University, Kent State University, Randolph College, Peridance, American College Dance Association, Alabama Dance Festival, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, and Charlottesville Ballet. Seyong has danced with Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Albania Opera Ballet Theatre, Traverse City Dance Project, Neglia Ballet, TAKE Dance, and Oakland Ballet Company. His choreographies were performed at the BAM Fisher, Jazz in Lincoln Center, Landestheater Coburg in Germany, Dance in ITALY Festival, Dzul International Dance Festival in Mexico, JueDai Taipei International Dance Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK, Dumbo Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Lindenwood University, Cleveland Dance Festival, Midwest RAD Festival, Chicago International Dance Forum, Detroit Dance City Festival, and Boston Contemporary Dance Festival.
Ermanno Sbezzo
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Ermanno Sbezzo began his career with “BallettPforzheim” first, and “PfalztheaterTanz” later, both under the direction of James Sutherland. During his career in Germany he danced leading roles in pieces of James Sutherland, Simone Deriu,Yaron Shamir, Francesco Nappa and others. In 2013 during “NDT Summer Intensive” he performed pieces of Sol Leon & Paul Lightfoot, Crystal Pite, Jiri Kylian. From 2019 he joined “Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal” where he danced pieces of Andonis Foniadakis, Itzik Galili, Ihsan Rustem, Juliano Nunes and others in major Theaters around the world.
As a choreographer he has created works for “Staatsballett Karlsruhe”, “BallettPforzheim”, “PfalztheaterTanz”.
In November 2020 he created “Approximately Close” for “BJM” staged at “Place des Artes” in Montreal and online streamed worldwide, achieving great critical acclaim.
Ermanno Sbezzo began his career with “BallettPforzheim” first, and “PfalztheaterTanz” later, both under the direction of James Sutherland. During his career in Germany he danced leading roles in pieces of James Sutherland, Simone Deriu,Yaron Shamir, Francesco Nappa and others. In 2013 during “NDT Summer Intensive” he performed pieces of Sol Leon & Paul Lightfoot, Crystal Pite, Jiri Kylian. From 2019 he joined “Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal” where he danced pieces of Andonis Foniadakis, Itzik Galili, Ihsan Rustem, Juliano Nunes and others in major Theaters around the world.
As a choreographer he has created works for “Staatsballett Karlsruhe”, “BallettPforzheim”, “PfalztheaterTanz”.
In November 2020 he created “Approximately Close” for “BJM” staged at “Place des Artes” in Montreal and online streamed worldwide, achieving great critical acclaim.
Maleek Washington
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Maleek Washington is from the Bronx, New York. A alumni of the Boston Conservatory, where he studied on full scholarship, he began his dance training at Harlem School of The Arts, Broadway Dance Center and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. He has danced with CityDance Ensemble (Washington DC), Montreal’s SpringBoard Danse (working with Jose Navas & RUBBERBAND), and Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M for four seasons, before becoming the first African-American male to perform in Sleep No More. He has also performed for Sia, Phish, and Rihanna (for an immersive experience for her AntidiaRy Campaign) and ASAP Rocky. Maleek was part of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live and performed with Camille A. Brown and Dancers in the 2018 Ted Talk Conference in Vancouver. Maleek has been a member of Camille A. Brown and dancers for 5 seasons having the opportunity to work on shows like Porgy and Bess of the Metropolitian Opera as an assistant choreographer, Spike Lees Mont Blanc Commerical as assistant choreographer, and Camilles Alvin Ailey piece entitled City of Rain.
Recently Maleek was a guest choreographer and adjunct professor at University School of the Arts for fall 2019 and Bard University 2020. Finished his 3rd year choreographing at Sydney’s premiere Full time training program Brent Street and was Movement Director for Fenders “Inside the Box” with guitarist Nile Rodgers.
Maleek Washington is from the Bronx, New York. A alumni of the Boston Conservatory, where he studied on full scholarship, he began his dance training at Harlem School of The Arts, Broadway Dance Center and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. He has danced with CityDance Ensemble (Washington DC), Montreal’s SpringBoard Danse (working with Jose Navas & RUBBERBAND), and Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M for four seasons, before becoming the first African-American male to perform in Sleep No More. He has also performed for Sia, Phish, and Rihanna (for an immersive experience for her AntidiaRy Campaign) and ASAP Rocky. Maleek was part of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live and performed with Camille A. Brown and Dancers in the 2018 Ted Talk Conference in Vancouver. Maleek has been a member of Camille A. Brown and dancers for 5 seasons having the opportunity to work on shows like Porgy and Bess of the Metropolitian Opera as an assistant choreographer, Spike Lees Mont Blanc Commerical as assistant choreographer, and Camilles Alvin Ailey piece entitled City of Rain.
Recently Maleek was a guest choreographer and adjunct professor at University School of the Arts for fall 2019 and Bard University 2020. Finished his 3rd year choreographing at Sydney’s premiere Full time training program Brent Street and was Movement Director for Fenders “Inside the Box” with guitarist Nile Rodgers.
Diane Borsato
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Diane Borsato completed an MFA at Concordia in Montreal, and an MA in Performance Studies at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She is an award-winning artist and educator who works closely with other artists, dancers and amateur naturalists. Her work has been performed and exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, including at the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Power Plant, the AGYU, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, the Walter Phillips Gallery at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Art Centre, Fogo Island Arts and at the Toronto Biennial of Art. She is also Associate Professor of Experimental Studio at the University of Guelph, in Canada, where she teaches courses exploring live, site-responsive environmental art practices. See her work here.
Diane Borsato completed an MFA at Concordia in Montreal, and an MA in Performance Studies at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She is an award-winning artist and educator who works closely with other artists, dancers and amateur naturalists. Her work has been performed and exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, including at the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Power Plant, the AGYU, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, the Walter Phillips Gallery at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the National Art Centre, Fogo Island Arts and at the Toronto Biennial of Art. She is also Associate Professor of Experimental Studio at the University of Guelph, in Canada, where she teaches courses exploring live, site-responsive environmental art practices. See her work here.
Valerie Calam
Choreographer, virtualTOdances
Valerie Calam is a Toronto-based dance artist interested in finding pathways to refresh and support herself. She umbrellas her work under the name Company Vice Versa and is currently collaborating with Kate Franklin and Paul Shepherd on a dance film. Valerie is the Dance Ontario Regional Representative for Sault Ste. Marie and is the Secretary for CADA-East’s Board of Directors.
Valerie has had a long and enriching history with Toronto Dance Theatre. Under the Artistic Direction of Christopher House, she was a full-time company dancer from 1999- 2009 and continues to be a guest artist, now under the Artistic Direction of Andrew Tay.
Valerie is a KM Hunter Award winner for Dance. She completed a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Choreography in 2014 from York University where she continued her research of state and imagination-based movement and composition.
Valerie Calam is a Toronto-based dance artist interested in finding pathways to refresh and support herself. She umbrellas her work under the name Company Vice Versa and is currently collaborating with Kate Franklin and Paul Shepherd on a dance film. Valerie is the Dance Ontario Regional Representative for Sault Ste. Marie and is the Secretary for CADA-East’s Board of Directors.
Valerie has had a long and enriching history with Toronto Dance Theatre. Under the Artistic Direction of Christopher House, she was a full-time company dancer from 1999- 2009 and continues to be a guest artist, now under the Artistic Direction of Andrew Tay.
Valerie is a KM Hunter Award winner for Dance. She completed a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Choreography in 2014 from York University where she continued her research of state and imagination-based movement and composition.