Bryn trained with Lamondance from 2020-2022, under the direction of  Davi Rodrigues and the mentorship of Racheal Prince. Bryn performed works by Dance//Novella, Noam Gagnon, Yoshito Sakuraba, Richard Walters, Kirsten Wicklund and others. Bryn also worked with Dance//Novella on their show "When the Walls Come Down,” presented by the Vancouver International Dance Festival in 2022. Bryn is now with GibneyPRO under the direction and mentorship of Alexandra Wells, Gilbert T Small II and Bret Yamanaka. She has shown works by Rena Butler & Maleek Washington, Laja Field and Elia Mrak - while training with faculty; Alexander Anderson, Adam Barruch, Francesca Dominguez, Zina Zinchenko and others.

Daeva Miles left home at 16 to pursue dance, training at the Alberta Ballet School, Victoria Academy of Ballet, Arts Umbrella, the Johan Inger Youth Project, and the Big Bang Program in Montréal, where she now resides as a freelance artist. She has had the privilege of working with many renowned international choreographers. Daeva is excited to continue developing her movement practice and exploring how her voice as an artist can shape and inform her work.

From Regina, Saskatchewan, Elle began her early professional training at the Alberta Ballet School in Calgary, Alberta. In 2020, she continued her studies at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver under the direction of Artemis Gordon. Since then, Elle has been fortunate to work with incredible artists such as Fernando Hernando Magadan, Crystal Pite, Darren Devaney, and Kay Barnes, among others. Elle is based as a freelancer in Vancouver, BC and a member/founder of the dance collective Paper Rabbits. Elle recently performed with Opera Unbound, was a part of The Falling Company’s PLUNGE project, Belle Spirale’s Dance Deck, and has worked under the direction of Medhi Walerski for Ballet BC’s Annex.

Ellie Toop, originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, now resides in Portland, Oregon, and dances with the Open Space Second Company under Franco Nieto. Refining her artistry in esteemed programs such as the Sacramento Ballet Second Company under Jill Krutzkamp, and Idaho Falls School of Ballet under Debrah Bean. Throughout her training she has performed works by Franco Nieto, Heidi Duckler Dance NW, Brandon Lee Alley, Colby Damon, Thang Dao, Mariko Downs, and others. Ellie has attended summer programs such as the LINK Audition Festival, Oregon Ballet Theater, University of Utah, and others. Ellie brings passion to her craft, blending styles that fuel her creativity and versatility.

Emily Wang began her dance training in Houston, Texas at Mitsi Dancing School and later furthered her education at the Houston Ballet Academy under the tutelage of Kelly Myernick Kubin and Susan Bryant. Pursuing a higher education, Emily enrolled at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she graduated in 2024 with a BFA in contemporary dance. During her time there, she had the privilege of performing works by choreographers such as Aszure Barton, Victor Quijada, Thang Dao, and Crystal Perkins. Outside of the conservatory, Emily has attended workshops with/at b12, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, RUBBERBAND, and GALLIM. With an ever growing passion for the arts, Emily continues to explore and research the potential of the moving form.

Grace (she/her) was born and raised in North Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səl̓ilwətaɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations. In 2022 she completed her professional training with Lamondance’s Contemporary Training Program under the direction of Davi Rodrigues. Grace then joined The Lamondance Company as an emerging artist for the 2022-23 season where she worked with choreographers including Cristina Bucci, Margarida Macieira, Jera Wolfe, Alex Neoral, and Nicholas Ventura. Grace has been a collaborator with Dance//Novella since January 2022, and has had the pleasure of being involved in their works “When the Walls Come Down” and “Night is the Mother”. Grace also recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, obtaining her Bachelor of Kinesiology with a minor in psychology.

Kaya Tsurumi is an emerging contemporary dance artist who grew up on Kwikwetlem First Nations territory (Coquitlam, BC). She is curious about improvisation and exploring the many ways dance can be experienced. Her interests have led her to perform with Ziyian Kwan/Odd Meridian Arts, Sidra Bell Dance New York, Shion Skye Carter, Sarah U, and Eilish Shin-Culhane. In 2022, Kaya created her first dance film, Peace Piece, which premiered at F-O-R-M Festival and Branch Collective’s Dance Onscreen. This year, Kaya was commissioned by F-O-R-M to develop a new dance film titled a drift in space. Kaya received her formative training at Arts Umbrella, including their Post-Secondary Program, and subsequently continued her dance education at Modus Operandi.

Madeleine Cruz is a dance artist and choreographer based in so-called “Vancouver, BC”. She is a graduate of Modus Operandi (MO) Contemporary Dance Program under the direction of Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond and Kate Franklin. Throughout her time in MO she has had the opportunity to collaborate and perform works by locally and internationally celebrated dance artists such as Zahra Shahab, Yin Yue, Brandon Lee Alley, b. Soloman, Spenser Theberge. Presently, Madeleine is working as an interpreter/dancer for Vancouver based companies Out Innerspace Dance Theatre and Shay Kuebler Radical System Art as well as Seganal/Paris based company Compagie KHOR. Alongside interpreting, Madeleine has presented her co-choreographic work “Two Girls Collide” with collaborator Mia Pelayo.

Maesie Kost is a multi-disciplinary artist from Calgary, Canada. She graduated from the Professional Division of Alberta Ballet School, and began her freelance career in Vancouver, enriching her passion for choreography. This led her to New York City, where she attended the Gibney Dance Choreographic Process Program. Also being a film and theatre actor, Maesie draws inspiration from her varied experiences, emphasizing collaboration and physicial sensation. Driven by admiration for her peers, Maesie is dedicated to engaging in projects that challenge conventions and inspire growth, which is why she is thrilled to be a part of the Emerging Artist Residency with Dance Novella.

Maïa Morrison (she/her) from Vancouver, BC completed her formal dance training with Ballet Bloch Canada, under the direction of Tracy-Lea Bloch with a focus on classical ballet, and contemporary dance. She sought to further her dance practice by training with local artists such as Modus Operandi led by Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond, and Kate Franklin. Maïa was fortunate to attend Alonzo King Lines summer intensive, Orsolina 28, FLOCK, Inverso Productions Intensive, as well as workshops with Ballet BC. She’s had the opportunity to explore different repertoire such as Crystal Pite’s, Jirí Kylián, Gallim, and Alonzo King. This past year she was invited to be a Trainee with Visceral Dance Chicago and performed works by Nick Pupillo, Monica Cerventes, Tina Diaz, and Braeden Barnes, under the direction of Cait Cuchiarra. Maïa also had the opportunity to be a part of Lesley Telford’s Performance Research Program, and choreographic residencies with Anya Saugstad and Arash Khakpour.

Rachel Lui (She/Her) is a dance artist from Richmond, B.C. Rachel’s early dance education started at Defy Gravity Dance where she competed in jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary as well as training in the Cecchetti Ballet method. Rachel continued her education at Simon Fraser University, studying visual art and performance. Rachel is entering her fourth year at Modus Operandi under the direction of Tiffany Tregarthen, David Raymond, Kate Franklin, and Maiko Miyauchi. Whilst at MO Rachel has had the opportunity to perform pieces by Out Innerspace Dance Theatre, Spenser Theberge, Yin Yue and Vanessa Goodman amongst others. Rachel is very excited to be joining Dance//Novella’s Emerging artist program in 2025!

Born in south of France, Margaux began her professional ballet training at the École de Danse de l’Opéra de Paris before pursuing and graduating from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon. She performed with the Junior Ballet, exploring both classical and contemporary repertoires. Following her studies and graduation in art and design, Margaux returned to the stage with renewed passion and perspective. She freelanced in France and the Netherlands where she drew new inspiration from contemporary artists. She is delighted to continue her journey in Vancouver.

We are thrilled to have Dance//Novella company artist Yuha Tomita as the rehearsal director for this program. Originally from Japan, Yuha began her dance journey there before moving to Vancouver in 2018 to join the prestigious Post-Secondary Graduate Program at Arts Umbrella, under the direction of Artemis Gordon. After graduating, Yuha danced with Lamondance Company in North Vancouver, led by Davi Rodriguez. She is currently honing her artistic voice and expanding her understanding of contemporary dance at Modus Operandi, directed by David Raymond and Tiffany Tregarthen. As a dedicated artist, Yuha is passionate about developing her unique vision for dance and contributing meaningfully to Vancouver's vibrant arts community.