Barbara Simms (she/they) is a freelance dancer, performing artist, and choreographer currently based out of Tkaronto. As a dancer, she has a strong desire to absorb as much knowledge as possible, and to deeply understand a variance of teachings and methodologies.

Choreographically, their work is informed by a connection to the natural world and finding fascination within mundanity and redundancy. They are interested in finding moments of striking visual imagery in which bodies and natural landscapes are given equal weight and exist in relation to and alongside one another. Barbara is a 2021 graduate of the Performance Dance program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Photo credit: Drew Berry

Kéïta Fournier-Pelletier (they/she) is a queer, Métis, Franco-Manitoban artist from Winnipeg, based in Tkaronto. They are continuously discovering what these intersecting identities mean to them, and the role they play in their art as a dancer, choreographer and educator. She is a 2020 graduate from Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of TDT) and holds a BFA in Performance and Choreography from York University. Her most recent work, Pillar of You, has been presented at the Citadel Dance Mix, Allies and Friends in Toronto, as well as Kitchener and Hamilton. They have worked with national and international choreographers like Aria Evans, Heidi Strauss, Marjolein Vogels, among others. Her most recent credits include touring with the Métis contemporary dance company, V’ni Dansi. She has also collaborated with Theatre Passe Muraille, and lemonTree creations. Kéïta is interested in collaborating on processes that question power, heteronormativity, and other societal norms that reject her identity.

Photo credit: Kendra Epik

Samantha Sutherland (she/her) is a contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Tkaronto. Her ancestry is Ktunaxa and Scottish. She grew up on Coast Salish territory and graduated from the Arts Umbrella Dance Diploma Program in 2018.

Samantha began choreographing dance solo works in 2021 and has presented in festivals across Turtle Island. Some include the Matriarchs Uprising Festival, Sharing the Stage with The National Ballet of Canada, Dance Made in Canada, SummerWorks, and Weesageechak Begins to Dance. Samantha premiered her first ensemble dance work naⱡa at Citadel Spring Mix in Toronto, and later presented the work in Vancouver at the Matriarchs Uprising Festival.

She has performed in dance works by Raven Spirit Dance, Santee Smith, Alejandro Ronceria, and Jera Wolfe. She is currently on faculty at The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, and an Artistic Associate with O.Dela Arts.

Photo credit: Drew Berry

Marcus Merasty (he/they) is a Nēhithaw/Cree performer, choreographer, and multidisciplinary artist, with ancestral roots from Wapâwikoscikanihk/Pelican Narrows in northern Saskatchewan. The Cree people of northern Saskatchewan are also known as Assin’skowitiniwak, which translates to “People of the rocky area”. Marcus’ journey into the world of dance began in 2014 through a mentorship with dance artist Robin Poitras and Metis visual artist Edward Poitras, Co-Artistic Directors of New Dance Horizons (NDH). He studied contemporary dance at The School of Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, MB, graduating in 2021. A Past Artist-in-Residence at NDH (Regina, SK). Marcus’ passion lies in exploring Indigenous contemporary dance performance and creation. In 2024 their work was presented at the Remai Modern (Saskatoon, SK) and at NDHs Stream of Dance Festival. Recently, Marcus has worked as an interpreter for; The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, The Globe Theatre, NDH/Rouge-gorge, and Lara Kramer. Marcus is currently based in Treaty 4 Territory/Regina, SK.