Cai Glover [choreographer/performer] has been transfixed in an on-going and endless discovery of dance since he was 10 years old. Most recently, under the name of his company, A Fichu Turning, Cai has been developing expression in poetry and in a language of movement putting the dancing body to task in a search of an embodied expression of poetics. Through the transposition of language into movement we make meaning beyond the grips of the literal. He never tires of the search in finding ways to bring affect to audiences through this art form and to appeal to the varied and countless emotional experiences of the human being. As a hard of hearing artist, hearing differently has become a driving force of his artistry and originality as a mover, interpreter and choreographer.

Natasha “Courage” Bacchus [choreographer/performer] is a very active multidisciplinary artist, former three times gold medallist Deaf Olympian Sprinter. Her theatre /TV and Film performances include Shaw Host Talk (2014), ‘The Black Drum’ with Soulpepper Theatre (2019) in Toronto and France, ‘The Two Natasha’s’ (2020) comedy performed in art festivals, ‘21 Black Futures’ produced by Obsidian Theatre and CBC Arts, (2021), mini-TV series ‘The Coroner’ season four on Netflix (2022). She has participated in cabaret events including the 2019/2024 ASL Deaf Drag Performance, Rainbow Senior Showcase, and Criptonite at
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.

Her areas of expertise include interdisciplinary visual artist, art accessibility consultant
Deaf LGBTQ/racialized marginalized Indigenous, Black, People of colour, Sign Language Translation for theatre, Interpretation and Promotional vlogs, Panellist and presenter for workshops, emerging art curator, and activist for Indigenous and Black Deaf art community to expand Indigenous and Black Deaf artists representation. Courage has participated as an art collaborator with numerous theatre and film productions focusing on breaking down barriers for Indigenous and Black Deaf Artists in Canada.

She has participated in Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis and Donna Michelle Bernard's method of social justice community. Natasha was one of the winners of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch by the Canada International Black Women Event (CIBWE) 2019. She continues her journey of self-discovery in her art.

Ebony Gooden [CPP artist] is an emerging artist, filmmaker, and activist based in Calgary, Alberta. She holds a BA in digital communication and visual/multimedia arts from Gallaudet University. Ebony has received multiple grants from the Alberta Foundation of Arts, Canada Council for the Arts and the Calgary Arts Development for her research and creation projects, including “Running Through Her Past,” “The Deaf World,” and “Miscommunication in Our Language.” She is the co-founder of SURVIVANCE Collective and the Black Deaf Residency and has worked as a filmmaker for various productions. Ebony has also directed in few theater productions, including “After Faust” in Edmonton, Alberta and “SURVIVANCE: Monologue” in Reims, France.

Jaideep Goray [choreographer/performer] was born in India and found his way to the stage at a young age, guided by his beloved mentor Mrs. Kanchan Sonatakke at Natyashala. What began as a childhood curiosity soon became a lifelong calling. With his family’s unwavering encouragement — and the early spark lit by his school principal — Jaideep fell in love with the transformative power of theatre.

After moving to Toronto in 2002, he returned to performing in 2018, stepping once again into the world that has always felt like home. As a Deaf Indian-Canadian artist, Jaideep believes that acting transcends sound — that the soul of performance is carried in the body, the face, and the silent rhythm of emotion.

He has worked alongside both Deaf and hearing artists to create performances that bridge worlds, appearing in the short film Expression (Savannah, GA) and on stage with Phoenix the Fire, The Disability Collective, Deaf Spectrum, SoundOff and several other inclusive theatre collectives.

Jaideep is currently developing Mahabharat: The Silent Epic — a reimagining of the ancient Indian legend told entirely through Deaf expression, where silence becomes its own language of power and beauty.

Joao Paulo [choreographer/performer] has one year of dance experience and previously played the role of "Frank" in a Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2025. Joao now focuses on dance combined with art and ASL storytelling.

Juan Jaramillo [choreographer/performer] is an award-nominated Deaf director, writer, and performer of Afro-Indigenous Colombian heritage based in Ontario. Founder of Dancing Hands Theatre, his work centers on ASL storytelling, Deaf performance, and community engagement. Juan has presented work across Canada and Colombia and is a 2025 recipient of the Christine Karcza Disability Leadership Award. His signature works include Fernando and His Llama Friend and But the Truth Is. He offers rich workshops that integrate movement, Deaf expression, and ASL-poetic rhythm. Juan champions access and mentorship in Deaf arts and is known for dynamic, inclusive creative spaces.

Gaitrie Persaud-Killings [CPP artist] is a Tkaronto-Guyanese-raised Deaf actor, activist and mother of three based in Tkaronto. An ASL coach and ASL music performer, she is also the founder of Phoenix the Fire, a theatre and film community hub for BIPOC Deaf artists, where she is building the support structure she finds lacking in Canada. She splits her time between Tkaranto, Ontario with her family and Atlanta, Georgia where her husband resides.

Gaitrie is currently a news presenter on Sign 1news in Atlanta, Georgia as well as a regular on Nickelodeon Jr. Blues Clues & You and CBC Gem’s Silly Paws, she is also on Squeaky Wheel Canada as Arianna and her documentary film on Breaking Characters on AMI.?

Mahsa Tazhibi [performer] is exploring her identity, questioning the labels and structures. She is a writer and now finds a way to express herself in dance.

Robert Haughton [performer] is a Black Jamaican-American Deaf artist, performer, and storyteller based in Milton, Ontario. His multidisciplinary practice spans ASL performance, theatre, visual vernacular, movement arts, and film. Robert’s work celebrates Black Deaf identity while creating bold, accessible art that connects communities.

His artistry blends performance, accessibility, and advocacy, giving voice and visibility to the Black Deaf community. In addition to performance and ASL interpretation, Robert is expanding his creative practice into playwriting and storytelling, developing original works that center Deaf and Black experiences.

Teagan Ariss [choreographer/performer] is a Hard of Hearing contemporary dance artist and arts educator who is attentive to the intentional and involuntary communicative ability of movement. She is based in Tsí Tkaròn:to/Toronto and has presented work in Toronto, London, ON and Edmonton, AB.

She has danced in work by Rock Bottom Movement, Laura Arend, Sadie Cahill and collaborative projects with Meaningful Movement collective. In 2021, she graduated from York University’s BFA dance program, where she was most impacted by the teachings of dance artists Syreeta Hector, Tracey Norman, Susan Lee and Freya Björg Olafson.

Teagan values artistic accessibility as a way to reach folks who may not normally engage with dance due to lack of opportunity. She is also a passionate facilitator of creative movement for youth and older adults and is deeply inspired by witnessing creativity and learning at different stages of life across different abilities.