ARTISTS
MARCIA DYSART - Saint John, NB
Marcia is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, collaborator, and educator based in Saint John, New Brunswick. With a deep passion for creation, Marcia actively engages in collaborative projects with musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, and fellow dancers. Her work has garnered recognition from the New Brunswick Arts Board and the Saint John Community Arts Funding Program. Marcia's artistic endeavors have been showcased across Atlantic Canada, including performances at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John, Contact East in Charlottetown, IMPACTfest by Atlantic Ballet Theatre, Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival, and Connection Dance Work's PERSPECTIVE.
Notably, Marcia's dance film "We Walk Invisible," a collaboration with filmmaker Michael Mohan, was featured at the Atlantic Dance Film Festival produced by Mocean and the Atlantic Ballet Theatre. The film also received recognition on the Canada Dance Assembly's website. Currently, Marcia is working on an exciting new creation titled "The Self in Shadow"
Photo: Michael Mohan
RAUL MARQUEZ GAITAN - Fredericton, NB
Raul is a theatre artist, contemporary dancer and educator born in Seville, Spain. Raul studied theatre at School of Dramatic Arts in Seville (Bachelor's Degree) and has a Major in contemporary dance from SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance). He has performed as an actor and dancer in numerous companies and projects along Europe (Spain, Austria, UK...). Raul has over 12 years of experience working as a contemporary dance teacher in Danza Mobile, an art centre for people with intellectual disabilities in Seville. He has also developed a collection of workshops for elderly and youth at educational centres. Raul now makes New Brunswick his home and has already made inroads into contemporary dance performance and instruction and performance, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility.
Photo: Kelly Baker
SYDNEY HALLETT - Fredericton, NB
Sydney (she/her) is an energetic, enthusiastic dance and theatre artist based in Fredericton, NB. She currently works as a musical theatre Choreographer at St. Thomas University and Theatre New Brunswick’s Theatre School, as well as working as an independent actor and dancer. She has been working and training with Solo Chicken Productions since 2017, recently acting in their production of Fruit Machine, and is excited to now be a MERGE artist! She likes adventure, warm sunny patios, and has been known to enjoy some space fantasy.
Photo: Kelly Baker
KELLI WRAY - Saint John, NB
Finding inspiration in the day to day, Interpretive dancer Kelli Wray shares her expression of storytelling through movement and dance. She is grateful for the teachings of the body and the imagination of artists of all genres bringing ideas to fruition encouraging individuality in the field. Kelli has collaborated with musicians, photographers, poets and other dancing bodies. Tree grounding and tidal currents are guides to the movements found throughout her work. For 10yrs she was the facilitator of Meditation In MOVEment inviting other women to the freedom of barefoot dancing. She enjoys the process of creation and the journey of discovery. Using the body's natural rhythms she composes stories through a body in motion.
Photo: Michael Mohan
CHRIS VAN GREEN - Truro, NS
Chris is a Canadian-based dancer who excels in performing, choreographing, and teaching. He collaborates with peers and aims to inspire the next generation of artists. Chris's adaptability and willingness to push himself led him to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance Performance from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Throughout his studies, he received recognition for his remarkable growth and passion for dance, which ultimately earned him the prestigious Kenny Pearl Award. During his time at TMU, he dedicated himself to honing his skills in ballet, contemporary/modern, jazz, and urban floor work. He also delved deeper into his creative process, exploring new avenues of artistic expression.
Since graduating, Chris has had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of dancers, choreographers, and esteemed dance companies. Notable collaborations include Connection Dance Works, David Earle, Hannah Kiel, James Kudelka, Ballet Jorgen, and Fernando Melo.
Chris serves as a founding director of Blurred Bodies Dance Projects, a prominent Contemporary dance company based out of Truro, Nova Scotia. Additionally, he has co-founded EXPRESS Dance, an exciting troupe specializing in captivating performances encompassing cabaret, jazz, and burlesque genres.
Driven by his passion for movement, Chris has established CVG Fitness, a personal training business. Through this venture, he frequently trains dancers to enhance their strength and mobility. Chris leverages his experience in both the dance and fitness realms to guide artists in considering not only their time in the studio but also how to supplement, cross-train, and maintain a nourishing diet to support the longevity of their careers.
Photo: Michael Mohan
JULIA CARR - St. John's, NFLD
Julia Carr has been a professional dancer since 2005, performing in contemporary and vertical dance works by diverse choreographers. A collaborative creator and improviser, she crafts spontaneous moments with musicians and fellow dancers both on stage and in unique settings. Recently relocating from her birthplace in BC, on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, to St. John’s, NL, Julia has held various leadership roles, including Dancestreams Artistic Director, EDAM General Manager, and Aeriosa Assistant Artistic Director. She is now the Artistic Director of Neighbourhood Dance Works.
SARA COFFIN - Halifax, NS
Sara Coffin is an independent dance artist, dance educator and Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance. Sara received the Creative Nova Scotia Established Artist Award in 2018. She holds a MFA in Choreography from Smith College (USA), BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University and Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University. Her choreographic work has been presented in many prominent Canadian dance festivals and in the United States. Coffin’s research interests include interdisciplinary collaboration, technology as an extension of the body, contact improvisation, and the poetic junction between vulnerability, resiliency and courage
Photo: James Maclean
ANDREW REED MILLER - Saint John, NB
Andrew Reed Miller has been principal bass of Symphony NB for over 25 years. Originally from New York, Andrew studied in Ottawa and Toronto and eventually toured with The Canadian Opera Company, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Andrew has performed experimental and new music at many venues, including Open Ears Festival (Kitchener), New Music Calgary, Sound Symposium (Newfoundland), the Scotia Festival of Music, Ensemble Kore (Montreal) The Music Gallery (Toronto), Western Front (Vancouver), and Tonic (New York).
JOEL MILLER - Fredericton, NB
Joel is a Juno award-winning Jazz saxophonist and arranger who has played at the Montreal Jazz festival and toured with Jazz greats like Brian Blade (Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris).
His most recent album, UNSTOPPABLE, is the result of Miller’s studies with contemporary composer and professor John Rea and conductor Guillaume Bourgogne, and features an 18-piece orchestra made up of Montreal’s most in-demand freelancers in the jazz, classical and Latin music.
Joel's compositions, improvisations, albums, and shows continue to be recognized with awards (Juno win 2012, ECMA 2012, 2016, 2021). Most importantly, his music communicates joy, celebration, humour, and curiosity about our amazing planet.
MICHAEL MOHAN - Fredericton, NB
Michael Mohan is a Saint John-based filmmaker and photographer with a BFA from NSCAD and a certificate from NBCCD. He has worked on grant-funded projects across Canada, including the short films "A Ways Away" (2016), "krotoplaxx diary disc 1.1" (2017), "Cicerone" (2022), and the Telefilm-supported feature "Further Than The Eye Can See" (2022). His latest cinematography work, "Gravity Assist" (2024), is an experimental short funded by ArtsNB. With his technical expertise and creative eye, Michael continues to pursue exciting projects in the Canadian arts scene.
