Connections//Collisions Cabaret

Connections//Collisions Cabaret

The last Connections//Collisions Cabaret is coming up and we have some exciting news! MZD is adding a second night. Connections//Collisions Cabaret is on April 4+5. Get your tickets early.

Featuring a variety of artists, this exciting series welcomes audiences to experience a series of multiple new art pieces. The curatorial theme of the upcoming Cabaret is Horizons!

APRIL 4 + APRIL 5
$25/$20 MZD Members
7:30 PM
MZD is located at 9931 78 Ave NW, Edmonton
Please note, the April 5 Cabaret will be ASL interpreted 

Curatorial Statement | Josh Languedoc

We are in a time of transition. Life is happening fast. It’s as if a new consciousness is awakening around the world. During times of transition, there is only one place to be: in the present, looking onwards to the horizon. We are not at that horizon yet, but we can see it from where we are standing. The horizon roots us in the present and is a glimmer of what’s to come. And in this cabaret tonight, we dare to dream about what is to come. What could be coming up on our horizon? Let’s take a glimpse into some possibilities! 

Connections//Collisions Cabaret features artists: 

Jody Faulkner
Hemali Boorada
Mpoe Mogale
Dahlia Waller
Jackie Latendresse
Stephanie Lilley
Rainier Pearl-Styles

Band: Kaeley Jade
Visual Artist: Liza Xenzova

PERFORMANCES

Hemali Boorada with Jesitta Jilju and Sneha Chandrababu

Performance Name: ‘Tarang’ – Wave
Marulu Minchera (ma-roo-loo  min-chey-rah)

The first piece presented will be Marulu Minchera. Here we see a young maiden inviting her lover to spend time with her. She expresses how she is overflowing with love for him and cannot bear to be separated. She complains that he always leaves, promising to stay the next time. She pleads for him to stay as she cannot bear to be without him.

Marakatha Manimaya Chela (mah-ra-cutha  mun-ee my-ah  chey-lah)

This unique piece celebrates the splendor of Lord Krishna. Describing him to be more beautiful than 100,000 cupids. Krishna who wears golden, gem studded anklets as he dances. It is he who conquered, and danced upon the head of the evil snake Kālinga. The dancer will perform this piece on the edge of a brass plate, a technique very unique to Kuchipudi.

Mpoe Mogale with Cassandra Woit and Cecilie Fenger-Andersen

Awaken is a performance reflecting the transformative process of Heels Training which allows one to crack open for that hour of class or rehearsal to explore the sensuality and strength of the body. As touch ignites the body’s awakening, both self-imposed and societal inhibitions are briefly paused, revealing a deep and unapologetic love for one’s body.

Though short-lived, the process and performance are a celebration of this escape—a momentary departure from a world that detaches itself from the very vessel that carries us. It’s an invitation to relish the freedom before reentering the reality of societal norms.

Jackie Latendresse with Meghann Michalsky

Stutter
Choreography: Jackie Latendresse
Dancer: Meghann Michalsky
Music: Cliff Burns
Lighting design: Jackie Latendresse

This highly emotional work offers a physically demanding exploration of how we can become our own biggest obstacle to progress, pushing the limits of endurance and self-reflection.

This project was supported by Canada Council for the Arts, SKArts

Stephanie Lilley with Dancers: June Chen, Hannah Chyz, Ruby Chyz, Hannah Ilkiw, Rebecca McLeod, Jason Romero, Allison San Martin Feeney, Kelsey Wright

Fear
In a world of change, we must constantly reinvent ourselves; shedding what no longer serves us and bringing with us the parts that remain relevant and inspired. This flux means we often play different roles in various contexts of our lives. “Fear” explores the notion of hunter and hunted. Are you waiting for your prey or are you trapped and waiting to be eaten? Perhaps the divide between the two roles isn’t binary.

The musical stylings of Kaeley Jade, with Gabriel Gagnon, Alex Downey and Kelsey Wood

Under the sweeping gaze of Edmonton’s prairie skies, Métis artist Kaeley Jade has carved out a space where art and soul converge. Her vibrant debut full-length album, Turpentine, has earned her significant recognition as a singer/songwriter in the Canadian music scene with accolades that include a Canadian Folk Music Award, Western Canadian Music Award Nomination, and Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award. Her music has received radio play across the globe, has been reviewed by publications worldwide, and has been featured in several film and television productions. Blending folk, pop and indie rock, Kaeley’s lush imagery, stunning vocals, and electric stage presence have enthralled listeners at hundreds of venues and festivals across the country, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, JUNOfest, International Indigenous Music Summit, and Canmore Folk Music Festival. Kaeley will be joined by musicians Gabriel Gagnon, Alex Downey and Kelsey Wood.

Visual Artist | Liza Xenzova (Ksenzo)
FIGURE//DIARY

FIGURE//DIARY is a display of select works of Ksenzo (Liza Xenzova) after her arrival back to Canada 1.5 years ago. The work presented at Connections//Collisions Cabaret is a look into her routine of keeping a “diary” of her figurative sessions, experiments in different materials, and compositional approaches.

Featuring

Jody Faulkner

Jody is an Edmonton based contemporary dancer, choreographer, registered massage therapist, business owner, conscious dance facilitator, and mother of four. She was born and raised here in Amiskwaciwâskahikan on Treaty 6 territory and is of unknown heritage having been adopted at birth.

Jody has been dancing and moved on and off since she was 5 and has always loved creating dances. She has training in modern, contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, contact improvisation, belly dance, gaga dance, Israeli and English folk dance and conscious dance. She attended Victoria School of the Arts where she had the opportunity to showcase several pieces of choreography both in school shows and following as a guest choreographer.

She continued her studies at California Institute for the Arts and Grant MacEwan College where she studied with teachers such as Tina Yuan, Lincoln Branagh, Lawrence Blake, Brian Webb , Heidi Bunting, and Peggy Baker. Jody has performed in the works of Heidi Bunting, Brian Webb, Tania Alvarado, and the full length works of Cynthia Wells and Kaori Matsuo, Her choreography has been showcased at Victoria School of the Arts, Dancers Studio West, Good Women's "What's Cooking", and Orchesis Dance Motif and Motif Moves.

She has since dabbled in dance and choreography while working as a Health Care Aide, raising her 4 children along with her husband, going to school for massage therapy, and creating a business. She studied to become a Conscious Dance Facilitator in 2022 through which she is excited to bring the joy and freedom that expression through dance and movement can bring as a means of feeling and expressing through dance by how it "feels" in the body as opposed to how it "looks".

Her heart and soul lies passionately with the creation of modern/contemporary dance choreography as a means of deep expression of her perception of life, humanity and being-ness. Her work focuses on the expression of deep feelings and emotions felt, and the shared human experiences of being imperfectly perfect humans in relationships both with ourselves and others.

Hemali Boorada

Hemali Boorada is a Kuchipudi dancer training under Guru Gomathi Boorada for the past 20 years. A lead dancer in the Shivamanohari Company, she actively tours internationally. Hemali made her choreographic debut at SkirtsAFire and NextFest in 2023, and is now actively choreographing, with a focus on multicultural collaborations. While completing her Masters in Kuchipudi, Hemali is also a trained lawyer currently working with the government.

Jesitta Jilju

Jesitta Jilju is an up and coming Kuchipudi dancer, based in Edmonton, Alberta - training under her Guru Gomathi Boorada. Jesitta is an active member of the Shivamanohari Dance Company, regularly touring and performing with the ensemble. A rounded theatre artist, Jesi has a strong focus on Stage Management. Jesitta has been selected to participate in National competitions; competing this May.

Sneha Chandrababu

Sneha Chandrababu is a Kuchipudi dancer, training under Guru Gomathi Boorada. Sneha is now stepping into her independent journey as a dancer and choreographer. She is a senior dancer in the Shivamanohari Company, touring with the team nationally and internationally. Sneha is a recent recipient of the EAC individual grant funding to help further her education in Indian Classical Dance. While actively pursuing a career in dance, Sneha is also a full time nurse, passionate about access to healthcare in underprivileged communities.

Mpoe Mogale

Mpoe Mogale (they/them) reigns from Lebowakgomo, South Africa and splits their time between amiskwaciywâskahikan and moh’kínst’sis, in the colonial state of Canada. They hold a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science, and a wealth of expertise in community-based research, facilitation, and arts administration.

Mpoe’s primary artmaking form is dance, with a curiosity in the place of Blackness in spaces that deny it, as explored through several projects including "What (Black) Life Requires" (produced by Mile Zero Dance and Azimuth Theatre). Mpoe’s current artistic imaginations have centered the brilliant, mundane, and joyous aspects that foreground the lives of Black folks.

Cassandra Woit

Cassandra grew up dancing in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She moved to Edmonton in 2012 and started dancing and performing with Orchesis Dance Performing Group. When she's not dancing, she works as a pharmacist in St. Albert, and can be found either reading or working on a new crochet project in her spare time.

Cecilie Fenger-Andersen

Cecilie Fenger-Andersen is an Edmonton or Amiskwacîwâskahikan based dancer. After a 12 year career in competitive Rhythmic Gymnastics, she regained her love for movement as an adult through dance and will jump at any opportunity to perform.

She has a Bachelor of Kinesiology and works in the recreation field, while also spreading her love for exercise and movement to others through fun and inclusive group fitness training. In her spare time you’ll find Cecilie camping, reading horror novels, and walking her cat.

Jackie Latendresse

Jackie Latendresse is an alumnus of the University of Waterloo (HBA Dance). She founded Free Flow Dance Theatre in 1995 and works as an independent artist. She has since created a large volume of work which includes 20+ full length works and numerous shorter works. Her work has been presented across Canada. She was recently awarded Woman of Distinction for arts and culture in Saskatoon 2021 and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2023.

Meghann Michalsky

Meghann Michalsky is the co-creator of Project InTandem and YYC Contemporary Technique Training, programs that offer opportunities to emerging artists in Canada. She was awarded the 2019 RBC Emerging Artist Award at the Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions, Choreographic Residencies from the Centro Jobel (Italy), Vitlycke Arts Centre (Sweden), New Dance Horizons (Regina). Her recent full length work Exile was featured at the Banff Centre for the Arts Final Tuning Program 2025.

Stephanie Lilley

Stephanie is the founder and artistic director of Viva Dance Company. Under her leadership, the company has performed hundreds of times and is a staple in the Edmonton arts community. In addition to The Edmonton Signing Christmas Tree, Fringe Festivals across the country, galas, and charity events, the company also brings dance to new markets such as hockey arenas (Edmonton Oil Kings) and fashion shows (Western Canada Fashion Week).

Having undergone bilateral hip replacement surgery (2020), Steph takes a dancer-centered approach in which she strives to cater dance programming to the individual needs of each dancer she works with. She advocates for inclusive dance programming for all bodies.

Stephanie was part of the world renowned Ukrainian Shumka Dancers as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic consultant in which time she toured across Canada and China. She ran Shumka School of Dance’s contemporary programming from 2018-2024. Stephanie regularly shares her passion for Ukrainian dance with students at Jube School, an arts outreach program offered by the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

Stephanie is the co-Artistic Director of Orchesis Dance Society. In this capacity, she programs classes, workshops, and performances alongside partner, Andrea Fitzgerald. Orchersis’ annual production of Motif Moves has been a project Stephanie has championed over the last three years. She has been a pivotal force in keeping this fifty-year-old dance organization alive and thriving. Stephanie has facilitated performances for Orchesis dancers with the Edmonton Elks, The John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation, and NextFest.

Stephanie has a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology (BKin) as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). This is Stephanie’s fourth year as a sessional instructor at MacEwan University where she instructs in the faculty of Health & Community Studies. Although an experienced teacher and performer, she continues to be a student herself. Some of her most influential teachers include her children, Jude (10) and Gloria (8).

As an adjudicator, Stephanie has worked with Zirka Dance Challenge, Vitaemo Ukrainian Dance Festival, Camrose & District Music Festival, Kalyna Festival, Biggar Dance Festival, Peace River Dance Festival, Whitehorse Dance and Music Festival, Culture Fuze, Athabasca Dance Festival, BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival, and the K-Days Talent Search. She has also served on adjudicating committees of municipal and provincial funding bodies.

Allison San Martin-Feeney

Allison is a highly accredited dance educator, choreographer, and adjudicator from Edmonton,
AB. She began her dance career by training at Edmonton Dance Factory, Edmonton School of
Ballet, with supplemental training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She performed with Edmonton Festival Ballet, Edmonton Contemporary Dancer, The U of A Dance Team, and is currently dancing with Viva Contemporary Dance Company.

Allison’s teaching has a focus on building strength and flexibility in her dancers which allows them to succeed in dance while keeping their bodies safe. She believes in shaping
dancers who have a love and understanding of their bodies, an appreciation of hard work, and a desire to continually push the boundaries of their art form. Allison is proud to be an active member of the dance community in Canada and is passionate about sharing her experience with her students.

Becca McLeod

Becca is the Executive Director of New Grocery Movement, a nonprofit dedicated to shifting power in the grocery sector back to the local level and increasing access to sustainable food. Passionate about food, she spends much of her free time baking, so her other role as owner of small business Pie Girl comes as no surprise. Pie Girl is a curated collection of handmade, vintage, and thrifted bakeware and baking accessories. When she's not focused on food, you'll find Becca on the dance floor, whether it's a weekend out with friends or in the studio practicing with Viva Dance Company.

Hannah Chyz

Hannah Chyz’s love of dance was supported through her training at Edmonton School of Ballet which progressed to her completion of the pre-professional dance program at Vimy Ridge Academy. After graduation, she participated in Motives Dance and Fitness training program, a pre-professional program in Edmonton with a focus on contemporary, jazz, and elements of hip hop. In 2016, she joined Viva Dance, a collective of women that use movement as a method of artistic expression and empowerment. With Viva Dance she has had the pleasure of performing in countless shows and productions, both locally as well as across the country. Within her dance career she has been able to return to her home studio and choreograph for the Edmonton Contemporary Dancers, sharing her joy for art and dance with the rising dance community. She feels fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue a professional dance career in her city through the support of many innovative women and creatives!

Hannah Ilkiw

Hannah Ilkiw is a contemporary dancer, secondary school teacher, and lover of all forms of moving and shaking! She completed her education at the University of Alberta where she obtained two Bachelor’s degrees, one in Kinesiology and the other in Education. Hannah has been dancing professionally with Viva since 2020. She has performed in Fringe Festivals across Western Canada, galas, fundraisers, and various self-produced productions. Hannah has taught in the prestigious dance program at Vimy Ridge School. In this capacity, she has worked with high caliber students in ballet, jazz, and lyrical. She is currently working with dancers as a personal trainer at Motives. In the rare moments that Hannah is not dancing or teaching, she enjoys travelling and being outdoors. You can find her paddle boarding on the river, cross-country skiing, or running through the river valley.

Jason Romero

Jason Romero is a Latin American dance artist based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan. Spending his formative years training in Vancouver, Jason later returned to so-called Edmonton and established himself as a leader in the city’s dance scene. With a passion for musicality and experimental movement, Jason strives to create unique experiences for his audiences. Drawing inspiration from a diverse palette of influences—cultural narratives, personal journeys, and the rhythms of nature, Jason works to create a dialogue between the body and the space it inhabits. Through improvisation and structured choreography, he seeks to uncover the meaning of our current human state. Jason’s most recent notable works include dancing in Jen Mesch’s “Go Where Light Is” and choreographing the play “El Funeral” by Marina Mair presented at the 2023 Found Festival. Jason has also presented his own works, “Pattern Screamer” and most recently “Espacios Vacios” at the 2024 Magpie Festival for Mile Zero. Jason has presented work in Vancouver, Victoria, Montreal, Calgary, Portland and Seattle.

June Chen

June’s dance training started at a young age in jazz and grew to include lyrical as a teen. With One Step Ahead dance studio in Calgary, she participated in many local competitions and festivals. Upon moving to Edmonton in 2011 to attend the pharmacy program at the University of Alberta, she wanted to expand her dance training. She discovered Orchesis Dance Society and has been dancing with them ever since, performing annually in their showcase Motif Moves and in other community shows with her fellow Orchesis dancers. With her athletic prowess and her incredible work ethic, June continues to thrive under the direction of choreographers Stephanie Lilley, Jason Romero, and Lyndsey Daniels. June joined Viva Dance Company in 2024 and has since performed in Crescendo, The Singing Christmas Tree, and other local events. After obtaining her BScPharm in 2015, June pursued a one-year hospital pharmacy residency, and is now working as a hospital pharmacist.

Ruby Chyz

Ruby started dancing as a young child in a creative movement class that laid the foundation of her love of movement and performance. She trained at Edmonton School of Ballet for 5 years (2016-2020) learning styles such as ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary. She joined Viva Dance Company in 2022 where she’s had the pleasure of working and collaborating with the unique and talented dancers of the group. Viva has provided many amazing performance opportunities including Fringe Festivals, fundraisers, fashion shows, and the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree. She is excited to continue dancing with Viva and sharing her love of dance.

Kaeley Jade

Under the sweeping gaze of Edmonton’s prairie skies, Métis artist Kaeley Jade has carved out a space where art and soul converge. Her vibrant debut full-length album, Turpentine, has earned her significant recognition as a singer/songwriter in the Canadian music scene with accolades that include a Canadian Folk Music Award, Western Canadian Music Award Nomination, and Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award. Her music has received radio play across the globe, has been reviewed by publications worldwide, and has been featured in several film and television productions. Blending folk, pop and indie rock, Kaeley’s lush imagery, stunning vocals, and electric stage presence have enthralled listeners at hundreds of venues and festivals across the country, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, JUNOfest, International Indigenous Music Summit, and Canmore Folk Music Festival. Kaeley will be joined by musicians Gabriel Gagnon, Alex Downey and Kelsey Wood.

Alex Downey

Alex is a dynamic percussionist and rapper known for bringing high-energy performances to every stage. With a deep-rooted passion for rhythm and storytelling, Alex has played drums in several theatrical productions, including ‘Thunder(Cats)!’, ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’, and ‘Jason Kenny’s Hot Boy Summer’. They host an interactive jam, ‘UnderEasy’, every Friday night at The Black Dog Freehouse, where musicians and music lovers come together to create something unique. Whether behind the kit or on the mic, Alex delivers beats and bars that keep audiences engaged and moving.

Gabriel Gagnon

Gab is an Edmonton-based musician, actor, and registered massage therapist with a deep passion for storytelling through music. A self-taught guitarist, he found his true creative home with the Kaeley Jade band, where he experiences the pure joy that music brings. With a background in musical theatre, Gab blends influences from a wide range of genres, drawing inspiration from artists like Mumford & Sons, Iron Maiden, and James Bay. His journey has taken him to incredible stages across Canada, including the Edmonton and Canmore Folk Festivals, Wednesday on the Wharf in Salmon Arm, and the Tkaronto Music Festival in Toronto. Fueled by a love for performance and connection, Gab is beyond excited to continue this wild adventure, bringing music to audiences all over!

Rainier Pearl-Styles

Rainier Pearl-Styles (she/they) is a deviser, director, clown, and applied theatre practitioner based in amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton, but she calls Boston and San Francisco home too. She holds an MFA in Applied Theatre/Theatre Education from Emerson College, she studied movement, community engagement, and embodied practice as a tool for social justice. As an educator and facilitator, Rainier has worked across North America with a marked commitment to uplifting student voices, fostering safe and inclusive rehearsal practices, and deconstructing the hegemony of the western canon. They are a proud co-founder of the Fork & Shoe Theatre Co-op and frequent collaborator with the Coarse Arts Collective. rainier-pearl-styles.com

Kelsey Wood

Kelsey Wood is an energetic bass guitar player hailing from Edmonton, Alberta. Known for his dynamic approach to rhythm and groove, Kelsey brings a unique energy to every performance. His love and respect for the bass guitar and its ability to drive people to dance and create an immersive atmosphere, combined with his deep passion for collaborative storytelling and improvisation has given Kelsey an identifiable and energetic sound. His ability to blend technical skill with emotional depth makes him a standout in any musical setting. Whether performing live or in the studio, Kelsey’s love for collaboration shines through, as he helps create spaces for others to explore and connect through music. With his strong sense of rhythm and infectious enthusiasm, Kelsey Wood emits a rallying cry for all those who value groove, good vibrations, and collective musical expression.

Liza Xenzova

Ksenzo or Liza Xenzova (b. 1994) is a Russian-Canadian artist based in Edmonton, Alberta. Her artistic journey began in childhood in Russia, continuing to blossom after moving to Canada at age eight. Liza earned a BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta and an MFA in Fashion Design from the Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design in St. Petersburg. Drawing on her experiences as a theatre designer. Liza’s practice focuses on portraiture and figurative work. Based on her experience as a theatre and fashion designer she is interested in exploring the intricate interplay between the body and garment. Liza is committed to continual growth and exploration, constantly seeking new ways to develop her unique artistic voice.