Season Launch | WILD
Join us for the launch of MZD’s 2023-24 Season, WILD!
Friday, September 8
6 PM Visual Artists talk with Jess Bishop (FREE)
7 PM Silent Auction opens (FREE)
8 PM Show (ticketed, $25 – includes MZD Membership)
Location: Mile Zero Dance, 9931 78 Ave
Featuring artists
Phany Peña & Jason Romero (dance)
Sandra Olarte & Caitlin Mader (circus)
Jizz Elle (drag)
Lauren Brady (clown)
Yusi (spoken word)
Jeannie Vandekerkhove (fashion show)
DJ The Giovanni
The Launch Party will also feature ASL interpretation of the artist talk and show (ASL interpretation provided by Lacey Hews and Jenni Stevens).
Featuring
Yusi
Yusi is a multidisciplinary creative community builder who uses art as a way to connect and heal with others. Her passion has driven her to explore the meaning behind humanity and what that looks like.
This introverted Somali woman has spice and isn't afraid to use it. As a hip hopper, she's learning how to build a practice that brings knowledge of self into a healthy movement, a loving mindfulness, a trusting awareness and wealth within herself and those around her.
Sandra Olarte
Sandra Olarte (she/her) is a Mexican-Canadian aerial artist who has been teaching and performing aerial arts for over 10 years. Now residing in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), she has performed in theatre productions, multidisciplinary arts festivals, and private and public events. Sandra specializes in experimental aerial apparatus, aerial silks, rope, sling, and cloudswing. As an aerial performer, Sandra strives to create a deep and meaningful connection with her audience, to highlight the relevance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in the arts, to educate and create social change.
Caitlin Mader
Caitlin Mader is a versatile aerialist whose signature style is energetic, dynamic, and weird. She uses her foundations in contortion and dance to create memorable images in between moments of weightlessness. She’s been doing aerial arts around Amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton for over 10 years.
Lauren Brady
Lauren Brady, an award-winning clown artist in Edmonton, Alberta. She is trained in Baby Clown, Neo-Bouffon, Bouffon, and Neutral Mask. Brady began her journey in dance and then ventured into acting, where she trained at the BFA in Acting program at the University of Alberta until Brady found her footing in physical theatre through training with Jan Henderson studying Neutral Mask and Michael Kennard studying Pochinko Clown. Since then, she has continued to pursue clowning through Michael Kennard’s mentorship and explores physical theatre with Denise Clark through One Yellow Rabbit’s BYA Ensemble.In 2021 Brady received a Canada Council Grant to pursue clown training with John Turner, Karen Hines, and Michael Kennard (The team of Mump & Smoot). In 2022 she came from One North Clown & Creation, where she studied with John Turner. In 2023 Brady toured her first solo clown show @interWEBBED across Canada and notable received a 5 star review from the Edmonton Journal.
As a creator, Brady is fascinated by exploring how emotional impulses can be expressed through the body to further storytelling. Her creation process combines devised theatre practice, clown, and dance techniques. Lauren is known for her work combining contemporary dance and Pochinko clown.Lauren believes fear can is an incredible vessel for story and teachings, so HEYwire creates work surrounding ominous topics and dissects them through comedy to make the undesirable content more palatable through laughter.
Brady has done various works in festivals across Canada, including High-Performance Rodeo, Skirts a Fire, Play The Fool, Vancouver FORM Festival, The Nextfest Festival, Fluid Festival, The Common Clown Festival, Ottawa Fringe Festival, Edmonton Fringe Festival.