Founded in 1972 by Genevi.ve Salbaing, Eva Von Gencsy and Eddy Toussaint, Ballets Jazz Montr.al is a contemporary dance repertory company which, under the general and artistic direction of Alexandra Damiani, creates, produces, and presents on local, national, and international stages.

Among the artistic directors of the company who have greatly marked its evolution, company founder Genevi.ve Salbaing, driven by her visceral love of dance, led Ballets Jazz Montr.al with passion and determination for over 20 years. Upon his appointment as artistic director in 1998, Louis Robitaille, reoriented the company towards an audience curious to discover new choreographic forms. In June 2021, Alexandra Damiani took over the artistic direction of Ballets Jazz Montr.al and will carry out the company's mission and vision into the future.

The company engages internationally renowned choreographers to develop their own research in line with its identity and generates a repertoire that is both exclusive to the company and accessible to all audiences. The company’s impressive roster of talented and influential choreographers includes Crystal Pite, Aszure Barton, Mauro Bigonzetti, Andonis Foniadakis, Itzik Galili, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Barak Marshall, Benjamin Millepied, Ihsan Rustem, Anne Plamondon and Juliano Nunes, to name a few. As an ambassador of Quebec dance to the world, Ballets Jazz Montr.al offers an artistic product that is explosive, original, accessible, and noted for the excellence of its performance.

All of Ballet Jazz’s work bring an element of humanity, fearlessness, and emotion in addition to the highly technical skill that each dance requires. Additionally, each piece is nuanced, multilayered and often multidisciplinary – combining other artistic disciplines such as theater, video, and music. With accessibility and quality as key values, the company successfully integrates pleasure and humanity into their strong, expressive, and demanding pieces. Moreover, the distinct personalities and high caliber of its performers further add to the quality that is expected from the company and play a key role in maintaining the company’s reputation and influence in the dance world.

Through their productions, performances, and educational activities, Ballets Jazz Montréal encourages discovery, stimulates imagination, and shares their passion for this discipline to all its audiences – both local and abroad. With more than 3,250 performances in 60 countries and an audience of nearly 3 million, Ballets Jazz Montr.al is considered one of the world's leading ambassadors of Quebec dance and artistic vitality.

In 2016, the Prix Rideau Hommage was awarded to the company and its artistic director at the time, Louis Robitaille, in recognition of BJM's impact and continued presence on Quebec stages.

In 2020, the company received the Prix de la danse de Montr.al for the category of international dissemination presented by CINARS.

In 2022, the company celebrated 50 years of creating, exploring, and connecting with its audiences.

DANCE ME – MUSIC BY 
LEONARD COHEN

Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen is an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montr.albased poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen.

Approved by Cohen during his lifetime, this riveting homage to the famed artist evokes the grand cycles of existence, as described in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and poems.

Three internationally renowned choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem. Their powerful and profound choreographic world reflective of Cohen’s singular work is brought to life by Ballets Jazz Montr.al’s 14 artists and the strong, bold dramaturgy of Eric Jean.

Surrounded by a team of celebrated designers, Dance Me combines scenic, visual, musical, dramaturgical, and choreographic writing to pay tribute to Montr.al’s greatest ambassador. Dance, music, lighting, scenography, and videography all come together in this unforgettable show.

Songs in the show include (in program order):

- Here It Is (2001)
- Lover, Lover, Lover (1974)
- Dance Me to the End of Love (Live in London, 2009)
- Boogie Street (Live in London, 2009)
- Steer Your Way (2016)
- Everybody Knows (2001)
- Tower of Song (1988)
- So Long, Marianne (1967)
- A Thousand Kisses Deep (poem)
- Suzanne (1967)
- Famous Blue Raincoat (1971)
- Nevermind (2014)
- First We Take Manhattan (1988)
- It Seemed the Better Way (2016)
- Hallelujah (1984)
- String Reprise / Treaty (2016)

Ballets Jazz Montr.al would like to thank the Marjorie and Gerald Bronfman Foundation for the support given to the creation of the show.

Dance Me was supported by the CCOV - Centre de Cr.ation O Vertigo.

CREDITS

Ideation Louis Robitaille
Dramaturgy and Stage Direction Eric Jean
Choreography Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ihsan Rustem
Music Direction Martin L.on
Sound Design Alexis Dumais
Set and Prop Design Pierre-Etienne Locas
Set Technical Direction Alexandre Brunet
Lighting Design and Production C.dric Delorme-Bouchard, Simon Beetschen
Video Design HUB Studio - Gonzalo Soldi, Thomas Payette, Jeremy Fassio.
Costume Design Philippe Dubuc
Costume Production Anne-Marie Veevaete
Assistance Stage Direction Elsa Posnic
Sound Engineer Guy Fortin
Technical Director Marco Vargas Navarro
Head Carpenter Daniel Ranger
Head of Sound Maxime Lambert
Head of Lighting Claude Plante
Head of Video Steve Montambault
Artists Zoey Anderson, Troy Atamanuk, Gustavo Barros, Millie Brinck-Dubuc, Yosmell Calderon Mejias, Marcel
Cavaliere, Kyle Davis, Jasmine Heart Cruz, Shanna Irwin Calderon, Miu Kato, DaMond LeMonte Garner, Zack Preece,
Madelaine Salhany, Silje Vereide
Vocalist (So Long, Marianne): Zoey Anderson
Vocalists (Hallelujah): DaMond LeMonte Garner and Zoey Anderson

Length 80 minutes (without intermission)

Artistic and Executive Director Alexandra Damiani
Rehearsal Director and Artistic Coordinator Stephanie Dalphond
Principal Artist Yosmell Calderon Mejias
Artists Gustavo Barros, Millie Brinck-Dubuc, Marcel Cavaliere, Kyle Davis, Shanna Irwin Calderon, Miu Kato, DaMond LeMonte Garner, Zack Preece, Madeleine Salhany, and Silje Vereide
Intern Troy Atamanuk
Guest Artists Zoey Anderson and Jasmine Heart Cruz
Technical Director Marco Vargas Navarro
Head Carpenter Daniel Ranger
Head of Sound Maxime Lambert
Head of Lighting Claude Plante
Head of Video Steve Montambault
Administration and Finance Director Maximilien Cossette
Deputy Executive Director, Development and Partnerships Catherine Cardinal
Assistant to the Artistic and Executive Director Camille Fabre

President Anie Perreault
Treasurer Valérie Bergeron
Secretary Brigitte Nepveu
Administrators Karine Fortin, Dave Gigu.re, Marie-Yseult Laurin, Tammy Peddle, John Bargelletti, Marie-H.l.ne
Sirois, Terry Kyle Lapierre, Marie-.ve Breton

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ALEXANDRA DAMIANI (GENERAL AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR) (she/her) Appointed Artistic Director of Ballets Jazz Montr.al the spring of 2021, then General and Artistic Director in 2025, Alexandra Damiani has been a major player in the dance community for over two decades. During her 10 years with New York's Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (2005-2015), first as Ballet Mistress and then as Artistic Director, Damiani had the opportunity to work with and present a wide selection of contemporary dance choreographic languages by such internationally renowned choreographers as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Crystal Pite and Hofesh Schecter. Damiani also presented the company in major cities and international festivals, including at the Lyon Biennale in France and Sadler's Wells in London. 

Originally from France, Damiani is a multidisciplinary artist who has been lending her expertise to the world of film, television, and advertising for many years. Her credits include playing the ballet mistress in Darren Aronofsky’s cult film Black Swan and working alongside Tanisha Scott on Cardi B’s performance for the 2019 BET Awards. Damiani is also passionate about training the young dancers of tomorrow and has excellent connections with highly regarded institutions like Jacob’s Pillow and The Juilliard School.

Damiani trained in classical dance at the Geneva Dance Center, and later in the French capital with teachers from the Paris Opera Ballet. After winning the Bayonne competition in France, she received a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the US. She began her career as a dancer-performer in New York where she danced as a soloist with Donald Byrd/The Group and with the company Complexions, directed by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Her career continued in Montr.al with the RUBBERBANDance Company and later with Ballets Jazz Montr.al, under the direction of Louis Robitaille (2002-2005).

STEPHANIE DALPHOND (REHEARSAL DIRECTOR & ARTISTIC COORDINATOR) (she/her) Born in Montr.al, St.phanie Dalphond trained at .cole Sup.rieure de Danse du Qu.bec and at the Paris Opera School. At the age of 16, she joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She danced with the company for 6 years before becoming a ballet mistress for a year. Yearning to dance again, St.phanie went to Europe to pursue her career where she danced with Kevin O’Day in Mannheim and Serge Campardon with Compagnie Nomades. She finished her career of 20 years with world-reknowned Nacho Duato’s Compa.ia Nacional de Danza. She is a certified ballet teacher and has been teaching at various professional institutions such as .cole Sup.rieure de Ballet du Qu.bec, Cas Public and Ballets Jazz Montr.al. She joined the company as rehearsal director for the season 2024-2025.

ERIC JEAN (CREATION & STAGE DIRECTOR) (he/him) Eric Jean is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most esteemed and outstanding stage directors of his generation. His appointment in 2004 as general and artistic director of Thetre de Quat’Sous, and his ensuing success are a reflection of the trust and confidence he has established in the theatre milieu, which quickly saw him as a bold, unique artist who has made a significant artistic contribution to Quebec theatre. 

A prolific and inventive director and an occasional actor, he is greatly appreciated for his commitment to up-and-coming artists, both as a teacher and at the professional level. Where Jean has truly made his mark and reputation, however, is in his creative approach. Using structured improvisations as his point of departure, he also works in conjunction with playwright and set design, gradually piecing together his stage plays. Striking examples of this, which he calls “writing as action”, are of course his renowned Hippocampe, written in collaboration with Pascal Brullemans, and his 2009 staging of Chambre(s), co-written with Pascal Chevarie. Not only was Hippocampe the recipient of the 2003 Prix de la critique, but the director was also nominated for the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in 2004, one of five finalists. 

Other notable productions were Corps étrangers/Cuerpos extranos (2005), a piece co-written with Pascal Brullemans and first created in Mexico before being presented in Quebec. Opium_37 (2009-2011) was written in collaboration with Catherine L.ger, after which he staged Luc Tartar’s play for adolescents, S’embrasent (2009-2017). This was followed by Le ventriloque (2012) by Larry Tremblay, Survivre (2013) by Olivier Kemeid, Testament by Vickie Gendreau (2014), Variations sur un temps by David Ives (2015) and Le Joker (2016) by Larry Tremblay. 

The fall of 2016 marked the beginning of a new chapter for Eric Jean, as he left his position as Artistic Director of Thetre de Quat’Sous to focus more on directing, stage writing, and filmmaking. 

For his very first foray into the world of dance, Eric Jean joined the artistic team of Ballets Jazz Montr.al in 2017 as dramaturge and director of the large-scale production Dance Me, set to the music of Leonard Cohen.

Eric Jean is also Associate Director of the artistic team at the theatre company Les 2 Mondes.

In 2020, he returned to BJM as Artistic Director – Creation Project for a new production once again based on the music of an internationally renowned artist, Patrick Watson.

ANDONIS FONIADAKIS (CHOREOGRAPHER) (he/him) Andonis Foniadakis grew up in city of Ierapetra, in the south part of the island of Crete, in Greece. He began his dance training with Niki Papadaki at the local dance school, in his hometown. From 1990 to 1992, he studied at the State Dance School of Athens and before his graduation he received the prestigious Maria Callas scholarship to continue his studies in Rudra Bejart Lausanne, in Switzerland until 1994.

As a dancer Andonis has collaborated with Bejart Ballet Lausanne (1994-1996) under the direction of Maurice Bejart, Lyon Opera Ballet (1996-2002) under the direction of Yorgos Loukos, Saburo Teshigawara / Karas Co. (2004) under the direction of Saburo Teshigawara, as well as, with his own dance company “Apotosoma-Andonis Foniadakis”. During the years of his professional engagement with these companies he has performed choreographic works of Maguy Marin, Jiri Kilian, William Forsythe, Dominique Boivin, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Maurice Bejart, Ohad Naharin, Frederic Flamand, Bill T Jones, Herve Robbe, Tero Saarinen, Lionel Hoche, Joachim Schlomer, John Jasperse, Saburo Teshigawara etc.

As a freelance choreographer he has collaborated with The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Geneva Ballet (Switzerland), Lyon Opera Ballet (France), Bern Ballet (Switzerland), Ballet de Lorraine (France) Luzern Ballet (Switzerland) Gauthier Dance Company (Germany), Martha Graham Dance Company (USA) Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (USA), Aterballetto (Italy), Ballet du Rhin (France), Sydney Dance Company (Australia), Florence Ballet (Italy), National Dance Company of Wales (England), Dansgroep Amsterdam (Netherlands), Cia Sociedade Masculina Brazil Bale da Cidade of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Helsinki Dance Company (Finland), National Ballet of Greece, National Theater of Northern Greece, Greek National Theater (Greece), Codarts (Netherlands), Benjamin Millepied Dance Company (USA), Washington Ballet (USA), Bejart Ballet Lausanne (Switzerland), Ballet Junior Geneva (Switzerland), Hellenic Dance Company (Greece), CNSMD Lyon (France), Copenhagen International Dance Festival (Denmark).

He has been director of the Greek National Ballet for the season 2016- 2017 and has programmed the seasons 2016-17 and 2017-18. He is currently the resident choreographer of the Greek National Ballet.

Foniadakis has been commissioned to choreograph for 3 operas: The Theatre des Champs Elysees - Castor et Pollux, Opera National du Rhin - Les boreades by Rameau GRAME, Lyon - Il canto della pelle by Claudio Ambrosini.

He has collaborated as moving coordinator for the film NOAH by Darren Aronofsky. In 2012 he received the Danza and

Danza Award for the “Best Choreographer 2012” in Italy, for the creation Les Noces in Maggio Danza - Florence Ballet. As well he has collaborated with Palais de Tokyo as Choreographic Curator for the exhibition Prec(ar)ious Collectives that took place in Athens Greece as parallel event of the Documenta 14, in 2017. In addition to creating and performing, Andonis is teaching seminars based on his personal dance technique. He has been teaching in the State Dance School of Greece, DAN.C.CE studios and Baile de Barrio in Athens, DOCK11 in Berlin, CND and CNSMD in Lyon, Dansgroep, as well as at Henny Jurriens, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

ANNABELLE LOPEZ OCHOA (CHOREOGRAPHER) (she/her) Colombian-Belgian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (1973) completed her dance education at the Royal Ballet School of Flanders in Belgium. In 2003, after a 12-year dance career, where she danced as a soloist with the Scapino Ballet, she decided to focus her energy solely on choreography. In that same year, she was hailed “rising star of the Dutch dance scene” (NRC newspaper) and only 7 years later the Temecula Performing Arts Examiner wrote: “Ochoa is truly a masterful choreographer with an edge for what dance can and should be in this constantly changing industry”.

Annabelle is an award-winning and sought-after choreographer who has created works for more than 40 companies around the world such as the Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Dutch National Ballet, Djazzex, Ballet de Gen.ve, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Gothenburg Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletX, Ballets Jazz Montr.al, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Ballet National de Marseille, Saarbrucken Ballet, Jacoby & Pronk, Chemnitzer Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Morphoses Wheeldon Company, Whim W’Him, IncolBallet de Colombia, Finnish National Ballet, Compania Nacional de Danza Madrid, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Scottish Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Ballet Nacional Dominicano, Ballet Saarbrucken, Augsburg Ballet, Ballet Austin, Atlanta Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Ballet Moscow, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, West Australian Ballet, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, Ballet Nacional Chileno, Ballet Staatstheater am Gartnerplatz Munchen, Ballet Manila, Daniil Simkin Intensio Project, Cincinnati Ballet, Silicon Valley Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, English National Ballet, Ballet Black, and New York City Ballet.

Ms. Lopez Ochoa is a versatile choreographer who also creates for theatre, opera, musical theatre, and fashion events, such as the celebrated Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf’s project in the Van Gogh Museum. She belongs to the theatre-dance collective “De Fantasten” for whom she successfully co-directed five full-length productions that have been performed in numerous theaters and festivals throughout the Netherlands.

In 2009, she created Zip Zap Zoom for BJM, which was included in the “10 best dance moments of the year” by the Pittsburgh Gazette, The Boston Globe and the Montr.al Gazette and was cited as one of the 10 best dance highlights of the year in San Diego and Chicago.

Her work has received numerous awards. In 2016, Broken Wings, created for the English National Ballet was nominated for a National UK Dance Award in the category of Best Classical Premiere. In 2015, Sombrerisimo, created for Ballet Hispanico, was given the Villanueva Award in Cuba. In 2012, A Streetcar Named Desire was nominated for the prestigious Olivier Award (UK), named Best Classical Choreography by the Circle of Critics of the National Dance Award (UK), and was awarded Best Dance Production 2012 by the South-Bank Sky Arts Awards. In 2007, Annabelle was elected to participate in the New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute. In 2002, Replay received first prize the audience prize at the Borne Choreographers Competition, and in 2001, Clair/Obscur received third prize at the Hannover Choreographic Competition.

IHSAN RUSTEM (CHOREOGRAPHER) (he/him) British-Swiss choreographer, Ihsan Rustem was born in London, where he trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Ihsan is the Artistic Director of the Swiss dance company Cie. La Ronde, founded in 2020 with choreographer Cathy Marston, and the Resident Choreographer of the NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where he has created 12 works to date.

His other collaborations include Nederlands Dans Theater 2, Ballets Jazz Montr.al, S.o Paulo City Ballet, Chilean National Ballet, Moscow Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago 2, Istanbul State Ballet MDT, Tanz Luzerner Theater, Bern Ballet, Konzert Theater St. Gallen, Whim W’Him Seattle, Ballare Carmel, Ballett Augsburg, Thüringer Staatsballett, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Tanztheater, Kazan State Opera and Ballet, Koblenz Ballet, Ballet Regensburg, Würzburg Ballet, Siberian State Ballet, Salt Contemporary Dance USA, Arts Umbrella Dance Company Vancouver, Moving Arts Cincinnati, National Youth Dance Company, Palucca Hochschule Dresden, Codarts, ZHdK, Tanzwerk101, Taipei National University of the Arts, and the Rambert School. He is also one of the featured choreographers on the popular Russian television show The Bolshoi Ballet.

The Nederlands Dans Theater included Ihsan Rustem in its “Choreographers of Tomorrow” program for the 2018–2019 season.

His work for the NW Dance Project has received numerous awards. State of Matter won the Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Contest in 2012, as well as the Audience Award at the 25th International Choreographic Competition in Hanover, and Carmen received the 2017 Dance Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Collaboration. Rustem was also the 2014 recipient of the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago International Commissioning Project.

Rustem is the former director of the Ballettschule Luzern and, in 2021, joined the jury of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne.

From 2000 to 2014, Ihsan Rustem danced with Ballet Theater Munich, Introdans, Bern Ballet, Tanz Luzerner Theater, and Adventures in Motion Pictures. He performed roles in creations by Wayne McGregor, Hofesh Shechter, Alexander Ekman, Matthew Bourne, Stijn Celis, Patrick Delcroix, Cayetano Soto, Felix Landerer, and Cathy Marston. He has also worked with choreographers such as Mats Ek, Jiri Kyli.n, Paul Lightfoot & Sol Leon, Hans van Manen, and William Forsythe, among others. He currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

LEONARD COHEN Leonard Norman Cohen, poet, novelist, singer, songwriter (born 21 September 1934 in Montr.al, QC; died 7 November 2016 in Los Angeles, California). Leonard Cohen was one of the most iconic Canadian artists of the 20th century. A sage, mystic, bohemian and romantic, he built an acclaimed body of literary work and a revered career in pop music. In his poetry, novels, and music, he constantly probed the human condition, exploring themes of love, loss, death and his commitment to his art. As a poetic and unlikely pop star, his narrow-ranged, gruff voice, which deepened and darkened with age, and his reliance on simple, singsong melodies were complimented by the intense imagery and depth of his lyrics. A Companion of the Order of Canada, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, the US Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Folk Music Walk of Fame. He also received the Glenn Gould Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature, eight Juno Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and numerous other honours.

GUSTAVO BARROS (he/him) Born in Brazil, Gustavo began his professional path as a dancer in his hometown, Goi.nia. He then joined some of the best contemporary dance companies in the country such as Deborah Colker cia and Bal. da Cidade de S.o Paulo. He continued his career in Germany, where he danced for Ballethagen and Staatstheater Augsburg. Over the course of his career, Gustavo has performed the work of many renowned choreographers including Alexander Ekman, Mauro Bigonzzetti, Crystal Pite, Cayetano Soto, Marco Goecke, and Peter Chu. He joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in 2020.

MILLIE BRINCK-DUBUC (she/her) Millie Brinck-Dubuc is a movement artist from Montreal, Canada. She began her journey in a competitive dance studio, where she trained in jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary. At the age of twelve years old, Millie joined l’.cole Sup.rieure de Ballet du Qu.bec, where she graduated in the spring of 2022 from the professional program in classical and contemporary dance. After graduation, Millie took part in the 10th edition of the Big Bang program and worked with various choreographers through summer intensives such as Propulsion, TransFormation, Rubberband, Arts-Umbrella and Orsolina28. She is excited to start her second season with Ballet Jazz Montr.al.

YOSMELL CALDERON MEJIAS (PRINCIPAL ARTIST) (he/him) Russian-born Yosmell Calderon graduated as a dancer and teacher of both contemporary and folk dance from Cuba's National School of Dance (ENA) in Havana in 2005. He also received a diploma from the University of Arts (ISA) in 2014. Yosmell has collaborated with such outstanding figures in the world of dance as Rafael Bonachela, Mats Ek, Itzik Galili, Carlos Junior Acosta, Jan Linkens, Juan Cuz and Ana Laguna. He has performed as a principal dancer for Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and the Pal Frenak Company, as well as in over 22 works by Cuban and foreign choreographers, touring major festivals and theatre venues around the world. Yosmell is a choreographer for the Cuban National Ballet School and its performances at the International Ballet Festival of Havana. Thanks to his background in Olympic gymnastics, he also choreographs for circus performances. Yosmell joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in July 2016 and was promoted to Principal Artist in 2019.

MARCEL CAVALIERE (he/him) Marcel Cavaliere was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana where he danced competitively and trained in various styles at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He continued his studies at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in Choreography for the Stage and Cinematic Arts. Throughout his training, Marcel has had the privilege to perform works by Jiř. Kyli.n, Hope Boykin, Bret Easterling, Paul Taylor, Dwight Rhoden and Justin Peck. He has also collaborated and performed with renowned companies such as A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham and Doug Varone and Dancers. Marcel joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in August 2024.

KLYE DAVIS (he/him) Kyle Davis, a Chicago native, began his training at the Sammy Dyer School of Theater before continuing on at Pacific Northwest Ballet. He began his professional career as a corps artist with Ballet West, where he performed soloist roles, and was nominated for The Princess Grace Award in 2019. He joined The Saarl.ndisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany, as a solo dancer in 2021. He has performed principal roles in works by Jiř. Kyli.n, David Dawson, Marco Goecke, Nacho Duato, Mauro Bigozetti, and George Balanchine. He was the recipient of the Deutschland 2023 Sponsorship Club Prize for his outstanding performance in the role of "Death" in Kurt Jooss' The Green Table. Kyle joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in August 2024.

SHANNA IRWIN CALDERON (she/her) Shanna Irwin grew up in New Jersey, where she began training as a competitive dancer. She later switched her focus to ballet when she was accepted into The New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble under the direction of Nancy Turano. Shanna went on to continue her studies at Marymount Manhattan College and began touring with Complexions Contemporary Ballet during her senior year. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in May 2014. Shanna completed five seasons with Complexions and joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in 2019. Her career has led her to perform in opera houses across five continents, where she has danced the works of Crystal Pite, Dwight Rhoden, Aszure Barton, Itzik Galili, Andonis Foniadakis, and Juliano Nunes, among others. This is her seventh season with Ballet Jazz Montreal.

MIU KATO (she/her) Born and raised in Japan, Miu Kato has been training in classical ballet since childhood at the Kaneta Kono Ballet Academy. She has received numerous awards at both the national and international level including 2nd place at the Japan Dance Competition in 2014 and 3rd place at the Youth American Grand Prix New York Final in 2016. Since 2018, she has been actively involved in the activities of La Dance Contrast.e. In 2019, she served as a choreographic assistant to Megumi Nakamura for the production of Huis clos at KAAT. Miu has also performed in works by Ayuko Kaneta, Megumi Nakamura, Mari Nakahara, Masahiro Yanagimoto, Kaoru Kagaya, Naoko Ikegami, Harumi Takeuchi, Yuya Yoshizaki, Travis Clausen-Knight, Paul Julius, and others. Since 2021, she has been a member of The Choreographic Center of Japan’s artistic team. In recent years, she has also been actively involved in choreography and teaching. Miu joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in August 2023.

DAMOND LEMONTE GARNER (he/him/they/them) Charlotte, North Carolina native, DaMond LeMonte Garner attended Point Park University, where they received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, with a concentration in Modern Dance. While at Point Park, they performed the work of choreographers Alexandra Damiani, Sidra Bell, Lucinda Childs, Lar Lubovitch, Jessica Hendricks, and Anthony Tudor with the Conservatory Dance Company. DaMond has also continued their training and artistic development at Springboard Danse Montreal, Movement Invention Project, and Northwest Dance Project’s LAUNCH. After graduating, DaMond joined METdance in Houston, TX and performed works by Kyle Abraham, Christian Denice, and Kate Skarpetowska. Garner has worked as a guest artist with The Francesca Harper Project, The Black Iris Project, Texture Contemporary Ballet, and The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Upon moving to New York City, DaMond joined Parsons Dance Company, where they collaborated with choreographers Rena Butler, Chanel DeSilva, and Matthew Neenan and performed the work by David Parsons. In addition to their work at Parsons, DaMond was a Principal Dancer with The Metropolitan Opera and a freelance artist in New York City. DaMond joined Ballets Jazz Montreal in August 2023.

ZACK PREECE (he/him) Zack Preece was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He did most of his training at Arts Umbrella under the direction of Artemis Gordon, where he had the opportunity to work with various world-renowned choreographers. He has performed works by Crystal Pite, Mats Ek, Sharon Eyal, Medhi Walerski and many more. He graduated the Arts Umbrella Post Secondary program in 2021. He then joined Ballet BC as an emerging artist for the 2021-2022 season, under the direction of Medhi Walerski. Following that, Zack joined Cas Public productions for one season. He was then a guest artist with Ballet Jazz Montreal for the 2023 season and is very excited to start his second full season with the company for the 2025-26 season.

MADELEINE SALHANY (she/her) Madeleine Salhany, born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase (New York). While at SUNY Purchase, she has had the pleasure of performing works by Sidra Bell, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Ohad Naharin and Loni Landon. She went on to begin her dance career as an apprentice with Les Ballets Jazz de Montr.al and since has been dancing in Germany at Stadttheater Gie.en, under the direction of Tarek Assam and is currently with Ballett Theater Trier under the direction of Roberto Scafati. Throughout these years she’s performed works by Fernando Melo, Gustavo Rem.rez Sansano, Andonis Foniadakis, Mauro Astolfi, Georg Reischl, Itzik Galili, Liam Francis and Vittoria Girelli among others. She has also attended the NDT Summer Intensive, Arts Umbrella's International Summer Dance Intensive and has performed at several dance festivals/galas across Europe. Madeleine rejoined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in August 2024.

SILJE VEREIDE (she/her) Born in Texas and raised in Norway, Silje Vereide began dancing at the age of three. She initially focused on gymnastics before deciding to dedicate herself to a career in dance. She pursued professional studies at Oslo National Academy of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Dance. After graduation, Silje joined Valencia Dancing Forward, performing in works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Philip Taylor, Alba Castillo, Bryan Arias, and Jose Carlos Blanco. As a freelance artist, she has collaborated with companies such as the Norwegian National Ballet, Company Snorkel Rabbit, Show de Vida, Dans5, Oslo Jazzdans Festival, and P. T. Hev. In 2023, she joined Ballet Ireland for their spring season and later performed in the Electric Picnic Festival with them. Silje has had the honor of working with and performing pieces by renowned choreographers like Aszure Barton, Ohad Naharin, Jo Str.mgren, Samantha Lynch, Douwe Dekkers, Brandon Collwes, Simone Charete Gr.tte, Paul Blackman, Knut Arild Flatner, Karl-Erik Nedregaard, Christopher Arouni, Masja Abrahamsen, Tine E. Aspaas, Christer Tornell and In.s Belli among others. Silje joined Ballets Jazz Montr.al in August 2024.

TROY ATAMANUK (INTERN) (he/him) Troy Atamanuk began his dance training in Markham, ON, where he danced competitively before joining Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre in 2021. In 2022, he moved to Vancouver to attend Arts Umbrella’s Post-Secondary Graduate Program under the direction of Artemis Gordon. During his time there, he performed works by Crystal Pite, Aszure Barton, Marco Goecke, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Roy Assaf, Fernando Hernando Magadan, among many others. While at Arts Umbrella, Troy had the opportunity to choreograph in the Young Choreographers Mentorship Project directed by Crystal Pite. Troy also had the opportunity to perform alongside Ballet BC as a guest in Shahar Binyamini’s Bolero X in various cities, including Vancouver, Ottawa, and Montreal. Troy is very excited and grateful to be dancing with Ballets Jazz Montr.al this year.

ZOEY ANDERSON (GUEST ARTIST) (she/her) Originally from Utah, Zoey Anderson trained at Center Stage Studio before graduating cum laude with a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College. After her studies, she danced with Parsons Dance Company, touring the world and performing for over ten years in iconic works such as Caught and Balance of Power by David Parsons, and Takedeme by Robert Battle. She was a soloist at the Titas Gala, Stars of American Ballet in Santa Fe, and the Berliner Bar Gala in Germany. Zoey appeared in the Academy Award–winning film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and in web episodes of Dancing with the Stars. She has graced the cover and been featured multiple times in Dance Spirit and Dance Magazine. Zoey was nominated for the 2018 Bessie Award in the “Outstanding Performer” category and received the prestigious Clive Barnes Dance Artist Award in 2019.

JASMINE HEART CRUZ (GUEST ARTIST) (she/her) Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Jasmine Heart Cruz began her competitive dance training at the Westlake School for the Performing Arts. She has received numerous awards at the regional and international level from organizations such as ADCIBC, NYCDA, Tanzolymp, and the Youth America Grand Prix. After being accepted into the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, she completed one year of study at the University of Southern California before moving to New York to begin her professional career, where she danced for three seasons with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. As an independent artist in New York, Jasmine has collaborated with choreographers such as Roderick George, Rena Butler, Loughlan Prior, and Houston Thomas. She also trains closely with Preston Miller and Jacqueline Green Miller at The Dance Artist Prep in Chicago. Additionally, Jasmine is regularly invited to teach and choreograph at various schools in the Philippines.