MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
FEATURED DANCE PIECES
"everything I wanted to tell you (but couldn’t, so here it is now) ”
Concept,, Choreography & Direction by Jessie Garon
Performed by Sully Malaeb Proulx and Jarrett Siddall
Sound Design by Stephen Joffe
"everything I wanted to tell you (but couldn’t, so here it is now) is an adventurous, no bullshit look at the ties that bind. Two dancers are locked in a liminal space of shared memories, imagined incidents, and the difficult things left unsaid. Together they set off on an athletic journey traversing the tangible and illogical as they learn to navigate change without letting go – because family is forever, right?
"Veins” by Haley Dimeck (2025 Emerging Choreographer)
Performed by: Chantal Aucoin, Anna Diapaolo, Niri Herx, Ella Stotz
“Veins” is inspired by the mind-body connection and the understanding that mental health is a full-body experience. The piece centers on the body’s intrinsic intelligence and explores sensations of pushing through stuck energy and shedding old layers in a cyclical way.
This work is an expansion of a trio originally created for the Juvenis Festival, and includes new choreography, along with material initially danced by Chantal Aucoin, Pippa Seaby and Winnie Seaby.
Music: Native Land by Edgardo Moreno / Theme by Rival Consoles
"calm and dormant with strength & power; sinuous and flowing”
Choreographed and Performed by: Katherine Ng
A calm, sinuous exploration of strength and flow—coming to peace with home, and with the body.
Outside Eye: Sylvie Desrosiers and Jocelyn Todd
Special Thanks to The School of Dance and Margie Gillis Dance Foundation. (support with residency/ studio space.)
A Stubborn Grace
Choreographed by: Kiara Flavin
Performed by: Sylvia Berman, Alexandra McChesney, Ellie Price, Camille Spencer
Music: Rhythm and Genes (excerpt) - Bronwen Wallace, read by Liam Cole, mixed by Julian Flavin / Bunkhouse Theme - Bob Dylan / Mile-Marker - The Innocence Mission / Sonata No. 8 - The Innocence Mission / New Map (instrumental) - Liam Cole ixed by: Julian Flavin
"We all hear - though we may not be conscious of - the beat that thrums through every human conversation. Rhythmic synchrony it's called, our sync sense, which, like the other five, conducts us through the worlds we make of each other, or in this case, sets us dancing in each other's stops and starts, digressions, turns and leaps of thought, hyperbole, lies, warnings, lovers' cries - we move to music..."
A Stubborn Grace is inspired by the poetry of Bronwen Wallace (1945-1989), of Kingston. In her work, Wallace shares her love for Bob Dylan, her habit of dancing in an empty house, a profound love for her friends - in sickness and in health, a generous stubbornness, but above all; an eye for magic in the everyday.
“and through this, we move together”
Choreographed by: Kay Kenney (Movement Market Collective)
Collaborated & Performed by: Marie Boddington, Haley Dimeck, Rowen Edwards, Jessica Irwin-Champagne, Elissa Morgan, Melissa Prince
Pictures of us,
in the sun,
if we were them,
a day together.
Moving.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Jesse Garon
Jessie Garon is a queer performer and choreographer working in contemporary dance theatre. She is a graduate of Dance Arts Institute after which she interned for Ate9 Dance Company (Los Angeles) under Artistic Director Danielle Agami. Since 2014, she has participated primarily in collaborative processes blending performative forms. Her work incites the potential of dance virtuosity, rigor and spectacle as materials to craft spirited and surreal dance theatre. As an interpreter she has worked for and alongside artists such as Brandy Leary/Anandam Dance Theatre, Jennifer Dallas/Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects, Serge Bennathan, Lemi Ponifasio/MAU (New Zealand), Clarice Lima/Futura (Brazil), Sara Porter and Sasha Ivanochko. Garon is the founder and Artistic Director of Vazari Arts and a 2024 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes nominee. Her work has been shown across Canada, including the Theatre Centre (ON), Pumphouse Theatre (AB), Refinery Theatre (SK), Édifice Wilder Espace Danse (QC) and Salle Bernard-LeBlanc (NB).
Sully
Sully (he/they) is a Québécois-Lebanese freelance dance artist based in Tkaronto. After training at the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, they earned a BFA in Dance from The State University of New York at Purchase College, graduating summa cum laude in 2020, and received additional training at the London Contemporary Dance School and Springboard Danse Montréal. Sully has performed works by and with artists from near and far, across Canada, in NYC, Spain, and India. In 2024, Sully was part of the Dora Award-winning ensemble of James Kudelka’s The Man in Black with Citadel + Compagnie.
Jarret Siddall
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Shenel Williams is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, and Teacher. She began exploring movement at the age of 6. Growing up, Shenel self-trained in Hip-Hop, Dancehall and various other styles. In her early years of dance, she was introduced to and versed in traditional African dances, Ndombolo and Kpanlogo. In high school, she was involved in Downsview Secondary School’s Arts Advantage Program in dance, music, and drama. There, she dabbled into multiple dance styles under the direction of various artists such as Jaz “Fairy J” Simone, Brandon “Bizzy” Owusu, and many more. She became co-captain of the Downsview Dance Company in her senior year, performing at events such as tdsbCREATES, Walk with Excellence, and JustBGraphic. Through JustBGraphic, Shenel was featured in the Unplugged Festival: Middle School Tour with artists Mike Black and Danny Fernandes. Shenel graduated from York University’s Dance Program in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Shenel is currently pursuing her Master’s of Education with a focus on inequitable hiring practices and policies in post-secondary dance. Shenel is an active choreographer and performer in the Toronto dance scene. Most recently, Shenel performed with international Afrobeats Artist Asake on his Canadian tour dates at the Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Place. Shenel currently trains with “Integrated Entity,” a professional collective, as an industry crew member. Aside from training, Shenel is a Dance Teacher at Woodbridge School of Dance, teaching Hip-Hop classes at the Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. In her free time, Shenel continues to use her voice to initiate change in the dance community and beyond.
Haley Dimeck
Haley Dimeck is a contemporary dance artist and abstract painter. Originally from Waterloo, ON, she graduated from Dance Arts Institute in 2020. Alongside her training, she has participated in numerous intensives and has worked with renowned choreographers. A few highlighted performances include works by Charles Moulton (Fall for Dance North), Peggy Baker (dance: made in canada/fait au canada Festival) and James O’Hara (TransFormation Danse).
Haley choreographed and presented her first full-length work, The Hidden Revealed, in 2019 for Unwrap Theatre. She created her first dance film as 2020 co-recipient of The Winchester Prize. In 2022, Haley hosted the online film festival event Movement Offerings, which showcased a diverse collection of works by emerging and established artists. She has also worked with Portal Dance, Nicole Decsey Dance Projects, and performed in multiple works with the Guelph Dance Festival.
As a creator, Haley is often inspired by movement in nature and following the ease of innate impulses. She loves exploring the intersections between moving paint around on a canvas and movement in the body, which informs her choreographic practice in many ways. She is thrilled to be evolving research that began with a piece for the 2025 Juvenis Festival, and to build on its themes through GroundUp’s Emerging Choreographer Residency.
Chantal Aucoin
Chantal Aucoin is a dancer at the Kingston School of Dance, with training in contemporary, jazz, acrobatic, and ballet technique and creation. Growing up as a dancer has allowed her to connect with movement as a form of expression and storytelling. This connection and love for movement inspires her to continue to grow as a dancer and develop her artistry. Currently, Chantal dances for the Kingston Youth Dance Ensemble (KYDE) and shares her love for dance when teaching the young dancers at the Kingston School of Dance, where she enjoys every step of her journey as a dancer.
Anna DiPaolo
Anna DiPaolo is an 18 years old dancer, born and raised here in Kingston. She has been dancing since she was 6 years old, and for the past 12 years has called 5678 Dance Studio her home. She trained in RAD Ballet Syllabus and Adapt Jazz Syllabus, performed in many yearly recitals and Nutcracker productions, and became a member of the competitive team in 2019. She participated in the 1st, 2nd, and now 4th year of Ground UP, and feels honoured to have been able to watch this dance festival grow and come to life. Anna plans on continuing to find ways to fit dance into her life as she heads off to the University of Ottawa this fall.
Niri Herx
Niri Herx grew up in Kingston and now studies kinesiology at the University of Toronto. Niri has been dancing since she was around 4 years old and competed for 6 years. As a dancer at 5678 Dance Studio, Niri has learned many styles of dance, favouring contemporary and ballet. This is Niri’s first time performing at Ground UP Dance Festival before, but has attended as an audience member for the past 2 years. Niri is very excited for this opportunity to share the love of dance with the artists and audiences at the festival!
Katherine Ng
Katherine Ng has been actively working as a professional dancer since 2014. Born and raised in Ottawa, she graduated from The School of Dance Contemporary Dance Diploma, Director Sylvie Desrosier. Starting in Montreal, Katherine had the opportunity to perform and create with <AP&A >, Interlope, La Tresse, and many more while participating in International dance festivals. She also had the opportunity to work on a touring production called Pearl Production with choreographer Daniel Ezralow and a resident production in MGM Macau, with choreographer Travis Payne. Now based in Ottawa, Ontario, she has begun exploring her own visions as a choreographer and solo artist and has been the recipient of City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts funding for professional development, creation and public presentation. Katherine is still continuously dancing for Canadian Choreographers, and is actively training in the circus discipline contortion
Ella Stotz
Ella Stotz is a passionate high school student with over 12 years of dance experience. While training in a variety of styles including contemporary, ballet and tap, she also teaches young students at the Kingston School of Dance. Ella has performed at multiple local dance and arts festivals including the Ground UP Festival and played the Swan Lake Ballerina role in Blue Canoe’s production of Anastasia: The Musical. Most recently, Ella served as the youth dance project leader for the 2025 Juvenis Festival, where she showcased her first original choreography in her production Resonance.
Kiara Flavin
Kiara Flavin was born and raised in Kingston, and grew up dancing at 5678 Dance Studio. There, she met and trained with Kelly Bale who inspired her to train professionally. Kiara joined Quinte Ballet School in 2008, and Canada’s National Ballet School in 2010, where she graduated in 2013. She started her career with Northern Ballet (UK), and danced there for five years. In 2018, Kiara joined The Royal New Zealand Ballet, and in 2020, she returned to Canada to join Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, where she currently dances.
Kiara choreographed her first piece in 2018 while at Northern Ballet, and have since made commissioned works for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, l’École Supéieure de Ballet du Québec and Canada’s National Ballet School, as well as several pieces for choreographic workshops.
Sylvia Berman
Sylvia Berman began her pre-professional training at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada before enrolling in the B.F.A. program at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, where she graduated summa cum laude. While at Purchase, she trained extensively in ballet, contemporary, and modern techniques, as well as improvisation and choreographic composition. Her training includes prestigious intensives such as the Arts Umbrella International Summer Intensive, Alonzo King LINES Ballet Intensive, and Propulsion with Danse à la Carte. Sylvia has performed works by renowned choreographers including George Balanchine, Bettijane Sills, Norbert De La Cruz III, Adi Salent, Crystal Pite, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and Pina Bausch. She is currently an artistic collaborator with PLAYDATE dance and a company dancer with Ballet Ouest de Montréal, where she performs soloist roles.
Alexandra McChesney
Alexandra McChesney (she/her) is an Ontario-based dancer, teacher, and lifelong learner from Kingston, Ontario, and is excited to be back in her hometown for her third season at Ground UP. Her training experience includes a wide range of styles including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern techniques. McChesney has recently performed works by notable choreographers Hanna Kiel and Ryan Lee, Robert Stephen, Esie Mensah, and Alysa Pires. She continues to strive towards expanding her repertoire and knowledge both academically and in-studio. Alexandra has learned and performed at The Fifth, with Hanna Kiel and Jera Wolfe; The Boston Ballet School; Colorado Conservatory of Dance: Movement Lab with critically acclaimed choreographer Dominic Walsh; and was a member of Unapologetic Dance Company from 2021-2022. She has performed and taught dance across Southern Ontario, splitting her time between Toronto and Kingston, including at the Kingston School of Dance and 5678 Dance Studio. Alexandra enjoys all aspects of performance, recently co-producing and acting as production manager for Chapters, a full-length performance at the Factory Theatre (Toronto); and lighting Human Body Expression’s 2025 mixed program showcase, featuring Dora-Award winning choreography, and new works, by Hanna Kiel and Lauren Cook. McChesney is a 2025 graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s BFA Performance Dance Major, and holds a Minor in Disability Studies.
Ellie Price
Ellie Price is a versatile contemporary dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in both Toronto and Kingston, Ontario. She began her training at the Ontario School of Ballet and continued at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she studied classical ballet and a range of modern techniques. Ellie also spent time in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Performance Dance program gaining conservatory-style experience in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, West African, composition, and improvisation. Her performance work spans stage, film, and multimedia. As a principal dancer and choreographer with Toronto’s Unapologetic Dance Collective, she performed in full-length productions, independent films, and festivals including 100 Days of Summer. She has worked under the direction of Kahvontay Slaughter and trained with artists such as Louis Laberge-Côté, Tara Roberts, and Lua Shayenne.
As an artist, Ellie values movement that’s technically grounded but led by feeling—she’s drawn to work that lives at the intersection of structure, emotion, and rhythm. Ellie also brings over a decade of experience as a dance educator, teaching across Ontario, cultivating strong, expressive dancers with curiosity and care. She is currently completing her academic studies at Queen’s University.
Kay Kenney
Kay Kenney is a contemporary dance artist based in Kingston, ON, and the Artistic Director of the Kingston School of Dance. She began her training at KSD in 1994 and later studied in the Professional Contemporary Dance Program at The School of Dance in Ottawa. Kay has performed and taught across Ontario, Quebec, and Europe, and is a long-time company dancer with Ottawa Dance Directive and Social Growl Dance. In 2016, she founded Movement Market Collective to support and present local dance artists. She also serves as Director of the Ground UP Dance Festival, which showcases emerging and professional talent. Through her artistic leadership, choreography, and community engagement, Kay is a passionate advocate for the growth of contemporary dance and the arts in Kingston.
Marie Boddington
Marie Boddington is a Kingston-based dancer and choreographer with over a decade of experience in contemporary, jazz, ballet, and acrobatics. Marie is also a PhD candidate in Biochemistry at Queen’s University, where she has explored the fusion of science and movement with her choreography for the international Dance Your PhD competition in 2023. Marie has performed in a range of productions and festivals, including the Ground Up Dance Festival and the Vogue Charity Fashion Show, and continues to create work that bridges movement, meaning, and community.
Rowen Edwards
Rowen Edwards is an 18 year old dancer in Kingston, Ontario. She has a passion for dance and performing and sharing her love for dance in any way she can. Rowen grew up and trained at the Kingston School of Dance (KSD) for 9 years. She trained in Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop. She found her love for Dance at KSD and also her love for teaching. Through teaching dance at KSD, she gained a love for working and sharing her passion for dance with kids. For Rowen, dance is a form of self expression and part of her identity.
Elissa Morgan
Elissa Morgan (she/her) is a passionate dance artist, instructor, and choreographer whose work is rooted in the transformative power of movement to inspire, connect, and build community. Raised in coastal Tsawwassen, BC, her early training spanned artistic gymnastics, ballet, lyrical, and contemporary dance. After relocating to Toronto in 2015 to study human biology, she joined Only Human Dance Collective, taking on roles in performance, choreography, and creative direction. She began performing professionally in 2021 with TDC Entertainment, appearing in large-scale events across the GTA as a dancer, acrobat, and aerialist. During this time she also completed a Master’s degree in Public Health, strengthening her dedication to community well-being through both the arts and sciences.
Now based in Kingston, ON, Elissa remains deeply involved in both the local dance and public health communities. She performed in the 2024 Ground UP Dance Festival, appeared in two dance-on-film projects showcased at the 2025 Kingston Canadian Film Festival, and in an independent short. Elissa also teaches ballet, lyrical, acro, and early childhood dance at the Kingston School of Dance. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes supportive, expressive spaces where dancers of all ages can explore movement as storytelling, self-discovery, and connection. Outside the studio, she works at Veterans Affairs Canada as a public servant and health researcher.
Jessica Irwin-Champagne
Jessica Irwin-Champagne began dancing at the age of three and quickly developed a passion for the performing arts. She trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, cheerleading, modern, and contemporary. As a competitive dancer, Jessica earned numerous awards at national and international competitions, including an International Title. She also completed ADAPT Jazz and Tap exams during this time. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Performance and Choreography from York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design. While at York, she performed in several mainstage dance productions such as Fleur De Sel, Dance Innovations: Counter/Point, Terpsichore-in-Progress, and Beginnings & Endings. She was a featured member of the York Dance Ensemble, performing in numerous shows and at TEDx events, and trained in Cecchetti Ballet as well as the modern techniques of José Limón and Martha Graham. Jessica also danced competitively on the York Dance Energy team, receiving multiple awards. In her final year, she studied under acclaimed modern dance artist Julia Sasso, deepening her skills in choreography and performance. Professionally, Jessica has performed with TDC Entertainment, Sole Power Productions, and D’air Dance Collective, and since 2017, she has been a company member of Movement Market, appearing in productions such as Grounded at the Ground Up Dance Festival (2023 & 2024), Unfamiliar at the Juvenis Festival, The Path, and Women in Coats, under choreographer Kay Kenny. In addition to her artistic work, Jessica is a qualified educator with a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, specializing in Primary/Junior education. She has taught both recreational and competitive dance for over 15 years at studios across Toronto and Kingston, earning accolades for her choreography and coaching. Jessica has also worked with H’ART Centre and the HAAP program, delivering inclusive dance programming for adults with intellectual exceptionalities and seniors in long-term care. Jessica brings a wealth of experience, passion, and energy to every class and performance. She looks forward to inspiring a new generation of dancers to work hard, dream big, and believe that anything is possible.
Melissa Prince
Melissa Prince has been dancing since the age of two, making her stage debut as a “Twinkle Toes” ballerina. She trained and competed in various dance styles throughout her childhood and teen years, dancing competitively until she was 18. Before graduating from high school, she earned her BATD teaching certification. Melissa moved to Kingston to study Drama and Film at Queen’s University, where her passion for dance continued to thrive. She taught and choreographed at a local studio and was actively involved in university dance programs and productions, including the Vogue Charity Fashion Show, Movement Market, and The Juvenis Festival. After graduating from Queen's, Melissa has been working locally in the film and production industry.