Pilot Episodes
An Experimental Lab
November - December 2023
Six creators will have their first opportunity to collaborate with TDT’s company dancers in the fourth edition of TDT’s Pilot Episodes. A series of immersive one-week residencies, each creator will get to experiment and take artistic risks in the studio without the pressure of producing a finished work.
This style of residency is great for creators who are looking to challenge their choreographic practices and work intensively on their process and approach. Applications are now closed for the 2023/24 season. Thank you to everyone who has applied and expressed their interest.
Thank you to the Lindy Green Family Foundation for generously supporting this artist development program.

Call to Artists: Pilot Episodes
Application Deadline: Wednesday September 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Initiated by Tedd Robinson and Andrew Tay in 2020 to support independent artists when so few performance opportunities existed due to the pandemic, Pilot Episodes welcomes choreographers or creators to have their first experience collaborating with members of the TDT ensemble. Now entering its fourth iteration, 6 artists will be selected to participate during the 2023/24 season.
Project Summary
Each choreographer selected for the project will be given one week to explore their ideas on 4-5 of TDT’s company dancers. In addition, there will be several planned sessions with Artistic Director Andrew Tay. These “meet ups” will take the form of shared meals or casual hangouts, and they will serve to encourage discussion and artistic reflection outside of the more formal studio working periods. Each selected participant will receive $1280 as an artistic fee for the week.
Each week will culminate with an open rehearsal, as part of our effort to generate engaging discussions around working methods and choreographic processes.
Who should Apply?
- Independent artists who do not currently receive operational funding
- Artists interested in questioning their practice and how they are approaching choreography and performance
- Artists interested in recognizing their habits and biases, who want to discover new tools for creation as well as hone their skills working with dancers and collaborators in the studio
- Artists who may not normally have the chance to create work on a larger ensemble cast
- Priority given to artists based in Toronto or who have access to accommodation in the city and are willing to travel (the project does not provide travel or accommodation fees)
Project Dates (please specify which weeks you are available when applying)
Week 1: November 27 – December 1, 2023
Week 2: December 4 – 8, 2023
Week 3: December 11 – 15, 2023
What is Offered
- $1280 as an artistic fee for the week
- 5 days to create work and experiment on 3 of TDT’s company dancers (Monday to Friday)
- Option to participate in company classes or workshops during the week
- Support throughout the process by Andrew Tay, as well as personal consultation in the form of shared meals or hang out sessions.
The Selection Process
- A selection committee will consist of a representative from the TDT ensemble, Artistic Director Andrew Tay and a member of the Toronto dance community (not affiliated with TDT) to evaluate the applications
- Priority will be given to artists who have never worked on the full TDT ensemble
- The selection committee will consider the overall programming of the Pilot Episodes series in their decision making, including factors such as gender parity and diversity of backgrounds and approaches when selecting artists
- Please note that the availability of the applicant will also be a factor taken into consideration.
- All applicants will be notified of the results by October 5, 2023
Please be advised that the Winchester Street Theatre is unfortunately not barrier-free. You can visit TDT’s accessibility webpage for further details.
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Google form by Wednesday September 13, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET: https://forms.gle/xi9XBgy9J92J5VJC8
- If you require an alternative format to help complete the application process, please email jasmine@tdt.org and we can provide the application questions in an email, Word document or PDF
Inquiries about Pilot Episodes or the application process? Please contact jasmine@tdt.org
2023/24 Participants
To be announced Fall 2023 after Call to Artists
Past Participants

Photo by Maxim Kopanygin
Rodney Diverlus
(Winter 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Winter 2021
Rodney Diverlus
Rodney Diverlus is a Haitian-Canadian multi-hyphenate artist and artivist who uses the body & voice as sites to host movement, text, and protest. His work samples from the realms of contemporary and afrikanic movement & dance practices, physical theatre, mass mobilization, and public arts-based interventions. A vagabond, his work presents, at times flaunts emergent representations of blackness, and weaves in ancestral, diasporic, and queer narratives of life and freedom.
He has created and interpreted works at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Stratford Festival, SummerWorks Festival, Irie Music Festival, Canadian Opera Company, and Tableau d’Hôte Theatre, and KasheDance. Rodney is the recipient of the 2019 Canadian Stage Award for Direction and a 2019 Montreal English Theatre Choreography Award nominee.
Beyond his artistic practice, he moonlights as a community activator and writer. He is the co-founder of Black Lives Matter – Canada and co-creator of Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism.

Bradley Eng
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Bradley Eng
Bradley Eng is an emerging choreographer and interpreter based in Toronto and Montreal. Bradley has worked as an interpreter and trampoline coach for the project R(e)bound choreographed by Caroline Laurin-Beaucage, (Montreal Danse, 2018). He is currently working for Compagnie Virginie Brunelle as an interpreter for her creation, Les Corps Avales.
Bradley is developing a movement methodology called “Break Even”, researching new possibilities of contact dance by deconstructing the foundations of Latin ballroom partnering to enhance communication to allow greater movement capacities for dancers to explore and create choreography. Bradley’s movement is influenced by multiple practices including gymnastics, breakdance, contemporary, martial arts, and Latin ballroom which affects his choreography, interpretations, and teachings.
He continues to search for new movement inspirations to challenge and further his growth as a movement artist.

Photo by David Cooper and lighting by Daria Mikhaylyuk
Ralph Escamillan
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Fall 2021
Ralph Escamillan
I am Canadian born, Queer, Filipino/a/x diasporic creator based in Vancouver, BC. The work I create questions my fascination with identity, traditions, clothing and the influence of pop culture in a globalising society. My experience in a multitude of rooms as a dancer, choreographer and community leader – has lent me the opportunity to see the discrepancy of privilege in society, and hope to shift this narrative in my work. I believe the body is powerful and important in communicating these ideas, and we should support the bodies autonomy/agency, political values, and ancestral legacy. For more about me, please visit www.ralphescamillan.com

Photo by Holly Chang
Celia Green
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Celia Green
Celia Green is a queer and genderqueer performer, performance creator, and choreographer working at the intersection of dance and theatre. Their growth and learning as an artist has been greatly shaped by training at The Paprika Festival, the AMY Project, La Pocha Nostra, and the P.A.R.T.S summerschool in contemporary dance. Their solo show, Wah Wah Wah, had its premiere at SummerWorks in 2019, where they received the Theatre Centre Emerging Artist Award. Celia was recently involved as a choreographer in Adelheid Dance’s 2021 iteration of re:research. Currently, they are developing a new performance work called SOWWY. Celia is also a birthworker.

Photo by David Leyes
Syreeta Hector
(Spring 2022)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2022
Syreeta Hector
Syreeta Hector is a dance artist and educator in Toronto, Ontario. As a highly accomplished performer, Syreeta has worked for internationally recognized companies like Adelheid Dance Projects, Danny Grossman Dance Company, Political Movement, and Toronto Dance Theatre. She is a proud graduate of The National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and has achieved her Master of Arts in Dance Studies from York University.
Her work called “Black Ballerina” focuses on the dualities within ones identity, along with Syreeta’s blackness and indigeneity in relationship to classical ballet. The development of the full length version of “Black Ballerina” is taking place through the support of the Citadel+ Compagnie, Canadian Stage, and the Kaaitheater. Syreeta is currently one of the Luminato Artists in Residence for the 2020-2021 season.

Photo by Tazzo Paris
Winnie Ho
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2023
Winnie Ho
Winnie Ho is an interdisciplinary dance artist and curator who was born in Hong Kong and currently lives in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). Her work focuses on pleasure, play, and also around her queer and Chinese diasporic identities. Her passion in working in experimental and DIY structure and spaces has led her to create immersive installations and performances in various festivals in Europe and North America. She was the recipient of the 2017 Danceweb Scholarship Program at Impulstanz Festival in Vienna. Furthermore, from 2020-2023, Winnie has been the co-curator with Justin De Luna for Studio 303’s programming of Queer Performance Camp Festival, which is also supported by Theatre LaChapelle and the MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels). Her latest solo work aWokening, was premiered in September 2022 and presented by Danse-cité, Montreal.

Photo by Toronto Edits
Kelly-Ann Johnson
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2023
Kelly-Ann Johnson
“What colour will you not dye your hair? “is a common question that the young artiste often gets asked. Unapologetically black, gifted and multifaceted, she is the walking definition of living life like there is no box.
At a tender age in her native land sweet Jam Dung (Jamaica) was where her talents were first discovered. She was born with art in her blood. Constantly being around cousins, other family and friends who danced, sang, acted, modelled, played instruments and painted are roots that she will never forget as they have been apart of shaping the young artistic woman she is today. She has entered competitions in musical genres of Soca, Contemporary, Dancehall, Kumina, other African Folk-dance forms.
She furthered her training of being a versatile dancer after moving to Canada in 2011.
Kelly-Ann manages to do all her artistic training while being inspired by three peculiar women who boldly stood on their beliefs and shaped the world, which further pushed Kelly-Ann to give birth to two multifaceted platforms ERN (Esther. Ruth. Naomi) In Motion and Dance With ERN. Her first platform showcases numerous self directed and collaborative modelling/artistic and lifestyle projects with artists from across the globe. Her second platform, Dance With ERN displays how she breaths and holds the heart of rhythm through workshops, performances, collaborations and dance pieces. She has received performance opportunities with artistes, Active member of the TKBA (Toronto kiki ballroom alliance) within the Supreme Kiki House of Christian Siriano, choreographed for artistes such as Baby Cham, directed dance projects, appeared in music videos, worked in productions behind the scenes and on stage with Urbani Toronto as well as model in fashion shows.
She is an eccentric trailblazer who plans to make positive impact and leave her mark on the world while pursuing and achieving through faith her dream career of artistic direction. This is Kelly-Ann Johnson.
Instagram: @erninmotion

Photo by Axel Villamil
KINAJ
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artists
Participated in Spring 2023
KINAJ
KINAJ is a cross-genre dance collective created and led by Kin Nguien and AJ Velasco. Since 2020, KINAJ’s mission has been to bridge gaps between various art disciplines such as dance, film, photography and music through the art of collaboration and knowledge exchange. They create cross-genre dance work that fuses street styles and contemporary dance with improvisation and partnering techniques. Guided by storytelling, they continue to challenge the status quo with their witty and relatable performance while speaking on various social issues pertinent to the present times.
Instagram: @kinaj.co

Photo by Fran Chudnoff
Jennifer Laiwint
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Jennifer Laiwint
Jennifer Laiwint (she/her) is a Tkaronto based interdisciplinary artist and DJ, also known as Hadara. Her practice is grounded in a collaborative approach with a focus on merging the worlds of contemporary and nightclub dance forms, experimental sound and video art. Jennifer’s current work is guided by a curiosity about what can be heard in the body during transformative states, and how dance can mediate connections between physical rhythms, electronic music and psycho-spiritual practices. She developed work at the Banff Centre and NARS Foundation in New York and has presented in galleries and festivals such as Xpace, the Art Gallery of Mississauga and SummerWorks. In 2020, Jennifer was accepted into the Dancemakers Peer Learning Network and the DOC Breakthrough Program to develop new projects in the fields of dance and documentary film. She recently participated in the TO Community Love-In “Practice Lab” series and presented new video work for Long Winter Television and the plumb gallery. Jennifer is a board member at Pleasure Dome, where she recently curated “Measures of Motion,” a program of experimental dance films. Jennifer is currently an MFA candidate in the department of Film at York University.

Photo by Do Phan Hoi
Victoria Mackenzie
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2023
Victoria Mackenzie
Victoria Mackenzie/VicVersa is a Montréal-based independent dance artist. Her main areas of focus are performance, pedagogy, facilitation, and event co-ordination. Vic has been dancing since early childhood and has since practiced and performed various styles in various arenas. She is an amalgam of classical training, b-girl-ism, and nightclub free form. She has performed, taught, and battled locally and internationally. She is a member of FRGMNT, a recently formed group of multidisciplinary artists based in Montréal. Her connections with the street dance and club scene are an essential part of her life. Her approach considers musical emphasis, expression of self and catharsis above all else.
Instagram: @vicversavic

Photo by Rolando Argueta
Chenise Mitchell
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2023
Chenise Mitchell
Chenise Mitchell is a Jazzer; a performing artist driven by rhythm and social connection. With 17 years of professional experience, Chenise has toured Turtle Island, appeared in commercials, concerts, music videos, and created and collaborated for festivals, musicals and plays. For Chenise, Jazz is joy, healing, connection and belonging. Chenise is passionate about emphasizing the revolutionary nature and Black origins of Jazz and this rhythm and connection is infused in her education, creation and performances.
Instagram: @spinalrhythmjazz

Photo by Sean Harrison
Miss Coco Murray
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Miss Coco Murray
Collette “Coco” Murray is a dance educator and cultural arts programmer. Her performance background ranged in Caribbean Folk, traditional West African and other diasporic dance styles. Her artistry includes performance, teaching, arts education, mentorship, research, and writing. This award- winning artist is recognized as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women honouree in 2020 and the 2019 recipient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Community Arts Award. Murray pursues a PhD in Dance Studies at York University. Along with Miss Coco Murray, her mobile, dance education business, Murray also is the Artistic Director of Coco Collective offering culturally-responsive projects connecting participants to African and Caribbean arts.

Photo by Peter Van Heesen
Zac / Sylv Myst
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Zac / Sylv Myst
zac is Sylv Myst.
Sylv Myst is AIRWITCH.
Sylv Myst has been FIREWITCH.
Sylv Myst has also been WATERWITCH.
Sylv Myst in time shall be EARTHWITCH.
AIRWITCH is the SENSING DANCE.
FIREWITCH was the FEELING DANCE.
WATERWITCH was the THINKING DANCE.
EARTHWITCH shall be the BEING DANCE.
circumstances have required Sylv Myst to keep secrets about AIRWITCH.
secrets can be sensed.
this is where the dance begins.
zac as Sylv Myst is practicing dance as an exploration of corporeal witchcraft.
these particular dances are expressions of the mythology of Sylv Myst.
the myths spawned from the tragicomic (& mundane) life experiences of zac.
zac is curious about the mystic potential of timespace and neo-atavistic performance.
all is offered forth with the intent to instigate and venerate Shadow Goddexx energy.

Photo by Michael Mortley
Atri Nundy
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Atri Nundy
Atri Nundy started learning Bharatanatyam at Sampradaya Dance Academy under her teacher Lata Pada at the age of 4. After completing her arangetram in 2005, she continues to work as a teacher at the Academy and as a Company dancer and choreographer at Sampradaya Dance Creations.
While training in Bharatanatyam, Atri was fortunate enough to be able to train in various dance forms. This combination has given her the interest to explore beyond the traditional realms of Bharatanatyam. She has had the opportunity to work with Nova Bhattacharya at NovaDance and Brandy Leary at Anandam Dancetheatre. Currently, she is focusing on creating her first ensemble choreography, Mindful Chatter. It is a piece commissioned by Anandam Dancetheatre and supported by the Toronto Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.

Photo by Andrew Savery-Whiteway
Camille Rojas
(Spring 2022)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2022
Camille Rojas
Camille Rojas (b. 1993 Toronto; lives and works in Toronto) is a multidisciplinary artist working with film, photography and dance. Her work uses movement as the primary vehicle to dissect ideas and emotions, most of which address experiences of gender, race and class within life and the art institution. Using her own presence in her work – sometimes through a persona – offers the opportunity to delve deeper within various concepts whether it is by herself or as part of an ensemble. She received her BFA in Photography Studies at Ryerson University’s School of Image Arts (2017) and has recently exhibited her work at Gallery 44, Gallery TPW, Critical Distance Centre for Curators, Erin Stump Projects and Ryerson image Centre.

Photo by Hadi Gulshan
Angela Schubot
(Winter 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Winter 2021
Angela Schubot
Angela Schubot is from Berlin, choreographer, dancer, researcher and bodyworker/healer, with roots in Peru and Toronto, works since 2009 with Jared Gradinger, creating works on the debordering of the body and plant consciousness. She develops methods of “Radical Softness” and “Flow Work” and is certified practitioner of perceptive pedagogy and fascia therapy/Method Danis Bois. Since 2012 her artistic practice has been researching and developing methods and possibilities to acknowledge non-human principles and beings and to interact with them. These practices include solo works, a.o. the trilogy “Körper ohne Macht” (body without power) 2015, and long term research works, a.o MOSSBELLY in collaboration with Shelley Etkin, developing “bodies of multiplicity” in deep communion with plant nature.

Photo by Aidan Tooth
Eilish Shin-Culhane
(Spring 2023)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Spring 2023
Eilish Shin-Culhane
Eilish 미정 Shin-Culhane is a queer half-Korean artist. Holding a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College, Eilish feels equal parts dancer and choreographer. She has notably performed in works by Bill T. Jones, Nova Bhattacharya, and Nicole von Arx. Her choreography has been presented by Peggy Baker, Aeris Körper, George Brown, and Hamilton Fringe, with support from the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Eilish’s work plays with theatricality, rigour, and humour – finding fascination in human adversity and connection.
Instagram: @eilishsc

Photo by Yvonne Chew
b solomon
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
b solomon
Multi-award nominated, winner and loser, creator b solomon is of mixed Anishinaabe and Irish heritage, born in Shebahonaning on the North Channel of Lake Huron. As a creator his multidisciplinary work is raw, challenging and full of spirit. His commissions (dance, visual & media arts) have been presented and toured across Turtle Island and abroad. With social advocacy at the core, he is passionate about helping people relearn the nature of their ancient bodies, and take back the space those bodies occupy. More at: electricmoose.ca

Photo by Kristen-Innes Stambolic
Tyra Temple-Smith
(Fall 2021)

Pilot Episodes Artist
Participated in Fall 2021
Tyra Temple-Smith
Tyra Temple-Smith was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She is a multi-disciplinary artist working with sculpture, video, illustration, and dance. In 2018, Temple-Smith graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. In 2019, she participated in the Counter Technique intensive in Montreal. She went on to produce a show titled Fuse alongside peers, Olivia Arcangeli and Sasha Speed; with a commissioned piece by Katherine Semchuk. Temple-Smith also performed in a work titled (In)Sight choreographed by Nina Milanovski in her show What Comes Next in 2019, going on to have an iteration in Milanovski’s video journey How did we get here? that premiered July 31, 2021. She has assisted in the Young Dancers’ Program, as well as assisting teaching classes with WeDance at the National Ballet School of Canada.