KIN 2 - Artist Biographies

Kayla Henry is a mother, award-winning choreographer, performer, and movement educator based on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən and  W̱SÁNEĆ nations, in Victoria British Columbia.

Independently, Kayla has been choreographing since she was 8-years old, professionally since 2013. Her creations have so far been supported by the BC Arts Council, The Province of British Columbia, CRD Arts & Culture (Victoria BC), Constance Cooke (Victoria BC), Dance Victoria, Good Women Dance Collective (Edmonton AB), Impulse Theatre (Victoria BC), Jennifer Mascall (Vancouver BC), Springboard Performance (Calgary AB), Theatre Junction Grand (Calgary AB), The Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, (Austria), and Xchanges Gallery & Studios (Victoria BC).

Kayla has performed in hundreds of professional works across Canada, USA, and Europe. Choreographers include Christina Medina (Austria), Rachel Browne (Winnipeg), Sasha Ivanochko (Toronto), Paras Terezakis (Vancouver), and Menaka Thakkar (Toronto), to name a few. 

Kayla graduated from The School of Contemporary Dancers (Winnipeg MB), where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Upon graduating in 2011, Kayla joined Canada’s longest-running contemporary dance company, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, where she danced for three seasons. 

Kayla is the Founder and Artistic Director of Noble Riot Dance Theatre in Victoria BC (2021).

Originally from Edmonton (amiskwaciy-wâskahikan), Alberta, Karissa has been a professional contemporary dance artist for 24 years, working throughout Canada, Asia, and Europe. She has worked with choreographers and companies such as Action at a Distance (Vancouver), Anne Plamondon (Montréal), Les Productions Figlio (Vancouver), Out Innerspace Dance Theatre (Vancouver), Raven Spirit Dance

(Vancouver), Sylvain Émard Danse (Montréal), and Wen Wei Dance (Vancouver), among others.

Her choreographic work extends to festivals and companies such as Ballet Edmonton, Dancing on the Edge, Dance Deck Cinq, Dusk Dances, Expanse Festival, Fluid Festival, la petite scène, Modus Operandi, Project Intandem, Small Stage, and her self-produced evening STRATEGY THREE. She has created dance on film projects that have been presented on various platforms in Canada and Europe. In 2018, she became Rehearsal Director at Ballet Edmonton for three seasons under the Artistic Direction of Wen Wei Wang. During that time she choreographed three original works for the company, and assisted choreographers Gioconda Barbuto, Josh Beamish, Serge Bennathan, Shay Kuebler, Rachel Meyer and Wen Wei Wang. Currently based on Vancouver Island (Snaw-Na-Was First Nation), Karissa continues to pursue choreographic and performance endeavors for both film & live performance, as well as instructing various contemporary dance techniques.

Finley Rose is a musician and performing artist from Vancouver Island, BC. Finley grew up among the arbutus trees, echoing their song. Their music draws on the darkness and light of human experience; a soaring vocal line over a resonant violin phrase, a heartfelt song, spun from the piano. Influenced by genres such as traditional folk, alternative rock and neo-classical music, elements of these styles support the intricate soundscapes they create. Finley began studying music at age 4, learning classical violin and voice under the tutelage of Arthur Petrie, Sharon Wishart and Trish Horrocks. At age 16 Finley attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts where they furthered their studies and graduated with an Enriched Performing Arts Diploma.

Rick Laird is a Victoria-based sound engineer specializing in on-location recording, with a focus on folk and ambient music. Notable projects include the soundtrack for the James Beard award-winning documentary film "Modified", recordings for the High Quadra Ramblers, and a touring album for OQO featuring Nightingale. Their meticulous approach prioritizes capturing the authenticity and raw beauty of each performance, evident in their collaborations with these emerging Canadian artists.

Sarah Hutton is a dancer, actor, choreographer, teacher, and rehearsal director. She was raised in Hanna, Alberta. She moved to Vancouver in 2013 and has since trained with the Source Dance Company, EDAM, Modus Operandi, and Peggy Baker’s Emerging Artists Program. Sarah’s other training includes RUBBERBANDance Method and scene study classes with Nadine Wright. She has had the pleasure to perform and collaborate in works by Paras Terezakis, Shay Kuebler, Rachel Helten, Isak Enquist, Khoudia Toure, Constance Cooke, and Anya & Sophia Saugstad. 

Sarah Co-Directs the contemporary dance company, Generous Mess, with her partner Aiden Cass. Generous Mess’s work has been presented at Dancing On The Edge Festival, the EDAM Choreographic Series, Left of Push, Dance Deck, Boombox, and Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers 60th Anniversary Season. Sarah is privileged to work and play as a guest on the unceded and stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.

Nicole Mandryk is Anishinaabe, Irish and Ukrainian and her traditional name is Niibinobinesiik. Her name translates to Summer Thunderbird, and its physical representation is the loon. Her ancestry on her mother’s side of the family comes from Oka. Her mother was raised in Ottawa disconnected from community as a result of the Indian Act. Her father’s side of the family are Ukrainian. These ancestors settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Nicole and her sister were born and raised on the on the traditional territory of the lək̓ wəŋən , Esquimalt, and W̱SANEĆ nations. She is a grateful guest on these territories and raises her hands to the caretakers of the land, skies, and waters. 

Nicole is a visual artist who is dedicated to Anishinaabe art practices. She is inspired by Anishinaabe stories, art, land, language, and songs. Nicole has been engaged in performative arts through Indigenous showcases and has been asked by community to compose and share songs. These songs have been sung by The Wildflowers, ANSWER, and the Lafayette String Quartet for the project B.K Weigel/Lafayette String Quartet Legacy Project. She is also an emerging beadwork artist since 2014. Nicole’s mentors are Lindsay Delaronde (Mohawk), Jessica Gokey (Anishinaabe) and Lynette La Fontaine (Métis). Her work was featured in the exhibition On Beaded Ground (Legacy Art Gallery, 2021).