Montreal choreographer Lina Cruz is a two-time Dora Mavor Moore Award recipient for Outstanding Original Choreography (2012 and 2017) and was nominated for the same award in 2015. She received a second place award in the 1998 international choreographic competition of the St-Sauveur Arts Festival (Quebec).

Cruz celebrated in 2023 her 50th anniversary as a dance professional. After 15 years as an independent choreographer, she founded Fila 13 Productions in 2003. She has presented her creative work in festivals and events at local, national and international levels. Cruz has a background in ballet as much as modern/contemporary styles and takes interest in martial arts and various forms of stage expression. She has created works for independent artists as well as dance companies and institutions of professional dance training. Cruz is also often involved in theatre and opera projects. In her works, she explores detailed body language, sound and vocal expression, composing characters and sketches which portray an unsettling strangeness, but always hand in hand with a mischievous playfulness.

Before diving into exploring her own creative work, she was passionately dedicated to being a dancer of avid interests and versatility, working with various choreographers in Canada, Spain and Colombia (her country of origin).

CV Lina Cruz
© photo: Alexandre Frenette

SEAN LING

Sean Ling-Allen lives in Vernon, BC with his husband and 3 children on Curlew Orchard. His professional dance career includes company work with Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Toronto Dance Theatre and Alberta Ballet. Ling-Allen has also had an extensive independent dance career and was fortunate to work with many Canadian choreographers across Canada, tour internationally and appear in Canadian dance films. Ling-Allen continues to pursue his dance passion in selected projects. He is active in the Vernon community with his Pilates Studio and participates in dance education and experiences for non-dancers.

CV Sean Ling

CLAUDIA MOORE

Claudia Moore, performer and founding Artistic Director of Moonhorse Dance Theatre (MDT), has been a force on the Canadian dance scene since the late 70’s. She trained at the National Ballet School and performed with the National Ballet of Canada, before moving into contemporary dance as a featured performer with Toronto Dance Theatre and Desrosiers Dance Theatre. Claudia founded Moonhorse Dance Theatre in 1996, as a home for her dance performance projects. One of Canada’s most revered contemporary dancers, Claudia pursues her passion as an interpreter in commissioned works by acclaimed creators including Susie Burpee, Lina Cruz, James Kudelka and the late Tedd Robinson. She established Older & Reckless, a performance series renowned for its celebration of mature dance artists, in 2000, as part of MDT. Claudia has received the Jacqueline Lemieux award for excellence in dance. Claudia now resides in Kelowna BC and is honoured to live, work and dance on the unceded, ancestral territory of the Syilx people. In 2022/23 she served as the Dance West Network Community Dance Connector for Kelowna, programming movement classes, a performance and a community project for the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ Creative Aging Festival.

CV Claudia Moore

PHILIPPE NOIREAUT