Cast and Crew
CREATORS
Emily Cheung
Choreography/Lighting/Costume “Nine-Tailed Fox”, “The Goddesses and a Painter”
Emily Cheung is an educator, performer, and choreographer who holds degrees in B.F.A., B. Ed., and M.A. from York University, with a specialization in Dance. Her extensive training took place across China, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada. Renowned for her pivotal role in fostering cross-cultural connections and facilitating collaborations with international artists dedicated to traditional and modern Chinese dance in Toronto, Ms. Cheung received recognition as one of the prominent figures during the 150th Anniversary celebration of Canada, being honored as one of the ten “Voices of Chinese Canadian Women” in Ontario. She was also a finalist for the Muriel Sherrin Award.
Currently serving as the Artistic Director of Little Pear Garden Dance Company in Toronto, Ms. Cheung is an active member of the board of directors for Dance Ontario. Her expertise encompasses both Chinese Classical dance and Chinese Contemporary dance. Emily Cheung is deeply committed to preserving the essence of traditional Chinese dance, crafting contemporary expressions that pay homage to Chinese heritage, and engaging in collaborative ventures with artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to create works imbued with distinctive aesthetic values.
News article on Ms. Cheung celebrating her 10th anniversary with the company.
Alice Ping Yee Ho
Music “Nine-Tailed Fox”
Alice Ping Yee Ho is an award winning Chinese Canadian composer. Her eclectic and prolific compositions include operas, orchestras, chamber, dance, and theatre. Her notable awards include the 2022 Symphony Nova Scotia’s Maria Anna Mozart Award, 2022 Barlow Endowment Commissioning Award, 2019 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize, 2014 Prince Edward Island Symphony Composers Competition, and the 2013 Mavor Dora Moore Award for her opera “The Lesson of Da Ji”.
Her works have been performed by major ensembles including Finnish Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, China National Symphony, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Radio Choir, Estonia’s Ellerhein Girls’ Choir, Esprit Orchestra, as well as the Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Victoria, Nova Scotia, Hamilton, Kitchener Waterloo, and Windsor Symphonies.
A twice JUNO Award Nominee, she has an impressive discography released on the Centrediscs, Naxos, ATMA, Navona, Marquis Classics, Blue Griffin, Electra, Leaf Music, and Phoenix labels. She has nine solo albums of her music written for different genres, including three full length opera recordings of “Chinatown”, “The Monkiest King”, and “The Lesson of Da Ji” which won the 2016 Critic Choice of New York Opera Reviews.
A noted classical pianist and an active advocate of contemporary music, Alice makes her home in Toronto. Website: www.alicepyho.com
Diana Tso
Story “Nine-Tailed Fox”
D iana Tso 楓 is a theatre artist, playwright, storyteller and Dora award winning actor. She’s a theatre faculty member at George Brown College. She graduated from the University of Toronto in English Literature and of Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in France. She’s worked with diverse theatres internationally for over 25 years. Recent performances include: Modern Times Stage Company’s The Cherry Orchard, Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s Les Misérables and at the 2017 Stratford Festival in Bakkhai and The Komagata Maru Incident. As artistic director of Red Snow Collective, which creates compelling theatre drawn from eastern and western storytelling aesthetics, her productions focus on empowering the voices of women: www.redsnowcollective.ca Her plays, Red Snow (2012) and Comfort (2016) bring to light the resilience of women in war and her Monkey Queen stories are a re-imagining of mythologies from the female perspective. Her plays are available at https://www.canadianplayoutlet.com/products/the-monkey-queen-by-diana-tso Recent creations include: unwavering, commissioned by a Convergence Theatre under their 2020 COVID Confessions series, click link below for audio and text: https://www.convergencetheatre.com/covid-commissions-art/unwavering-by-diana-tso HauNodi 河 নদী , co-created with Rubena Sinha, commissioned by the 2022 https://weefestival.ca/shows/haunodi/ The production of her new play, Carried by the River, a story about women and memory, premieres March 2025 at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto Diana’s upcoming storytelling events celebrating Asian Heritage with these fabulous musicians: May 29 www.phoenxensemble.com and May 31 www.singtoronto.tickit.ca “sing in the concert in that choir”
William Lau
Choreography Peking Opera
W illiam Lau is a graduate of York University’s Master of Fine Arts program in dance. A refined performer, he was trained in both Chinese traditional dance and Western classical ballet and now specializes in the Dan (female roles) in Chinese opera. William has been an ambassador for Chinese performing arts for the past 25 years, conducting workshops, lectures and demonstrations at various academic institutions and artistic companies as well as museums and cultural organizations and has shared the richness of Chinese dance and opera with a wide range of audiences nationally and internationally. He has pushed the boundaries of traditional art practices by collaborating with professional artists of different artistic disciplines and diverse cultural backgrounds.
Nancy Baltazar
Costume “Nine-Tailed Fox”
N ancy Baltazar, a Mexican Multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, draws inspiration from the ways humans express themselves through art on a daily basis. With a background in Fashion Design and Illustration, she explores the fusion of personal identity and style. Nancy’s artistic journey began with an early fascination with fashion illustration, using her mother’s anatomical croquis to sketch outfits that captivated her imagination and designing her own creations.
Having worked in vibrant cultural hubs like Mexico City, Paris, and now Toronto, Nancy’s creative work ranges from textile design to editorial illustration. During her university years studying Fashion Design, she gravitated towards accessories design, crafting experimental pieces for runways and editorial spreads. After graduation, she honed her skills as the main Designer at Tardan Moda in Mexico City, specializing in hat and headwear design, before continuing her journey as an Assistant Milliner in a Toronto-based hat shop.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led her to rediscover her passion for illustration and graphic design, and she began expanding her portfolio in these fields in Toronto. As a freelance brand designer with Casa MN, a creative studio offering solutions in design, photography, video, and illustration, Nancy has left her imprint on various projects. Her illustrations have graced the pages of the Latin news platform, The Bridge, and her work has been showcased at the Film Café in Kensington Market. Additionally, she’s delved into costume creation by assisting Yasmina Ramzy Arts in a variety of dance film projects.
With an interest in sustainable fashion, Nancy starter her own handmade headwear brand, “Mirra Design”, through which she breathes new life into discarded materials, crafting unique hats and headwear that marry style with sustainability. Additionally, Nancy operates an upcycling and personalization business, adding a bespoke touch to her creative repertoire.
Donovan Woo
Preshow Music Composer
D onovan began dabbling in composition during the pandemic and has since continued to make more music for people to enjoy. Having a background in piano playing, he developed a fondness for the art of music, looking up to the classical masters held in such great esteem. Soon enough, music became a viable mode of expression for him, as he found inspiration in nature, literary works, and different musical styles. Hoping to improve his skill and intrigue new listeners, he shares his music online. Some of his works of 2024 include:
- Symphonic Poem No. 2 Op. 8 “The Knight’s Tale”
- Serenade In The Square Op. 5
- Symphony No. 2 in E Minor “Ocean” Op. 9
- Piano Concerto No. 1 Op. 8 “3 Slavic Fairy Tales”
PERFORMERS
Alexander Herrera
Project Dancer
Alexander Herrera graduated from the Autonomous University of Chiapas, where he completed his academic training in dance and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Dance through the Titling Seminar held at the Classical and Contemporary Dance School in Mexico City. Throughout his academic journey, he has fostered a deep connection between contemporary dance and his creative approach, which has provided him with opportunities to be part of renowned companies such as “Dramadanza” by Rossana Filomarino, “LaguDanza” by Erika Méndez, and “La Ópera Moctecuzoma” by the Government of Mexico City, among others.
During his career, Alexander has had the privilege of performing on prestigious stages in different states of Mexico, collaborating with various companies such as “Errante” by Sheila Rojas, “Alternative Dance” by CONECULTA, and “Escénica Obra Negra” by Zaira Lobato, among others. His commitment to teaching has been a source of gratification, inspiring and conveying his passion for art in schools both in his hometown and in Mexico City.
As a choreographer, Alexander has created award-winning pieces and received invitations to prominent events. Beyond individual achievements, his greatest satisfaction lies in capturing Chiapas’ culture, events, and identity through his art, thus contributing to the enrichment and dissemination of contemporary dance in Mexico.
Currently, he is working with renowned companies in Toronto, Canada, such as Little Pear Garden Dance Company, Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, and The Parahumans, as well as on projects with Casa Maiz Cultural Centre. Additionally, in his hometown, he has stood out as a choreographer, creating works that address various social issues and receiving recognition at dance festivals and competitions. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in dance from UNACH, supplemented by international workshops. Alexander Herrera stands out for his expressiveness and technical abilities, as well as for his commitment to innovation and creative collaboration in the world of contemporary dance. A couple of years ago, he founded the Talante project, which offers various contemporary dance activities such as annual training workshops and creative residencies.
Candace Kumar
Company Dancer
Candace Kumar is a cultural dance artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She specializes in Filipino cultural dance, practicing diverse styles from all across the Philippines. Candace is an instructor and director for Folklorico Filipino Canada, where she has trained for 18 years. Candace has worked with Little Pear Garden Dance Company, Nova Dance Company, Frog in Hand, Nautanki Creations, HATAW, A La Una, Han Han and more. Her recent work includes “Crossing Waters,” presented by Guelph Dance, “Desvelando a María Clara,” presented at the AGO, and “Voyage,” presented by the Mississauga Arts Council. Candace views dance as a community-based practice, with a commitment to placemaking and collaboration. She was recently awarded the Mississauga Arts Council 2023 Established Artist Award and the City of Mississauga Civic Recognition Award for her achievements in the local community. In her future work, she hopes to continue advocating for Filipino arts and culture across Canada.
Chelly Li
Project Dancer
Chelly Li (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to train and perform in a wide range of dance styles all across Europe, North America, and Asia. Chelly spent her childhood in Stuttgart, Germany, where she studied ballet and modern dance. She turned her focus to commercial and street dance styles after relocating to Canada, most notably with Mickeey Nguyen and Fizz Oladiran. Chelly was also previously contracted with South Korean company YG Entertainment, and holds a Dance Minor from Western University. Chelly has spent the last three years exploring contemporary dance, working closely under Dawson Lloyd. She comes from an extensive acting and classical music background in addition to dance, and draws upon concepts and knowledge from all three within her work. Chelly is excited to be joining Little Pear Garden Dance Company in their upcoming projects this year. Her other performance credits include Impetus Movement Dance Company, Stuttgart Ballet, YG Entertainment, Nuit Blanche, Canadian National Exhibition, Disney, Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, Shoppers Drug Mart, Hasbro, Walmart, Amazon, CNTV.
Emilio Colalillo
Company Dancer
Emilio Colalillo is a dancer and a choreographer. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, he is the Artistic Director and choreographer of EMIMOTION. He has toured the world from the Middle East to Asia to Europe and all over North America. Colalillo performed for the Pam Am Games, Miss Universe Canada, and Canadian Opera Company. Visit www.emimotion.org.
Falciony Patino
Company Dancer
Falciony Patino was born in Funza, Colombia. He began his training in Colombian folk dance at the age of seven with the group Zaquesazipa, in Funza. After finishing high school, Patino got into the Superior Academy of Arts of Bogota (ASAB) to study contemporary dance. During his time at ASAB, he was part of the folk group Orkeseos. In 2009 he moved to Toronto, to join Ballet Creole, as a student and a company member. In 2015 Alejandro Ronceria invite him to be part of a show Amalgama in the pan american games, in 2016 he danced for Kaha:Wi Dance Theatre as a part of a the honoring and from 2017 he has been doing Mistatim an unforgettable story of reconciliation for children; the creation of Red Sky Performance . In the spring of 2012 Patino created Cabildo, a group that explores a contemporary approach to Colombian folk dance. Since he was very young he has been experimenting with different dance styles from folk dance, ballet and contemporary to afro, urban dance, capoeira and parkour. Dance is what drives Patino out of the ordinary.
Jennifer Choi
Project Dancer
Jennifer Choi (she/her) is a Toronto-based Chinese-Canadian dancer, choreographer, and teacher with a BFA in Performance Dance from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University). Her diverse movement training spans ballet, contemporary, modern, vernacular jazz, West African, Latin and ballroom, hip hop, waacking, and house. Jennifer has performed works by notable choreographers such as Jesse Obremski, Stephanie Lake, Louis Laberge-Côté, Robert Desrosiers, Ofilio Sinbadinho, Alyssa Martin, and Hanna Kiel. Most recently, she co-produced ‘An Ending: A Beginning’, a dance show produced, choreographed, and performed by TMU’s performance dance class of 2023. She has also choreographed and presented her own works including “Never Solitary”, for An Ending: A Beginning and “Boys Don’t Cry”, for ADDO Presents: Ode to Sound. As a dance artist, Jennifer strives to seamlessly blend the distinct qualities of various dance styles into her performances and choreography, drawing upon her diverse background to create dynamic and captivating artistry.
Justin Lui
Project Dancer
Justin Lui was born in Toronto and began dancing at age 13, learning Chinese classical and folk dance at Norman Dance Company. He has since trained in a variety of Chinese ethnic dances, classical ballet, and street dance styles. He has performed with the Little Pear Garden Dance Company, Toronto International Ballet Theatre, and the Autumn Melody Collective. Justin has a Master of Public Health degree from Western University and works as a program evaluator in the not-for-profit sector.
Lu Li
Company Dancer
A graduate from the Shandong University of Arts in China, Lu majored in Dance Choreography and specialized in Chinese Classical Dance, Chinese Folk Dance, and Contemporary Dance.
During her time at the Shandong University of Arts, Lu was a performer at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 The 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China. Her passion for dance and choreography has earned her numerous accolades and awards both the provincial and national level in China. Aside from performing herself, Lu always enjoys teaching the fine art she loves to others and has been involved in dance instruction in one form or another for the past 8 years.
Sarah Di Iorio
Company Dancer
Sarah Di Iorio is a performance artist based in Tkaronto. She graduated in 2018 from Toronto Metropolitan University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, and as the recipient of the Nadia Potts Scholarship Award. Since graduating, she has performed at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Festival Des Arts De Saint-Sauver, and has had the pleasure of touring with Red Sky Performance across North America. Locally, she has performed in works such as; a duet by Angela Blumberg for Din of Shadows, as a soloist in Canadian Stage’s Dance in High Park Series, and as a soloist for KunnCollective’s event “DAMMA”. This upcoming June she will perform as a soloist in EMiMOTION’s production “Echoes of the Abyss”. Alongside performing, Sarah is passionate about choreographing. She has created pieces for the Fall for Dance North Festival, ABD’s DaCo Residency, Theatre Oculus’ Fringe Festival film “Venus and Adonis”, and for aspiring dance students at multiple Arts High Schools across the GTA. She has worked closely with Little Pear Garden for over two years, performing in their film “The 5 Elements” and in their most recent full-length show “Spectrum of Connection”. Sarah is thrilled to now take part in celebrating Little Pear Garden’s 30th Anniversary, sharing the Chinese dance techniques that the company has offered her in “the Goddesses and a Painter”, and premiering “Nine-Tailed Fox” the company’s newest contemporary dance piece.
Vania Chan
Lyric Coloratura Soprano
Vania Lizbeth Chan is a versatile artist, maintaining an active career through performing, teaching, and pursuing academic research. She completed her M.M. at Manhattan School of Music and her PhD at York University. She sings in a variety of styles, and is particularly wellknown for her lyric coloratura soprano voice, described as “gently shimmering” (Opera News, NY) with “birdlike coloratura” (opera ramblings). Vania made her Carnegie Hall debut as a winner of the Barry Alexander International Competition, has toured shows in Europe, been featured on TV in the CBC broadcast of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, and performed as the Woman with Garlic Breath in a D’Italiano Bread commercial. She’s currently a Toronto based musician, performing with several Canadian companies, premiering and recording roles in new operas and musical works. She has collaborated closely with renowned Canadian composer Alice Ho, performing in her highly acclaimed operas “The Lesson of Da Ji” and “Chinatown.” Vania is excited to embark on new creative projects. She continues to be coartistic director of the annual Asian Heritage Month concert in Toronto, and will be joining a committee of established voice teachers in organizing and hosting the International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT) in 2025. Vania is establishing an internet presence through her YouTube channel Vania Chan Music, where she engages with her artistic colleagues, and reaches out to a growing online audience. Website: www.vaniachan.com
Yichen Selina Tsai
Project Dancer
Selina is a dance artist based in Toronto and is originally from Taiwan. She began dancing at 13 and has been fortunate to work and collaborate with many artists who have supported her in developing her artistic career. She brought her passion to Toronto, Ontario, to attend the Toronto Metropolitan University, and she completed her four years at TMU with a BFA in June 2023. She has a strong understanding and background in Chinese dance and ballet, as well as modern and contemporary dance. She also trains in jazz, street styles, and Cuban modern. While at TMU, Selina has performed and collaborated with multiple choreographers, including Aria Evans, Rock Bottom Movement, Louis Laberge-Côté, Hanna Kiel, Jesse Obremski and Stephanie Lake Company. In June 2022 and May 2023, She had an opportunity to be a guest teacher to teach both grade eleven and twelve students at Arts Orillia Global Steps Program. After graduating, she had the chance to perform with Rock Bottom Movement, Frog in Hand, DaCo Lab, FFDN and Little Pear Garden Dance Company in 2023. Recently, she was invited to the 2024 Lunar New Year Procession in Disney California, as a parade dancer in January and February. She is excited to continue her journey!
Yuliya Xu
Company Dancer
Yuliya started dance training from early childhood in Shanghai, China. She got Chinese folk dance training in China Welfare Institute Children’s Palace, and later was select into Oriental Little Companions Collective. During her dance journey with the little Companions, she continued enhanced her Chinese folk dance technique, as well as exposed to jazz and ballet. She performed in many large shows, and these abundant dance experience gave her a solid dance foundation. After she moved to Canada, she was inspired by the culture here, and desired to learn different dance styles. Therefore, she spent several years in street jazz and hip pop dance training in Toronto. Now she is a street jazz dance instructor at Dantitude Dance Studio. She has performed on Canada National TV’s New Year’s Gala at Sony Center, and has been invited as a guest performer in many major events.
CREW
Janice Li
Project Coordinator
Janice Li holds an Honours Bachelor of Visual Studies degree from Lingnan University in Hong Kong and an M.A. in Research in Film and Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham. From working in education, art, and culture for three years in Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, and Canada, Janice has gained experience working with a breadth of people, developing interpersonal skills, organization skills, and problem-solving skills. She also gained the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) which is an asset for project coordination.
Victoria Tomei
Stage Manager
Victoria Tomei is a passionate artist who loves movement and the many different genres of dance. Her curiosity in the arts has pushed her to new heights in her training and performative experiences. She has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Urban, Contemporary, and West African and has learned from esteemed Canadian instructors such as: Vicki St. Denys, Tanya Evidante, Robert Glumbeck, Louis Laberge-Cote, Arsenio Andrade, Kate Hilliard, Raoul Wilke, Lauren Cook, and Lua Shayenne. Victoria has worked with renowned choreographers such as Dylan Crossman (Cunningham Trust), Alysa Pires, and Bobbi Jene Smith, to name a few. She has also had the privilege of working with Kenny Pearl in his Winter Intensive. Along with choreographers, she learned excerpts from historic repertoire by David Earle. Victoria has pursued studies with Canadian producer Peggy Shannon and Alyssa Martin in Hydra, Greece. She has adapted her choreographic and performance practice to film when she collaborated with Fall For Dance North on a film that premiered in their Fall 2020 virtual program. More recently, Victoria has travelled abroad and trained at Orsolina 28 in Moncalvo, Turin, Italy. There, she worked with artistic director Medhi Walerski and Ballet BC. She is a 2021 graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Performance (formerly Ryerson University) completing her studies with a BFA in Dance. Victoria is interested in the physical tendencies of human interactions and how they can intertwine into a new movement language. She is open to the unique possibilities that these ideas contribute to her development as a movement professional.
