A Fractal Chorus

Choreographer

Erin O'Loughlin

Raised in Calgary (Treaty 7 Territory), with the Rocky Mountains and prairie skies as companions, professional dance artist Erin O’Loughlin has been based in Tio’tià:ke/Montréal, QC since 2013. She currently performs, touring nationally and internationally, with Andrea Peña & Artists (Venice Biennale, National Arts Centre, Tanzmesse, Attakalari), Sylvain Émard Danse (Danse Danse), Margie Gillis Dance Foundation (Danse Danse, National Arts Centre), and Parts + Labour Danse (CAM en tournée). Driven by a profound belief in collaboration, Erin co-founded the collective LA TRESSE with Geneviève Boulet and Laura Toma, and has created and performed in numerous works since 2014; winning prizes such as the “Gibney Company/Springboard Emerge Award” and “Coup de Cœur du Public – Festival Quartiers Danses”. O’Loughlin holds a BA in Dance and International Relations from the University of Calgary, and her training includes the Ailey School and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Her ongoing professional development and curiosity have sparked attendance at various international workshops and residencies, including ImPulsTanz, the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Alan Lucien Øyen, AP&A, LA TRESSE) and Áras Éanna Arts Centre/Galway Dance Project (Residency LA TRESSE). She has been invited to teach for institutions including McGill University, the École de Danse de Québec, the Regroupement Québécois de la Danse, Danse Danse, and the Shiamak Davar Institute in Mumbai, India. As a teacher, choreographer and performer, Erin is interested in exploring how states of controlled precision and chaos can co-exist. Motivated by characters and worlds that are layered with past, present, and future, she believes in the transportive power of stories and their ability to bring understanding through empathy. She is particularly inspired by stories, myths, and landscapes connected to her Irish identity.

Performers

Darya Pestrak

(She/Her)

Hello, my name is Darya. I’m a dance artist originally from Grodno, Belarus. I’ve dedicated my life to sharing the language of dance across cities and countries. Before moving to Calgary, I worked as a choreographer at the Grodno Regional Puppet Theatre and directed my own studio, “Freestudio.” Due to the political situation in Belarus, I had to leave and start over. I’ve trained internationally, including at Impulstanz (Vienna) and Tanznetz (Germany), and performed in projects in Poland, Sweden, and Belarus. Now based in Calgary, I continue to create, teach, and connect through movement.

Kathryn Hood

(She/Her)

Kathryn Hood (she/her) is a Calgary-based dance artist, passionate about the transformative and connective power of movement. She holds a BFA in Dance from Belhaven University and has performed and presented work across Canada, the U.S., Spain, and Germany. Kathryn has danced with companies such as Corps Bara—where she now serves as Artistic Director—Inlet Dance Theatre, and Calgary Core Contemporaries. Alongside performing and freelancing, she teaches dance and coaches movement, acrobatics, and Pilates. Kathryn performed in In Motion I and is delighted to return for In Motion IV.

Olivia Johnson

(She/Her)

Olivia is an emerging dance artist with 15+ years of performance experience. She is originally from the traditional territories of the Cree, Anishinaabe, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux known as Edmonton. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BFA Honours in Dance in 2024, and has since been interested in continuing to expand her movement vocabulary and knowledge of choreographic practices. Olivia has trained in a variety of dance techniques with a focus on Contemporary dance forms throughout her degree, and explored rooted Jazz forms in the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in 2024/2025. She also has experience performing with improvisational scores, set material, character work, speech, film, and tangible materials. Olivia has worked as a dancer and collaborator in interdisciplinary projects, as a choreographer of solo, duo, and group works, and as a dance teacher for all ages.

Lane Sayer

(He/They)

Lane Sayer (he/they) is an emerging contemporary dance artist from Mohkinstsis. He holds a BA in English from the University of Calgary with an embedded certificate in creative writing and a minor in dance. In collaboration with Jo Dickau-Duguay, Lane has choreographed and performed in multiple shows: cor et mentem... with One Voice Chorus, an original dance work titled in the windowlight as Theatre Encounter's 2025 Stranger Presentation, and in Calgary Men’s Chorus’ 30 Voices concert. Additionally, he has danced in Corps Bara Dance Theatre’s Vital I and II, Ballet Bodies’ In Motion III, and DSW’s Quick + Dirty Festival.

Sierra Oszust

(She/Her)

Sierra Oszust is a Canadian dance artist based in Calgary, Alberta. A graduate of the University of Calgary (BFA Dance), she has worked locally and internationally for over a decade. She performs with W&M Physical Theatre and WM2, and appears in film and TV projects, including Crystal Clear (2024) and Under the Banner of Heaven (2022). Sierra has collaborated with artists including Michèle Moss and Wojciech Mochniej. Her residencies at Shawbrook (2024) and Temper Theatre (2025) expanded her global reach. Her work explores the connection between body and mind, crafting performances that challenge norms and offer fresh perspectives.

Cindy Ansah

(She/Her)

Cindy Ansah is a storyteller—a vibrant embodiment of culture. A multidimensional creative, she moves fluidly between her roles as a dance artist, actress, filmmaker, writer, fashion visionary, and muse. She creates in community across Mohkínstsis (Calgary) and Turtle Island, where her presence continues to shape the cultural landscape.

As Co-founder and Artistic Director of Not Another Political Playground Y’all (NAPPY), an all-Black contemporary arts collective, Cindy merges art and activism, amplifying Black expression and collectivity in all their breadth, depth, and nuance.