Protected:
CREATIVE TEAM
Igor Dobrovolskiy, M.S.M., O.M.
Artistic Director/Choreographer
Originally from Ukraine, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Atlantic Ballet Atlantique Canada, Igor Dobrovolskiy is one of Canada’s most prolific choreographers – having created 15 full length ballets and over 50 short works since the inception of Atlantic Ballet in 2002. Igor Dobrovolskiy’s creative work catapulted the Company onto the international stage. Beginning in 2006, his works have toured regularly throughout Europe – Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the United States. Igor has won numerous awards for his artistic work and for his support of diversity and inclusion. He has worked on multiple collaborations with leading artists through-out Canada including playwright Sharon Pollock, author Jacques Savoie, composers Francois Dompierre, and Jeremy Dutcher, actress Viola Leger, Elder Imelda Perley, projection designer and documentary filmmaker Adam Larsen, award-winning film directors Frank Savoie and Greg Hemmings among others. In addition to directing and choreography, M. Dobrovolskiy sits on provincial and national juries and has taught in South America, Europe, United States and Canada.
Nipahtuwet Naka Wespahtuwet Possesom
Co-Director
Nipahtuwet Naka Wespahtuwet (Possesom) Paul (Wolastoqiyik, Sitansisk First Nation) is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, director and cultural educator. Possesom is a major contributor and resource to the Indigenous artistic community leading a new generation into a significant period of growth, development and opportunity across the entire Atlantic region. He is a member of the Wabanaki Grass Dance Society, and a keeper of traditional knowledge. As a champion dancer, accomplished director and actor, educator & choreographer — he has toured throughout turtle island, sharing knowledge, engaging audiences and community in critical thought towards understanding of their own origins, and the first peoples of the world.
Jeremy Dutcher
Composer
A member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick) Jeremy Dutcher, is an award winning (Juno and Polaris) Wolastoqiyik artist. Performer, composer, activist, musicologist — these roles are all infused into his art and way of life. His music, too, transcends boundaries: unapologetically playful in its incorporation of classical influences, full of reverence for the traditional songs of his home, and teeming with the urgency of modern-day struggles of resistance.
Jera Wolfe
Principal Dancer
Andy Moro
Set and Projection Design
Andy Moro, (Euro/Omushkego Cree) is the Artistic Co-Director of ARTICLE 11 Cultural Industry with Siminovitch Laureate Tara Beagan. Their work upholds the 11th Article of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Current/Recent Theatre design: Gaslight, the Extractionist (Vertigo) the F WORD (Downstage, ATP) Ministry of Grace (Belfry) Reckoning, ROOM, Declaration, Deer Woman (ARTICLE 11), Little Women, Honour Beat, Admissions (Theatre Calgary) Hookman (UofC/Chromatic) The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time (NAC / Neptune), Post Mistress, Rez Sisters (RMTC), Unnatural and Accidental Women (NAC), Blackhorse (Caravan Farm Theatre), The Herd (Citadel/Tarragon), Frozen River (MTYP), Space Girl, Third Colour, War Being Waged (PTE),Time Stands Still, O’Kosi (MT7), SkyDancers (Anowara Dance), Flicker, Minowin, Raven Mother (Dancers of Damelahamid), Finding Wolastoq Voice (Theatre New Brunswick), Medicine Bear, Blood Water Earth, Blood Tides, The Mush Hole (Kahawi Dance Theatre). Film/TV: Creation/Direction – Indigenous Day Live ‘22 (APTN), Deer Woman (Downstage), Reckoning (ARTICLE 11). Upcoming: Rise Red River by Tara Beagan with Circle Molière and Prairie Theatre Exchange.
Pierre Lavoie
Lighting Design
A critically acclaimed designer across the continent, Pierre Lavoie has been active in dance since 1982. His versatility is seen in how easily he can sustain both modern and classical vocabulary. Mr. Lavoie began his lighting design career in the 90’s working with Margie Gillis and has since designed for every new piece in her repertoire. He also works with many contemporary dance artists in Montreal. Resident designer at Alberta Ballet he has lit Christopher Wheeldon’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Kirk Petersen’s Othello and Jean Grand-Maitre’s Carmen, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Lavoie recently designed the lighting for the celebrated Fiddle and the Drum with Joni Mitchell. He has worked with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Boston Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Ballet Memphis. Mr. Lavoie has worked with Atlantic Ballet on Amadeus, Phantom of the Opera, Don Juan, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy, Fidelio, Ghosts of Violence, and Piaf.
Keira Loughran
Dramarturg
Keira Loughran is an award-winning artist with over 25 years experience as an actor, director, playwright, dramaturg and producer. She is an Artistic Associate at the Atlantic Ballet and is currently on faculty at York University, teaching Acting, Devised Theatre, Playwriting and Performance Creation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She was the inaugural Associate Producer at the Stratford Festival (2012-2018) where she spearheaded organizational change to support new work, diversity, inclusion and Indigenous reconciliation. Selected directing credits include four productions at Stratford (Wendy and Peter Pan, The Comedy of Errors, The Komagata Maru Incident, The Aeneid), Pu-Erh (K’Now Theatre, Dora nomination), Deportation Cast (York University), Titus Andronicus (Canadian Stage) and Little Dragon (Co-directed with Marion DeVries). As an actor, Keira has performed in theatres across the country. She has appeared in several movies, short films and television, including CBS’s Good Sam, and Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch. Ms Loughran lives in Stratford with her partner and two children, where she also trains Aikido, in which she holds a third degree black belt.
Emma Hassencahl-Perley
Costume Design
Emma Hassencahl-Perley is Wolastoqiyik artist from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) and works in Fredericton, NB. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Art History from Concordia University. Emma works as a visuaal artist, emerging curator, and as an instructor at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Emma graduated from Mount Allison University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in painting and printmaking. Her visual work explores the term “Legislative Identity” (how the Indian Act has an impact on the identities of Indigenous peoples in Canada) as well as her identity as a Wolastoqiyik woman and Wabanaki citizen through material and visual culture. Emma’s painting, digital illustration, and beadwork often utilize Wabanaki double-curve iconography found on beaded textiles. Most recently, Emma has launched Wabanaki Modern: The Artistic Legacy of the 1960s “Micmac Indian Craftsmen”, a 3-language book (English, French, and Mi’kmaq) with co-creator John Leroux.
Oakley Rain Wysote Gray
Beading & Costume Production
Oakley Rain Wysote Gray is from Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation. They identify as two-spirited and their pronouns are They/Them. Oakley is a fashion designer that draws inspiration from Mi’gmaq culture and everyday injustices that Indigenous people experience. Not only does their debut collection highlight the stories of their ancestors, it also displays the impact of systematic racism and colonization. The title of their collection is Mei Eimotieg – we are still here. Graduated from New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, they are now the lead designer at Gigpesan. They are a winner of the BMO 1st Art Award 2022.
Dawson Sacobie (M3D14)
Soundscape Design
Dawson Sacobie from Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation) is an art project gone musical, experimenting with sounds accompanied by Indigenous songs of The Wolastoq, Dawson is pushing boundaries and making noise in the east coast electronic scene!
