Voices of the Dancers in the Time of COVID-19

 A video series with the cast of Offering, where they share how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected and changed their artistic practice. Filmed during the creation process of Offering, summer to fall 2020.

 Joshua Ongcol is a Dubai-born, Queer, Filipinx artist that is currently a settler on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. As a multidisciplinary artist, Josh trained in streetdance culture including Kump, Locking, Popping, House, Hip hop, Vogue, and Whacking. Learning from Jerry Chien; Koffi Noumedor; Ralph Escamillan; Mike Brown; Natasha Gorrie; Rina Palerina; Anna Martynova, and Kim Sato. Contemporary dance from Tiffany Tregarthen; David Raymond; Company605; Lee Su-Feh; Kevin Fraser; Peter Bingham; Justine A. Chambers; Delia Brett and Deanna Peters.

 

Marissa Wong is a dance artist based on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations, also named Vancouver, BC. Her choreography has been presented internationally including at TEDxSoma (San Francisco) and Dance in Vancouver. She continues to host, perform, and create works through TWObigsteps Collective, which she founded in 2015. In addition to performance, Marissa engages in the community through workshop facilitation, project management, stage management and teaching. She is grateful to be sharing movement during these uncertain times.

Molly McDermott began her adventure in dance at the age of 3 in Edmonton. She has since earned herself a BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University, and spent the past decade interpreting work by a variety of inspiring artists and companies in Vancouver, Edmonton and London. Such work has given her the opportunity to tour Europe, Asia, and North America. In recent years she has collaboratively created, commissioned and presented work in Vancouver and Edmonton.

 

Olivia Shaffer is a performer, choreographer and teacher based in Vancouver, BC. She has worked as a freelance dancer and improviser for over a decade, interpreting the work of more than 20 choreographers. Olivia creates living, embodied work rooted in structured improvisations. She regularly teaches professional, pre-professional, and community dancers, and has taught internationally in the US and Southeast Asia. She holds a BFA in Dance from Simon Fraser University. www.oliviashaffer.ca

Marc Arboleda is a freelance dancer and actor.

 

Antonio Somera Jr. is a dance artist and quirky character based in Vancouver, the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations. He achieved a BFA in contemporary dance from SFU School for the Contemporary Arts, and received a certificate from Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance (SEAD). Antonio has performed internationally in works of Sita Ostheimer, Igor Bacovich & Iratxe Ansa, Manuel Ronda, Mala Kline, KT Niehoff, Flamenco En Route company and OURO Collective. Locally, he interpreted works from Julianne Chapple/Future Leisure, Co.ERASGA, and Dancers Dancing. Antonio is also passionate about street dance, participating in jams and battles and sharing his knowledge of waacking with the community.