Photo by Mina Sayedi

Fringe on the Streets, July 17-27th, 2025

BLOOM

ABOUT THE PIECE

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ABOUT THE PIECE *

BLOOM is a reimagining of our piece, Community Garden.

Set in the context of Downtown Hamilton, BLOOM explores the juxtaposition of a community garden planted in the city’s centre. Touching on themes of GROWTH AND DECAY, INTERCONNECTEDNESS, and WILD INDISCRETION, BLOOM takes a deeper look into the reciprocal, cyclical, barrier-breaking model that a garden can offer to community development.

We were so thrilled to get to partner with the Hamilton Fringe Festival to bring BLOOM to Fringe on the Streets, their free, public walking tour laced with pop-up performances.

We were also delighted to get to work with an incredible collective of nine dance artists connected to Hamilton, who rotated through each show. Learn more about these artists below.

MEET THE COLLECTIVE

  • Vik Mudge (they/he) is a trans non-binary dancer, choreographer and facilitator currently living on Treaty 3 territory in the city colonially known as St. Catharines.  With experience and training in various dance styles, performance and acting techniques, and visual arts disciplines, Vik’s creativity stems from the intersection of these interests and their journey towards healing and self-actualization. 

    2023 marked the beginning of a focused creative journey for Vik, as they developed and premiered an anthology dance show (“the Body and the Brain”) in collaboration with multi-disciplinary artist Skye Rogers.  In 2024, the two would go on to officially announce their partnership as retrograde:dance in motion, with their inaugural project being “Composing Community”, presented by Ontario Culture Days. Vik has previously worked on the development of professional skills through mentorship with dance artist Sid Ryan Eilers from 2022-2024, which led to the creation and presentation of his own dance film (“<3”).  In 2023 Vik received the Emerging Artist Award from the City of St. Catharines. 

     Vik dreams of a creative landscape that’s rich in cross-pollination and diverse voices.  They continually strive to connect with folks and artists from all over, further enhancing the web of creativity and community that he strives to spin.

  • Skye Rogers (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate performing artist based in Hamilton and St. Catharines, Ontario. Dearly devoted to making spaces for people to feel at home, Skye explores her relationship to place, body, and community, through choreography, workshop facilitation, devised theatre creation, film creation, and performance. Skye is the co-Artistic Director of retrograde: dance in motion and Tapestry Theatre Collective, and is an Artistic Associate with Aeris Körper. Skye is an alumni of the RBC Apprenticeship with Musical Stage Co. in (Choreography, 2023-24), Brock University (Arts Leadership, 2022) and Randolph College for the Performing Arts (Triple Threat, 2019).Skye makes much of her own work, and is recognized for her collaborative and wholehearted approach to her process. She choreographs and facilitates several public workshops with her collective retrograde: dance in motion, and is currently devising a new community-engaged play, “Homeward” with her collaborator, Kosar Dakhilalian. She has worked directly with the City of St. Catharines and the City of Hamilton to activate the arts in her communities, and has participated in several artist residencies, including Ontario Culture Days “Creatives in Residence” program and Suitcase in Point’s “Nest” Residency.

    On stage, Skye has performed with Frog in Hand (Summer Dances Mixed Bill), Stand Up Dance (ANATOMALIA), and Expect Theatre (Beats + Intentions). On screen, she’s both performed and choreographed in several commercials and music videos, including Madison Violet’s “The Sycamore.” Skye is the choreographer for Spindle Collective and Riot King’s play, “SAMCA,” and has her own teaching practice at The Move Room and the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.

    @whatskyedoes on instagram

  • Kosar Dakhilalian is a director, writer, and performer based in the traditional land of Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and many other Indigenous peoples, in a city colonially known as St. Catharines. 

    With a background in literature, Kosar is curious to think beyond text—when stories are embodied, voiced, and resonated. Kosar's current interest lies in pushing the boundaries of traditional script development, exploring how shared discovery can be at the heart of a creative experience. As a facilitator, Kosar strives to create accessible and safer spaces that encourage active seeing, listening, and reflecting. Kosar acknowledges that performing arts spaces have historically been exclusionary to some identities, at different times, and in different geographies, and she tries to create accessible spaces and break barriers both for audiences and performers.

    Kosar has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Comparative Literatures and Arts and she was a teaching assistant at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Brock University. She has been an artist in residence with Suitcase in Point and has directed and co-directed multiple plays and is now collaborating with Skye Rogers in the development of a community-engaged play, Homeward. 

    @kosar.dakhilalian on insta

  • Danika Geen (they/them) is a trans non-binary interdisciplinary artist, born and raised in Kelowna, British Columbia, now residing in Tkaronto, Ontario. Danika graduated from York University in 2024 with their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance, specializing in choreography and performance. Danika choreographed for York Dances 2023: Convergence, presenting their work Emergence regarding transgender visibility and resilience. They are passionate about creating work surrounding their trans identity, in hopes that what they create provokes thought, sparks emotion, and leaves space for reflection. During the summer of 2023, Danika performed in the Guelph Dance Festival with Rock Bottom Movement, performing an excerpt from Alyssa Martin’s dance theatre work DINO. They choreographed for Dance Innovations 2023: Infinite Corners, presenting their work Innate Ecstasy. Danika was a member of the 2023/2024 York Dance Ensemble under the artistic direction of Susan Lee and performed in their annual showcase "ReGeneration" in February of 2024. They have trained under several professional dance artists including Susan Lee, Tracey Norman, Syreeta Hector, Jessica Runge, Jane-Alison McKinney, and Alyssa Martin. As an emerging artist, Danika is on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, drawing on their personal experiences and identity to inspire creativity.

  • Daria is a GTA based Contemporary dancer and student who has a strong background in classical Ballet. She is a choreographer and teacher for City Dance Corps Oakville, and is a dancer for the McMaster University dance team as she concurrently studies English and Cultural Studies. She is excited to continue merging her passion for expression through dance, writing and movement!

  • Abigail Yates is a queer, multidisciplinary emerging dance artist based in Toronto Ontario. A 2025 graduate of George Brown College’s Dance Performance program, where Abigail furthered their studies in ballet, modern, jazz, choreography and improvisation. Their time at George Brown allowed them to explore dance with a deeper understanding and have the pleasure of working with Toronto based choreographers, Martha Hart, Lauren Cook and Irma Villafuerte. As well as emerging artists such as Jackson Young, Heidi Leigh-Boileau and Maya Gale-Buncel. Along with Abigail’s extensive practice in concert style dance, they credit themself as a triple threat performer. They exercise their passion for musical theatre with the Hamilton based company, Theater Ancaster. Most recently stepping into the role of dance captain in their 2024 run of Spring Awakening. Abigail wishes to continue to explore and create both contemporary and theatrical works. Forever growing their scope of what it means to create.

  • Soraya Lee Wo (she/her) is an emerging dance artist and student from Mississauga. Soraya is a Cawthra Park Secondary School Dance Program graduate, where she developed a deep understanding of the creative process, choreography, Limon modern and RAD ballet. Soraya trained at Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre in Toronto under the direction of Deborah Lundmark and Natasha Poon Woo. As a company dancer, Soraya performed in works by Carol Anderson, Hanna Keil, Sasha Ivanocho, Giaconda Barbuto and Deborah Lundmark in CCDT’s winter and spring programs. Soraya is a recent graduate of the Arts and Science program at McMaster University and an alumnus of McMaster's competitive dance team. Soraya’s undergraduate thesis, Dancing Through Migration, explored navigating the silences and absences within family archives and migration stories. The project considers dance an ethical storytelling practice to process this silence and explore how to move forward. Soraya is a frequent performer with the Parahumans, under the artistic direction of Dave Wilson, a dance teacher at Steel City Dance Company for children with different abilities, a dance teacher at the City of Mississauga and recently completed a contract with Aeris Körper Contemporary Dance as an Artistic Associate. Soraya is especially interested in dance’s intersection with other domains of knowledge, including rehabilitation, education, social justice and community engagement. These intersections inspire Soraya to explore the bridge between dance, science and the humanities to unpack what moves us and makes the world go round.

  • Julianna Greco is born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, and is a Hamilton and Toronto-based dance artist and educator. She holds a BFA in Dance, specializing in choreography + performance from York University and a Bachelor of Education Degree. Julianna has performed with Alyssa Martin in the summer Guelph Dance Festival 2023, Dreamwalker Dance Company, Meaningful Movement, and Aeris Körper. She is currently a Teacher for the Toronto District School Board and a freelance choreographer and performer. Some other affiliations include Tiger Princess Dance Projects, Theatre Aquarius, Vanier College Productions, and Encore Dance Arts. Julianna is a well-rounded artist who strives for versatility and is constantly interested in original and organic creations through improvisation and somatic practices. Julianna hopes to inspire and be inspired by others, teach her knowledge to oncoming generations and express her passions among the community.

  • Tanis Sydney MacArthur has been an independent costumier for performing artists for 30 years. She is also an interpretive dance artist, choreographer, aerialist, stilt walker, prop maker, creature designer and large scale inflatable sculpture artist. Clients include Company Blonde Productions, Lookup Theatre, Femmes du Feu, Hamilton Aerial Group, Aeris Korper, Fly With Me Aerial Dance, Team T&J, Mabel Moon, Aoucheva Dance Studio, and Artword Theatre. She placed third nationally in the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards 1994 and regularly contributed original designs to Fashion Cares. Many movement styles are part of her history including modern dance, ballet, jazz, tap, belly dance, flamenco, african, irish, ballroom, yoga and somatic. She participated in public outreach dance works including move by Peggy Baker, KRIMA! by Maxine Heppner and Dusk Dances. She created The Arctic Fox, Inspired by Icebergs, Fly South and narwhal, outdoor installations of large-scale inflatable sculptures, in collaboration with Cobalt Connects.

  • Sarah Smith is a multidisciplinary artist based in Hamilton, ON. With roots in Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop and House. Her work is deeply inspired by nature, spirit, and the cosmos. Through movement, Sarah explores themes of social justice, healing, transformation, and play creating pieces that blend technical foundation with emotional expression. She is also a choreographer, instructor and photographer committed to storytelling that uplifts and cultivates connection. 

  • Vania is a self-taught and community-taught a multi-disciplinary creative. Through her own efforts and skill-sharing, she has acquired a variety of basic skills in the following mediums: music improv, poetry, dance, DJ-ing, print-making, gardening, video-making, and more. Her artistic practice values art-making that is playful, experimental, and community-oriented. Rejecting the pressure to "master" a certain disciple, she is comfortable being a jack of all trades and an intermediate at enough to feel emotionally fulfilled. When she is not creating for her own pleasure, she works a day job in child recreation and instruction. She is pursuing her masters of social work this fall with the goal of marrying her artistic and professional practices.

THANK YOUS

Susan Heslop & Emma Haynes for their amazing work as Placemaking Coordinators & Showrunners

Riley Payne for their wonderful work teching our show (OUTSIDE!)

Christopher Stanton for his delightful spirit & enthusiasm for this show.

Hamilton Festival Theatre Company for the opportunity to create & perform this special piece.

The Community Curators Circle for selecting our piece for the program.

Our fellow Fringe on the Streets presenters: Cesar C Cordoba, Claud Spadafora, Sheep's Clothing Theatre, Flesh & Wire Co., Devin Bateson.

Joel Galenkamp for documenting our performances so beautifully.

Daniel & Copper Steve for being our biggest fans throughout the run!

Sarah and our friend, Copper Steve.