Photo by Marc Chalifoux Photography
Ainsley Hillyard
Ainsley Hillyard is a performer, choreographer and educator working in dance and theatre, living in Amiskwaciwâskahikan on Treaty 6 territory.
Ainsley has been with the Good Women Dance Collective since its inception and was a fundamental player in the organization formally incorporating in 2009. Ainsley commits much of her time and energy supporting the organization administratively and artistically.
As an independent artist, Ainsley has choreographed for several theatre companies. Select choreography credits include; Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play with Blarney Productions and You are Here Theater (Sterling nomination for Outstanding Choreography), Cardiac Shadow with Northern Light Theatre (Sterling Award for Outstanding Choreography to the Good Women Dance Collective), Bears (Sterling Award for Outstanding Choreography) with Pyretic Productions; Ursa Major (Sterling nomination for Outstanding Choreography) with Catch The Keys Productions, and was assistant choreographer for at the Citadel.
Ainsley also performs as a theatre artist, select credits include Wish with Northern Light Theatre (Sterling nomination, Outstanding actress in a lead role), Shakespeare’s Will with Thou art here theatre and Cardiac Shadow with Northern Light Theatre.
She and her French bulldog Jezebel, co-created Jezebel, at the Still Point, (Bumblebear productions) a performance where Jezebel and Ainsley travel through space, trying to figure out how to time travel so that Jezebel never has to die.
Ainsley enjoys reading feminist sci fi, Prosecco picnics and learning about outer space.
Photo by Max B. Telzerow
Alida Kendell
Alida Kendell is a dance artist, teacher and choreographer in Amiskwacîwâskahikan. She has been a collective artist with GWDC since 2009 and during this time has been shaped, challenged and encouraged by its programming, its artists and the communities GWDC engages with. She has been most influenced by the creative processes of Melenie Demers, Peggy Baker and Sasha Klienplatz. She is curious about the process of enabling physical change through introspection and play, and currently practices durational improvisations that take her further away from and closer to herself.
Photo by Ian Jackson/Epic Photography
Alison Kause (Towne)
Alison is a founding member of the Good Women Dance Collective.
She works with the collective and independently, and is a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools. Alison’s dance experience is based in several years of studio, Cechetti, ballet and modern dance technique to the Good Women Dance Collective.
She is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan Dance Program and the School of Contemporary Dance at SFU, as well as the Education program at the University of Alberta.
Alison has trained and performed across Canada and been inspired by work with local and international colleagues. She has worked with Justine Chambers, Melanie Kloetzel, Peggy Baker, Shasha Ivanochko, Melanie Demers, Mile Zero Dance, Heidi Bunting, Brian Webb, Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy, AM Choreography, Krista Posyniak, Richard Lee, Isabelle Rousseau, Katherine Semchuk, Jessica McMann, Marynia Fecekz and GWD Collective artists. Alison has performed in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton.
Alison is inspired by the challenge of finding an intersection between being an artist, mother and teacher – these roles constantly demand attention, inform one another and provide diverse perspectives.
Photo by Armand Bladon
Rebecca Sadowski
Rebecca is an Edmonton based Métis/Queer performer and choreographer. She has been an artistic member of the Good Women Dance Collective since 2019 and curates dance programming for the Nextfest Festival. She teaches dance with DancED Movement Project and has experience working as a curatorial assistant with the City of Edmonton. Rebecca has performed with Northern Light Theatre, Punctuate Theatre, Mile Zero Dance, and has recently choreographed a dance piece that toured to Dancing on the Edge Festival in Vancouver. Rebecca has produced several dance films including THE SASH MAKER, as well as BREAKING BAPTIST produced by Catalyst Theatre. Rebecca has a passion for sharing Indigenous narratives and historic arts. She strives to decolonize spaces and continues to deepen her connection to her Métis roots by jigging and finger-weaving sashes. She is so grateful for the Good Women and their ongoing support and encouragement in her performance and choreographic pursuits.
Photo by Armand Bladon
Deviani Andrea
Deviani Andrea (she/her) is a dance artist based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton. Originally from Mexico City, she holds a BA in Literature from the University of Mexico and studied at the Mexico City’s Dance School and Ema Pulido’s Dance Studio. Since landing in Canada, Deviani has worked as performer, instructor, and choreographer with many local dance and theatre companies such as the Citadel Theatre, Azimuth Theatre, Skirts Afire, Mile Zero Dance, Fringe Festival, Found Festival, Alberta Musical Theatre Company, among others. She has been a Good Woman since 2022.
She is certified in Trauma Informed Care and as a Kaeja Elevations teacher; has trained at La Infinita Compañia (Mexico City), Decidedly Jazz Dance (Calgary), and her independent work has been kindly supported by the Edmonton Arts Council, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and The CanDance Network.
She likes biking in the summer and skiing in the winter, brewing kombucha, and consuming content in different languages.
Catch her on Instagram at @deviani.andrea
Molly McDermott
Molly McDermott is a dance artist, gratefully performing, creating, and teaching movement in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, colonially know as Edmonton. Upon graduating from Grant MacEwan College, followed by Simon Fraser University she received a BFA in dance in 2007. She has since interpreted work by a variety of inspiring artists and companies including, Kokoro Dance, Co. Erasga Dance, Les Productions Figlio, Mascall Dance, Billy Marchenski, Deanna Peters, and Justine Chambers, among others.
Molly has presented her own choreography at Vines Art Festival, 12 Minutes Max., Nextfest, Good Women’s Creative Incubator, and the Magpie Collection. She is the recipient of the Good Women New Work Award 2024 and had the pleasure of curating the dance presentation at Expanse Movement Arts Festival this past March 2023. Molly is thrilled to be joining GWDC this season as a collective artist and looks forward to future collaboration and expanding her practice amongst other brilliant artists.
Alongside dance, Molly is a mother of two small humans and welcomes the gentle chaos that comes with balancing motherhood and everything else.
GWDC is thrilled to welcome Molly McDermott as our newest Collective Artist! Molly shares many of our collective values and skills and is in the unique position of having a preexisting connection with our organization. She trained with GWDC founding members Ainsley Hillyard and Alison Kause at Grant MacEwan University’s Dance Program before moving to Vancouver, where she created and performed extensively. In the short time following her return to Edmonton, Molly has brought a drive and energy to our classes and programs and we can’t wait to work with her more closely throughout the season!
