Photo by Armand Bladon
Alida Kendell
Alida Kendell is a contemporary dance choreographer, performer and instructor in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), where she has worked professionally for over 15 years. She has trained in both ballet and contemporary dance, having completed her BA at the School of Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, MB in 2009. Her artistry is fed by her work as a collective artist with the Good Women Dance Society (GWDS) and her independent projects. Her participation in the Hack Lab (Theatre Direct) and in Balancing Act Canada’s Level UP! initiative has inspired her to work in ways that incorporate the experience of motherhood rather than working in spite of it.
Alida’s artistic interests depart from mainstream choreography that presents polished, predetermined performance. Instead, her works are intimate and dynamic, often abandoning traditional notions of structure and performance in favor of non-linear and genuine experiences. Recent career highlights include creating and performing alongside Alison Kause in the Sterling award nominated production, there we are. There (GWDS), and the creation of her solo work, break room, in collaboration with Sasha Kleinplatz.
Photo by Armand Bladon
Alison Kause (Towne)
Alison Kause (Towne) is a founding member of the Good Women Dance Collective and an independent dance artist. 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. She has trained and performed across Canada and been inspired by work with local and international colleagues. Alison is inspired by the challenge of finding an intersection between being an artist, mother and rural Albertan – these roles constantly demand attention, inform one another and provide diverse perspectives.
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 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
Photo by Armand Bladon
Molly McDermott
Molly McDermott is a dance artist based in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan. She works as a performer, choreographer, and teacher. She is a graduate of Grant MacEwan College, and Simon Fraser University, receiving a BFA in dance in 2007. She has since worked in dance with a variety of inspiring artists and companies including, Kokoro Dance, Co. Erasga Dance, Les Productions Figlio, Mascall Dance, Billy Marchenski, Deanna Peters, MfMdanceArtist, and Justine A. Chambers, among others.
Molly is a collective artist with GWDC alongside her independent projects. Her choreography has been performed at Fluid Festival, Mile Zero Dance, New Dance Horizons, Vines Art Festival, 12 Minutes Max., Nextfest, the Magpie Collection, Connections//Collisions, Convergence, and Expanse Festival.
In 2023, Molly had the pleasure of curating the dance presentation at Expanse Festival. Alongside dance, Molly is a mother of two small humans and welcomes the gentle chaos that comes with balancing motherhood and everything else.