Company Members

Newton Moraes was born in Brazil where he studied with Tony Seitz Petzold before coming to Toronto in 1991. He trained at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre for three years in the Professional Training Programme and participated in many workshops in Toronto: Butoh with Natsu Nakajima, Lee Ann Smith, Pierre Paul Savoie and Jeff Hall, David Dorfmann, Fiona Marcotti, Chandralekha, and a Master workshop in Choreography with Danny Grossman. Newton has choreographed and performed more than fifty works, both for himself and other dancers. Newton has collaborated with choreographer Patrick Parson in “Orixás Voice” (2003) and Dancing Spirits” (2004) two new dances created by the Ballet Creole for their season at the Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Newton also collaborated with Terrill Maguire in “Crazy to be born” (2003) at the World’s Fare Festival at Harbourfront Centre and Alexandro Ronceria in “Agua” (2004) at the Planet IndigenUS Festival in the water at the HarbourfrontCentre. For more information visit his long bio in our about section.

Emilio Colalillo is a Toronto based dancer and choreographer. He is the founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of EMiMOTION. He began his training in Oakville, Ontario, Canada where he trained at an elite level in all disciplines of dance. He received his Bachelor Of Fine Arts in Performance Dance at Ryerson University. He has toured the world internationally as a dancer and choreographer. EMiMOTION has choreographed for Fresh Blood Festival in Toronto where his duet “AVIDITA” won the Paula Citron Award in 2014. He has been commissioned to do works Dance Matters, 60×60 and Creativiva where he choreographed Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, Pinnochio and The Little Prince that toured Chengdu, China and the UAE to Dubai, Oman and Qatar. He has choreographed for the Italian Contemporary Film Festival, Miss Universe Canada 2015 and has produced four six full length contemporary dance shows in Toronto. Including, “Laughter, Love and Lessons”, “Beauty?, “Survival”, “Touch of Psycho”, “VIRILEM” and “Luxuria”. He has danced professionally in Denmark, Sweden, Japan with Corpus Dance Projecys in their productions of “Nuit Blanche”, “Lea Moutons” and “A Flock of Flyers”. He recently danced for the Canadian Opera Company as a features dancer at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in “La Traviata”. He also danced at the closing ceremonies for the Pan Am Games at The Rogers Centre. Colalillo has also partnered with Alysa Pires as co-producer for a choreographic showcase held twice a year in Toronto called INVERSE. Emilio Colalillo second season with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Julia Cosentino is a contemporary artist from Toronto, ON, received her BFA Honors Degree in Dance from York University in 2012. Since graduating, Julia has had the pleasure of training, collaborating, and performing with companies including Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Jasmyn Fyffe Dance, Rodney Diverlus, Rock Bottom Movement, Frog In Hand, Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, ProArteDanza, Hit and Run Dance Productions, zdancemovement, TranscenDance Project and Debra Brown.<br>

Julia spent four seasons with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks in Calgary studying the art of jazz dance. This experience allowed her to foster a deeper understanding within herself, and her voice as an artist.  Julia’s vision is to marry all of the things she loves most about dance: music, rhythm, physical prowess, artistry, expression, and human connection (to ourselves and to one another). This is at the heart of her practice, and she is grateful to be continuing her journey in Toronto.

Cropley is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School, Technical Director of the Winchester St. Theatre, and a freelance lighting designer. Lighting designs for Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) include “At Once Twice,” “Four at the Winch,” “Up Until Now,” and 12 “Solos”. Gabriel has also toured as Lighting Director for TDT’s “Timecode Break” to New York City, London UK, and across Canada. Gabriel has been resident lighting designer for The School of TDT since 2008 and has collaborated with such distinguished choreographers as Marc Boivin, Allison Cummings and Paul-Andre Fortier. He has also designed for Toronto Masque Theatre, HCA Dance Theatre, Art of Time Ensemble, Four Chambers Dance Project, Forcier StageWorks, Four Chambers Dance Project and These is Gabriel Cropley fourth collaboration with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Falciony Patino Cruz was born in Funza, Colombia. He began his training in Colombian folk dance at age seven with the group Zaquesazipa, in Funza. After finishing high school, Falciony was accepted into the Superior Academy of Arts of Bogota (ASAB) to study contemporary dance. During his time at ASAB, he was part of the folk dance group Orkeseos. In 2009, he moved to Toronto to join Ballet Creole as a student and company member. Two years later, he was invited to perform Men u Zin with Toronto’s Dilan Dance Company. He also performs with Pollux Dance and performed in their 2012 Ottawa Fringe Festival show Heterollectual, Love, and Other Dumb Ideas. In the spring of 2012, Falciony created Cabildo, a group that explores a contemporary approach to Colombian folk dance. Falciony is constantly experimenting with different dance styles from folk dance to contemporary to Afro-Brazilian, urban dance, capoeira and parkour. This is Falciony Patino Cruz’s third season with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Sharon DiGenova is an award winning Lighting Designer, who began her career (a very long time ago) in a Broadway touring house in Massachusetts – working in all aspects of technical theatre, on nine (original) B’way tours. She has since worked in numerous capacities, in a multitude of disciplines, designing for dance, theatre, music, multi-media and circus shows. Sharon spent the better part of 25 years touring internationally to more than 350 cities throughout North & South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Far East. She has had the pleasure of collaborating with scores of Canadian artists including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes, Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Co., Lua Shayenne Dance Co. and for 10 years touring with Canada’s internationally acclaimed Holy Body Tattoo. She has also had the privilege of lighting numerous international dance artists including Patricia Guerrero and Joaquin Grilo. Sharon has enjoyed working with the company in WIRED LOVE. She will be back with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre in the coming world premiere LIFE UNDER MY SKIN.

Walter Maclean was born in Germany to a Ghanaian father and a German Mother. He studied percussion, congas and bongos, traditional hand drums and fusion-drum kit with renown musicians Nippy Noya in Holland, Adja Addy in Ghana and Rick Gratton in Toronto. He toured and recorded throughout Europe with groups such as Black Gospel Pearls, Oloye, Tony Hurdle Septet and more while he was living in Berlin. In 1995 Walter came to Canada where he was able to perform, record and tour with a variety of artists from different genre’s such as jazz, blues, reggae, funk and traditional African music. He has performed at various festivals such as the African Guitar Summit, the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Hillside Festival and with bands such as KoboTown, Donne Robert and Tikisa, Laura Hubert, Kingsley Etienne Trio, Dave West Group, Thriller Canada Tribute Band, Madagascar Slim and more. Walter also played traditional African music for dance companies and groups such as Ballet Creole, COBA, Lua Shayenne Dance Company, Newton Moraes, Alpha Rhythm Roots, Amadou Kienou and more. Since 2014, Walter has also worked and collaborated with the “wind in the leaves collectives “ on numerous projects. Walter teaches percussion workshops in schools and drumkit at the “Awesome Academy of Music” in Toronto.​ Walter has been collaborating with Newton Moraes for more them 15 years playing for his company NMDT at York University, CODE Conferences, Pulse Conference and many schools in Ontario.

Born and raised in Dawson Creek, BC, Jianna Neufeld began her professional training at age 16, with the Victoria Academy of Ballet (VAB). Upon graduation from their Professional Training Program, she earned a Diploma in Classical Ballet through VAB’s Post -Secondary Bridget Program and received a private mentorship in dance education from Artistic Director, Bleiddyn Del Villa Bellis. Over the years, she has also studied at various renowned summer programs, including Alonzo King LINES Ballet (San Francisco CA), Ballet Austin (Austin TX), and the Goh Ballet (Vancouver BC). She graduated from the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and was a 2019 recipient of Walker Wood Bursary. As the Summer Education at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Neufeld co-founded Dawson Creek’s first ever visual and performance art camp, Studio and Stage, where she teaches from her background of dance, musical theatre, textiles, and visual arts. Neufeld is a passionate about sharing the holistic benefits the arts provide. She is very excited with the opportunity to perform in ‘Life Under My Skin” by Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Originally from France, Ambre Orfao began contemporary dance at the Centre Culturel Isadora Duncan with Dominique Petel, in Igny. She pursued her dance training in Orsay with Ogun Jacorau, and then at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Versailles. At the age of 14, she moved to Paris to study at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris, where she graduated in 2017. Eager to discover other dance communities and have more exposure to the world, she moved to Canada and enrolled in The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. At The School, she has had the opportunity to work with amazing choreographers including Peggy Baker, Marc Boivin, Sharon B. Moore, Jennifer Dallas and David Norsworthy. She has performed in various projects notably Noémie Lafrance’s Dérives, a site-specific performance at the Bentway, and Jeanne Lewis’s Petroleum: A Triptych for the Toronto Fringe festival 2019. She has attended summer intensives including the Stage international, MORPHING/ÉVOLUTION 2 de la Compagnie Marie Chouinard and the One Body, One Career Countertechnique Intensive (OBOC) in Amsterdam. As an artist, Orfao is inspired by emotion in dance and how feelings can create movement and connect people. She hopes to dance and create across different parts of the world. LIFE UNDER MY SKIN will be the debut of Ambre Orfao with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

From Mexico, Andrea Rojas is a dancer currently in her second year at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She started her dance training in jazz at The Studio de danza Mistique at age 8. Pursuing her dream of becoming a professional dancer, she moved to Queretaro, Mexico to study High School in contemporary dance at Centro Nacional de Danza Contemporánea. Rojas was a member of the company Aletheia Cuerpo Escénico de Mexico, and she danced with Liberium dance company in Queretaro Qro, Mexico. Recipient of two gold medals at Attitude concurso de danza as best performer.
Motivated to expand her professional boundaries, Rojas moved to Canada to study at the School, and she performed in Wired Love by Newton Moraes, she is going to her second season with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Born in Santos, São Paulo. Matheus is deaf due to disease contracted by his mother during pregnancy. He is oralized and uses the hearing aid in both ears and understands lip reading. He began speech therapy and using hearing aids since he was 1 year old. His parents encouraged him to interact with the listening world. He were able to develop and overcome great difficulties. He studied in private schools, without a Brazilian Sign Language interpreter. He learned LIBRAS at the age of 15.<br>
He has a degree in Physical Education from the Metropolitan University of Santos – UNIMES, specializing in Dance and Body Awareness from Universidade Estácio de Sá.  He started his dance career in 2007, in a street dance project from the Santos City Hall. He was a member of the dance groups: Cia Two-B, Cia Nação de Rua, Cia Surdo Dance, Cia. Broadway Voices. Participated in Contemporary Dance, Street Dance and Afro Jazz workshops at the Ágape de Artes Festival. He took a circus art and aerial acrobatics course at Oficina Pagu, in Santos and a theater course at Tescon. Participated in Contemporary Dance, Afro Jazz and Tap Dance workshops at Pulsarte Dança e Produções, Street Dance at the Curitiba International Festival and Contemporary Dance, Tap Dance and Jazz at Broadway Dance Center, in New York, with teachers Germanie Salsberg, Claudia Rahardjanoto and Mishay Petronelli. He paraded in the Pérola Negra Samba Schools, in São Paulo, and X-9, in Santos, in choreographed row. He did Contemporary Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Theater at the Silia Academy and Ceci Dance Theater for 5 years. Matheus also took 1 year of Contemporary Dance and Theater at Academia Movimento S.A. He was a Banking Professional from HSBC and Santander, Professor of Physical Education and Educational Interpreter at the City Hall of São Vicente, Professor of Body Expression at the Santista Congregation of Santos, Jazz Teacher at Academia Silia & Ceci Dance Theatre.<br>
He is a motivational lecturer at universities, seminars and special events. He passed the Selective Professional Training Program for Contemporary Dance in Toronto, Canada.<br>
Matheus is also a videographer, designer and photographer with a degree in Multimedia Production from Universidade Santa Cecília – UNISANTA. He has been working as designer and videographer for The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. He also studied UX and Usability Applied in Mobile and Web at Caelum in São Paulo; and Digital Marketing from São Paulo Digital School – SPDS.<br>
Working with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, he is the official Libras and ASL translator for movement vocabulary using gestures in Sign Language for the up coming production “Life under my skin” by Newton Moraes.

Newton Moraes was born in Brazil where he studied with Tony Seitz Petzold before coming to Toronto in 1991. He trained at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre for three years in the Professional Training Programme and participated in many workshops in Toronto: Butoh with Natsu Nakajima, Lee Ann Smith, Pierre Paul Savoie and Jeff Hall, David Dorfmann, Fiona Marcotti, Chandralekha, and a Master workshop in Choreography with Danny Grossman.
Newton has choreographed and performed more than fifty works, both for himself and other dancers. Newton has collaborated with choreographer Patrick Parson in “Orixás Voice” (2003) and Dancing Spirits” (2004) two new dances created by the Ballet Creole for their season at the Premiere Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Newton also collaborated with Terrill Maguire in “Crazy to be born” (2003) at the World’s Fare Festival at Harbourfront Centre and Alexandro Ronceria in “Agua” (2004) at the Planet IndigenUS Festival in the water at the HarbourfrontCentre.
For more information visit his long bio in our about section.

As a professional dancer and choreographer for over 20 years, Tanya Crowder has been a company member of Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, and Kaeja d’Dance and has worked with several independent choreographers. Currently, Tanya dances for Sinha Danse (Roger Sinha) and company Fila 13 (Lina Cruz). Tanya is the Artistic Director and founder of Dance Matters Dance Productions and HOWDARESHE Productions. Dance Matters is currently running it’s tenth season and produces themed mixed programs, presenting choreographers and artists from all over Canada. Through HOWDARESHE Productions, an umbrella company for Crowder’s choreographic projects, collaborations and commissions, Tanya has created several of her own choreographic works presented in venues in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal as well as self-produced events; including a DanceWorks CoWorks Series Event in 2008 featuring work by Crowder and Julia Sasso and in 2010 with Love You Longtime Collective. Coming up is a solo show with choreography by Darryl Tracy and Lina Cruz.

For over 15 seasons Tanya has worked for Series 8:08’s Choreographic Performance Workshop as Production Coordinator and Manager. Tanya is very active in the dance community, having served on several Board of Directors and is a member of UDA. In addition, she was a dance teacher for 509 Dance Collective, has guest taught for CCDT company, DanceTeq and In Studio. She is the artistic director of Dance Matters.

Rebecca studied ballet with Lynn Morrison in Brampton Ontario and was awarded the adjudicated performance award “Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal” in 1994. During her ballet student career, she studied contemporary dance major at Mayfield Secondary School in Caledonia, Toronto’s Canadian children’s Dance Theatre, and The BANFF School of the Arts. She performed in Canada, The U.K, and the U.S. She then went on to study contemporary dance at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre Professional Training Program, York University and the School of Classical and Contemporary Dance. Rebecca has performed with Toronto Youth Dance Ensemble under Bengt Jorgen, and The Newton Moraes Dance Theatre performing Brazil, Germany and Canada as well as her own productions. Rebecca teaches ballet technique and contemporary dance with a focus on artistry and personal bests. She was a owner and curator of Impresario Artisan Market, a Gallery shop and event venue downtown in Port Hope.

Sarah Ostwald began her ballet training in Brampton, Ontario fourteen years ago. Since then, she has trained at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Lecole Superieur de Dance du Quebec, the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, the School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, and The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She performed in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain. Sarah has worked with choreographer such as Bengt Jorgen, Sylvie Bouchard, Davis Mirza, Crystal Pite and Kathleen Rea. Sarah is now extremely happy to be working with Newton Moraes and looks forward to future endeavors with Newton Moraes Dance.

Tatiana was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Her dance training was in Ballet, jazz with Tony Petzhold, Walter Arias, Edison Garcia, and Anette Lubisco. She has performed the works of Edison Garcia, Anette Lubisco, Jussara Miranda, Eduardo Laranjeiras, Newton Moraes and others. In Brazil she worked with Ballet Phoenix from 1986 to 1996. She graduated from the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and first performed with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre in July/97 at the Winchester Theatre, she also performed in The Letter That Never Arrived, Winter’s Night, Espirito Dancando, The Diary by Newton Moraes Dance Theatre. Tatiana Ramos also performed with Santhe Smith in Kahawi at Harbourfront Centre.

Tim Spronk has been dancing for 25 years. He started training at the School of Alberta Ballet in Edmonton, Alberta. After completing a B.F.A. at York he joined the Newton Moraes Dance Theatre performing in Brazil, Canada and Germany and had since worked for a variety of independent choreographers and companies. He was a founding member of the Chimera Project and danced with Kaeja d’Dance for eight years. Currently a member of the Arabesque dance company and orchestra, Tim has most recently appeared at the Canada Dance Festival with CORPUS. When he isn’t dancing Tim focuses his time on parenting and working as a personal trainer and kettlebell class instruction. Tim has actively practiced Contact Improvisation for 20 years, and he is eager to share his knowledge of strength training, dance partnering and internal martial arts to help fellow students expand their skills for safe, dynamic play in Contact Dance. Tim Spronk is also Personal Trainer and Martial Arts practitioner, I can help you find the best fitness routine to empower yourself, move better and feel great!

Mr. Snippe began his professional lighting designer career with Toronto Workshop Produtions under the direction of George Luscombe. In 1973 he began a long working relationship with Toronto Dance Theatre creating designs for over ninety works in the repertoire. Over his long distinguished career as a lighting designer, stage manager and technical director Mr. Snippe has worked with major dance , theatre and opera company across Canada and abroad. They include the National Ballet of Canada, the Danny Grossman Dance Company and numerous other Canadian companies and independent artists.

Ryan Kostyniuk is from Sylvan Lake, Alberta. He is currently studying at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and is in his third, and final year. Throughout his training at the school he has performed works by renowned choreographers such as Danny Grossman, Jennifer Dallas, Ryan Lee, Darryl Tracy, Sharon Moore, Julia Sasso, and many more. He attended Springboard Danse Montreal 2018 summer intensive where he performed works by Vim Vigor Dance Company and MA•ZE Dance Company. Ryan Kostianck performed in WIRED LOVE by Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Marco Placencio was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He originally wanted to be a circus performer and attended circus school, Circo Spacial, where his training included acrobatics, trapeze, and contortion. At the same time, he continued his music education in piano and the electric bass. At 14, he left the circus school and began taking jazz dance lessons. For over four years, he participated in various dance competitions in Sao Paulo state and worked with teachers and choreographers Adriana Celi Castelo and Magda Torquato. He came to Canada in 2010. He graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre’s Professional Training Program in 2014. He has worked with Massimo Agostinelli, Marc Boivin, Robert Desrosiers, Coralee McLaren, Newton Moraes, Sharon B. Moore, Darryl Tracy and Peggy Backer. Marco Placencio performed in BRAZIL, THE LAND OF TEARS AND SOUL and Testosterone with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.

Shakeil Rollock is a Toronto-based emerging dancer, choreographer and instructor. Starting dance late at the age of seventeen, he mainly trained in urban styles and later was influenced to train in modern, ballet, contemporary and jazz techniques. As a graduate from the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, he developed experience through working with artists such as Draico (Step Up Franchise), Hollywood Jade, Newton Moraes (Newton Moraes Dance Theatre), Christopher House (Toronto Dance Theatre), Kevin Ormsby (KasheDance), Julie Pérron (Cirque du Soleil), Esie Mensah, Lua Sheyenne (LSDC) and Debra Brown (Cirque du Soleil). Shakeil Rollock was a member of Newton Moraes Dance Theatre for three seasons performing in “Brazil, The Land of Tears and Soul, Testosterone and WIRED LOVE.

Deltin Sejour received his early Training Primarily in martial arts. During adolescence he began training in Theatre as well as Dance at Lois Sieler Academy of Dance, Georgia School of Theatre and Dance as well as Freeport Players Guild. Seeking further training he Attended the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and Later Dance Performance at George Brown College. Sejour has also traveled to India to study various aspects of Yoga and Movement. He spends his free time taking workshops to expand his knowledge of the arts,reading, writing,doing calisthenics and extensive research into mind. He is dedicated artist that’s always seeking to learn more about movement,art, the human body and the world at large. As an emerging artists Sejour seeks to continue his education by collaborating and creating meaningful,thoughtful,physical and engaging work. Deltin Sejour performed in WIRED LOVE by Newton Moraes Dance Theatre

Originally from Edmonton, AB, Katherine is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre where she had the privilege of working with many artists including Kate Alton, Peggy Baker, Robert Desrosiers and James Kudelka. Since graduating, she has worked and performed in both Toronto and Alberta; most recently with Nostos Collective (Toronto), Good Women Dance Collective (Edmonton), Meghann Michalsky (Calgary) and Sasha Ivanochko (Calgary). With a growing interest in choreography, Semchuk has been working on her own artistic practice. She was the recipient of Good Women Dance Collective’s 2017 New Work Award and a grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts to develop her first half-length work “I can’t sit still”. Katherine Semchuck performed in WIRED LOVE by Newton Moraes Dance Theatre.