SURGE Program

Marrin Jessome is a Kjipuktuk/Halifax-based artist who studied Performance Dance at the Toronto Metropolitan University (2019). She now works as a freelance dance teacher, choreographer, adjudicator and performer throughout the maritimes. Her work has been showcased throughout the maritimes by: FODAR, Mocean Dance, The St. John Contemporary Dance Festival, Island Fringe, Kinetic Open Studio, The Underground Cabaret, Antigonight Fest, The Youth Dance Ensemble, Halifax Young Company and Crescent Moon Cabaret. She creates contemporary work that is inspired by storytelling, memory, and relationships. Marrying classical techniques with the theatre of lived experiences, she brings forth compositions that are raw and sensual while athletic and playful. Her work features intricate partnering, floor work and flow acrobatics. She is driven to make work that is relatable and accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Susanne Chui is a mother of two, an award-winning dance artist, and Co-Artistic Director of Mocean Dance. As a performer for 22 years, Susanne has worked with over 25 choreographers from across the country, and her dancing in Mocean’s Canvas 5 x 5, choreographed by Tedd Robinson, earned her the 2016 Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia’s Masterworks Award. A passionate improviser, Susanne collaborates across disciplines, is a faculty member of the Creative Music Workshop, and is part of Becoming Old Growth, a collective with musician Erin Donovan and poet Basma Kavanagh. Susanne has received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia, and her choreographic work has been presented across the Atlantic Region. Her most recent project, Where Dance and Music Meet, featured 19 performers in a full-length evening of improvised dance and music forms, inspired by her work with the late Jerry Granelli. In 2024, Susanne was recognized with Arts Nova Scotia’s Established Artist Recognition Award.

Ariel Boulos-Callias: Originally from Antigua, Ariel is a dancer and choreographer whose artistry is defined by the rhythms and spirit of Caribbean culture. With a versatile foundation in Hip-Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern, she discovered her most authentic voice through Soca, Dancehall, and Reggae—genres that celebrate her heritage and infuse her work with vibrant, infectious energy.

Ariel’s professional development began at Shiva’s School of Dance, where she performed throughout Antigua’s Carnival season before relocating to Halifax, NS. In 2017, she joined The Woods Dance Company, where she continues to refine her craft and perform across multiple disciplines. Her choreographic experience includes five years of creating competitive Soca routines, culminating in the presentation of a new work at Kinetic’s Open Studio Series in November 2025. Deeply passionate about cultural storytelling, Ariel strives to bring joy, energy, and a grounded presence to every stage and choreographic project she leads.

Nathaniel Dooks is a breaker, hip-hop dancer and choreographer that has been dancing and performing for over 14 years. Based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) Nova Scotia. He is an emerging choreographer with pieces that have been self produced and presented by kinetics open studio series and Halifax fringe festival. Nathaniel strives to create a strong and community driven street dance scene in Nova Scotia.

Fatima Lopez: I was born and raised in Mexico and began dancing at the age of 10 through competitive dance, participating in regional and national competitions such as Danzamania and UPA, while also training in ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). At 16, I shifted away from competition to pursue a performance-based path, training in ballet, jazz, lyrical jazz, and contemporary dance.
In 2021, I moved to Saint John, New Brunswick, to complete an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at UNBSJ and joined the First City School of Dance Young Company. There, I began collaborating with artists across Canada and started to create and perform original choreographic work. I have collaborated with Connection Dance Works, participated in a 2024 intensive with RUBBERBAND in Montreal, and attended professional contemporary dance classes in Toronto. I also had the opportunity to appear in a short film written and directed by Gina Grant. I am currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where I continue to train and seek performance opportunities as a dance artist.

Sydney Ewert (she/her) is an emerging contemporary dance artist from Sikunme’katik (Gaspereau, NS) and holds a BFA in dance from York University where she had the privilege to train under Tracey Norman, Syreeta Hector, and Jessica Runge. Amidst her studies, she had the opportunity to perform works by Carmen Moreira (SQx Dance Company) in Canada, Portugal, and Iceland as well as had the invaluable experience of sharing socially conscious dance programming with at-risk youth. Sydney is passionate about the intersections of dance, community, and accessibility, which she explores through her work as the representative of the Atlantic provinces with the DTRC (Dancer Transition Resource Centre), as an educator (Cadance Academy), and through her personal research in the studio and beyond.

Clara Reynolds-White (she/her) is a Halifax-based dancer and choreographer originally from Cape Breton. Film frequently serves as both an inspiration and a conceptual starting point for Clara's work, shaping how she approaches her craft and embodies emotion through movement. She is inspired by the stories, character arcs, and film shots. Clara envisions the space around her as something she can touch, allowing her movement to flow, react, and converse with her environment. Clara's passion for dance extends into a deep love for floorwork, which she approaches with curiosity and enthusiasm. Always eager to push her boundaries, she is committed to ongoing learning and expanding her technical and creative knowledge. Whether in the studio or on stage, Clara is dedicated to exploring new ideas and continually evolving as both a performer and a creator. Clara is a contemporary instructor at House of Eights Dance Studio and Studio 26 Dance.

Bethany McMorine is a dancer, choreographer & educator. She finds her base in contemporary dance & enjoys expanding her movement vocabulary through various techniques/dance forms & other artistic practices. She has professional and educational experiences from across Canada, Europe & Japan. Bethany has worked professionally for various dance companies, including SQx Dance Company, Free Flow Dance Theatre Company, Mocean Dance, & HEART Global. She has also worked as a dance teacher & facilitator for vulnerable populations. Bethany has a BFA specializing in performance & choreography with a double major in environmental studies from York University. Bethany has furthered her dance education & refined her craft by pursuing Post-Graduate dance programs in Italy, Denmark & Sweden. As a choreographer, Bethany enjoys exploring elements of justice, places, spaces & people and how they interact with the environment.