Since Fall 2024, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Emerging Artist Programme through Jamii, a program designed to support emerging artists, particularly those who are BIPOC and women-identifying. This program offered me a unique opportunity to work alongside Emilio Esteban, a choreographer and dancer with whom I’ve shared the stage since 2019 as part of theTEAM. Emilio was not only my teammate but also our dance director, and his mentorship felt like the perfect fit for me. We worked together from September to October 2024 on a dance performance to be showcased at Pulse, a local event. The process of curating the performance from scratch was super interesting and eye-opening. I never realized how much went into creating a dance piece for an event—it wasn’t just about the choreography or the moves, but the entire concept; recruiting your people for a performance (Which are 99.9% of the time unpaid gigs), conforming to the event’s theme, selecting the music/order of music, picking costumes, and ensuring everything aligned with the story we wanted to tell. Being on the other side of the performance by supporting Emilio in this role gave me a deeper appreciation for the logistical and creative work that happens behind the scenes. I began to understand that choreography is not just a reflection of personal expression but also an intricate, collaborative effort that requires a thoughtful approach to every detail.

Seeking to further expand my knowledge and skills, I decided to invest in myself by purchasing a 5-class pass at Studio North Toronto. This dance studio is known for offering classes with independent teachers, and I was eager to learn from a variety of perspectives rather than sticking to comfortability.   The classes challenged me in new ways by pushing me to become a more versatile dancer. I was exposed to different teaching styles, and classes introduced me to new techniques and approaches to movement. It felt like a refreshing journey of discovery as I honed my skills and broadened my understanding of dance. I learned not only how to approach different styles from different teachers, but also how to push my body and mind to explore new creative possibilities. The experience at Studio North made me realize how important it is to seek out new challenges, to step outside of your comfort zone, and to continuously seek growth as an artist.

One of the most impactful learning experiences came from a private lesson with Carl Mandac, one of my closest choreographers who was our former director on theTEAM. Carl is known for his creative choreography, and he crafted a performance-worthy piece for me to learn for fun. This was an intense but rewarding experience, as I had to fully immerse myself in the piece, focusing on both precision and expression, especially due to the 1 on 1 setting. What made the lesson even more enriching was Carl’s collaboration with Kristina, a talented videographer who works closely with choreographers and performing artists in the dance community. Carl granted me permission to showcase my take on his choreography while working alongside Kristina. Kristina’s expertise added a new dimension to my learning. While Carl taught me the moves to the choreography itself, Kristina coached me on how to translate my performance for the camera. I had never fully realized how nerve-wracking it could be to perform a solo act on film until I was in front of the camera myself. Kristina taught me grounding techniques, such as breath control, sensory grounding, and the importance of feeling my feet firmly planted on the ground when my anxiety spikes a bit. These techniques supported me in calming my nerves and improving my focus. Kristina also emphasized how nerves and emotions are incredibly readable to an audience, both in-person and on-screen, and she taught me how to stay present and grounded, even when under pressure.

Through these experiences, I came to realize that performing is about much more than just executing choreography—it’s about truly embodying the song and its emotional message. Kristina’s guidance helped me understand the importance of interpreting the music as if I were the artist singing it, connecting with its emotional depth and expressing that through my movement. This concept completely shifted my approach to dance performance, as I began to see performances not just as a series of steps, but as a way of telling a story and connecting with the audience on an emotional level. I had always believed I was a good dancer, but learning how to channel emotion and intention into my performance took it to a whole new level. The physicality of dance was now intertwined with the emotional aspect of the music, and I learned how to bring both together to create a compelling performance. This experience also reminded me of how dance is both personal and universal. Dance is a way to communicate with others without words. It’s about vulnerability, emotion, and connection. It's a never ending journey of learning; there is always something new to learn. This realization has deepened my love for dance, and I’m now excited to approach every upcoming performance with a better sense of intention and awareness as a performer not just through my physical movies, but of the emotional story I want to tell through them. I am incredibly grateful for this experience presented to me through Jamii with the support of the RBC Emerging Artist program, and I am excited to bring this back full circle in my own journey as a leader in dance.