Lola Ryan is one of Canada’s foremost practitioners of dance and movement improvisation. A former champion athlete, she began a career in dance in her twenties, founding and co-founding several dance/theatre companies and touring nationally. Her work with children and adults is an abiding interest, and encourages links between youthful play and the world of dance. 

Kseniya Tsoy  is a new Canadian community-engaged artist, originally from Uzbekistan. In her murals and workshops, she is passionate about introducing this part of the world through iconic patterns and traditional applied art techniques with a contemporary twist.

Nicole Bélanger is a visual artist who specializes in murals as collaborative works of art. In schools or the community, her emphasis is on group work, both in conceptualization and creation. Nicole believes that the power of energy comes from the creative efforts of the group and that there is room for everyone in the world of creativity.

For over 40 years, VOX Théâtre has been a vast playground for young audiences. Stories take on a unique theatrical form with voices singing words and sounds to express ideas and emotions. Actors, music, sets, and puppets animate stories and characters that strike the imagination. 

Jimmy Baptiste is a father, youth educator/facilitator, graphic artist, curator, and muralist. With his unique approach to education, he aims to build a sense of ownership and belonging in schools and communities.

Fana Soro hails from the Senoufo tribe in northern Cote d’Ivoire and spent nine years as a member of the prestigious Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoire. He also toured with the celebrated West African group Super Djembé Kan. Fana later moved to Canada and formed Masabo, a performance group specializing in traditional West African music, dance, and story.

Kathryn Patricia Cobbler is a musician, artist, storyteller, and catalyst for creative experiences. As a multi-faceted musician-educator, she engages audiences of all ages in interactive performances, residencies, and musical workshops. In this interview, Kathryn talks about collaborating with other Ottawa-based artists and inspiring students to express themselves through visual arts and music.

Shaun Elie is an Ottawa-based video artist and videographer who offers video workshops that can adapt to different situations. He has worked with MASC for over 15 years, offering short workshops and residencies to students in both English and French.

Amanda West Lewis  is dedicated to words. Words on the page and words on the stage. Her eight books for children and youth range from non-fiction books to historical novels. She has a particular interest in creating historically relevant stories for young people.