Talking in the Rain

Kevin O'Day is an American choreographer based in Spain. In this milestone 50th episode, we talk about the relationship between being a choreographer and an artistic director, creating original works that are different from others' as well as your own and why collaborating is important to Kevin. We also get into partnering, embracing limitations, audience attention shifting and how great the Vanco...

Wishwell is a rock band with a mental health focus based in Toronto, ON. Joining today's episode are lead vocalist & guitarist Taylor Simpson and bassist Sean Kitson. In this episode we get into how the band formed and its mental health awareness focus. We talk about the dynamics of the band, Sean and all his instruments and how Taylor got into music. We also talk about their partnership with...

Semiah Smith is a Mohawk pop musician from the Six Nations. In this episode we talk about what Semiah likes when it comes to creating music, the songwriting vs the production. She talks about her song ded 2 me and making more stripped back songs. She also gets into wanting to showcase her different sides stylistically and how the music she creates changes as she does. We discuss the fine line betw...

Jonatan Lujan's an Argentinian dancer based in New York City. In this episode Jonatan talks about how he started ballet at a late age and how his fast transition into professional life was. He talks about moving around the world for his work and what the most challenging and the best parts about it are. We get into Balanchine’s Apollo and dancing to Stravinsky’s music, especially the rite of sprin...

Ralph Escamillan is a dancer and choreographer based in Vancouver, BC. In this episode we talk about how Ralph got into vogueing and the ballroom scene, how having his own house and being a mother has shaped and changed his experience in the ballroom scene. Ralph talks about how ballroom is nothing without its community and how it's all about imagination. We also talk about MY HOUSE , Ralph's late...

Alexis and Sylvain are co-artistic directors of Belle Spirale in Vancouver, BC. In this episode we delve into topics like having an analytical eye when watching other works, but also being open to being moved by a performance instead of thinking about how it was created, feeling compelled to explore a topic and create work around it. How Alexis and Sylvain turn abstract ideas into performance piec...

Keilani Elizabeth Rose is a classically and culturally trained dancer, actor and award-winning filmmaker. In this episode we talk about how Keilani growing up in an artistic family has helped her find her path, dance being medicine as well as guiding a deeper connection of your body, mind and soul. Keilani talks about representation and inclusion of indigenous voices in the arts and what role her...

Tanner Zerr is a Vancouver based actor mostly working in theatre. In this episode we get into what he focuses on when he’s preparing for a show, finding humanity in every role, if actors should connect to their characters to be able to portray them well on stage, how vulnerable acting is and Tanner's feeling responsibility towards the audience. We also get into performing Shakespeare, being presen...

Roan Shankaruk is a composer, performer and artist based in Vancouver, BC. Most recently she has composed an adaptation of the 1922 novella The Fox as an opera. We talk about what about opera speaks to her and how she has evolved into it through musical theatre. She also talks about horror operas and if creating horror has made it less scary for her. We get into The Fox, why she chose the novella...

Isak Enquist is a dancer, choreographer, actor and sound designer. He is the co-director of Little Room Productions which will be presenting its first full length dance work, Fall(se) Circ(us), choreographed by Isak. In this episode we talk about sound design and creating a piece of music that can support the artist as they try to share a movement. We also talk about choreographing and discuss Isa...

Chris Lavis is an award winning writer, director and animator. He created Clyde Henry Productions with Maciek Szcerbowski in 1997, and their first animated short Madame Tutli Putli was released in 2007. Their latest work The Girl Who Cried Pearls follows the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman in sorrow. Tempted by greed, the boy must choose between love and fortune. The Girl Who C...

Terrell Edwards is his name and performing is his game. Known for his velvety voice, Terrell Edwards is a singer and songwriter bringing legendary jazz and soul artists back to life. In this episode we talk about the first time he performed on stage and the feeling of belonging he had and how he still feels at home and most himself when he is on stage to this day. Terrell talks about his experienc...

Melody Mangler is a burlesque and cabaret performer based in Vancouver, BC. We talk about her love of horror, gore, weird movies and Church's Chicken. Melody talks about some of her acts (including Ode to Church's Chicken) , how she gets the ideas for them, the process and how long it takes to take them from conception to stage. We also find out how it doesn't get boring for her doing this since 2...

Alison Reid began her career in the film industry as a stunt performer and was one of the first female stunt coordinators in North America. She has been directing tv shows and movies for over a decade and her latest work, The Art of Adventure will be premiering at VIFF. We talk about her experience going from stunts to behind the camera and how stunt coordinating and directing actually have a lot...

Mayumi Yoshida is a writer, actor and director from Japan, living and working in Vancouver, BC. We talk about her latest work Akashi, how much of it is real vs. fiction, how the story started out as a play and evolved into a feature film and what translated best from stage to screen. Mayumi talks about the experience of growing up in different continents and how that shaped her sense of home and f...

Brishkay Ahmed is a writer, director and filmmaker from Afghanistan who doesn't want to make a "breaking news" documentary. Her latest work In the Room , a visually stunning, informative, and deeply personal exploration of cultural identity and resilience featuring interviews with five impactful Afghan women. In this episode we talk about Brishkay's curiosity as a child leading to her writing and...

Jamie is an artist based in Vancouver, BC with a focus on making jewellery in a sustainable and ethical way. We discuss the origins of her brand name Scandinazn, growing up in a mostly white city as a mixed person of colour and how that has played a role in her art. We also get into her creation process from design to the actual craft. Jamie also talks about how fun earrings can make you more appr...

The Origin is a rock band from Victoria, BC with Tom Hayward on guitar, Curtis Duggan on bass and Liam Hayes on drums. While the three are making music and getting ready to play more live shows, they are also looking for a guitarist to join them! In this episode we get into how The Origin was formed, what it was like for Liam to join a band with an already established dynamic, how they write their...

Alexis is a dancer, choreographer, producer and co-artistic director of Belle Spirale. In this episode we talk about her 15 years at Ballet BC and the transitional nature of being a professional dancer, collaborating with other artists and her preference in working collaboratively, how her artistic voice has evolved over the years and supporting local talent. We also get into her newest work being...

Candice Weber is a fiber and mixed-media artist working out of Gore Studio in East Vancouver. Mixing her background in animation and fibre-art, Candice bridges the space between technology and traditional work. We talk about how she got started making fibre art, exploring new mediums, being a "completionist" and her mushroom suit. We also delve into Eastside Culture Crawl where people can visit ar...

Alina Sotskova is a dancer, choreographer and psyhologist. She is the founder of Voirelia, a contemporary dance company exploring dance, psychology and philosophy. We talk about how intimidating it is to go back to dancing after a long break, Alina working as a clinical psychologist alongside as a dancer and choreographer, positive psychology dance workshops, and getting inspiration from the dance...

Corey is a storyteller, writer, composer and director. He is a member of the Mattagami First Nations, with French-Canadian and Irish ancestry. We talk about why he started to write, founding Raven Theatre, being the artistic director of Urban Ink and co-creating TRANSFORM festival. The need to tell Indigenous stories and bringing perspectives that aren't being showcased. We get into his work in pr...

Sarah Lane is a musical theatre actor based in Vancouver, BC. In this episode we talk about Sarah's passion for teaching and learning, letting go of dreams but finding new ones, musical theatre actors being triple threats and getting the strength and courage to actually "do it". We also get into Cats as Sarah is playing Grizabella in the Theatre Under The Stars production of Cats, written by Andre...

Emma Love is an actor, voice actor, audiobook narrator and singer based in Vancouver, BC. In this episode we get into how she got into all the different avenues of performing and creating, adversarial relationships, little ways of safety and routine and how easy it is to miss comfort. Emma talks about her move from New York City to Vancouver and how one is a community while the other one is a mark...

Adrienne Hyde is a multi-instrumentalist focusing on early music. We talk about how she started with piano, switched to cello and now plays multiple instruments such as viola da gamba and the lirone and how she tends to be led to discover new things and realize that it's her passion, actually. Adrienne talks about how she has a desperate need to connect with people, thus finding community in New Y...