About the Choreographers

Generous Mess / Vancouver, BC

Born in North Vancouver BC, Aiden Cass began his training with North Shore Academy of Dance before joining Modus Operandi (MO) in 2015. Born in Hanna AB, Sarah Hutton moved to Vancouver in 2013 and trained with the Source Dance Company and EDAM before joining MO in 2016. During their graduate project at MO, Aiden and Sarah founded their collective practice and company, Generous Mess.

Generous Mess debuted their duet 'by means of each other' at DOTE in July 2021. 'by means of each other - pt. 2' premiered at Left of Push in January 2023 in Vancouver, BC. Their first ensemble work ‘heirloom’ premiered at the EDAM Spring Choreographic Series in March 2022 in Vancouver BC, with other iterations performed at Dance Deck Onze in August 2024 and Boombox in March 2025. Most recently, 'by means of each other' made its Manitoba premiere at Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers 60th Anniversary Season in April 2025.

Generous Mess is privileged to work and play in so-called Vancouver on the unceded, stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Calder White / Vancouver, BC

Calder White is a freelance dance artist based on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. He is an alumnus of Tkaronto's Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre and holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University. He has originated roles in work by Shay Kuebler, Joshua Beamish, Wen Wei Wang, Ziyian Kwan, and Rachel Meyer, amongst others. His own choreography has been presented by institutions across North America, including Dancing on the Edge Festival, Danceworks Toronto, Ottawa Dance Directive, Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, and Kinetic Studios Halifax. Calder is also a floorwork teacher, regularly sharing his workshops in cities and towns across North America. He is the proud recipient of the 2022 Hnatyshyn Foundation's Ukraine - Heritage, Spirit, and Future award for Exceptional Talent in Contemporary Dance.

Lara Barclay / Vancouver, BC

Lara is a dancer and passionate collaborator with international experience as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. Trained at the National Ballet School and Hamburg Ballet School, her dance career spanned 25 years, performing with Aszure Barton & Artists, Ballet Mannheim, Toronto Dance Theatre, Ballett Kiel, The Needcompany, Deborah Colker, Sylvain Émard, Action at a Distance, Mascall Dance, Josh Beamish, Evann Siebens, Vision Impure, and Plastic Orchid Factory. After 8 years spent touring with Aszure Barton, her final performance took place at Kampnagel Hamburg in 2019, dancing to a live, improvised score by Hauschka. Lara spent 3 years rehearsing and directing for Ballet BC under the direction of Emily Molnar and Medhi Walerski. She went on to become Ballet BC’s Associate Director of Outreach and Education, offering innovative workshops and performances to public schools throughout BC. Alongside performing, Lara worked as an educator for three decades, helping to carve stronger creative pathways for dancers. She co-founded Lamondance in 2009 and has taught and choreographed for several companies and programs, including Arts Umbrella, Modus Operandi, Aszure Barton & Artists, Danish Dance Theatre, Deborah Colker, Richmond Academy of Dance, RNB Dance, and Goh Ballet. In 2017, Lara began studying Expressive Arts Therapy in Vancouver and, in 2022, completed her Master’s degree at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. She currently works as a child and youth therapist for the Squamish Nation, where she continues her lifelong dialogue with movement while encouraging well-being through play and creative expression.

Davi Rodrigues / Brazil - Canada

Seen as a visionary leader in the Canadian dance community, Davi Rodrigues arrived in Canada in 2008 to pursue his passion for dance. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in the Lamondance Arts Society, first as a dancer and guest choreographer and later as the Artistic Director, shaping the company's artistic identity for over 15 years. His commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment has established a vital scholarship program benefiting emerging artists nationally and internationally, ensuring that arts are accessible to all. Under his guidance, countless emerging artists have been supported by training as professional dancers, choreographers, and rehearsal directors, making a global impact. His unwavering dedication to ensuring that no aspiring artist is held back due to financial constraints has changed lives and set a standard for excellence in the industry.