Staff & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leadership

SASHA IVANOCHKO

Artistic & Pedagogical Director

DANIELA NARDI

Interim Managing Director

Artistic and Administrative Staff

PAMELA WONG SHOEBOTTOM

Recruitment & Training Associate

YASAMAN NOURI

Communications & Engagement Manager

BRYAN KLING

Production & Operations Manager

BETHANY LIFESO

Student Services & Financial Aid Officer

GEORGE STAMOS

Artistic & Pedagogical Associate

ABBY HANSON

Facility Coordinator

PETER BANNISTER

Facility Coordinator

Board of Directors

CHAIR: Allison Bone

TREASURER: Ama Hysi

SECRETARY: Marie Gadula

DIRECTORS: Melanie Danaher, Steven Del Degan, Christina Giannelia, Delphine Gilbert, Lincoln Shand, Kalpana Srinarayanadas, Albert Tam

Daniela Nardi is a revered arts leader and accomplished musician with over 30 years of experience. Her passion for arts and culture has propelled her to create a recognized and respected profile both locally and internationally. With expertise in programming, producing, marketing/communications, strategic planning, fundraising, and management, Daniela has established herself as a versatile and influential figure in the industry.

Throughout her journey, Daniela has assumed leadership roles and managed esteemed arts organizations. As the Interim Executive Director of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir, she collaborated closely with senior leadership, artists, and the board, overseeing financial and business operations while charting new directions. At the 918 Bathurst Centre for Arts, Culture, Media, and Education, Daniela revitalized the venue through strategic partnerships and dynamic programming. As the Executive Director of Cultural Programming at Villa Charities/Columbus Centre, she spearheaded a forward-thinking Cultural Strategic Plan. As an award-winning musician, Daniela has graced prestigious stages and festivals worldwide. Her performances at venues such as Koerner Hall, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Tchaikovsky Hall have garnered international acclaim.

Daniela's extensive experience in music and performing arts has forged a vast network of personal and professional contacts, enriching her projects. Her strategic planning skills and financial acumen have enabled her to navigate institutional and project budgeting smoothly. Daniela's strength in forging strategic partnerships and engaging communities along with a proficiency in fundraising and development, has been instrumental in her success.

Daniela's dedication extends beyond her professional achievements. She actively volunteers, serving on boards, committees, and advisory bodies, contributing to the betterment of the arts community. Her involvement in various associations, such as the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) and the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA), keeps her at the forefront of the industry. With her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honors in Music, certifications in cultural management and interim leadership, Daniela Nardi continues to inspire and lead with her artistic excellence and unwavering commitment to the world of arts and culture.

Pamela Wong Shoebottom holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and a BFA Honours in Dance from York University. Pamela is currently the Recruitment & Training Associate at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She is invested in an integrative approach to contemporary technique, yoga, somatic, and task-based movement research practices. Pamela’s national and international performance and choreographic work reflects her foundation in modern, contemporary dance, and interdisciplinary work. She choreographed Helen Tide, a Gala Award winning piece for the 2017 American College Dance Association festival. Pamela integrated contemporary dance and voice work as Resident Choreographer, dancer, and singer, with Pop/Cantopop singer and actress Teresa Carpio in Hong Kong. She explored immersive and interactive dance theatre as a dancer, singer, and interdisciplinary performer with Joe Goode Performance Group in San Francisco.

Pamela is committed to advocating dance in education and community. As a lecturer of Modern, Ballet, and Introduction to Dance at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa (UHM), she developed her growing love for collaborative teaching in higher education. As Associate Director of Outreach for Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (CCDT) in Toronto, she designed and delivered K-12 dance curriculum and performance programs. As Artistic Director of the UHM Dance Ensemble, she designed, directed, choreographed, and performed in interactive, interdisciplinary, and cultural Taiko and dance events with local and native Hawaiian students. As Associate Director for the Outreach Program Every Day Movement for CCDT, she developed and produced Every Day Movement DVD Teaching Aid for the Toronto District School Board K-12 dance curriculum. Pamela adjudicated and taught Modern and Ballet for the 2017 BC Performing Arts Provincial Festival.

Pamela has taught Modern and Contemporary technique in Toronto, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Hawaii. Pamela’s teaching and learning practice is influenced by her work with artists from New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Toronto, such as Jeanine Durning, Joe Goode, Laurel Jenkins, Christine Wright, Teresa Carpio, Darryl Tracy, and Pat Miner. Pamela continues to immerse herself in diverse, inclusive, and multi-disciplinary creative work that fuels her focus as a performer, choreographer, dance artist-educator, and arts advocate.

Yasaman Nouri (یاسمن نوری) is an international artist and administrator who has worked across various sectors including the performing arts and healthcare.

Her artistic practice focuses on interdisciplinary art with her full scope of training including theatre creation, performance, aerial arts, theatrical design, visual arts, and music. Yasaman’s work specializes in experiential art including immersive or interactive experiences. She is passionate about theatre accessibility and sustainability informing her work.

Yasaman is a graduate of York University with a BA in Theatre with a specialization in Devised Theatre and Set and Costume Design. She is an aerialist and currently trains at the Toronto School for Circus Arts. Yasaman is a founding member of typo theatr (typotheatr.com), a Toronto-based immersive theatre company, and the founder of Pomegranar, a Virtual Art Gallery (pomegranar.com).

Her recent work includes designing an art installation at Young People’s Theatre for ADC’s Design the Revolution series. Other work includes costume design for the production of Oh What a Lovely War! at Hart House Theatre (University of Toronto) and director for the production of Six Characters in Search of an Author at York University. She has designed and performed in shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with YUFFA Fringe: The Stage Manager’s Guide to Dating Assholes (performer and costume designer), Inebriated (performer), and You’ve Got to be Kidney Me (costume designer).

George Stamos, originally from Nova Scotia, balances his time between Montréal, where he manages ongoing creative projects, and Toronto, where he is the Artistic and Pedagogical Associate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. George has maintained a prolific career in contemporary dance in Canada and internationally since 1993. Regularly performing in his work, George has project managed, coordinated and choreographed over fifty research/creation and production processes, and has danced in the work of pioneering choreographers, including Benoit Lachambre, Sara Shelton Mann, and Zab Maboungou. George is knowledgeable on a wide range of contemporary dance practices and has expertise in the areas of diversity and inclusion.

His creative projects have achieved success across the Americas and Europe. In 2009 and 2017, he was a resident artist at the Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York, and from 2012 to 2015 at Agora de la Danse. In 2014, George received the much sought-after Northrop McKnight Fellowship for International Choreographers Award, and critical acclaim throughout his career for his inventive creations.

His artistic research and knowledge base have developed through his studies of Central African dance techniques at Nyata Nyata School of Dance (2011-2019), academic theories associated with communication studies, neurodiversity, gender and sexuality (2016-2019), and over 30 years of rigorous professional practice. In the autumn of 2022, he joined the faculty and staff of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. His piece Recurrent Measures DELUXE premiered at the Festival Buenos Aires Danza Contemporánea and his film SNAP, Archie’s Story, had its UK premiere at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival and its NYC premiere at the Queens World Film Festival. He also performs in a piece titled Sister Nightlight that features guest performer Louise Lecavilier and musicians Remy Saminadin and Roger White. George is currently developing a film and performance project.

info@danceartsinstitute.ca