Sophie Dow
An original O.Dela Arts commission, DisAppear is a new choreography co-created by Sophie Dow, Yvonne Chartrand and Madelaine McCallum. For this first phase of development, the trio will be exploring elements of strength, healing and the sentimental clown within the tragedy and grief. An honouring for the MMIWG2S, the missing and murdered women, girls and LGBTQ2S+ people from the Michif/Métis relation, this work is set to premiere at Matriarchs Uprising 2025.
co-creators Sophie Dow, Yvonne Chartrand, Madeline McCallum
Treaty 1-born Sophie Dow is a multidisciplinary creative, inspired by dance, music, film, collaboration and Michif/Assiniboine + French/Ukrainian roots. An avid adventurer, Sophie exudes passions for busking, yoga and traveling on top of holding a degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from York University. Sophie presently fulfills roles as: artistic associate of O.Dela Arts, The Chimera Project and V’ni Dansi/Louis Riel Métis Dancers; residency coordinator at Dance West Network; musician with The Honeycomb Flyers; a licensed practitioner of Traditional Thai Massage; a trained facilitator & student of BreathWave; a freelance dancer, choreographer, sound designer; and a puddle jumping trickster.
Yvonne Chartrand is a contemporary choreographer and dancer as well as a national award-winning master Métis jigger. In 2000, she co-founded V’ni Dansi (“come and dance” in Mitchif) where she continues to act as Artistic Director. Yvonne’s Métis dance work was passed to her through many Métis Elders and she is dedicated to preserving traditional Métis dance in Canada. Her contemporary works are always informed by her Métis identity. Yvonne is a winner of the 2011 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Madelaine McCallum is a gifted dancer, motivational speaker, facilitator, and MC—a true, multi-faceted creative. She is from Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan and brings passion with a gentle yet powerful presence to the stage whether she is there to share one of her inspiring Speaks or she has been asked to dance, or MC. Though she is often known immediately for her Métis dance, she loves all forms including Pow Wow, contemporary, hip hop, and movement from the soul. She has created traditional and fitness-based dance workshops including Pow Wow Impact, Jig Fit, Pow Wow Zumba, and traditional Pow Wow and Jigging workshops.