Free Flow Dance Theatre Company
Free Flow Board Members
- Shannon Swelka, co-chair
- Eveline Boudreau, co-chair
- Neaera (Nea) DeMuri, secretary
- Clint Simpkins
- David Forbes
- Terri-Bear Linklater
- Kate Matthews
- Isaac Bond, financial chair
Bios
Jackie Latendresse
Artistic Director, Choreographer, Instructor, General Manager.
Growing up in the small rural town Kincardine did not deter Jackie from discovering and cultivating her love of Dance and Art. From a young age, she showed the promise of a career in Dance or at least on Stage. Her wonderfully supportive parents Jack and Dorothy were the first ones to send out a supporting hand to push her in the right direction and they have been looking on in wonder ever since.
Jackie Latendresse is an alumnus of the University of Waterloo where she obtained her H.B.A. in Dance with a minor in Fine Arts. She founded the Free Flow Dance Company and its adjoining studio in 1995, in Kitchener Ontario. The Company relocated to Toronto in the winter of 1996 and has since found a home base in Saskatoon. Jackie has been choreographing and producing her own shows since 1993 when she presented her first full evening of dance works at Abstract Machines that Recognise Certain Languages.
Her work has since been presented all over Canada at many types of venues ranging from the traditional professional theatres to school auditoriums, parks, shopping malls, and night clubs. She believes in making modern dance accessible to everyone and enjoys putting dance into unconventional venues in the tradition of Post Modernist choreographers.
Jackie is an avid believer in arts literacy and is involved in Arts and Cultural Strategic Planning Committees. She wants to help deconstruct the belief that dance is for the cultural elite only. Jackie is an artist who strives to make her views known through dance and dramatic movement. She often discusses feminism and female issues in her choreography. She prefers to keep her statements abstract and open for interpretation so they remain on an equal level with the movement. She is known for her visceral and emotionally driven works which fit as well into the world of theatre as they do dance.
Jackie has great dreams and aspirations for the future of Free Flow. She looks upwards and thinks big. She strives to break boundaries and express her innermost feelings and ideals. She has received various awards and acknowledgements including most recently Woman of Distinction for arts and culture in Saskatoon 2021 and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal 2023.
Meghann Michalsky
Meghann Michalsky is a dance artist working in Alberta. She is the co-creator of Project InTandem and YYC Contemporary Technique Training, two programs that offer opportunities to emerging artists in Canada. She was awarded the 2019 RBC Emerging Artist Award at the Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions – she is the first Dancer/Choreographer to receive this award.
Since completing her BA in Contemporary Dance, with a concentration in Choreography and Performance, at the University of Calgary. She has rigorously pursued her dance technique training in Canada as well as in Israel, Portugal, Sweden, the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium & Austria.
As a dancer, you’ve seen her dance for an array of individual artists and companies, including Karissa Barry, Laja Feild of LajaMartin, Davida Monk, Linnea Swan, Michele Moss, kloetzel&co, Cloudsway Dance Theatre, Dancing Monkey Laboratories, J-Sik Movements, & Dancers’ Studio West – Lab Emerging Artist Program (2016) & Physic/Alchemy (2018), amongst others.
Her most recent choreographic works have been presented at Dance Made in Canada | fait au Canada (Toronto), artsPlace (Canmore), Mile Zero Dance (Edmonton), Citadel + Compagnie (Toronto), University of Calgary, Chutzpah Festival (Vancouver), Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (Camrose), Project In Tandem (Calgary), Fluid Festival (Calgary), Stream of Dance Festival (Regina), Convergence (Edmonton) & abroad in Finland.
She has been awarded Choreographic Residencies from the Centro Jobel (Italy), Vitlycke Arts Centre (Sweden), New Dance Horizons (Regina), amongst many local Alberta opportunities. She is excited to share, that she is currently in the process of creating her first full-length work!
Rachel Saufert
Rachel Saufert started dance at the age of 4 taking tap, jazz and ballet at Kristy’s Dance Fusion in Saskatoon. There she continued her dance training taking ADAPT tap and jazz exams along with her RAD ballet exams. Rachel trained in other dance styles such as lyrical, modern, contemporary and hip hop as she progressed as a dancer. She became competitive in these styles of dance and was competing until she was 19 years old. She also trained in Ukrainian dancing. Rachel was able to take a dance academy class that they offered at her high school. There she had the opportunity to learn many different styles of dance from different teachers. She joined the Free Flow Dance Theatre company in 2017.
Alex Hartshorn
Dancer
Alex is a performer, movement artist, and certified counsellor specializing in somatics and body-mind wellness. Alex has been engaging in movement arts and somatics in different forms for decades, starting in dancing styles such as ballet and Ukrainian folk, then moving into theatre and physical storytelling, then studying psychology and body-mind healing. Alex began exploring Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies (LBMS) during actor training at the U of S in 2010. For performance, the framework is used to expand awareness and creativity in using the body to portray different characters/stories. For life and overall well-being, the same framework, among other somatic modalities, is connected to our functioning and ways of being in the world. Experiencing physical movement and personal expression together can result in a richer story, more authenticity and aliveness, and an empowerment of choice and agency. The themes of movement are themes of life!
Corinn Zieglgansberger
Apprentice
Corinn has been dancing since the age of 4 when she was originally enrolled since she couldn’t stop tripping over her own feet. As someone who movement did not come naturally to, she was always in the back row and struggled to keep up. However, ballet was always something she was passionate about and through a lot of hard work and dedication, she eventually grew into her craft.
Being someone that struggled has made her a better teacher throughout the years. She has an extensive background teaching ballet, technique and yoga to people of all ages. Sharing movement and mindfulness with others and helping them become aware of their own body is what lights her up.
Quinlan Sharkey
Apprentice
Quinlan Sharkey was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised on the family farm outside the city. As a young girl she would dance everywhere she went so the choice to enroll her in ballet lessons was obvious.
At age 4 she started taking classes at the local community center dance studio where she took ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and tap. Through the encouragement of her teachers Quinlan started to pursue ballet professionally and auditioned for schools throughout Canada and the United States. She spent a year training at The School of Alberta Ballet before moving to New York City to become a trainee at the Joffrey Ballet School. Quinlan has now been with the school for four years and has performed many roles in The Nutcracker, and other showcases, as well as had opportunities to perform outside of Joffrey with other schools and choreographers. She has worked with and performed professionally with Benjamin Briones Ballet Company dancing in various new works. Along with all of this Quinlan is also a proud Crafting for a Cure Smiles for All Ballerina and has been with the charity since 2016. Through Crafting for a Cure she has performed in many hospitals in New York, as well as traveled to Chicago and Israel.
Board of Directors
Shannon Swelka, co-chair
Shannon is a librarian, mother, writer, and recreational thrifter who just moved back to the Caswell Hill neighbourhood after a couple of years in Hampton Village. She took her first burlesque class in 2017, has been performing with the Rosebuds for the last three years, and enjoys volunteering for events at the dance studio. A professional librarian, she currently works behind the scenes at the Saskatoon Public Library and has experience in HR, assessment, and policy writing.
Éveline Boudreau, co-chair
Éveline has been interested in free movement and a follower of Free Flow Dance for many years. She is a multidisciplinary artist, now focusing on conceptual ideas and Performant Art. Her performance projects involve interaction and communication with her audience, often using movements, examining actual issues such as the effects of the Internet and technology. These performances take place in public spheres, usually outdoors. She has performed in Free Flow Dance events, including its 20th Anniversary Festival celebration at the Refinery in 2015. Her piece was called: Elles nous manquent… Missing… She is a firm believer: we shall bring art to people!
Clint Simpkins
Clint is a Carpenter and along with his wife Gloria they have been acquaintances and supporters of Jackie and the Free-Flow Dance Company for a number of years: helping out with personal transport when able, being patrons for numerous events and performances, as well as building sets and providing carpentry/woodworking services for Jackie and the troupe. Clint and Gloria are participants in social dancing (ballroom) and are patrons of the arts: symphony, dance, live Theatre, plus modern/historical artworks. Clint is a past director/ lifetime member of the Bergheim Community Association and a member/ past president of the Saskatoon Millennium Lions Club.
Neaera (Nea) DeMuri
Neaera is a self taught visual artist and recently became a stay-at-home parent of three. They were born in Saskatoon, and grew up in Caswell Hill. Nea first got involved with Free-Flow when they joined their first Rosebud burlesque class in 2008. Since then Nea has been involved with Free-Flow as a performer, a body painter, a poster designer, a volunteer, a student, and of course, an enthusiastic audience member. Nea is a jack of all trades having worked in a wide assortment of jobs, but is most happy working in the artist community. Nea has two left feet but loves to dabble in dance anyway, especially enjoying lindy-hop, bellydance and pole dance.
David Forbes
David is/was a longtime resident of the Caswell neighbourhood where Free Flow Dance Theatre resides. He cares deeply for culturally rich communities, appreciating the value that all the arts bring to our lives. He believes very much that Free Flow is such an organization and wants to help the dance company flourish and grow even more. David is a teacher turned local MLA for Saskatoon Centre now fully retired and enjoying it! David served in Premier Lorne Calvert’s cabinet as Minister of Environment and then Labour. While active as an MLA until the election of 2020, he supported and facilitated links between community groups, governments at all levels and with local business. David gets that this is where the real energy lies and Free Flow can be that vibrant medium for us!
Terri Bear-Linklater
I am a proud First Nations woman from Muskoday First Nations. My current position is working
full time as an Arts Ed. Teacher at Ernest Lindner School. I provide prep for teachers from kindergarten to Grade 5. My previous school was Confederation Park school, which has now changed its name to Wahkohtowin and I was at this school for 7 years. I provide prep time for the teachers from Kindergarten-Grade 5 both in the English and Cree Culture programs. I have incorporated my husband, Lyndon Linklater to come and talk about Treaties & Reconciliation to my classes as he is the Number 1 speaker for the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, and my students loved him! I still do incorporate his knowledge into my classes as this is needed during these difficult times with the grave sights that have been found at various Residential Schools across Canada. I base much of my programming on literacy connecting books and reading to art related activities and my students loved this kind of dynamic in my teaching skills. I’m also the choir director and I teach ukulele and I host a ukulele club for my older students. I love being an Arts Ed teacher because I am passing on my passion for the arts to my students.
I’m an accomplished musician as I play acoustic/electric guitar and I’m a singer/songwriter for an all-girl band and the band name is All Girl Chill. This is one of many things that I do in my spare time. I have been involved in the dance community for over 30 years now. My form of dance that I do is Flamenco and Middle East Dance, more commonly known as belly dancing. I’m also a troupe member of the Rosebud Burlesque Club and been a proud member for 7 years now.
Kate Matthews
Kate Matthews is a wardrobe stylist and brand consultant working with non-profit organizations, businesses, entertainment productions and public figures including musicians, actors, models, politicians and athletes. Kate has worked with local organizations such as Dress for Success, SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Nutrien Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival, Remai Modern and SaskMusic. Her national placement and client list includes the JUNO Awards, Canadian Country Music Association, ELLE magazine, Globe & Mail, National Post, CityTV, CBC, CTV, GLOBAL TV and the Food Network. Outside of work, Kate enjoys dancing with the Rosebud Burlesque Club, spending time with family, friends and her three cats—Stella, Charlie and Aria.
Isaac Bond
Isaac Bond is a poet, songwriter, support worker, and roofer born and raised in Saskatoon. Formerly the executive director of Tonight it’s Poetry and project coordinator of Write Out Loud, he has long been involved in both administration and performance of the literary arts in Saskatoon. He has also hosted several events, including some for the Free Flow dance community. Knowing first hand what an appreciative and talented community that is, he is delighted and honoured to serve as a member of their board.