Alexis O’Hara / Co-Host
The interdisciplinary practice of Alexis O’Hara exploits allegories of the human voice via electronic improvisation, video and installation. Among the themes she exploits – in video, photography, drag, song and interactive performance – are post-apocalyptic culture, human biology and cognitive science, all couched in a distinctively feminine slant. Her eclectic performances and concerts have been presented in various contexts in Slovenia, Austria, Mexico, Germany, Spain, UK, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, Belgium, Holland and across Canada and the US. Her latest CD, Ellipsis is available through &records. Alexis and her alter-ego, Guizo Lennui, are mainstays of the Montreal cabaret scene. www.alexisohara.com, http://soundcloud.com/alexis-ohara, http://vimeo.com/dyslex6

Zero Boy / Co-Host
Entertainer and “vocal cartoonist” Zero Boy is an East Village icon who has performed on both coasts and throughout Europe. He recently appeared in the Off-Broadway hit 666 at the Minetta Lane Theater, and has performed regularly on NPR’s The Next Big Thing and MTV’s M2 network. His Alice in Zeroland was featured at the Whitney Museum at Philip Morris. www.zeroboy.com

Monstah Black studied choreography/performance at Virginia Commonwealth University receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and his motion picture debut playing the role of choreographer/dance instructor for a porn film starring Jeff Stryker. Following undergrad Monstah began choreographing for happenings in nightclubs, art galleries, black boxes and warehouses in Washington DC. His ensemble (Bedrock Goes Kaboom) terrorized the Nations Capital with cross-dressing madness and ballistic/physical theater, leading to role as choreographer for a music for DC based Go Go band EU. He has received support from Amercan Music Associations Music For Dance The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council for the creation of his show Submerged In Blue. Catch Monstah seasonally with Cabaret Cataplexy, a sexy variety show he co-produces with his glam partner Ashley Brockington and Queer Arts Impact. Coming soon the release of The Blacks debut album “recess”, a music venture he fronts with his life partner Manchildblack Black. He holds and M.F.A. in New Media Art and Performance. www.monstahblack.com

A proponent of what he calls “Global Soul”- an amalgamation of soulful melodies over dance rhythms from Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean, Manchildblack brings to the music world uplifting and socially conscious lyrics, a bohemian sense of style, and a warm and inviting spirit that illuminates every stage he graces. Like his idols Stevie, Donny, Marvin and Gil, Manchildblack is on a mission to heal, educate and elevate audiences through inspirational songs of life, love and self-discovery. Manchild has appeared in shows like the world premiere of the Richard Adler and Bill C. Davis musical Off-Key at the George Street Playhouse and even on the now defunct crime series on the A&E Network, 100 Centre Street. He has received critical raves as Racine in Carl Hancock Rux’s Asphalt which featured music by Toshi Reagon and DJ Spooky. As a singer, songwriter, recording artist, actor, soul music impresario, event producer, designer, tastemaker and entrepreneur, Manchildblack is this generation’s true renaissance man. His music and mission are both clear and powerful and is now resonating with audiences around the world. “This is about more than me, it’s about a movement and I plan to be one of the leaders in the forefront of the change that’s coming”. www.manchildblack.com

Upon graduating from the Contemporary Dance Department at Concordia University, Sasha Kleinplatz was honored with the James Saya Award for Excellence. Sasha has completed choreographic residencies at the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perrault, Studio 303, Montreal Danse, and the O Vertigo centre for creation. In 2009 Sasha received the award for Most Innovative Local Choreography at the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. She had her work produced in numerous venues including Tangente, École Nationale de Théâtre, Studio 303, Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui, and Studio Mange mes Pieds. Sasha and her company Wants&Needs danse (co-founded with Andrew Tay) produce the popular Montreal dance events Piss in the Pool, Short&Sweet, and Involved. Her choreography All the Ladies was presented at the Performance Mix Festival in New York City in April 2011. www.wantsandneeds.ca

Vanessa Anspaugh is a choreographer and a director from New York City. Among other venues, her work has been presented by Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Movement Research. This fall, she was a BAX Space Grant recipient and she is currently a Dance Theater Workshop Studio Series Artist in Residence. She is happy to return to Studio 303 where she and fellow collaborator Aretha Aoki were collaborative artists in residence in the summer of 2007. www.vanessaanspaugh.com

Jana Jevtovic is an independent choreographer and performer. Over the last years she has split her time between working and living in Canada, the U.K. and the Balkans. Her work concerns itself primarily with live performance and video with a definitive bend towards collaborative experimentation and an interest in devising new methods for research and creation.

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