ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Dr. Alina Sotskova, R. Psych.
Photo credit: Ian Sparks
Alina studied different forms of dance since four years of age in Crimea, former Ukraine. After immigrating to Canada as an adolescent, her connection with dance was interrupted. She returned to dance years later to focus specifically on studying contemporary dance, ballet, and pointe, although she is always interested in discovering new ways of moving. Alina’s approach to dance is integrative and contemporary in nature. She has performed in a number of contemporary and ballet works in London, ON, Victoria, BC, and Vancouver, BC. She has presented original modern and contemporary pointe choreography in collaboration with Victoria Dance Theatre, Dance Victoria, Flux London Dance Festival, and Broken Rhythms, and has worked with community organizations, such as UBC Centre for Brain Health and H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, to create unique events the feature new ways of presenting dance and art works.
Alina also holds a PhD in clinical psychology and is a Registered Psychologist in British Columbia who works with adults, couples, and groups. You can find out more about her practice here. Her previous studies in existential philosophy and her career in psychology continue to create spaces for intersections between psychology, philosophy, dance, and other art forms. The themes that typically influence her work in movement and performance art include the psychology of subconscious conflicts, existential themes of thrownness, chaos, and connection in relationships, and the dialectics of freedom and responsibility. While dance is one form of her artistic expression, work in photography and visual art also shapes Alina’s approach to choreography and communication through movement. Alina’s goal is to continue to collaborate on transdisciplinary, accessible projects with artists that rely on multiple forms of media to connect with one another, with the audience, and with the larger community.
If you have ideas for collaboration, you can get in touch with Alina, you can message her here.
CORE CONSULTANTS
Our Core Consultants have diverse backgrounds across different disciplines in arts and sciences. Core Consultants lead major Voirelia projects and shape the vision of what Voirelia is today and we strive to become in the future.
Core Consultant (Science): Jason Kirkness
Photo credit: Alina Sotskova
Jason was born and raised on a farm just outside of London, ON, where his love of science and science fiction was well supported by the ever-present library of novels provided by his parents. The inspiration that he took from the science fiction genre was that of optimism and limitless possibility, which has shaped his view on life. His formal training came later in life as he returned to school and attained a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Computer Science at the University of Western Ontario. His exposure to the arts scene is new, but he has thrown himself in, showing interest in new ways of communicating interesting and complex scientific concepts to a larger audience through art. He is looking forward to collaborating with other scientists and artists to further his knowledge and understanding, while offering his own insights, ideas, and experiences to help further the work here at Voirelia. If you are interested in topics related to communicating modern physics, renewable energies, and combining these themes with art or increasing public awareness, get in touch with Jason. He can be contacted via the Voirelia facebook page (click here).
Core Consultant (Photography): Ian Sparks
Ian’s keen eye and desire to produce outstanding photographs has been his focus since receiving his first camera over 25 years ago.
His talent lies in photographing people. Ian’s work takes him from weddings and portraits, to highly dynamic environments including dance and theater. He has worked with Victoria Dance Theatre, Broken Rhythms Victoria, and independent dance artists to create dance- and fine art works of photography. Ian and Alina Sotskova have enjoyed a productive and long-standing collaboration on a number of dance, composition, and fine art photography projects.
Although based in Victoria, Ian regularly travels throughout the Island and the Lower Mainland. He shoots interior and exterior, day or night, and enjoys unique and challenging locations. Ian’s work can be seen in the photography section of the Voirelia website and his website can be found on iansparks.com. He can be contacted at ian@ianspark.com.
Core Consultant (Art and Music): Andrew Short
Photo credit: Kate Short
Andrew Short received a B.F.A. from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts and a B.Ed. from the University of British Columbia.
His current body of work explores the nexus of psychology, science, and metaphysics. These ideas manifest themselves in watercolour, ink, and collage. He also works a musicians combining sounds, synthesizers, and beats in solo and group settings. You can check out Andrew’s art work on his website here.
You can send Andrew a message through the “Contact” tab of this website or through our Facebook page.
Core Consultant (Dance/Art/Science): Sarah Louadi
Photo credit: Erik Zennstrom
Sarah is a Master’s student in Experimental Medicine (UBC) who studies the interaction between protein aggregates and the brain immune cells in Alzheimer’s disease. She has a passion for artistic expression and science communication, and aspires to learn about the different ways that the arts can contribute to healing. When she is not in the lab, she enjoys reading fantasy books, planning her next cosplay, painting (oils, acrylics, mixed media) and dancing (salsa, bachata, burlesque, belly dance). Sarah has worked in multiple projects in the University of British Columbia, such as acting in and designing the costumes for a student-led musical in residence, planning speaker series and workshops for 5 years with the Mental Health Awareness Club, and leading a summer Art Therapy Program at the South Granville Seniors Centre in 2015. She was the co-lead for the creation of the dance portion for the Universe of the Brain (see Events section). You can check out her blog here and connect with Sarah here.
COLLABORATORS & CONSULTANTS
Voirelia’s work are largely project-based and can range from public lectures to dance performances to interdisciplinary science communication events. As such, we work with many different independent artists, dance and arts organizations (e.g., Broken Rhythms Victoria), scientists, psychologists, mental health clinicians, educational institutions, and community organizations, (e.g., H. R. MacMillan Space Centre). The collaborators and freelance consultants listed below are individuals who consistently contribute to Voirelia’s growth and development and influence Voirelia’s aim and vision.
Consultant (Dance): Alejandra Miranda
Photo credit: Jack Sommer
Alejandra Miranda was born in La Paz- Bolivia, where she started dancing ballet at the age of 7. She stopped dancing for some years, but was re-inspired by Truddy Murillo to make the decision of becoming a professional dancer. This came at the age of 19. The following years she travelled to Cuba and Argentina to continue her training in different contemporary techniques as well as ballet. Back in Bolivia, she started as an apprentice with Gaviota Dance Company and the Guayruru Project. She moved to Vancouver and did two seasons with Lamondance where she danced pieces by Davi Rodrigues, Monica Proenca, Lara Barclay, Shannon Moreno, Dario Dinuzzi, and David Northworthy. She also did an apprenticeship with Olivia C. Davies for Open Fire for Dancing on the Edge 2016. During this training period, Alejandra discovered a great curiosity for improvisation and contact improvisation. She is a really curious person when it comes to bodies in movement and how momentum travels, creating a non-stopping flow of natural movement. Alejandra completed Training Society of Vancouver’s scholarship in the fall of 2016 and participated in Bloom, by Mascall Dance during the summer of 2017. Alejandra is involved in several on-going Voirelia projects, such as Physics and Psychology project.
Consultant (Concept Development/Business Strategy): Ian Cunningham
Ian is a strategic consultant and the founder of Lansdowne Solutions. He contributes a blend of knowledge and experience based in the fields of innovation strategy and digital design. In his work with non-profit organizations and new startups, Ian helps clients focus on their audience, understand the unique value they have to offer, and craft programs that serve the needs of the client’s constituency. Ian has been working with Voirelia Core team to refine and advance our concept, vision, and goals. To learn more about Ian’s work, check out the website for Lansdowne Solutions: www.lansdownesolutions.com.
Outside of his business and technology work, Ian’s artistic hobbies have included occasional explorations into playing guitar and sketching with pencil and ink, in addition to becoming a regular participant in salsa and bachata social dances.
