G. Kaya is a non-binary female-bodied, multi-disciplinary artist based in Waterloo, Ontario. They were born in T'karonto, Turtle Island / Toronto, Canada, to an immigrant father and second-generation Canadian mother.
An avid member of the underground Hip Hop dance community in Toronto with the alias Shugamai Johnson throughout the late 90s-10s the experiences shaped their movement, priorities, and passions, fuelling two decades of performance/production/facilitation of dance, music, film, storytelling & circus, internationally.
Today, their preferred personal practices are Continuum, Vipassana, Yoga Nidra, improvisational dance, and abstract acrylic painting (with West Coast Swing Dance fast becoming a new passion.)
Their adjacent livelihood in holistic health led them to be qualified as a 550hr Minded Yoga Therapist, 500hr RYT in Hatha & Vinyasa, a 220hr RYT in Kundalini, and receive certificates in Yin, Restorative Yoga, Axiatonal Alignment Therapy, Thai Reflexology, and Basic Shiatsu.
G.Kaya returned from eight years in Europe, connecting with their ancestral roots (English, Irish, French, German & Scandinavian) to embark on a renewed path of interest in sustainability and environmentalism.
Time spent studying/volunteering at ecovillages in Scotland, Germany, Sweden & Canada inspired the completion of Renewable Energy studies at Conestoga College and presently the pursuit of a Bachelor’s of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo 2023.
An avid member of the underground Hip Hop dance community in Toronto with the alias Shugamai Johnson throughout the late 90s-10s the experiences shaped their movement, priorities, and passions, fuelling two decades of performance/production/facilitation of dance, music, film, storytelling & circus, internationally.
Today, their preferred personal practices are Continuum, Vipassana, Yoga Nidra, improvisational dance, and abstract acrylic painting (with West Coast Swing Dance fast becoming a new passion.)
Their adjacent livelihood in holistic health led them to be qualified as a 550hr Minded Yoga Therapist, 500hr RYT in Hatha & Vinyasa, a 220hr RYT in Kundalini, and receive certificates in Yin, Restorative Yoga, Axiatonal Alignment Therapy, Thai Reflexology, and Basic Shiatsu.
G.Kaya returned from eight years in Europe, connecting with their ancestral roots (English, Irish, French, German & Scandinavian) to embark on a renewed path of interest in sustainability and environmentalism.
Time spent studying/volunteering at ecovillages in Scotland, Germany, Sweden & Canada inspired the completion of Renewable Energy studies at Conestoga College and presently the pursuit of a Bachelor’s of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo 2023.
Film
HIGHLIGHTS:
The Waterlily Project - conceptualised, produced, wrote, performed music, and coordinated 135 people,
living in 6 countries, to create 20 short music films donating 100% of the proceeds to charity.
Catalyst (The Reading) - produced a film of self-penned short stories from a autobiographical novel, read by 29 female-bodied people.
The Waterlily Project - conceptualised, produced, wrote, performed music, and coordinated 135 people,
living in 6 countries, to create 20 short music films donating 100% of the proceeds to charity.
Catalyst (The Reading) - produced a film of self-penned short stories from a autobiographical novel, read by 29 female-bodied people.
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Short Music Films Produced
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Postcards From Abroad - Improvography Series
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Dance
HIGHLIGHTS:
IKEA dance commercial - 1 million+ Youtube views
Music Videos - Rihanna, K-OS, Seal , Ricky Martin & Daniel Beddingfield
Live Stage - The Junos Canadian music awards , MAC Fashion Cares, Carnival Cruises,
danced with opening acts for Jay-Z, 50 Cent & Cyndy Lauper,
choreography by Mia Michaels & Esie Mensah and a duet with Bobby McFerrin
(Live audiences ranging from 2 - 20,000)
Tour - 7 week, 6 city tour of India as a backup dancer a Hindo-Canadian pop singer
Vibrant Frequency - choreographing works for 3 shows with co-founder Ayrin Mackie
IKEA dance commercial - 1 million+ Youtube views
Music Videos - Rihanna, K-OS, Seal , Ricky Martin & Daniel Beddingfield
Live Stage - The Junos Canadian music awards , MAC Fashion Cares, Carnival Cruises,
danced with opening acts for Jay-Z, 50 Cent & Cyndy Lauper,
choreography by Mia Michaels & Esie Mensah and a duet with Bobby McFerrin
(Live audiences ranging from 2 - 20,000)
Tour - 7 week, 6 city tour of India as a backup dancer a Hindo-Canadian pop singer
Vibrant Frequency - choreographing works for 3 shows with co-founder Ayrin Mackie
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+ Live Stage Performances
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Countries Performed
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Movies, Music Videos & Commercials
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Circus
HIGHLIGHTS:
Written with the Womb - wrote & performed a 2hr one person multi-disciplinary (dance, circus & storytelling) pregnancy/abortion-themed play
Mainspace School of Circus Arts - specialised in spinning hoop, adagio and was a member of an 8 person youth stacking bike team
Cirque Du Soleil - Became a member of their prestigious artist databank in 2016
Written with the Womb - wrote & performed a 2hr one person multi-disciplinary (dance, circus & storytelling) pregnancy/abortion-themed play
Mainspace School of Circus Arts - specialised in spinning hoop, adagio and was a member of an 8 person youth stacking bike team
Cirque Du Soleil - Became a member of their prestigious artist databank in 2016
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Years Performed in Marsha Kennington's Youth Circus Performance Troupe
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Years Teaching for
MainSpace School of Circus Arts |
Years Facilitating Social Circus with SoCirc & Lookup Theatre's Mental Health Youth Circus
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Music
HIGHLIGHTS:
Collaborations - performing and/or recording with Saint Peter Miller, Kevin Reigh, Layah Jane, Gurpreet Chana, Sarah Smout & Copius Beats
Cushion Concerts - hosting a longstanding series of intimate concerts over 20yrs with talented local singer-writers, poets and musicians
Collaborations - performing and/or recording with Saint Peter Miller, Kevin Reigh, Layah Jane, Gurpreet Chana, Sarah Smout & Copius Beats
Cushion Concerts - hosting a longstanding series of intimate concerts over 20yrs with talented local singer-writers, poets and musicians
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Cushion Concerts Produced
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Self-Produced Albums
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Songs Written
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Yoga & Holistic Health
HIGHLIGHTS:
Key Qualifications - Professional Diploma in Yoga Therapy 550hr RYTT, Hatha & Vinyasa 200hr RYT,
Advanced Hatha 300hr RYT, Aquarian Level 1 Kundalini 220hr RYT
Yogaspace - organising a children's yoga and dance camp
Gracious Expansion - Running a home yoga studio focused on supporting individuals to
cultivate increased mobility and awareness of their mind/body connection
Unity Yoga Collective - founding the collective in Sheffield, U.K. 2015.
Key Qualifications - Professional Diploma in Yoga Therapy 550hr RYTT, Hatha & Vinyasa 200hr RYT,
Advanced Hatha 300hr RYT, Aquarian Level 1 Kundalini 220hr RYT
Yogaspace - organising a children's yoga and dance camp
Gracious Expansion - Running a home yoga studio focused on supporting individuals to
cultivate increased mobility and awareness of their mind/body connection
Unity Yoga Collective - founding the collective in Sheffield, U.K. 2015.
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Years of Personal Practice
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Yoga Therapist, Yoga Instructor & Bodywork Certifications
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Years of Teaching/Facilitating
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