G. Kaya is a non-binary female-bodied, multi-disciplinary artist based in Kitchener, Ontario. They were born in T'karonto, Turtle Island / Toronto, Canada to an immigrant father and second-generation Canadian mother. Their ancestral lineage is Irish, English, French, Swedish & German.
Their work as an Artistic Director / Producer / Performer to date:
* Catalyst - The Reading, 2023
Produced a film of self-penned short stories from a biographical novel,
read by 29 female-bodied people
* Pens & Lens, 2023
* blesSINGS & abunDANCE shareLETTER, 2005-2013
Offered a long-standing intimately artistic newsletter
* Written with the Womb, 2022
Wrote & performed a 2hr one person multi-disciplinary (dance, circus & storytelling) play
* The Waterlily Project, 2020
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
* RIPPLES, 2013
* plumROSE, 2011
* Beauty-fully blue, BLUE. 2010
* acoustic SWAN, 2010
* phoenix risSING, 2009
Wrote, recorded & independently released 5 albums of music
* Postcards From Abroad, 2001-2011
Filmed a series of 92 improvographies over 10yrs in 8 countries
* Growth, Grievance & Gratitude, 2009
* 40 degrees below, 2011
Wrote 2 limited edition e-books of poetry
* RIPPLES, 2013
* Beauty-fully blue, BLUE. 2011
* phoenix riSING, 2009
Produced 3 fully choreographed CD release dance shows for their albums
* Vibrant Frequency 2001-2003
* Womb Collective 1998 -2001
* Motion Sickness, 1998
Performed & choreographed in two companies + one dance crew
* Catalyst - The Reading, 2023
Produced a film of self-penned short stories from a biographical novel,
read by 29 female-bodied people
* Pens & Lens, 2023
* blesSINGS & abunDANCE shareLETTER, 2005-2013
Offered a long-standing intimately artistic newsletter
* Written with the Womb, 2022
Wrote & performed a 2hr one person multi-disciplinary (dance, circus & storytelling) play
* The Waterlily Project, 2020
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
* RIPPLES, 2013
* plumROSE, 2011
* Beauty-fully blue, BLUE. 2010
* acoustic SWAN, 2010
* phoenix risSING, 2009
Wrote, recorded & independently released 5 albums of music
* Postcards From Abroad, 2001-2011
Filmed a series of 92 improvographies over 10yrs in 8 countries
* Growth, Grievance & Gratitude, 2009
* 40 degrees below, 2011
Wrote 2 limited edition e-books of poetry
* RIPPLES, 2013
* Beauty-fully blue, BLUE. 2011
* phoenix riSING, 2009
Produced 3 fully choreographed CD release dance shows for their albums
* Vibrant Frequency 2001-2003
* Womb Collective 1998 -2001
* Motion Sickness, 1998
Performed & choreographed in two companies + one dance crew
Between 1998 - 2020
Danced in 14 music videos, two movies, one commercial with over 1 Million views on Youtube, 2 Bravo documentaries, had their dance captured with motion cap for a video game, performed dozens of tv appearances + over a hundred live stage performances including The Junos (Canadian music awards) & MAC Fashion Cares,, with audiences ranging from 2 - 20,000. Highlights include dancing for Rihanna, Ricky Martin, Mia Michaels, Bobby McFerrin, and as part of opening acts for performances by 50 Cent, Jay-Z & Cyndy Lauper.
G.Kaya was an avid member of the underground Hip Hop dance community in Toronto with the alias Shugamai Johnson, throughout the late 90’s-00’s. This scene was instrumental in shaping their movement, priorities and passions.
G. Kaya facilitated classes, workshops, and courses in dance & circus at studios, camps, universities, and for dance/circus companies and collectives internationally.
Danced in 14 music videos, two movies, one commercial with over 1 Million views on Youtube, 2 Bravo documentaries, had their dance captured with motion cap for a video game, performed dozens of tv appearances + over a hundred live stage performances including The Junos (Canadian music awards) & MAC Fashion Cares,, with audiences ranging from 2 - 20,000. Highlights include dancing for Rihanna, Ricky Martin, Mia Michaels, Bobby McFerrin, and as part of opening acts for performances by 50 Cent, Jay-Z & Cyndy Lauper.
G.Kaya was an avid member of the underground Hip Hop dance community in Toronto with the alias Shugamai Johnson, throughout the late 90’s-00’s. This scene was instrumental in shaping their movement, priorities and passions.
G. Kaya facilitated classes, workshops, and courses in dance & circus at studios, camps, universities, and for dance/circus companies and collectives internationally.
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Between 2009-2020
They had an adjacent livelihood in holistic health, offering yoga & acupressure/reflexology at their home yoga studio and at studios across Toronto & the U.K. They are a 550hr Minded Yoga Therapist, a 500hr RYT in Hatha & Vinyasa, a 220hr RYT in Kundalini and hold certificates in Yin, Restorative Yoga, Axiatonal Alignment Therapy, Thai Reflexology and Basic Shiatsu training. They’ve sat 7 ten-day long silent Vipassana meditation retreats and maintain a daily yoga nidra practice.
G. Kaya started the Unity Yoga Collective in Sheffield, U.K.
Between 2006 - present
They have presented and sold colourful abstract paintings in multiple self-produced shows, plus one boutique gallery in Toronto.
Between 1992 - 1998
G. Kaya was a part of the Mainspace School of Circus Arts youth performance troop founded by Marsha Kennington.
There they were a member of a stacking bike and jump rope team and specialised in aerial hoop.