Special Events/Discounts

• Festival Passes available now
• Limited Pay-What-You-Will tickets available
• Book your group of 6 or more and get 15% off or your group of 10 or more for 20% off!
• If you require an attendant, aide, or companion, they are still required to have a ticket. Please contact coordinator@skirtsafire.com and we’ll book a ticket for the accompanying person at no extra cost.

Accessibility Measures for emBODYment

• Street view of the ramp located on 91 Street, between the parkade and main building. 

   

  View of the ramp’s incline, photographed from the bottom. 

   

  Building entrance located at the base of the ramp, which is also accessible from the bottom level of the parkade. 

   

  Click here for more information on Accessibility 

  Click here for SkirtsAfire’s FAQs

Content Warnings

• One piece contains a simulated hanging
• Some flashing lights

If you need further clarification regarding these content warnings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@skirtsafire.com.

Deviani Andrea
Host

With a strong sense of community and social justice, Deviani works to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also fosters decolonization of spaces and champions Indigenous teachings.

A Butterfly Dream
Dim Sum Dance Society

Macy – Instructor/Choreographer
Katelyn – Instructor/Choreographer 

Dancers: Vincee, Kelly, Winnie, Jenny, Sienna, Elena, An, Alex, Kelly, Tina, Karen , Lily, Elisha, Yvonne, Catherine, Emily, Katrina, Bella

Dim Sum is a traditional Chinese meal centering around sharing and a joyful social experience. The values that make this sharing of a meal a staple in Chinese culture, is also embodied by the Dim Sum Dance Society team. The group presents a dance about musicians spending their day looking for inspiration, with little luck. Longingly their gaze drift where carefree butterflies roam, musing about how nice life must be as a butterfly. That very night their musings come to fruition as they dream they were butterflies, traveling around the city and observing the different lives each person lives.

Artist Adopted by
Lynn Mandel

The Olympics Piece

All the current Olympic sports (summer and winter), performed by three performers, with full costume changes. The Olympics Piece was originally created in 2019 as a 7-minute solo by Anastasia Maywood for the Play the Fool Rookie Cabaret. Over the past 6 years Anastasia has re-worked and expanded the piece, and has presented it in Play the Fool Festival, Orchesis Dance Society’s annual show Motif Moves and as part of “Funny Beyond Words: A Physical Comedy Cabaret” in the Edmonton Fringe, 2024.

Every version of the piece is slightly different, as Olympic sports are added and removed every 2 years.

The Olympics Piece is performed by:
– Anastasia Maywood (choreographer)
– Janita Frantsi (performer)
– Molly Bell (performer)

Artist Adopted by
Thomas Usher

Maggie Dickson: Bird on Fire
Samara Von Rad
she/her

Samara Von Rad is a multi-disciplinary artist working professionally as an Aerialist, Actor, Stunt Performer, and Musician. Samara has always loved performing and started taking theatre acting classes at the age of 5, and then discovered film in her teenage years and has been in love with the medium ever since. At 21 she discovered Firefly Theatre and Circus and this led to a love of all things aerial and the Circus has taken up a huge space in Samara’s days working as both an Aerial Coach and Performer since 2015. Some recent highlights of Samara’s career include creating her own short aerial film titled “The Audition” and performing the piece live at the Alberta Circus Arts Festival Cabaret, working as a Stunt Performer on Netflix’s “The Abandons”. Her piece Maggie Dickson: Bird on Fire has been a collaborative process with the music being co-written by herself and her brother, Daniel Sedmak, and mixed by DJ Sizzle. Choreography was built with Jenn Bruyer, and the voiceover provided by local actor Cody Porter.

Artist Adopted by
Marielle Turgeon

Two Threads
Stephanie Gruson

Stephanie Gruson (she/her) is an Edmonton-based aerialist who has been part of Firefly Theatre & Circus for over a decade, training since 2009 and performing with the company since 2013. She is recognized for her dynamic presence on the silks, combining strength, precision, and fluid movement to create engaging performances. Stephanie has appeared in Firefly productions such as KOLABO and PANACHE, and has performed in major events including the Canada 150 celebration at Rogers Place alongside Sarah McLachlan.

In addition to performing, Stephanie works with Firefly and the Alberta Circus Arts Festival, supporting the circus community and helping create opportunities for artists.

This act reflects the grief Stephanie has carried over the past few years, the loss of her dad and the loss of a close friend, each leaving a different kind of emptiness. Through the silks, she moves between holding on, falling, and finding ways to rise again, tracing how these losses have shaped her. It is also about navigating motherhood within that grief, learning how to stay present and steady while carrying so much. This piece honours the people she has lost and the strength that has grown in the space they left behind.

Artist Adopted by
Treva Swick

Floating Feather
Sarah Visser
she/her

Sarah the Aerialist is an international, professionally trained circus artist whose work blends advanced aerial technique, heels dance, and theatrical presence. Rooted in cabaret aesthetics and contemporary circus, her dance trapeze act explores sensuality, confidence, and the power of being seen.

Sarah is known for pairing strong technical execution with expressive character work, using timing, stillness, and direct engagement to create intimate, high impact performances. The trapeze becomes both apparatus and partner, supporting choreography that shifts between grounded control and airborne vulnerability.

In 2025, Sarah performed aerial hoop and contortion aboard the P&O Iona cruise ship with Creativiva and Anystage Creative, entertaining international audiences while sailing routes through Norway and Spain. Her 2024 credits include TED Vancouver with Cirque de la Nuit, starring in The Great, Great Spiegel Spectacular with Firefly Theatre and Circus, and delivering high energy fire and aerial performances in Starslingers at the Calgary Stampede.

A long black robe, high heels, and a sparkling trapeze establish a visual world of glamour and command. This work celebrates embodiment, feminine power, and unapologetic presence.

A Sky Full of Stars
Aerial Lollipop
Marla Albiston

Marla Albiston (she/her) is a dancer/aerialist/choreographer/instructor who resides in Edmonton, AB. She loves all styles of movement, and has been fortunate enough to train in dance and aerial circus throughout Canada, the United States, and Australia. She completed her Bachelor or Education degree from the University of Alberta, and then accepted a contract performing with Princess Cruise Lines aboard the Princess Coral. Currently, Marla teaches dance and yoga at Lillian Osborne High School, works as a freelance dance instructor/choreographer/adjudicator, and performs with the local contemporary dance company Viva Dance, and the local aerial circus company Firefly Theatre and Circus. In her free time, Marla loves exploring the outdoors and spending time with her dog Ruby.

Artist Adopted by

Laundry Day
Contortion
Avery Denington

The only constants in life are death and taxes… I would like to add laundry to the list.

This act explores concepts of femininity, the artist’s life, light and shadow, and escapism through clothing. Laundry is an integral, never-ending part of everyday life. It’s a weirdly personal experience; it’s a practice that has been passed down through generations, and as a result, everyone does it differently. I love laundry. It’s a mundane, repetitive chore. Its simplicity creates a calming, meditative experience and can bring individuals together through its shared practice. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to perform at SkirtsAfire again and can’t wait to share this act!

Artist Adopted by
Rebecca Schulte

Morada Dance Movement
Team Lavender, Team Lilac, Team Magenta

At Morada Dance Movement, we’re so excited to bring our passion for dance to the beautiful city of Edmonton! Founded by Brittany Ward, whose love for Caribbean and Latin music, dance and culture has been lifelong, our studio is a place where technique and fun find balance. As we open our doors September 2024, we are committed to providing high-quality instruction across various styles, including Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and Latin fusion.

Team Lavender is an advanced on2 salsa shine team that captivates audiences with their artistry and precision. These experienced dancers are passionate about technique and growth, delivering performances that blend skillful choreography with entertainment. Dedicated to excellence, Lavender is focused on mastering the intricacies of salsa while showcasing their talent at competitions and events. This team is a testament to the power of determination and the joy of dance.

Team Lilac is an intermediate/advanced ladies bachata shines team showcasing technique, confidence, and entertainment. This group of experienced dancers are passionate about their love for dance and challenge themselves on a weekly basis to improve their skills. Lilac is excited to spend the 2025-2026 season preparing for competition and performances around Alberta and in Montreal. Their love for dance always lights up the stage and keeps audiences smiling from ear to ear.

Team Magenta is a beginner to intermediate ladies’ bachata shines team, celebrating the beauty of bachata through captivating performances. This group focuses on building technique, confidence, and a strong sense of community among women in Latin dance. Dedicated to growth and a love of entertaining audiences, Magenta is passionate about bringing fun and connection to their craft. With aspirations to compete, this team performs at various events, lighting up the stage with their vibrant energy and dedication.

Artist Adopted by

Midnight Muses
New Orlean’s Bump & Sugar Foot Stomp

The Midnight Muses emerged from a small group project at the Sugar Swing dance studio. After working together, they were so inspired that they decided they wanted to continue co-creating. The dancers – Czarina, Jasmine, Katryna, Maggie, and Paige – founded the Midnight Muses to explore and express feminine movement within jazz. Across the five members, there is a combined total of over 50 years of dance and choreography experience.

Taking inspiration from dancers and dance styles in the early 1900s, from the uninhibited boldness of Sandra Gibson to the elegant athleticism of Consuela Harris, the Midnight Muses aimed to emBODY the spirit of feminine expression and carry forward their legacy. The Midnight Muses embraced solo all-women dance projects, a foray into areas of jazz that they had not yet explored.

The Midnight Muses’ choreography to “New Orleans Bump” by Wynton Marsalis was a creative exploration of the roots and evolution of jazz. After starting with the roots – a drum beat and African-inspired movements – the introduction of melodic instrumentation inspires the dancers to explore and embrace femininity in jazz. Weaving in each of their interpretations of the music, stylings inspired by their composite of dance experience, the piece embodies the journey of the jazz dance form in the female body.

The Midnight Muses will also be performing a piece to “Sugar Foot Stomp” by Bob Crosby & His Orchestra, taking inspiration from the 1920s chorus lines. In contrast to the smooth and sultry nature of the first piece, this piece explores the more joyful and energetic side of jazz dancing, while embracing camaraderie and synchronicity of female dancers.

Excerpts from “It’s Just You & Me”
Viva Dance Company

Nominee for the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts and recipient of the Edmonton Arts Trust Fund and Dorothy Scott Fringe Theatre Creator Award, Stephanie Lilley (she/they) is the founder and artistic director of Viva Dance Company. Under her leadership, the company has performed hundreds of times and has become a staple in the Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton arts community. In addition to The Edmonton Signing Christmas Tree, Fringe Festivals across the country, galas, and charity events, the company continues to bring dance to new markets including hockey arenas (Edmonton Oil Kings) and fashion shows (Western Canada Fashion Week).

Having undergone bilateral hip replacement surgery, Steph takes a dancer-centered approach in which she strives to cater dance programming to the individual needs of each artist she works with. She advo-cates for inclusive dance programming for all bodies and uses dance to empower the artists she works with. Steph’s dance manifesto fosters authenticity and kindness in the studio which she then encourages dancers to take out to the community.

Stephanie was part of the world renowned Ukrainian Shumka Dancers as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic consultant in which time she toured across Canada and China. She ran Shumka School of Dance’s contemporary programming from 2018-2024. Stephanie regularly shares her passion for Ukrainian dance with students at Jube School, an arts outreach program offered by the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

Stephanie is the co-Artistic Director of Orchesis Dance Society, a community-based dance program for adults. In this capacity, she programs classes, workshops, and performances alongside partner, Andrea Fitzgerald. Orchersis’ annual production of Motif Moves has been a project Stephanie has championed over the last three years. She has been a driving force in keeping this fifty-year-old dance organization alive and thriving. Stephanie has facilitated performances for Orchesis dancers with the Edmonton Elks, The John Cameron Changing Lives Foundation, and NextFest.

Stephanie has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (BKin) as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Steph is a sessional instructor at MacEwan University where she works in the faculty of Health & Community Studies. Although an experienced teacher and performer, she continues to be a student herself. Some of her most influential teachers include her children, Jude (11) and Gloria (9).

As an adjudicator, Stephanie has worked with Zirka Dance Challenge, Vitaemo Ukrainian Dance Festival, Camrose & District Music Festival, Kalyna Festival, Biggar Dance Festival, Peace River Dance Festival, Whitehorse Dance and Music Festival, Culture Fuze, Athabasca Dance Festival, BC Ukrainian Cultural Festival, Shumka Dance Festival, Vernon Performing Arts Festival, Svoboda Dance Festival and the K-Days Talent Search. She has also served on adjudicating committees of municipal and provincial funding bodies.