Shameka Blake is an award-winning choreographer known for her distinctive, genre-blending style rooted in a deep creative instinct. Her work has earned the Black Canadian Award for Best Urban Dance Act and has been presented at leading national and international platforms including APAP (NYC), IABD, the Ghana-Canada-Benin Cultural Exchange Festival, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated commercially with brands and artists such as Tommy Hilfiger, Roots Canada, Sean Paul, and Nelly Furtado.

In 2008, Shameka founded Artists in Motion (AIM), later evolving it into a Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving multidisciplinary dance company dedicated to amplifying Black voices and challenging systemic barriers in the arts. Through mentorship and community-building, she continues to create inclusive spaces where artists thrive through expression, empowerment, and transformation. 

Marquisha Sparkes-Whonder was born to entertain. Being self-taught she was accepted into the Fine Arts Dance Program at York University at 17, eventually branching out to advance her skills and work with a variety of professional companies. Now, you can find her on the tv screen dancing in motion pictures for Disney, Netflix, Crave and Lifetime television in films such as Sneakerella, Work It, 13 the Musical, Grand Army, Salt-N-Pepa biopic, How to Die Alone, Westies, Tweetations and Revolution of Love.  Dance has steered her to travel internationally to work with artists like Drake, Sean Paul, Keri Hilson and July Black and to work with choreographers like Shameka Blake, Hollywood Jade, Tanisha Scott, and Ebony Williams. She feels gratification through exploring diverse personas and aspires to influence marginalized groups to speak up and use their voices.

Diane Jean-Louis was born in Haiti and raised in the US and Canada. Diane has developed into an industry professional, which has given her many opportunities to share her passion. Diane has been fortunate to learn from Toronto’s best Dancers and Choreographers. As a current member of AIM (Artist In Motion) Dance Company, directed by Shameka Blake, Diane is thrilled to see where her dance journey will continue to take her, in all-black lead, force, and serving space. Diane is excited to merge her knowledge of film and dance to create and inspire the younger generation. 

Kayla-Renée Wilson is a dance artist from Scarborough, Ontario with her practice in grounded in Black culture, community, and history.

At age seven, she began training at DOAHL Dance Academy, an all–hip-hop dance school led by Greg and Charlene Anthony-Hines, original members of Do Dat Entertainment Company. There, she received early mentorship in choreography and freestyle that emphasized hip-hop as a cultural practice rooted in community and lived experience, shaping her deep connection to hip-hop culture and street dance.

While attending Unionville High School, Kayla-Renée expanded her movement vocabulary through Tap and Modern Jazz within Musical Theatre while remaining anchored in hip-hop. She has also trained with members of Canadian collectives, including Rukus, Deuce ’N Dip, Bag of Trix, and Twisted Ankles.

Representing Artists In Motion and WeKnoFlo Crew, Kayla Renée is a hip-hop practitioner who trains in other Black forms such as house, popping, locking, and breaking. Her work spans film/TV, stage, and the battle scene, including projects with Netflix, dance Immersion, Fringe Toronto, Yensa Festival, and competing in battles in Toronto and abroad. Throughout her practice, Kayla-Renée remains committed to honouring and preserving Black culture in dance and the legacies that shape it. 

Onija Bennett is a multidisciplinary artist who has spent over a decade refining his craft at the intersection of dance and acting. Originally from St. Mary, Jamaica, Onija's journey as a performer has taken him from the vibrant creative hubs of Canada and the United States to the cultural heart of Ghana, where he has

explored the deep roots of movement and what it truly means to be an artist.

A Principal Dancer with the acclaimed Artists in Motion (AIM) collective, Onija is recognized for his ability to translate complex human experiences into powerful physical narratives. His career highlights include performing for royalty, competing on world-class competition stages, and appearing in boundary-pushing productions like Black in Canada.

Whether on a film set or a global stage, Onija combines technical precision with the emotional depth of a seasoned actor. He remains committed to traveling the world-not just to perform, but to train, explore, and continue evolving his artistic voice.

Rooted in Caribbean culture and raised in Canada, Treshonna Wolliston is a Caribbean-Canadian dancer whose artistry is shaped by rhythm, heritage, and lived experience. Growing up on soca music, they never imagined that the sounds filling their home or the moments spent dancing for family in the living room, would one day become the foundation of a professional career. For a long time, she believed success in dance meant fitting into a single mold, thinking that without focusing on traditional western styles, her path would be limited. Instead, embracing culture became her greatest strength. 

Beginning her journey at a young age in competitive dance, Treshonna developed a strong technical foundation across jazz, ballet, acro, lyrical, hiphop and African dance, allowing her to move seamlessly between styles while staying grounded in authenticity. She trained at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, majoring in dance, and continued her professional development at George Brown College, where her passion and versatility continued to grow. 

Throughout her career, Treshonna has performed with renowned artists such as Rema, Drake, Mole, Shal Marshall, and many others. She has also had the privilege of training and working with inspiring choreographers including Kayann Ward, Jonna Abrams, Tanisha Scott, Tamu Stevens, and Shamake Blake, whose guidance and artistry have deeply shaped her growth as an artist. Currently, Treshonna Wolliston is a principal dancer with AIM, a role she has proudly held for the past three years. 

As a Black-led and Black-focused Dance Company, Treshonna is excited to be committed to a company that honors culture, community, and storytelling through movement. Looking ahead, she remains excited to grow as a dancer, expand her artistry, and continue building a career rooted in truth, culture, and joy. 

Jon Carlton is a dancer and choreographer from Scarborough, Ontario, working across concert performance, music video choreography, and community-centered movement. Rooted in street dance, his work centers Black and Queer Canadian artists, particularly from Caribbean diasporas, bridging commercial stages and culturally driven spaces.

Jon co-choreographed B2K’s finale at Drake’s OVO Fest and has worked closely with DSTNY, performing in opening acts for Tory Lanez, Jacquees, and other touring artists. He has shared the stage in a Todrick Hall concert with drag artist Ocean Aqua Black and danced in Haviah Mighty’s “Protest,” a politically driven music video highlighting Black Canadian narratives.

As a choreographer, Jon has developed emerging artists, including Fridaee (2016 Honey Jam winner) and Marley Unknxn, shaping their visual identity and performance style. He has choreographed and performed in Pride festivals across Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.

Trained at DOAHL Academy, YMCA Teen Nights, TMI with Shavar Blackwood, and through street dance sessions across Montreal and Toronto, Jon advocates for fair pay, proper credit, and sustainable labor practices for Black and Queer artists in Canada’s dance industry, including through his work with the tech startup Cast EZ. 

Born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, Tama is a magnetic dancer, actress and musician. Her undying love for the performing arts began when she was 3, always wanting to “do a performance” for her family. Her passion immensely grew as she trained in ballet, jazz, Afro-Caribbean, contemporary and musical theatre. Tama followed her passion for dance to Toronto in 2018, after completing a Bachelors of Commerce at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She since can be seen dancing on tv shows such as Murdoch Mysteries on CBC and The Umbrella Academy on Netflix, and in campaigns for American Express, PetSmart, IKEA and Glad Products.

With a zeal for musical theatre, she has appeared in musicals across Canada, including My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables, among many others. Performance art is “my forever First Love!”, and she yearns to share it with the world!