Meet Showcase Choreographer: Christahh
Born and raised in Calgary, Christahh became captivated by the art of dance at a young age. She has studied a variety of dance styles and received scholarships from the Edmonton School of Ballet. Christahh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Calgary, with a focus on choreography and performance. During her studies, she choreographed works such as Indomitable Spirit (2016) and Essence of Humanity (2015). Her choreographic credits also include Unganisha (2020) for Woezo Africa and the dance films Someone. and Real People (2021) for the NextGen Dance Film Festival.
As a producer, Christahh has curated and organized dance shows in Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, creating opportunities for artists to connect with new audiences. She also partnered with CBC Broadcasting and the Central Public Library to curate Stories in Motion, a series of workshops that explored storytelling through movement.
Christahh has collaborated with a variety of artists across disciplines, including music videos and concerts with Hayden McHugh (2021, 2020), Yung Dre, opening for Juice Wrld (2019), Big Sean and Fetty Wap (2017), and Sabrina Naz at the Obsidian Awards (2016). She has performed in Ciclo De La Vida (2016) by Deanne Walsh and Suite of Dreams (2014), choreographed by Hannah Stillwell. In 2015, she interned with the OYO (Ombetja Yehinga Organisation) dance troupe in Windhoek, Namibia, contributing to the creation of Ania.
Christahh is also the Director and Founder of the Dance YYC Community Outreach and Engagement Initiative (www.danceyyc.ca), an online platform that provides free promotion and engagement opportunities for the Calgary dance community. Through Dance YYC, she has developed the Dance YYC Showcase, launched the Dance YYC mobile app, organized fundraisers, and participated on the panel for Discover: Life as a Dancer at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity.
Her training includes two years in the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and dancing with the local hip-hop crew, The Tomorrows. Passionate about building community and supporting the arts, Christahh continues to create and advocate for inclusive and innovative dance programming across Canada.