Davi Rodrigues

Choreographer, Educator, Artistic Director - Lamondance

Originally from Brazil, Lamondance Artistic Director Davi Rodrigues is proud to be a Canadian Citizen. Before joining Lamondance, Davi distinguished himself both as a dancer for many years and as a visionary young choreographer for nearly a decade. He brings high energy and optimism to his work, having made a name for himself on the basis of an audacious, immersive dance approach, unique choreography, and daring hard work.

While in Brazil, Davi studied Physical Education at the Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB) and was a dancer for six years with the Aplauso Cia de Dança, under the direction of Junior O'Hara, in Taguatinga, DF. Davi also studied classical ballet with the Ballet Theatre Guaira's principal dancer, Heloisa Almeida.

Davi's gift for creating innovative experiences had its inception in Brazil, where he danced and choreographed for many companies. He has choreographed eight original full-length dance shows for Cia Criatividança, where he worked as director and dancer for 15 years. With Cia Criatividança, Davi toured Brazil and received many awards as an outstanding dancer and choreographer. His works are known around the globe.

Davi moved to Vancouver in 2008 to work as a dancer and guest choreographer for Lamondance Company and has since risen to the position of Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. In 2019, Davi was instrumental in getting Lamondance incorporated as Lamondance Arts Society, a charitable organization registered under the laws of the Province of British Columbia.

Davi's unmistakable passion and drive have helped establish Lamondance Company as one of Vancouver's premiere training programs for emerging dancers. Based on creative and ambitious choreographic work, combined with a strong focus on technical and artistic development, Lamondance Company is a formidable launching point for the careers of young artists.

Through the program, Davi connects his dancers with many artists from Canada and abroad, creating a significant network present in our community.

Davi's recent works for Lamondance include "IELE" (a collaboration with Emmy-nominated music composer Hall Beckett), "How It Ends," "VIVA," "Black Feather," "Before Dawn" (presented at Toronto and Vancouver International Dance Festival 2021), "Behind the Veil," and "Soul Searching and Flesh and Blood premiering in June 2024."

Davi's works as a choreographer have also been performed by many prominent dance schools in Vancouver since his arrival in Canada, including Arts Umbrella, Pacific DanceArts, Kirkwood Academy of Performance and Arts, Pulse Dance Centre, and RNB Dance & Theatre. His choreography has received several awards from prestigious festivals in Vancouver as well as in the United States.

Furthering his commitment to community impact, Davi created the Lamondance and Friends Gala. Now in its 13th edition, the gala celebrates the local dance community by uniting schools, training programs, and companies from all over the Lower Mainland and engaging in a conversation about dance.

Davi showed promising leadership skills from a very early age. Outside of Lamondance Company, Davi continues to work in leadership positions worldwide. Working as a Mentor, Judge, and choreographer in various prestigious Dance Festivals, Davi was one of the most highly regarded faculty members of the International Dance Seminar in Brasília, Brazil - a momentous event that celebrates, educates, and gives opportunities to dancers around the world. Davi also worked as an artistic committee member for many years for Vancouver's Royal City Youth Ballet.

Davi has found success with his unique style, infallible optimism, and generous heart. As a passionate mentor, Davi enthusiastically contributes to dance communities by supporting, educating, and challenging artists to take risks. He continues pursuing artistic excellence, creation, production, and performance, with an ongoing commitment to share his breadth of experience with performers, choreographers, and arts educators in the community.

STAGE DANCE

DESIREE MANNING

Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Desirée Manning began her training at the age of three. From the offset she displayed both strength and an incredible work ethic, which she has since carried into her professional career.

Growing up, Desirée studied Jazz, Modern, Cecchetti Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Tap. She has trained throughout Canada, London, Australia, and the United States. Desirée expanded her training to aerial and ground acrobatics at Surrey’s Circus Lab. She joined their intensive program and instantly fell in love with both the trapeze and tumbling.

At eighteen years old, Desirée was hired for her first contract with Disney Cruise Lines. She has now completed four contracts with Disney Cruise Lines, performing in Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin on both a dancer track and as the tumbling Magic Carpet. Desirée was also selected as bounty hunter Zam Wessel for Star Wars day at sea, and for the lead in Jesse Robb’s Special, An American in Paris, in which she played Lise Bouvier.

Most recently, Desirée worked on the television series Grease: Rise of the pink Ladies (Paramount+) in a recurring dancer role. A career highlight was for Oriental Land Company in Tokyo, Japan, where she performed as Ariel in the King Triton Concert, flying over 700 audience members in a 360 degree theatre. In addition to being Ariel, Desirée lent dance and motion capture to a Barbie animated feature, and worked in a music video for Bleed the Future as a stunt performer. Other credits include: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix) and Descendants (Disney), directed by Kenny Ortega.

Desirée is also a Triple Threat Dance Convention tour assistant, working closely with the founders Kelly Konno, Dorie Lazaroff, and Carolina Lancaster. She has also worked with Tara Jean Popowich, Christina Woodard, Christie Lee Manning, and Joceyln Peden.

Despite Desirée’s extensive dance background, she is more than a dancer. She has performed in various disciplines such as trapeze in Jazz House Theatre’s Welcome to the Grand in London, U.K, as a silk artist with Blink Acro in the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra’s, and Singing Christmas Tree on Tissu. Desirée has blended acrobatics into dance, and dance into aerial work, creating her own unique style of performance.

Like a chef seeking new ingredients, Desirée is currently expanding her horizon by taking acting, singing, and martial arts classes in Vancouver B.C.