Alida Esmail

Alida Esmail, BFA, MSc (she/her) is a dance and theatre artist living and working in Tio’tia:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal. Her practice encompasses performance, choreography, teaching, and health research. She holds a BFA (major Contemporary Dance, minor Psychology) from Concordia University and a MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences from Université de Montréal. Her dance education also includes a year in India at the Attakkalari Centre for the Movement Arts and Mixed Media learning Bharatanatyam and Kalarippayattu while maintaining training in ballet, contemporary, Pilates, and somatic practices. In addition, she has extensive training in International Ballroom/Latin dance which she currently uses to help develop Liquid Lead Dancing, a gender-neutral approach to partner dancing. Born in Burlington, Ontario and a part of the Indian diaspora, Alida has a keen interest for socially-engaged work and questioning topics related to her identity, ancestry, and community. In addition to her independent projects, she is also working on a collective project with hearing dance artist, Sophia Wright, and Deaf theatre artist, Hodan Youssouf. Alongside her performance career, Alida is also involved in innovative Arts and Health research which has been published in reputable peer-reviewed scientific journals. Alida has presented and performed across Canada, Europe, the United States, and India.

Selected performance and creation credits include: “Backyard Solos” (2021) presented by the Plateau Mont-Royal, POP Montreal, and Alchimies, Création et Cultures, “In our own backyards” (2020) and “Identity in Motion” (2018) presented by the Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal, “Counter Offence” (2020) produced by Teesri Duniya Theatre, and “A cyclical journey” presented at the Festival Orientalys (2018) and the Aga Khan Diamond Jubilee Arts Festivals (2018). She has also performed with Roger Sinha (Sinhadanse), with the MT Space (Multicultural Theatre Space), and on TED.com. Alida’s work has been supported by the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Plateau Mont-Royal, Montreal arts interculturels, Fondation des Sourds du Québec, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Canada Council for the Arts, Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, and more.