Artist in Residence 2025

About Sofía

Sofía Ontiveros is a queer, gender fluid Mexican dance artist and choreographer based in Tkaronto, Ontario. Sofía is a 2021 graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University 's The Creative School BFA Dance Program. The TMU faculty chose them for the Lipson Family Endowment Award for an Emerging Choreographer. Their most recent work Ojalá..., in collaboration with María Riaño was showcased at CAMINOS 2023 by Aluna Theatre and The Citadel Dance Mix 2023 by The Citadel + Compagnie, co-produced with Fall for Dance North. They are currently re-working and re-presenting Ojalá… for Vanguardia Dance Festival in May 2025.

As a performer, Sofía has worked with various artists/companies like Kelly Shaw, Justine Chambers, Kenny Pearl, Jera Wolfe, Bobbi Jene Smith, Or Schraiber, Kylie Thompson, Seanna Bailey, Zuri Skeete, Nina Li, Rose Harris, Proarte Danza, The Bentway, Aluna Theatre, Teatro Línea Sombra, and A Front Company. Additionally, Sofía has continued their commercial dance training, finding a passion for heels dancing. They trained with Kode Red Academy during their 2023-2024 season, a performance and dance training company run by choreographer Jac Valiquette. Versatility and diverse training is deeply important to Sofía, as it expands and challenges their mind and body as both performer and creator.

Sofía deeply enjoys creating in her life; cooking at home for loved ones, writing, dancing, acting, singing, playing the piano. She values curiosity and continuously learning new skills and knowledge. In their works, Sofía questions and explores social constructs, and how they play on individual or interpersonal relationships. Writing is important in their dance explorations, whether as pre-choreographic inspiration or as part of the movement. Merging and embodying texts in dance composition aids them in both research and personal growth/healing process. She is constantly left with important reflections post-choreographic research.