HealingMOVES

Dance Artist Summit Speakers

Alisa (co-found of PIVOT)

Learn about Pivot!

PIVOT. is the result of two friends who first met in 2008, during their first year in a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University of Calgary. Grinding through undergrad, Alèn and Alisa saw gaps in the arts and how thinly resources were, and continue to be stretched. But upon graduation, each co-founder pursued separate arts and administration focused education and careers. Keeping in touch while working and studying around the country and internationally, the idea was born about how they could best impact the arts with their education and experiences. Their careers eventually reunited them in Calgary. Again, the conversations turned to how they

could participate in developing the Canadian arts sector. And from that PIVOT. was created. PIVOT. is the arts management and venue consulting group that lives immersed in the arts world, bringing its knowledge and experience to its clients in order to find the best arts centred experience.

Alisa MacKinnon (she/her)

Co-Founder / Consultant

Alisa earned her BA in Dance from the University of Calgary. While working with artists she realized the need for strong administrative support from someone who knows and lives the challenges artists face. She moved to Toronto and earned her MBA, MA in Dance, and Graduate Diploma in Arts and Media Management. Alisa’s worked for different sized arts organizations in Toronto. In her career she has worked on successful grants totalling over $1.3 Million, at all levels of public funding. Her work with PIVOT. has allowed her to collaborate with artist at different stages in their funding history, and develop workbooks to bridge the gap between institutional training and being an emerging artists. Alisa is the current Board Chair for Dancers’ Studio West.

She is dedicated to finding the best solutions for artists and organizations that give the artist the ability to freely create.

Website: https://www.itspivot.com/
Email: info@itspivot.com
IG: @pivot.art.consulting​

Stephanie (Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy)

Learn more about her!

Stephanie’s Bio:

Stephanie Henderson completed her Master of Science in Physiotherapy from the University of Alberta in 2013. She has completed many post graduate courses including acupuncture, manual therapy level 2 upper and lower from the orthopaedic division of Canada, upper body Active Release Technique course, K Taping, and vestibular rehabilitation. She has also completed comprehensive Clinical Pilates training through Calibrate pilates in Vancouver BC and internal pelvic floor training through UroSante. Her primary focus is providing quality hands on manual therapy in conjunction with an individualized exercise program to help her clients become stronger and get better faster. By using evidence based exercise prescription and Clinical Pilates, her clients are able to overcome new acute injuries as well as address long standing chronic issues. Her treatment philosophy is to work with clients as a team to develop effective treatment plans and help her clients understand their injuries and their bodies better. She tailors her treatments specifically to her clients goals and what matters to them most, whether that be walking again after surgery, improving their bladder issues, or training for a marathon.

Mo (High Intensity Interval Training)

Learn more about him here!

Mo is a certified Tennis Instructor, Yoga lover, Capoerista, and an overall intuitive mover. Outside of of his day engineering job, you can find him practicing one or all the above on any given week! He also absolutely loves dancing and sharing the joy with others on the dancefloor or anywhere he catches a beat! His interests particularly lie in EDM/House music but also enjoys learning other dance styles.

Check him out on Instagram at @hit.with.mo

Vanessa Padillo (Professional Accountant (CPA) and Dancer)

Finance for Dancers

Vanessa is Executive Account Director and Founding Member of The Wealth Council, a wealth management firm in Calgary. Vanessa founded Common Ground Dance 13 years ago intertwining her love of dance and business. She is Co-owner and Director of Movement With A Message Inc. Vanessa also sits on the board of The Screaming Goats Collective. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business majoring in Risk Management and Insurance. Vanessa holds a Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) and a Certified Management Accountants (CMA) designation. With this unique background, she’s passionate about consulting businesses and individuals involved in the Arts.

Website: https://www.thewealthcouncil.ca/

Instagram: @vavooooom