MillO Dance Projects is a contemporary dance collective based in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded by Geanderson Mello and Mio Sakamoto in 2020. Our practice is inspired by aspects of Contact Improvisation; we explore movement in relationship to others through awareness, physical touch and weight sharing. Playing with gravity and momentum is a crucial element in our work. We share our practice through stage works, dance films, and workshops. We are committed to enriching our creative works and workshops that we deliver. In 2021, we launched our screening event Nightfall. At Nightfall, we present short dance films created by local professional artists. Our mission is to create a vast range of learning opportunities for local dancers to explore various approaches to contemporary dance.
Co-Founders
Geanderson Mello
Geanderson Mello is a queer contemporary dancer and choreographer based in Toronto-ON. He is originally from Brazil. He studied dance at Centro de Formação Artistica (Palácio das Artes) and classical ballet at the Brazilian Conservatory of Dance. Looking to grow as a dance artist, he began his modern dance education at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, where he graduated in 2017. Through The School, he has worked with Allen Kaeja, Paul-Andrè Fortier, Sasha Ivanohko, Kate Alton, Sharon B. Moore, Mark Boivin, Christopher House, and more renowned choreographers. He had the opportunity to learn from internationally renowned choreographers such as Jarkko Mandelin, Iztok Kovač, Francisco Córdova, Olivia Ancona & Scott Jennings.
In 2019, he performed En-knap Composing Principles by Iztok Kovač in Germany. He has been collaborating with Kaeja d’Dance since 2018. In 2022, he performed at TORQUE (International Contemporary Dance Series) the piece “I am the Child of…” by Allen Kaeja in their production 31 (a collaboration between Kaeja d’Dance and Vertical City Performance presented by Harbourfront Centre).
Geanderson, along with Mio Sakamoto, is the co-director of MillO Dance Projects, founded in 2020. In December 2021, they successfully launched a series of short dance film screenings called Nightfall.
Mio Sakamoto
Mio Sakamoto is a Toronto based dance artist from Japan. She is a Dora nominated performer, choreographer, dance filmmaker, and Co-Founder of MillO Dance Projects.
Mio has performed (selected) Architecture of Violence by Jaberi Dance Theatre as part of 2024/25 MainStage Season of Scenkonst Sörmland, Soft by Chimera Projects Dance Theatre, Crépuscule by Marie-Josée Chartier at dance: made in canada/fait au canada, October Sky by Paul-André Fortier at Nuit Blanche, Mani.Deux by Northfoot Movement at Fall For Dance North, Miigis: Underwater Panther by Red Sky Performance, and TouchX and I am the Child of… by Kaeja d’Dance as part of Torque International Contemporary Dance Series 2022.
Her choreographic works (selected), Submerge, Lucid Space (dance film), Systematic, and Cater To You, were presented in Canada, Brazil, Slovenia, Germany and Japan. She was also Kaeja Elevation Choreography Assistant for the Wendy & Peter Pan by the Stratford Festival in 2019/2020.
In 2020, she received the RBC Newcomer Arts Award by Neighbourhood Arts Network - Toronto Arts Foundation. In 2021, she was selected for the first year-long Artist in Residence of Kaeja d’Dance.
