Lead Members

Geanderson Mello is originally from Brazil, he studied ballet at the Brazilian Conservatory of Dance. Looking to grow as an artist, he began his modern dance education at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (STDT) where he graduated in 2017. Through STDT, he has worked with Allen Kaeja, Paul-Andrè Fortier, Sasha Ivanohko, Kate Alton, Sharon B. Moore, Mark Boivin, Christopher House, and other renowned choreographers.  

In 2018 he attended B12 Research or Die, in Berlin, Germany. There he had the opportunity to learn from Iztok Kovač, Olivia Ancona, Francisco Córdova and Scott Jennings. He performed selected En-knap Composing Principles by Iztok Kovač. He also performed a piece by Roberto Olivan through Alias Dance Project. Currently, he is  working on a creation by Kaeja d’Dance, premiering in 2022. 

Geanderson, along with Mio Sakamoto,  is the co-director of MillO Dance Projects, founded in 2020. They recently created, danced and produced a short film called Where Do We Go, that was presented online at the Dance in the Park by Toy Guns Dance Theatre.   

Geanderson’s choreographic work include, Where Do We Go? And The Things We Say (dance films in collaboration with Mio Sakamoto by MillO Dance Projects); Playing With The Lights Off presented in Belo Horizonte - Brazil; Colours, A Solo work (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Click here to check out Geanderson's work outside MillO Dance Projects!

Mio Sakamoto is a Toronto based performer, choreographer, and certified Kaeja Elevation teacher originally from Japan. Sakamoto graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 2017. In 2018, she trained with international artists including Francisco Córdova, Shannon Gillen, Ryan Mason, Johannes Wieland, Hofesh Shechter Company, and L-E-V Dance Company at B12 Festival (Germany) and Nuova Officinal Della Danza (Italy). Over the past few years, she has performed (selected) Crépuscule by Marie-Josée Chartier, October Sky by Paul-André Fortier, XTOD - SOLO DANCE XCHANGE for Xtraordinary Japan Tour by Kaeja d’Dance, and Mani.Deux by Northfoot Movement for its premier at FFDN in 2019. She is currently working in two creations by Kaeja d’Dance, premiering in 2022. 

Sakamoto’s choreographic work, reverie (dance film), Where Do We Go? (dance film), Systematic, Oblivious or Naive, You Don’t Own Me, and Cater To You, were presented in Canada and Japan. She was also Kaeja Elevation Choreography Assistant for the Wendy & Peter Pan production of the Stratford Festival in 2019/2020. She is currently choreographing for a new 30 minute film project, Know Not What by Bow Echo Collective.

Supported by RBC Emerging Artists Project and the Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program of TAC, she has been developing her artistry with Karen and Allen Kaeja as her mentors since 2019. In 2020, she was selected to receive 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. 

Click here to check out Mio's work outside MillO Dance Projects!