PROJECT LEADS
Timea Wharton-Suri
Timea Wharton-Suri is a curator, producer, and arts executive with decades of experience in dance. For most of her life she has studied, performed, taught, curated, produced, programmed, administrated, and advocated for dance in Canada.
While gaining this expansive experience, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance from York University, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Arts and Media Management Graduate Diploma from Schulich School of Business.
Timea has worked with dance Immersion, Toronto Dance Theatre, TO Live, Canadian Stage, Ronald Taylor Dance, Ballet Creole, Higher Ground, Holla Jazz, KasheDance, Nova Dance, Dancemakers, Toronto Arts Council, TVOntario, Dancer Transition Resource Centre, Toronto Comic Arts Festival, and a number of independent dance artists. A serial arts entrepreneur, The AMANI Project is one of Timea's many visions brought to life. www.timeawharton.ca
Kai ner Maa Pitanta
Kai ner Maa Pitanta, Managing and Artistic Director of Right Path World Arts Centre, has been involved in education for 25 years with experience as an instructor, counsellor, and program leader for children, youth, and families in community, residential, and institutional settings. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts in Social Work, and a Master of Science in Education Foundations and Teaching, and is a leader in the international Kemetic community.
He has worked for decades to develop integrated curriculum experiences emphasizing African spiritual principles as an essential tool for instruction and cognitive development. Kai has spent the past decade promoting creative approaches to teaching culturally relevant social and Kemetic spiritual principles to young learners through the arts, with an emphasis on directing children’s theatre. He was a member of the Community Arts Committee at Toronto Arts Council from 2018 - 2020, and is currently the Clinical Director, Intensive Services at York Hills Centre for Children, Youth, and Families.
Nicole Inica Hamilton: Moderator
Nicole Inica Hamilton is the founder and Artistic Director of Inica Dance Industries. She serves as AMANI's artist interviewer and panel moderator. A certified educator and member of Dance Masters of Canada and Dance Masters of America, Hamilton has served as a guest teacher, mentor and speaker at institutes across Canada including but not limited to; George Brown College, University of Toronto, York University and University of Calgary. As a touring educator and speaker, she has presented in national and international conventions and championships including; En Avant-RAD World Convention, Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, Creation Dance Championships, the Performing Arts Medicine Association and more.
Hamilton serves as an On-Air Radio Host on The Career Buzz Show and is a Producer/ Host with Turn Out Radio broadcasting on CIUT 89.5 FM. She reports on the current news affairs of our time with special focus on arts, health, career and business news. Hamilton is also a Co-Host on Fall For Dance North's Mambo Podcast with Ilter Ibrahimof.
In her work in health, Hamilton is a Counsellor and actively works with organizations to advocate for and promote healthy practices for Dance Artists.