Artist-In-Residence

Announcing Alyssa Martin as FFDN Artist-in-Residence 2026

The FFDN Artist-in-Residence is a newly expanded, paid, one year position that offers mid-career professional artists full scope to develop professional skills across:

Housed within an international festival, the program uniquely offers the Artist-in-Residence the opportunity to contextualize their work in the current global landscape. They will build community across festival programming and expand their artistic following. 

Image of Alyssa Martin, Photo by Drew Berry

“I’m beyond thrilled to be an Artist in Residence with FFDN. I’m so excited to bring my heart and artistry into deeper conversation with the festival. Being invited into the process in this way is both a huge honour and a meaningful moment of growth for me.

I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Rob and Lily, connecting with the brilliant artists joining the festival, and supporting the programming in my own unique way, through my curatorial voice as well as my own work. I’m especially excited to present a brand new full-length, a piece that has been manifesting at Rock Bottom for many, many years, and is finally ready to meet the world.

And of course, I can’t wait to connect with FFDN’s incredible audiences, the very heart of it all!”

- Alyssa Martin

About Alyssa Martin

Alyssa Martin is a Toronto-based choreographer working at the intersection of modern dance, surrealism and comedy. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Rock Bottom Movement, where she creates genre-defying dance-theatre rooted in athleticism and absurdity. Her creative process is grounded in humour, empathy, and an anti-patriarchal ethos that challenges convention while prioritizing collective responsibility and play.

Alyssa’s commissions include: The National Ballet of Canada (Desperate Drama of Red, Sugar Water), Alberta Ballet (Petrushka), Toronto Dance Theatre (Bin Chicken), and the University of the Arts Zurich (Tickle Death). With Rock Bottom Movement, recent work includes: Big Time Miss (Fall for Dance North, Holland Dance Festival), Be the Bird (dance : made in canada), Sex Dalmatian, and Sex Dalmatian’s Hot Holiday Spectacular created in collaboration with Citadel et Compagnie.

A recipient of numerous Dora Mavor Moore Awards, individually and with Rock Bottom Movement, Alyssa has also received the Jack McAllister Award for Alumni Achievement at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Image of Alyssa Martin, Photo by Drew Berry

Alyssa’s choreography is fearless and original, two of the rarest qualities in our world. Her dances are full of surprise, tragedy and humour, reminding us with every step that dance is about feeling and freedom. Alyssa’s company Rock Bottom Movement makes falling in love with dance effortless, and with thirteen years of collaborative history these artists will be bringing profound work to our festival stage in October.

Robert Binet, Artistic Director & Co-CEO, Fall for Dance North

It has been a true pleasure to witness Alyssa’s artistic growth over the years, and we are thrilled to support her at this pivotal moment in her career. From her first appearance at FFDN’s International Presenters Program (2018) to the commission of her full-length work Big Time Miss (FFDN 2024), and its Holland Dance Festival tour presented in association with FFDN, Alyssa has long been an integral part of the FFDN community.We are delighted to deepen our relationship this year through creation, curation, and community engagement, and to support her in developing the skills and momentum needed to build international recognition and a sustainable career in dance.

Lily Sutherland, Festival Director & Co-CEO, Fall for Dance North


Past FFDN Artists in Residence:

Esie Mensah (2025)

Natasha Powell and Kimberley Cooper (2021-2022)

Anne Plamondon (2018-2019)