Alyssa Martin

Biography

Alyssa Martin is a contemporary choreographer and an enthusiastic advocate for the creation of new dance work. In 2024, Alyssa was appointed Artistic Producer, Creative Action and in this role, she supports Toronto’s dance community and seeks pathways to allow unique collaboration and innovation to flourish. Prior to this role, Alyssa worked with The National Ballet of Canada as Associate, Artist Development Programmes under the mentorship of Robert Binet, with the support of the Metcalf Foundation, and has participated in Creative Action programmes as a choreographer.  

Alyssa’s choreographic commissions include Gush with the National Ballet for The Royal Ballet’s International Draft Works, Desperate Drama of Red for the National Ballet’s MAD HOT BALLET Gala, Petrushka for Alberta Ballet, Tickle Death with Zurich University of the Arts, Hot Holiday with Citadel + Compagnie, Bin Chicken with Toronto Dance Theatre and Sugar Water for the National Ballet's YOU dance programme. Her choreographic collaborations extend to theatre, film, live music, musical theatre and opera including four seasons at Stratford Festival. Alyssa has been recognized with Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Original Choreography and Production, a Toronto Theatre Critic’s Award for Best Choreographer, the Canadian Stage Award for Direction and a nomination for the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize. She looks forward to bringing Gush to Japan with the National Ballet for The National Ballet of Japan’s DANCE to the Future programme. 

Alyssa is the founder and Artistic Director of Rock Bottom Movement, a company dedicated to the ongoing creation of absurd dance theatre through their anti-patriarchal approach to comedy and tenderness. Founded in 2012, Rock Bottom has researched, created and shared work throughout Canada and abroad including a recent presentation of their work, Big Time Miss, at Holland Dance Festival. Alyssa is currently the Artist-in-Residence at Fall for Dance North Festival where she will premiere her new evening-length work Landslide with Rock Bottom, as well as a new solo for Canadian ice dancer Tessa Virtue.