Tia Ashley Kushniruk
dancer

Tia Ashley Kushniruk 亚 女弟 is a Queer Woman of Chinese-Ukrainian settler heritage from ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan), Treaty 6/Métis Territory, colonially known as Edmonton AB. Since 2013 she has been affiliated with the Cirque Du Soleil and is a frequent collaborator of Jake W. Hastey. She graduated from The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 2017, receiving the Kathryn Ash Scholarship in 2016.

She has had the pleasure of performing works of Antony Hamilton (Dancemakers, Chunky Move), Paul André-Fortier, Aria Evans, Christopher House (TDT), Shay Kuebler (SK/RSA), Christianne Ullmark, Heidi Strauss, Benjamin Kamino, Susie Burpee and Jaz Fairy J - touring nationally across Canada and internationally to Israel, the U.S.A, China, Colombia, Austria and France. She is an illustrator, a moderator, an animator, an improv comedian, and a creator. Tia’s work has been presented in El Salvador, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, in both living and digital spaces. In 2020, Tia was the inaugural recipient of the CONFLUENCE Fellowship from Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton, and was a 2023 EATF award recipient. 

For Peggy Baker Dance Projects: Tia was one of nine soloists featured in the film cycle her body as words.

For more information visit tiaakushnir.uk or follow her socials - IG @ya_di_tai / FB Tia Ashley Kushniruk