President
Krista Chiponski
Krista is new to the Edmonton theatre community—but don’t let that fool you! Living and working in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton), on Treaty 6 territory, she is a proud Métis woman and acknowledges her ancestors Indigenous and settler backgrounds. Krista is a graduate of the University of Alberta obtaining a degree in Sociology with a minor in Native Studies. She also received a certificate in Aboriginal Governance and Partnership certificate from the Faculty of Native Studies. Krista works directly with Indigenous communities and organizations to improve health and socio-economic outcomes. Krista is committed and excited to sit on the Board of Directors for Azimuth theatre.
Her mission in changing Edmonton’s theatre community involves social action theatre that involves Indigenous voices, stories, laws and perspectives. Krista is passionate about theatre being equitable, accessible and inclusive for marginalized communities.
Vice-President
Soni Dasmohapatra
Soni Dasmohapatra, has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, and her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Victoria. She has a certificate in gender studies and human rights from Oxford University.
When in Toronto, Soni was involved in supporting arts and culture, social innovation, and philanthropy work at the community level with organizations such as the City of Toronto, United Way Toronto, Harboufront Centre, Laidlaw, and Maytree Foundations. For over a decade, Soni was a senior project manager with the Government of Ontario. She has been a consultant with the United Nations.
Over the past four years, since returning to Edmonton she has worked with the Government of Alberta, is core team member at the Edmonton ShiftLab 1.0, was grants coordinator at the Edmonton Heritage Council, and is currently a management consultant.
Soni is keen to map Alberta’s ecosystems to find, contribute and create spaces of social innovation through creative expression. She is an avid yogini, loves to sing and dance. Her current exploration is to share and learn about The Decolonization of the South Asian practices of yoga, dance and music.
Directors
Chris Gallaway
Chris Gallaway (he/him) is an experienced community organizer and life-long supporter of the arts. Born and raised on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, he has spent most of his adult life living on Treaty 6 territory, first in Saskatoon, and for the last decade living here in Edmonton. He is the Executive Director at Friends of Medicare where he fights to protect and strengthen our public health care. Outside of work Chris is a voracious reader and active community member. He has been on the Azimuth Theatre Board of Directors since 2018.
Daniela Fernandez
Daniela Fernandez (she/her) is an upcoming Latinx theatre artist based in amiskwaciy wâskahikan (Edmonton). Having recently graduated from Macewan University’s Theatre Arts program, she feels fortunate to be working professionally in the city. Currently, Daniela is interested in devoting her time to figuring out how she can create space for underrepresented voices in her work and expanding herself as a multi-disciplinary artist. Credits include: until the next breath (Catalyst Theatre), Scenes From The Sidewalk (Plain Jane Theatre Company), Get Happy! (Plain Jane Theatre Company), A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), Canada The Musical (Carter-Ryan Productions), The Drowsy Chaperone (Citadel Young Company), Working It Out (WorkPlays School Program).
Julianne Murphy
Julie (she/her) is a performer, educator, and creator. She is a director in movement and theatrical unarmed combat, violence, and intimacy and an award-winning dancer and choreographer who works as a professional movement specialist in universities, schools, and studios. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s Education and Drama degree programs; is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance; and is a certified Intermediate actor combatant with the Academy of Fight Directors Canada. Julie performs with the award-wining sketch comedy troupe Don’t Not Talk to Strangers; performs contemporary dance professionally with Viva Dance; and is the creative director/producer of the devised theatre collective The Vulnerable Cult. She’s grateful to be on the Board of Directors with Azimuth Theatre!
Shrina Patel
Shrina Patel is a Performer, Actor, Yoga Teacher, Advocate, Choreographer and the Artistic Director and Founder of Shaktiflow.Her focus is choreographing movements that tell stories of gender and social inequality. The intention is to provoke conversations of the traditional social norms which society holds for the individual, based on their gender, race, and ethnicity. Hervision is aligned with that of Shaktiflow’s which is to dedicate the intention to empower individuals through movement–stories told through dance. Each gesture has a meaning and with them the power to facilitate ideas of harmony, unity, equality, and change. The vision is to instill a new perception of mindfulness that will unite us as a collective whole.
Samantha Blakney
Samantha Blakney currently calls Amiskwaciwâskahikan (colonially called Edmonton) her home base. She humbly acknowledges that she lives, works, and plays on Treaty 6 territory. Samantha currently works as an Early Childhood Educator while going to university to earn her teaching degree from the University of Alberta. Samantha graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Arts focusing on History, Psychology, and Women and Gender studies in 2020. Samantha is passionate about the arts, theatre in particular, and incorporates dramatic play and instruction into her classrooms as much as possible. While attending the U of L she volunteered with New West Theatre. She is enthusiastic about her local community and aims to leave every place she leaves a little brighter. Samantha hopes to bring her dedication, enthusiasm and empathy to Azimuth’s board of directors and to help contribute to Azimuth Theatre’s already vibrant and thriving trajectory.
Daniel Graham
Daniel Graham is a licensed professional Realtor in the Edmonton area, an adventurer at heart, and an avid patron of the Edmonton arts community. In his career, Daniel is committed to providing his clients with an exceptional low-stress experience while guiding them through their next real estate transaction in a competitive and fast paced market. As a lifelong Edmontonian, Daniel has always enjoyed the vibrant, diverse and ever-changing arts scene that oru city has to offer. He is a University of Alberta alumni, graduating form his Bachelor of Arts program with distinction in 2014 with a major in English and minor in Latin American Studies. His key areas of focus included gender studies, colonialism, Asian-Canadian literature, Canadian and Japanese theatre, and travel narratives. While Daniel has supported Azimuth as an audience member in the past, he is proud and humbled to now support Azimuth Theatre from within the organization and advocate for inclusive representation in the Arts.
Adam Biddulph
Board Mentee
Open for applications for the 2023-24 Season!
To enquire about joining our board or one of our committees, contact Sue