Mio Sakamoto is Kaeja’s 2025 KAIR Artistic Intern

We are excited to announce Mio Sakamoto as Kaeja's 2025 KAIR Artistic Intern! KAIR is Kaeja Artist in Residence.

I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to learn, create, and grow holistically as an Artistic Intern of Kaeja. In 2025, I will be creating exciting projects, including a commissioned installation at PVD in collaboration with dancers and community members. I'll be assisting with the company’s community initiatives and engaging in my personal creative exploration to deepen my artistic practice including a residency in February at the 'Kaeja Creative Incubator' in Saugeen Shores, mentored by Karen. I’ll also be involved in a new multi-layered mentorship project. More details to come, stay tuned for what’s ahead! - Mio

About Mio

Mio Sakamoto is a Toronto based dance artist originally from Japan. She is a Dora nominated performer, choreographer, dance filmmaker, and Co-Founder of MillO Dance Projects. Over the past few years, Mio has performed (selected) Architecture of Violence by Jaberi Dance Theatre as part of 2024/25 MainStage Season of Scenkonst Sörmland (Sweden), Soft by Chimera Projects Dance Theatre (Toronto), Act II by Kinetic Orchestra at Night/Shift by Citadel + Compagnie co-presented with Fall for Dance North (Toronto), Nine Bronze Pieces by Maxine Heppner at Salerno Danza Festival (Italy), Miigis: Underwater Panther by Red Sky Performance at Canadian Stage (Toronto), and TouchX and I am the Child of… by Kaeja d’Dance as part of Torque International Contemporary Dance Series 2022, Crépuscule by Marie-Josée Chartier at dance: made in canada/fait au canada (Toronto), October Sky by Paul-André Fortier at Nuit Blanche (Toronto), and Mani.Deux by Northfoot Movement at Fall For Dance North (Toronto). 

Mio’s choreographic works (selected), Submerge, Lucid Space (dance film), Systematic, Oblivious or Naive, and Cater To You, were presented in Canada, Brazil, Slovenia, Germany and Japan. In 2020, she received the RBC Newcomer Arts Award by Neighbourhood Arts Network - Toronto Arts Foundation. In 2021 and 2025, she was selected for the year-long Artist in Residence of Kaeja d’Dance.