About SINS

SINS is a collective of contemporary dance artists that strives to create and bring exciting contemporary dance work to Nova Scotia.

At the core of SINS are the three co-founders ; Jacinte Armstrong, Susanne Chui and Sara Coffin. Sometimes in Nova Scotia, and sometimes not, Armstrong, Chui and Coffin now endeavour to build collaborative opportunities between Nova Scotia and abroad -and for other artists who are interested in the area.

With a keen interest in the investigative process and continuous growth through a constant exchange of ideas, SINS operates through flexible, project-based partnerships that further creation, production, performance and touring.

All of the founders hold artistic and administrative responsibility and we work collaboratively on all projects. The collective rotates its lead representatives depending on the nature and artistic impetus for each project.

SINS is currently creating the 7 Deadly SINS project, wherein each sin is the catalyst for investigation. The sin in question serves as the framework for creation by the collective as well as for commissioned artists from across Canada.

Since its inception, SINS has created 6 full works in Nova Scotia that have toured the Maritimes, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria.

Our Mandate

SINS activities and projects strive to reach the following guiding artistic principles:

• SINS collaborations will approach creation through a spirit of investigation.
• The interplay between core and diverse dance professionals will stimulate the artistic evolution of SINS projects.
• While projects will often include national or international collaborators, Nova Scotian artists must be represented strongly as either creators or interpreters.
• SINS projects must strive to bring stimulating contemporary dance to audiences in Nova Scotia and beyond.
• SINS projects will often provide opportunities for ex-patriot Nova Scotian artists to contribute to the development of dance as an art form in Nova Scotia.
• SINS projects will develop national and international relationships for Nova Scotia artists.

Collective History

Coffin, Chui, and Armstrong grew up in Halifax, NS. After leaving Nova Scotia in the late 1990's to pursue further training and work in Vancouver, Toronto, and Miami respectively, the group came together several times to create and present work in Nova Scotia. Summer Intensives organized by Dance Nova Scotia and choreographic and performance opportunities through the Halifax-based dance company Verve Mwendo, brought Coffin (Vancouver), Chui (Toronto) and Armstrong (Halifax) back together periodically.

SINS was initially conceived in 2004 and produced its first performance project Open Floor in 2005 with Susie Burpee and Susan Kendal (Toronto). This highly successful dance performance was part of the Atlantic Fringe festival. The collective was commissioned by Kinetic Studio to create The Tri-Angle Project featuring new works by former Nova Scotian artist Susan Lee and collective founder Sara Coffin (choreographers) and Mark Duggan (composer). Kinetic studio presented these works and associated workshops in Halifax on tour in Nova Scotia and New Bruswick . SINS further toured in late 2006 to Victoria to perform the coffin piece, Blindsided, at the ROMP! Festival of Independent Dance and to Toronto to perform the Lee work, Oceanids, as part of Leeward, a co-production between Susan Lee and the Evergreen Contemporary Gamelan Club.

In 2007 Susanne Chui, recognizing the collectives' need for a more centralized base in Halifax, moved back to Halifax from Toronto. This enabled the collective to began initial research for the seven deadly sins series which will be a series of original works, commissions and adventures in dance based in Nova Scotia.

About the Co-Founders

Jacinte Armstrong is a Halifax-based dancer and choreographer. She trained at Halifax Dance, and went on to study at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL. She is a certified Stott Pilates instructor, and holds a BA in French from Dalhousie University.

In 2002 Jacinte co-founded Verve Mwendo Dance Company, currently in-residence at Halifax Dance. As a local performer, choreographer, and teacher, Jacinte has been awarded grants from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust, the Craig Foundation, the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts. Her dance studies have brought her to dance festivals across Canada and the United States, and to Brazil to learn capoeira, maculêlê, and Afro-Brazilian dance and music. Jacinte is also a member of SINS (Sometimes In Nova Scotia), with native Haligonians Sara Coffin and Susanne Chui. She works regularly with Cory Bowles (of Verve Mwendo), and with choreographers Veronique MacKenzie, Sara Coffin, Ruth-Ellen Kroll Jackson, Susan Lee (with SINS in May, 2006) and Rebecca Lazier.

Susanne Chui is a Halifax-based dance artist. She is a dancer with Verve Mwendo Dance Company and co-founder of SINS (Sometimes in Nova Scotia) Dance Collective. From 1999-2006, Susanne was based in Toronto where she had the opportunity to work with many choreographers, including Bill James, Yvonne Ng, Susanna Hood, Lincoln Shand, Allen Kaeja with Kd'D2 (a Kaeja d'Dance project) as well as extensively with Yvonne Ng and TILT: sound + motion dance company. With TILT, Susanne originated roles in works by Robert Abubo, Marie-Julie Asselin, Bill Coleman, Lesandra Dodson, Sasha Ivanochko, Sharon Moore and Heidi Strauss. She received her professional training from the School of Toronto Dance Theatre.

Sara Coffin, a Nova Scotia native, is a Vancouver based dancer and choreographer. Sara is the recipient of the 2005 BC Emerging Dance Artist Award, awarded by the Holy Body Tattoo Dance Company. She completed her B.F.A. in dance at Simon Fraser University's School for the Contemporary Arts. Notable artists she has worked with include The Holy Body Tattoo in their newest work "monumental," Mascall Dance, Susan Elliott, Lesandra Dodson, Deborah Dunn, Peter Chin, and the TILT: sound + motion dance company. Sara had the pleasure of studying at the Impulstanz International Dance Festival in Vienna, supported by the Canada Council (2005). Coffin was the recipient of the BC Arts Council Senior Scholarship Award for choreography (2002), and The Pat Richards Choreographic Award (1999,1998). Coffin's choreography has been presented in Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver. Sara is a co-founder of SINS (Sometimes In Nova Scotia), a collective based in Nova Scotia that traverses Canada.