Gioconda Barbuto is a highly esteemed Italian-Canadian dancer and choreographer, renowned for her captivating performances and innovative choreography. Trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Banff Centre, and under Gladys Forrester in Toronto, Barbuto quickly gained recognition as a versatile soloist during her tenure with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Nederlands Dans Theater III. Her recent performances include acclaimed works by Jiří Kylián, Robert Wilson, Margie Gillis, and Joe Laughlin. As a choreographer, Barbuto has created over fifty works, commissioned by prestigious dance companies such as Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet BC, and Alberta Ballet. She has received numerous accolades, including The Banff Centre’s Clifford E. Lee Choreography Award and the McKnight International Choreographer Fellow award. Barbuto's choreographic prowess extends to international workshops for actors, circus artists, vocalists, and dancers. She resides in Montréal with her husband, dance photographer Michael Slobodian, and continues to collaborate with esteemed institutions worldwide, including Alonzo King Line's training program and the European School of Ballet.