Sonia Rodriguez

On this International dance day, I would like not just to celebrate dance, but to take a moment to reflect on its value and to be thankful for all that it has given me over the years. I am thankful to dance for helping me learn about myself and others, for the moments of pure joy and the relationships built through trust. I am thankful for the sense of community, the the momments of stillness, for teaching me what is like to be fully present and for giving me a voice. Dance is capable of healing, not just the body, but also the mind and soul. It trancends race and culture, it spreads love and brings hope. You don't have to be a dancer to feel the truth of its message, you just need a body. So on this day I invite all of you to allow yourself to bring dance into your lives and to feel its transformative power. Happy International day to all! I leave you with a small clip of The Seagul with the incredible @zdenekkonvalina Grateful for moments like this. #happyinternationalday2026

de corazón - five minutes performance excerpts - from an original choreographic work (22 minutes) Choreographer: William Yong Dancer: Sonia Rodriguez @sonitta Costume Designers: Sonia Rodriguez, Mikki Wirthensohn Yassemi and William Yong Set and Props Designer: William Yong Projection Designer: William Yong Lighting Designer/Production Manager: Gavin McDonald Writer: William Yong and Sonia Rodriguez Film Director and Editor: William Yong Cinematographer: Oliver Salathiel Stage Manager: Amelia Mielke-O’Grady Music: Artlist composers: Salt of the Sound, Tino van der Sman, Kyle Preston, Lunapool, Yael Kareth, Sivan Talmor, Brianna Tam, Maya Belsitzman and Matan Ephrat. (Artlist License #237944) Created in collaboration with ballet legend Sonia Rodriguez, this solo is a love letter to the heart—its resilience, its mischief, its ache, and its boundless capacity for joy. Woven with humour and tenderness, the work journeys through love lost and rediscovered, memory and imagination, and the pulse of what it means to nurture and be nurtured. Both whimsical and poignant, de corazón invites us into a world where the every element becomes luminous and the personal becomes universal. de corazón - A new solo commission, part of the mixed programme for Moonhorse Dance Theatre’s 25th anniversary Older and Reckless dance series. @moonhorsedancetheatre Special thanks to the National Ballet of Canada and Narces for the loan of costume pieces. Video documentation footages filmed by John Lauener and William Yong. World Premiere: 21 & 22 Nov 2025 Zata Omm Dance Projects: zataomm.org @zataommdance

Excerpts from de corazón - a short film by William Yong Director: William Yong Featuring Female Actor: Sonia Rodriguez Writer: William Yong and Sonia Rodriguez Editor and Colourist: William Yong Cinematographer: Oliver Salathiel Producer: W Zento Productions Music: Brianna Tam Artlist License 237944 de corazón A crossing. A memory. A pulse that refuses to quiet. From the heart — where grief and laughter sit side by side, where something fragile learns, again and again, to move. Created with the extraordinary Sonia Rodriguez, de corazón drifts between the real and the imagined — a space where small things shimmer, and what is personal becomes something we all recognize. de corazón is a love letter to the heart — its resilience, its grief, its mischief, its ache, and its quiet strength. Intimate, playful, and deeply human, the short moves between memory and imagination, where even the smallest gesture can glow with meaning. *The stage choreographic version of de corazón was a new commission by Moonhorse Dance Theatre’s 25th anniversary O&R dance series.  Full version of film on: vimeo.com/wzentofilms

Loving this trend #momwhatwereyoulikeinthe90s #90s #throwbackk

I love my morning walks. Just me and the seagulls ##walksbythebeach #morningwalk #beachlifestyle

What an incredible weekend judging at @yagp Tampa. Left inspired by the new generation of dancers, so much talent, beauty and grace. Congratulations to all the participants and winners. Thank you @yagp for welcoming me into your family, cannot wait to see you all again.

Thank you 2025 for the memories, adventures, new friends and so much joy. Here is to a new year full of possibilities. #2025memories❤️ #ayearinthemaking #newyearherewecome

de corazón Choreographer: William Yong Dancer: Sonia Rodriguez @sonitta Costume Designers: Sonia Rodriguez, Mikki Wirthensohn Yassemi and William Yong Set and Props Designer: William Yong Projection Designer: William Yong Lighting Designer/Production Manager: Gavin McDonald Writer: William Yong and Sonia Rodriguez Film Director and Editor: William Yong Cinematographer: Oliver Salathiel @oliversalathiel Stage Manager: Amelia Mielke-O’Grady Music: Artlist composers (#237944) - Salt of the Sound, Tino van der Sman, Kyle Preston, Lunapool, Yael Kareth, Sivan Talmor, Brianna Tam, Maya Belsitzman and Matan Ephrat. Created in collaboration with ballet legend Sonia Rodriguez, this solo is a love letter to the heart—its resilience, its mischief, its ache, and its boundless capacity for joy. Woven with humour and tenderness, the work journeys through love lost and rediscovered, memory and imagination, and the pulse of what it means to nurture and be nurtured. Both whimsical and poignant, de corazón invites us into a world where the every element becomes luminous and the personal becomes universal. de corazón - A new solo commission, part of the mixed programme for @moonhorsedancetheatre 25th anniversary Older and Reckless. Special thanks to the National Ballet of Canada for the loan of a costume piece. Photos by William Yong archival screen shots.

🔦 O&R ARTIST SPOTLIGHT O&R is NEXT MONTH! We are thrilled to present four dance works created and performed by luminary dance artists including a new solo choreographed by William Yong @willzento and performed by ballet legend Sonia Rodriguez @sonitta ”de corezon" is a love letter to the heart—its resilience, its mischief, its ache, and its boundless capacity for joy. Don’t miss your chance to witness these powerhouse artists… OLDER & RECKLESS November 21, 22 Fleck Harbourfront Centre Theatre @harbourfrontcentre 🎟️ LINK IN BIO WILLIAM YONG is a multi-faceted artist and an award-winning choreographer, performer and director for dance, theatre and film. Artistic Director of Zata Omm and W Zento Productions @zataommdance , William Yong has dedicated over two decades to breaking new ground by collaborating with artists, scientists, and engineers in visionary, technology-driven performance projects. SONIA RODRIGUEZ served as a Principal dancer of the National ballet of Canada retiring from the company after a 32 year career. She has performed virtually every leading role in the classical repertoire, numerous George Balanchine ballets and has worked with, performed and created roles in works by contemporary choreographers. Sonia received the Order of Civil Merit from Spain and was Inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame 2012.

📣TICKETS ARE LIVE! Join us as we return to the Fleck Harbourfront Centre Theatre this fall to celebrate the 25TH ANNIVERSARY of O&R! At Moonhorse Dance Theatre we continue to redefine destructive assumptions about age and dance ability, celebrating artists over 45 who continuously take risks, ask pertinent questions and dig deep into nuance. OLDER & RECKLESS 2025 will feature 4 dance works curated by our Artistic Director Allison Cummings. 🪙 A premiere duet by Marc Boivin and Louise Bédard @louisebedardanse (Montreal) 🪙 Sonia Rodriguez @sonitta performs a new solo by William Yong @willzento @zataommdance (Toronto) 🪙 Julia Sasso @slimpikins15 in a highly anticipated remount by Carol Anderson (Toronto) 🪙 AND a new piece created by Jenn Goodwin @jennygeezz for this year’s Community Performance Project, featuring over 20 mature dance enthusiasts. 🪙 This year, to mark our 25th anniversary of Older & Reckless, we are presenting a special video to celebrate the work and artists presented over the years. 🪙 As a special offering, live experimental audio description is offered on Saturday, November 22nd at the 8pm performance. Local writers Keira Loughran, Lindsay Zier-Vogel, Rebecca Singh and Sean Dixon have worked in consultation with Christine Malec, to create experimental descriptions for each piece in the evening’s presentation. Complimentary admission is provided for one support person and additional requests are addressed on a case by case basis. OLDER & RECKLESS November 21, 22 Fleck Harbourfront Centre Theatre @harbourfrontcentre GRAB YOUR 🎟️ TODAY (you know where to find the 🔗 😉) Please call (416) 973-4000 or email [email protected] - to book accessibility tickets - to reserve an additional seat for a support person - for instructions on downloading the description app - service animal 📷: Marc Boivin & Louise Bédard by Jonathan Inksetter Photo description: Two mature dancers move to their left, heads flung back. Mark behind Louise holds her waist as Louise throws her hands in the air. Silver paint drips down the right corner of the image and onto Louise’s finger. Older & Reckless logo overlays the centre of the image.

Feeling so grateful and privileged to work with these incredible group of people. Thank you @cote_danse and @exmachina.ca for the opportunity to be part of the Hamlet production. To all the beautiful artists, thank you for sharing your gift, your generous and creative spirit and more importantly your friendship ❤️ Cannit wait to see you all again. #makingmemoriestogether #dancerslifestyle #tourlife #hamlettour

Amazing evening @rogers_stadium watching the one and only @hozier #hoziertoronto #makingmemories #sistersnightout #inspiringconcert #torontonightlife