Our Story

Shortly after relocating to Vancouver from NYC, dance artist and teacher Carol Mendes identified a significant gap between secondary and post-secondary dance training programs and the demands of professional dance careers. Observing many emerging dancers grappling with uncertainties about their paths, she founded AMOK Project with the aim of bridging this divide. Her vision encompassed creating a supportive environment for these "displaced" dancers, offering both personalized professional development and opportunities for inclusive artistic expression within the company. Carol's approach aims to demystify certain aspects of the professional dance world that can be overlooked by institutionalized training programs, and prioritizes embracing each dancer’s unique artistic voice to foster confidence in their individuality.

AMOK's inception in 2020 was modest, initially comprising only two dancers amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by its formation during this tumultuous period, AMOK adeptly navigated its operations within health and safety regulations, demonstrating resilience and a determination to persevere. Following their inaugural year, Carol expanded the project into a larger-scale program with a deliberate emphasis on professional development. This new initiative was akin to post-secondary training but with a more personalized approach, tailored to the dancers’ individual needs. After a year of operating within this model, Carol observed significant growth and professionalism among the AMOK dancers, prompting a pivot towards transforming AMOK into a fully-fledged professional dance company. Under Carol’s leadership as artistic director, AMOK has evolved into a thriving collective of artists, collaboratively producing work that pushes the boundaries of creativity while honestly and vulnerably reflecting the artists’ experiences of the world.