Ameli Pereira, Multidisciplinary Artist

Ameli Pereira is a Venezuelan-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Calgary, with a lifelong practice spanning dance, theatre, and writing. She led the dance troupe Pasos de Venezuela for over a decade, has worked in theatre with Gato Negro Spanish Theatre and Expresarte Theatre Club, and co-owns Spanish Creations Academy, where she teaches Latin dance and Venezuelan folklore and directs plays for children.

As a dancer and choreographer, Ameli moves audiences through Latin rhythms and helps others find their own rhythm through movement. As an actress, she brings unforgettable characters to life with raw emotion and range.

At CJFF, Ameli presents THE TIGER, her performance debut of a new solo poem confronting the audience with our shared, often unspoken hunger for power. Since directing oneself is hard, the piece is co-directed by her friend Cory Gerard, an actor and film director, whose outside eye and Canadian filmmaking sensibility bring an extra layer to the work, alongside her own voice.

Ameli’s commitment to the arts extends beyond her own performances. As a teacher and director, she shares her knowledge with students of all ages, inspiring them to discover their own creative potential — showing how art transcends cultural and linguistic barriers to create shared experience.