Finding a New Way to Dance Toward It!

I’ve always believed that stories should do two things: make you feel, and make you think.

As a writer, performer, mom, and founder of Two Left Feet Productions MTL, my mission has always been to create stories where humour and heart take a seat at the same table—and where accessibility isn't just a footnote, but the driving force of my projects. Living with cerebral palsy has shaped who I am, how I see the world, how I move through it, and how I tell stories.

Some of you might’ve even been there at the beginning when I first stepped onto a stage to perform my one-woman show, The Awkward Ballerina—a true story about growing up with cerebral palsy, wanting to be a ballet dancer, but ultimately having to recreate that dream. (If you’re new here, welcome! That first show was where this magical journey officially took off.)

My first show debuted in June 2022 at the Montreal Fringe. It would go on to open minds and hearts in more than one place, being produced over 20 times nationally and internationally and earning nominations for Best English Production and Most Promising Emerging Artist. The whole thing felt surreal, a 30-year dream come true. So, I of course kept the wheels turning and kept going. In 2023, I translated and performed the show in French (La ballerine maladroite), and in July 2025, I took the English version to Fringe Windsor. To say it was a highlight is an understatement. The show had a fully accessible venue, local radio love, my awesome dad backing me up as stage manager, and Stage Hands Windsor providing live ASL interpretation right alongside me on stage.

Still, there’s a lot more to tell and a lot more to come. The Awkward Ballerina was always just the opening act—the first part of an autobiographical trilogy! And as my husband will readily tell you, I don’t like making choices, and I don't want to choose just a singular path—I want to do as much as I can to create real change. So, there’s always a "what happens next?"

Well, I wrote show number two and went back to school because why not. I’m also a screenwriting student at Toronto Film School, where I’m nearing graduation. (And yes, I’ve already finished the first draft of a feature film adaptation of the show!). But now, it’s also time to step back on stage for Chapter Two.

Full disclosure: this one takes me entirely out of my comfort zone.

Chapter Two: Pregnant... And It's Still Awkward!

My new solo show, Pregnant... And It's Still Awkward! shifts the lens to my adult life. This storytelling piece recounts my pregnancy journey and what it was like to navigate it all with a non-cooperative body. It’s a ticking-clock tell-all that promises to make you laugh until it’s awkward. From the day I found out I was going to be a mom to the birth of my baby boy, the show demonstrates the reality of physical hurdles, genuine fears, frustrations, and just the right amount of absurdity.

I pick apart the picture-perfect, sanitized version of pregnancy and lean into the uncomfortable, hilarious, and deeply human truth of prenatal life with a disability. This show requires a level of physical comedy and precise timing that is a daily challenge for me. But more importantly, it is inspired by my son to show him that no dream is impossible—even if you have to find a new way to dance toward it.

The Roadblock (and the Detour)

As an artist, your path rarely follows a straight line, and my team and I were recently hit by a major roadblock on the way to production when my application for a Canada Council for the Arts grant didn’t receive funding. But in this industry, lack of funding comes as no surprise, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, a setback is just an invitation to reroute. And if anyone gets reinvention, it’s this gal. If you need proof, just check out my first show. (Guess what? You can. It’ll be online.)

So… we’ve decided to take a community-backed approach to bring this second production to life, and we want you all along for the ride.

How You Can Help Make It Happen

Our minimum goal is $8,000 CAD to cover essential artist fees and venue rental, while full production costs total $22,000 CAD. Since our campaign has no limit, every dollar raised beyond our initial target brings us closer to fully funding the production.

To make this new show a reality, we need your help, your energy, and your laughter! We have two fundraising events lined up this August, and we’d love to see you there:

• August 20th – The Awkward Ballerina Livestream: Tune in from the comfort of your home couch, office chair, beanbag, or other to a special livestream of the show, broadcast from the stage of Centre L’Éphémère. As simple as a click, if you're cheering us on from afar!  Watch right here on Fundrazr, or YouTube!

• August 25th – Don't Make It Awkward (In-Person Fundraising Event): If you’re in the Montreal area, join us in person for an evening of mingling and entertainment. (Details to come!)

Whether you tune into the livestream, donate directly to this campaign, grab an event ticket, or share our social media pages with a friend, you are directly helping us hold space for disability narratives on stage.

Follow along on Facebook or Instagram @twoleftfeetproductionsmtl for updates and event links.

Thank you for helping us break barriers, build community, and get this baby on stage.

(Pun absolutely intended.)