Speakeasy is an artist collective originally made up of dancers who became friends through the Ottawa and Montreal Street Dance community. The founding members are Vanessa "VLove" Lovell, Céline "Easy C" Richard Robichon, and Armel "Aeon" Mzalina.

​

The collective was established in 2021 following an artistic residency in Orillia, made possible through the support of Adelheid Projects.

​

In 2023, Speakeasy presented its first theatre work, loop it, danced my Céline, Armel, and cherished collaborator Gregory "GFreezy" Adelson. Loop it premiered at the Ottawa Arts Court with the support of the Ottawa Dance Directive, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Ottawa, and later toured to The Citadel in Toronto.

​

Since then, Speakeasy has facilitated workshops and open practices for the Ottawa community and recently premiered budding—a solo choreographed by Céline and performed by Armel—at ODD’s 15th Anniversary celebration and at La Fab Sur Mill in Chelsea, Québec, as Speakeasy begins bringing its projects into the Outaouais region.

​

Upcoming projects include both creative and community-based initiatives, welcoming new collaborators and partners from Montréal, Ottawa, and the Outaouais. Speakeasy is currently evolving into a collaborative platform that serves as a working model for rotating leadership and artist-led projects.