Simcoe Contemporary Dancers (SCD) today announced a major leadership transition as the company begins its 16th season. Executive Director and company dancer Chrissy Baxter will step down in June 2026 to pursue new artistic projects and spend more time with family.
Since assuming the role of Executive Director in July 2018, Baxter has guided SCD through a period of artistic growth and community engagement. Under her direction, the company has presented and commissioned a diverse range of dance works, provided countless educational and professional development opportunities, and produced performances and events such as Dusk Dances Barrie, Get Out and Dance, and Celebration of Dance.
During her tenure, SCD has secured support from the City of Barrie, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the County of Simcoe, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the My Main Street Fund. In 2024, Baxter was honoured with a Community Builders Award in the Arts category by Barrie Today.
Reflecting on her time with SCD and the upcoming transition, Baxter shared, “I am very grateful for my years with SCD. When I moved to Barrie in 2013, I was searching for a community. Sarah Lochhead, SCD’s Founder, welcomed me with open arms and offered opportunity after opportunity, allowing me to grow both as a person and as a leader. SCD has been my home away from home, fostering lifelong friendships and creating what I know will be a lifelong dance family. I’m so excited for this season and I can’t wait to support SCD as the company continues to grow.”
As part of a long-term succession plan, Aliyah Beckles will join the leadership team in September 2025 as Incoming Administrative Director and Co-Artistic Director. Beckles, a former choreographic apprentice, company member, and guest artist with SCD, brings a deep understanding of the organization’s artistic vision and a strong commitment to community engagement. Over the 2025–2026 season, she will work closely with Baxter to ensure a seamless transition.
“I am so grateful to be able to rejoin SCD in this new leadership capacity. Having been affiliated with the company in different roles over the past (almost) 15 years, this new role feels like a homecoming for me. I deeply look forward to continuing to propel the company forward with Jaqui as we move into a new chapter of SCD.”
Current Artistic Director Jaqui Brown will also assume a new title as part of this transition, Program Director and Co-Artistic Director. Brown will continue to shape the company’s artistic programming while collaborating with Beckles to guide SCD forward.
“I’m so thankful and grateful to Chrissy for all that she’s done to help grow and shape the company over her time spent with SCD. I’m so excited for Aliyah to be joining us, and I look forward to this next chapter with SCD!”
Of the transition, longtime Board Chair Wendy Hutchinson remarked, “Having been involved with SCD since its humble beginnings, it’s been my privilege to help oversee the Company’s continued growth, thanks to the dedicated people at its core. The Board and I look forward to the coming season, knowing that SCD will be well-served by this transition. We thank Chrissy for her ongoing guidance, congratulate Jaqui on her expanded role, and welcome Aliyah to the fold!”
The 2025–2026 dance season will be a vibrant year of transition and creativity as SCD prepares to present Momentum, its next theatrical production, at Barrie’s Five Points Theatre in March 2026. This mixed-program contemporary dance performance will feature nine new choreographic works exploring the powerful forces that shape our lives from grief and joy to excitement and community.