Kaela Willey (they/she) is a queer and gender diverse Chinese-Canadian dance artist, choreographer and actor.

They were born in Langley, British Columbia, a township on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples. Now, Kaela is based in Tkaronto (Toronto), Ontario, which is on the traditional territories of several nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Kaela is currently a Dance Artist, Assistant Producer and Artist Liaison at EILERS Dance Theatre.

They have also danced with Coastal City Ballet, Ballet Victoria, Ballet Ouest de Montreal, Wondersee Entertainment/Cineplex, the Canadian Opera Company, Nova Dance, Chimera Project, ĀNANDAṀ Dance, and Transcen|Dance Project. Kaela has performed and collaborated on independent works with artists Sze-Yang Ade-Lam, Nomi Wiersma, Tara Butler, Marisa Ricci, and Sujata Goel.

Kaela’s choreographic work includes lifeline, presented at PROSPECTS by Aeris Körper and further supported in residency by Toronto Dance Theatre, and Separated, a music video for Andrzej Pietrewicz which she filmed, edited, and performed in. Their artistic practice embodies their queer mixed race Asian identity, intersectional feminism, social commentary and their experience as a trauma survivor. Their work is confrontational, evocative, and at times eerie, demanding the viewer to question what they believe about our society and humanhood.

Kaela has modelled on a cover and twelve-page spread for Culture Magazin, and has appeared in several print and broadcast commercials. Their film and television credits include Star Trek: Discovery, American Gods, Dancing Through the Shadow, New Monuments, How To Die Alone, and Neagley. Kaela is an ACTRA member and is represented by da Costa Talent.

Resume available by request.