
El Barrio’s Artspace and Wonder Moments Inc
Present
Spanish Harlem Creative Movement Fest 2022
Organized & Produced by Dance 10 Project Collective
Artistic Director: Elliott Ortiz
Production Manager: Pilar Cordova
Co-Curators 2022 edition: Violeta Galagarza (KR3t’s Dance Company),
Maryorie Flores (Sol Dance Center) and Luca Villa (Choreographer)
Tech Director: John McGee
Spanish Harlem Creative Movement Fest is a dance festival that celebrates the culture of Latinos in America, and their place in it, reflecting the diversity that Latin America culture embodies. It will feature nine (9) dance artists with hybrid choreographic practices, who hold the stories of lived cultural experiences of Latinos in America. Those danced stories will give life to the visual power of storytelling with performative elements. The festival is devoted to the multicultural nature of New York City, and it boldly responds to the blurring of cultures from different diasporas; while it celebrates and examines the influence of Latinos in America as a place of immigration and mixed cultures. Unfolding emotions in motion the festival holds four components:
The Fest: Dance shows on stage, seven choreographic works with 20 dancers will take the stage from Sep 15 to Sep 17
Choreographers Talk: post-show conversations between dance creators and audience, conducted by special guests.
Dancing Strokes: It is an art and photography exhibition where the expression of the soul of nine male artists harmonizes with themes and topics touched by the festival’s philosophy. This exhibition runs from Sep 07 to Sep 18.
Curated by Gustavo Fernandez. The exhibition will takes lobby and gallery at El Barrio’s Artspace.
Dancing Community: A set of dance workshops and wellness activities open to community. Workshops Coordinator Yvanhova Figueroa (classes: children dance/jazz, contemporary dance, yoga, tango)




Festival Main Supporters
Spanish Harlem Creative Movement Fest 2022 is made possible in part with public funds from :



* LMMC Serves, connects and makes spaces for artists and community.
* UMEZ Enhances the economy vitality of all communities in Upper Manhattan through job creation, corporate alliances, strategy investment and small business assistance.
Dance Program
Sep 15 @7pm
Ceremony:
Speakers: Rolinda Ramos (Operations Manager El Barrio’s Artspace)
Lina Alfonso (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council)
Elliott Ortiz (Artistic Director Dance 10 Project)
Angelica Guvernez (Mistress of Ceremony)
Rastro Dance Company
Title: Remedy
Choreography: Julieta Valero in collaboration with Leigh Atwell
Dancers: Julieta Valero and Leigh Atwell
Landscape performers: Cynthia Cortes, Frahydel Falchuk, Edgar Rodriguez
Music: Alma by Gustavo Santaolalla / Salento by Rene Aubry / Walking in Tokyo Gustavo Santaolalla
Costumes by Rastro
Lighting design by Julieta Valero
Post Show conversation conducted by : Rhina Valentin
*Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank Elliott Ortiz and all of this production team for the opportunity to present my work, their support, patience, and their hard work. El Barrio’s Artspace and its warm welcome.
I want to thank my dear friend and long-time dancer (18 years!!) Leigh Atwell, without her, my work would be a lot harder to process and maintain. Thank you, I love you. There are a lot of people to thank; in an effort to keep it short I want to thank Edgar Rodriguez, gracias mi amor. Cynthia Cortes was with me in 1998 when we first performed as a new group in NYC, and many more performances followed after that one. Thank you for always believing in me Frahydel, I hope this is the first of many more performances together, gracias! Adriana, Jorge, Elliott you are troupers! Thank you My kids and whole family. They believed in me, and continue to support me through this complicated career that is to be a professional dancer and choreographer. Thank you so much!!
Julieta Valero, Venezuelan dancer and choreographer began her studies in 1980 Danzahoy-Escuela, becoming a member of the company in 1989, participating in national and international tours to Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Spain, Israel, Canada, England, among others. In 1996 she moved to New York and two years later produced the show, "Andar el comienzo" which marks the birth of Rastro. Julieta has been an artitst in residency at D'jerassi artists program, California 2003, which then distinguished her with the Bessie Schoenberg Memorial Fellowship 2003. Julieta also participated in the artistic residence Artward Bound in White Oak Plantation in Florida, as a member of The Field in 2007. Between 2000 and 2006 Julieta continued to collaborate with Danzahoy as part of the cast on tour of the piece "Exodo", including the BIENNALE DE LA DANSE 2002 TERRA LATINA, and their season at the Joyce Theater in New York, 2006. With Rastro, in its 25 years, she has created 17 choreographies and produce works of established and emerging choreographers. The company has performed in a variety of theaters and festivals in NYC and international including three seasons at the Joyce SoHo, twice in the NuDance Festival in the frame of Riverside Festival, at the Institute of Contemporary Art, London, England; Avant Garde Festival, Yucatan, Mexico; Breaking Lines Dance Festival, New York at the Abrons Arts Center; Dance Theater Workshop, with The Field residency, FARspace NYC; CPR - Center for the Performance Research, New York, among others. Julieta has collaborated in several occasions with Tumàka't danza contemporanea, Merida, Yucatan. In 2016, was invited to perform at the DanzaExtrema Festival Internacional in San Andrés de Tuxtla, Veracruz MX, where she premiered “Pain, nothing new” and was honored for her artistic trajectory by the festival's director, Alonso Alarcon. In 2017 the company performed at the Theater for the New City and Dixon Place. More recently Julieta has presented work at Judson Church, Triskelion Arts, and Brooklyn as the first artist in residency.
Leigh attended the University of California, Irvine. She studied modern dance with Donald McKayle, eventually joining his Etude Ensemble, a company of 14 students that toured nationally and internationally. After graduating in 2001, Leigh moved to New York City where she danced for choreographers such as Teri and Oliver Steele, Jana Hicks, and Mariangel Lopez. Leigh has been part of SAME AS SISTER (S.A.S) as a performer and collaborator. Atwell has been a member of Julieta Valero’s RASTRO Dance Company since 2004 participating in all national and international engagements. She also creates her own dance works, which have been presented at venues, such as the 92nd St Y and Chen Dance Center. She is the proud mother of Olu and Kai.
Sep 16 @7pm
Maria Gracia Perez
Title: Strength from Within
Choreographer: Maria Gracia Perez
Performers: Maria Gracia Perez M and Jonathan Colafracesco
Music credits: The Amnesias, Astral Waves, Naturally recurring, Sean & Jimbo, Spiritual Flower, Shamanic Drumming World, Morongo. Arnold Kasar, Sigur Ros, Hazy
Maria Gracia Perez was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and is a graduate of the Certificate Program at Peridance Center in NYC. She began training in performing arts at a very young age and has studied dance her whole life. From Peruvian folk and Latin dances, to commercial dance, ballet and contemporary dance, her choreographic work enjoys the versatility of her diverse background. She participated in renowned dance training programs at Batsheva Dance Company, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, Grupo Raca and Joffrey Ballet. In Peru, she performed as part of Dactilares Peru Contemporary Dance Company (2015, 2016, 2017) and Pepe Hevia Dance Company (2018). She is currently a dancer with Ariel Rivka Dance and Ballet Nepantla in the city.
Jonathan Colafrancesco is an Italian dance artist currently based in New York. He has danced in productions of Italian and international choreographers like Enzo Celli, Elisabetta Minutoli, Dario Lupinacci, Roberta Ferrara, Francesco Asselta, Samuel Pott, Vivake Khamsingsavath. Jonathan is currently a dancer for Pony Box Dance Theatre, Xiang Xu dance, LaneCo arts, Tabula Rasa Dance Theatre, Project Tag, Spark Movement Collective, EM dance, and Terre Dance Collective. He graduated from the Certificate Program at Peridance in NYC. He moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2017 to study with contemporary choreographers from companies such as Chunky Move and Lucy Guerin inc. He has also danced in works by Roya Carrera, Caleb Teicher, Assaf Salhov, Igal Perry, Isabele Rosso and Tsai-Hsi Hung. He is a co-founder or Kroma mvnt in NYC.
Stephanie Peña
Title: Mi pajon me hablo
Mi Pajon me hablo: Mi pajón me hablo is about having a one on one conversation with one’s afro hair as an Afro-Latina. This piece takes the audience on a journey of the performer exploring/navigating their internal struggles with their afro hair and breaking away from all the negativity it had taught around this type of hair. Through this, comes an awaking of appreciation and love for afro hair in it is natural state in the Latinx community.
Choreographer/Dancer: Stephanie Peña
Sound/Voiceover: Maritza Peña
Stephanie Peña, an Afro Latina dance artist who isn’t afraid to be unapologetically herself, express/explore her sensuality and her blackness within the Dominican culture, and connect with her ancestors through movement. She earned an MFA in Choreography at the University of Roehampton in London to expand her choreographic practice. Her choreography, What Am I Doing Here? (2014) was showcased at CUNY Hunter College, Open Marley Night (Baltimore) and Ticino in Danza Festival (Switzerland). Her other work, Morir Soñando (2016) was showcased at University of Roehampton and Elefeet Dance Festival (London, UK).
Arianna Aquino
Title: Missed UNDERSTOOD
Choreography: Arianna Aquino (she/her)
Music: Brian Newman, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood; Nina Simone, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Valerie Broussard, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
Music Editor: Zach White
Costume Design: Arianna Aquino
Lighting Design: Arianna Aquino
Dancers: Cat Cogliandro (they/them), Angelica Mondol Viaña (she/her)
Premiere
Program Notes: "I am whoever I am when I am it." -Andrew Gibson
"Being alive and being a woman is all I got, but being colored is a metaphysical dilemma I haven't conquered yet.” -Ntozake Shange
“My spirit is too ancient to understand the separation of soul & gender.” -Ntozake Shange
Arianna Aquino graduated with her BFA in dance from CalArts and is expecting to receive her MFA in dance from the University of Arizona in 2023. Both of which she also studied theater. She toured with Purelements, and danced with Scorpius Dance Theater and Imation Dance Company. Arianna performed on Broadway in Cross and the Switchblade and off-Broadway in Collapsing Universe. She has been in commercials, music videos, and films. In Brooklyn, NY Arianna built, directed, and taught a Title I high school dance program inclusive of technical training, physical training, choreography, and partnering courses. Arianna is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion. She served on the Arizona Arts D&I Committee. She founded and led DEI Gatherings at the School Dance at The University of Arizona. Arianna desires to build and mentor artists and educate audiences to be aware and connected to the world and humanity. She wants the art and artists she develops to have a lasting impact on all that witness and are a part of the creative experience.
Post Show conversation conducted by : Alejandra Geithner
Sep 17 @7pm
Chien-Ying Wang
Title: 7456 Miles Journey
Choreographer: Chien-Ying Wang
Music: Ea by Luis Paniagua; violin - Farran Sylvan James
Text: Chien-Ying Wang
Sound Editing: Chien-Ying Wang
Narrators: Cynthia Peña, Rebecca Pavelko, Icía Vázquez, and Chien-Ying Wang
Translators: Hui Yu Chuang and Icía Vázquez
7456 Miles Journey is a sequel to Wang's recent work Minor Feelings. It illuminates immigrant identities, race, gender, ethnicity, and multiculturalism. Wang brings stories of long voyages into kinesthetic expressions of being a minority in this new land. The work reflects Wang's life as a person of color, Asian immigrant, a woman, and mother - things that weigh heavy in her heart. Her personal journeys and perspective will infuse this work, which focuses on the experiences of immigrant women and children.
This work was made possible by the generous support of the Consulate General of Spain in New York and Dance New Jersey. Special thanks to the Dance Department, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
Performers: Louiessa Wang Ocampo, Rebecca Pavelko, Anne Tantuico, Isabella Vergara, Chien-Ying Wang, Elena Yasin
Lighting Designer: Paul C. Ocampo
Chien-Ying Wang, a choreographer, dancer, film maker, and an educator, hails from Taiwan and is Co-Artistic Director of OcampoWang Dance. She received her MFA degree in Dance from The Ohio State University. Wang was a soloist with Repertory Dance Theatre. She was a finalist of Bogliasco Fellowship and recipient of the Mixtures Artistic Creation Grant from the Consulate General of Spain, Dance New Jersey Mini Grant, and the Project Support Grant from Salt Lake City Arts Council. In 2019, she produced an evening-length concert in Brooklyn entitled Come 2gether with a major funding from YongLin Foundation (Taiwan). Wang has been commissioned by Ballet Philippines, Juedai Contemporary Dance Theater (Taiwan), Lustig Dance Theatre, Repertory Dance Theater, The Ohio State University, Boston Conservatory, National Taiwan University of Arts, TongJi University (Shanghai), and Beijing Normal University, to name a few. Her choreographic works has been presented in New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, Dixon Place, Judson Memorial Church and 92nd Street Y in NYC, Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center, and other performance venues. Wang’s current research deals with the interfacing of live performance and video dance as well screendance. Wang is an Associate professor at Rutgers University.
Yvanhova Figueroa, Irene Ruiz-Rivero & Leonel Linares
Title: Foreigners Within
Performers: Michele Moreno, Claire Mazza, Elisa Toro-Franki, Alejandro Ulloa and Leonel Linares
Choreography: Leonel Linares, Irene Ruiz-Rivero & Yvanhova Figueroa
Our piece explores the imposed borders that change destinies. Humans losing their origins and hoping for a life somewhere else. We are questioning the co-relation between being an immigrant and the forever feeling of asking for identity. And in contrast to the inevitable sentiments of survival and outlandish, the fact that we - nonnatives - are tied up with a solidity, with a force: the power of that constant search for belonging. In a world that systematically forgets its precious identities, aren't we all foreigners within ourselves?
Dancers:
Elisa Toro Franky is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New York City. She is featured in works that integrate ballet, tango, ballroom, and Middle Eastern styles. Elisa currently performs with FJK Dance, with whom she toured to China in 2017. She also worked as Program Director of Accent Dance NYC, an education and performance organization that provides access to dance in underserved communities. Elisa has performed with Dardo Galletto Dance at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and with Christopher Caines Dance. In May of 2021, Elisa was invited to collaborate with El Puente Presente and a New York Philharmonic string quartet as part of the Bandwagon series. In June of 2021, Elisa performed at I Heart Dance NYC, where dancers from top NYC companies are invited. In September of 2021, she was a featured ballerina in Rhina Valentin's 'Sancocho' production, in celebration of the Hispanic Heritage Month at Lincoln Center Restart Stages.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Elisa trained with Cuban mentors and traveled twice to Cuba for international ballet intensives and competitions. She came to the United States in 2004 to train at the Miami City Ballet School, to later dance with the Washington Ballet Studio Company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, and the New Jersey Ballet."
Alejandro Ulloa
A native of Nicaragua, international freelance artist Alejandro Ulloa began his dance training at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua under the direction of maestro William Herrera, and launched his professional dance career with the Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua where he quickly became a principal dancer. He was later invited to be part of the contemporary company Danza Contemporánea Universitaria UNAN-Managua. In 2015, Alejandro and Maestro Herrera launched the first-ever ballet and neoclassical ensemble at the Nicaraguan University, where Alejandro became the Cultural Promoter for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, as well as Director for the “Taller de Líneas Clásicas.” Later that year, he also became co-producer, teacher, and choreographer for Compañía Ballet de Nicaragua, as well as a ballet and contemporary teacher at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Nicaragua. Alejandro’s vast repertoire has ranged from classical to contemporary works, as he has worked with a plethora of directors and choreographers. He has appeared as a guest artist for Gainesville Ballet, Danse Etoile in Costa Rica, Island Moving Company, Neglia Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, and Connecticut Ballet, among others. He has also participated in many festivals, such as Jacob’s Pillow Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts, APAP Festival in New York City, Bitef Theater and Terazije Theater in Serbia, the International Ballet Gala in Nicaragua, the 50th anniversary of Universidad de Campeche-Mexico, the 20th Anniversary of Fundacion Ballet de El Salvador, and Great Friends Dance Festival in Newport, Rhode Island among others. In addition, Alejandro was an integral part of the Art and Science Unite as Psychological Treatment in Adults and Youth Workshop, developed by the Yale Hispanic Mental Health Clinic, and in 2016 he was awarded the “Artist of International Projection of the Year” by the Nicaraguan Artist Association. Alejandro is currently a member of Thomas Ortiz Dance Company, Ballets with a Twist, and Kathryn Posin Dance. He is also a dance instructor for Darien Arts Center and New England Academy of Dance. In 2019, Alejandro co-founded East Coast Contemporary Ballet.
Claire Mazza
A native New Yorker, Claire began her dance training at the School of American Ballet where she was chosen by Madam Dudin to study at the age of nine. While being immersed in the Balanchine style, she studied privately with Francois Perron in order to focus on the classical French technique and attended Studio Maestro (currently Manhattan Youth Ballet) under his and Deborah Wingert’s direction. Claire also received scholarships to attend prestigious summer programs at the Boston Ballet School and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. As a child, Claire had the unique opportunity to perform with New York City Ballet in their productions of "The Nutcracker," "Firebird," "Coppelia," and "Mozartiana." Upon graduating and after having performed with the Manhattan Youth Ballet Studio Company, Claire launched her professional career and has danced with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, Brooklyn Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Morales Dance, Staten Island Ballet, St. Peter’s Dance Company, Dances Patrelle, Cello Pointe, and was a soloist with Connecticut Ballet for many years. Claire is currently a soloist with New York City- based company Ballets with a Twist and Kathryn Posin Dance Company. Her repertoire spans classical to contemporary works, and she recently had the pleasure of performing as a principal in Balanchine’s "Who Care’s?" and starred as Titania in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." She has also been seen dancing in television productions such as Kings, Royal Pains, and Elementary. In addition to her thriving dance career, Claire has been featured as a model in Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Italian magazine “Donna,” Kike Calvo’s National Geographic table book “World of Dances,” and in Joe McNally’s Nikon print advertisement. Claire has been teaching dance to students ages three to eighteen for the past ten years, and is currently the Director of Dance at Darien Arts Center and on faculty at New England Academy of Dance (NEAD) in addition to training students privately. In 2019, Claire co-founded East Coast Contemporary Ballet.
Yvanhova Figueroa
Her mother was a ballet dancer, this young dancer originally from Venezuela, she holds a degree from Taller de Danza Caracas as a Modern Dance Performer in 2004. She also holds a BA in Business Administration from Universidad Central de Venezuela. Because she grew up between dancers and in a dance community, she has explored other disciplines such as ballet, tango show (acro-tango), improvisation, modern dance, and dance theater incorporating video art, photography and music. She had the pleasure to work with Ballet Teresa Carreno, TangoXTango, Sinergia Tango, The National Dance Company of Venezuela, Taller Experimental Pisorrojo, Mixed Movement, Palissimo and The Ballet of Connecticut. She has formed a collaboration with independent choreographers like Annette Herwander, Scott Lyon, Lindsey Dietz Marchant, Oliver Steele, Roberto Villanueva and Elliott Ortiz. She owns YvaYoga (YvaYoga.com). She has performed at the Alvin Ailey Theater, Dance New Amsterdam, New York Live Arts, Movement Research, and The Tank among others. She has toured with dance troupes as guest dancer in Chile, Argentina, Canada, Venezuela and The United States.
Irene Ruiz-Rivero:
Irene Eva is originally from Colombia and has lived in Israel, Spain, and the USA. She is an actor and a voice artist with an extensive background in dance and music. Born in a family of artists, she was raised between the bands her mother led and the theatre La Abadía in Madrid (formerly directed by her relatives). She studied theatre, dance, and music in Israel & Barcelona as a child and teenager, and later traveled to NYC to deepen her studies of modern dance, dance theatre, and music (singing & piano/bass). She dedicated many years to creating original dance theatre performances with her company, and also participated as a performer in several productions in NYC and later in Spain/Israel- mainly as an actress and also as a dancer and singer. Back in Barcelona, Irene has continued her multidisciplinary career in the performing arts, focusing the last years on acting on screen and preparing new theatre projects, while continuing her training in theatre, voice and dance.
Michele Moreno
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Michele Moreno (she/her) began her ballet training at Ballet Keyla Ermecheo where she graduated as part of Rafael Portillo, Vladimir Lopukhov, and Roumen Rachev's class. After graduation she was offered a contract with Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas under the direction of Keyla Ermecheo where she went from corp of ballet to coryphee. After few years after she was offered a contract with Ballet Juvenil Teatro Teresa Carreno, under Rafael Portillo and Irina Ivanova's direction. There she had the opportunity to dance an extensive classical and neoclassical repertory including Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Four Seasons. She returned to the Ballet Metropolitano of Caracas as soloist dancing the company's full repertory and touring internationally to Latin America and the US. After traveling to the US and dancing for the “2000 stars festival” directed by Fernando Bujones she decided to move to New York and started training with Natalya Stavro at Broadway Dance Center. Michele currently dances for Staten Island Ballet where she is also part of the faculty. She had taught at Ballet Angela Custodio and Ballet Caracol in Ibiza, Spain; Martha Graham school, NY; Ballet Arts, NY and Fini Dance Festival, Italy.She also completed the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher’s Certification Level I- VIII and Partnering. In 2017 became faculty member at Broadway Dance Center teens and children program where she teaches the advanced teens and pointe classes and in 2019 faculty member at Broadway Dance Center adult open class division.
Post Show conversation conducted by: Angelica Guvernez

Gustavo
Fernandez
(b. 1973, Latin America) is an expressionist /colorist based in NYC.
He describes his body of works as an explosion of color and texture.
His abstract work is a product of a long period of development and evolvement of intense thoughts based on his 25 years of experience as a visual artist.
Fernandez defines his work as a devotion to inner beauty, emotions expressed in colors, the fervor of spirit, and a spiritual desire for inner necessity.
He defines himself as an artwork that never ends.
INSTAGRAM @GUSTAVOFERNANDEZART
P. 786 200 3406
Visual Artist & Curator of Dancing Strokes
Born in Caracas - Venezuela in the year of 1979.
Industrial designer and visual artist specialized in structural design, art production, sculpture and photography with extensive experience of more than 20 years.
Creator and Founder of the company Indsign Industrial & Graphic, a market reference in terms of design, quality and production.
His work has had a presence in more than 15 countries and he currently resides in the United States of America, the latter being his third base of operations, carrying out projects of international scope in art, design and advertising, highlighted by professionalism, knowledge in the field and solutions. He has been recognized with multiple awards and mentions, which position him as one of the most relevant integral artists of the moment.
INSTAGRAM @ALFREDOMELE
Alfredo
Mele
Jon
Barwick
Jon Barwick is a New York City - based artist whose otherworldly visions manifest themselves into paintings , drawings , and mixed - media installations . Early inspirations of pop - art , graffiti , mineralogy , contemporary abstraction , geometry , and the cosmos are reflected in the these extra terrestrial landscapes . His work has been exhibited in cities across the United States including New York , Chicago , Los Angelos , Atlanta , Phoenix , and Miami , and internationally in Berlin , Edinburgh , and Toronto . He has been featured twice in the juried publication New American Paintings and is in numerous collections including The Columbus Museum.
INSTAGRAM @JONBARWICKART
I have been passioned about creating sculptures and forms by hand allmy life. Over the years I have experimented with several techniques and materials and have enjoyed the journey and learning experiences along the way.
I am inspired by natural and organic forms and figures that come to my attention during time in the city, in the nature of upstate New York or at the beaches of my home country Venezuela.
While it is impossible to capture nature in it’s full beauty, I am trying to replicate the basic forms and bring the core beauty of natural objects to your living room.
Each of my pieces is handmade and unique. The materials I use are
comprised of porcelain, ceramics, glass, resins, paper clay, clay, self
hardening clays, polymers and epoxies.
INSTAGRAM @ANGELICA_GUVERNEZ
Angelica
Guvernez
Inspired by life events, my artwork tells a story. From young age, I took myself into a safe place through my artwork. I had the opportunity to grow and to develop my unique art style through drawing, painting and sculpturing, with the idea of using all recycled materials available to me. I always try to maintain as a goal, to keep the Earth green and as beautiful as I can. I presented my artwork throughout Puerto Rico, with the support of other artists. These experiences helped grow and build my way to coordinate and curate events in visual multicultural environments.
New York City is now my new home and my new canvas.
INSTAGRAM @UNICOKBERMUDEZ
P. 407 459 5247
Unico K Bermudez
Carlos David is a portrait photographer focusing on diversity and inclusion. Through portraiture, he explores the complicated relationship between the way we see ourselves and the way others perceive us. He works on fine art and commercial photography.
David’s work has been exhibited in galleries around New York City, including Instituto Cervantes, Franklyn D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, and Ozaneaux Artspace.
And internationally at Batana Photo gallery in Rovinj, Croatia.
He is a 2019 Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Creative Engagement and Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Arts Engagement grantee for his project PERSONAE.
carlosdavid.org
nstagram: @carlosdavidphotography.
Carlos
David
He made his theater debut at Equity Library Theater. John has worked for Ensemble Studio Theater, Nat Horn Musical Theater, All Starts Project, Inc –Times Square as technical director and for John Lane at Ogunquit Playhouse as master carpenter.
He also has collaborated for Fresh Fruit Performing Arts Festival as Light Designer and Tech Director in NYC; and more recently with Barrio Independent Productions (BIP), El Barrio's Artspace, and other independent productions. While Mr. McGee enjoys designing and building sets and lights, his “true love” is photography (AA from FIT), and he also participated in different exhibitions as photographer. He has collaborated for Dance 10 Project and Elliott since 2005.
Instagram: @jrm5865
John McGee
Ana Soto
Ana Soto, an artist, born in Argentina and recognized internationally for her pictorial work. She has demonstrated high artistic impressionist and expressionist techniques, especially in the use of pastels and mixed techniques in landscapes, portraits and figures.
Ana Soto has achieved international recognition. Her work has been shown in her native Argentina as well as in Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, China, Austria, Romania, Morocco, Holland and United States of America.
Her art work experience includes pieces for museums in Argentina, Colombia, Canada, Spain and Museum of the Vatican City. Her work has been displayed in several museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frick Collection Museum, and Museum of the City of New York. Her works also include illustrations of instructional curricula and books, elegant posters for conferences and events, and paintings representing a wide array of art. Her work has expanded to the classroom where she works with all grade level students and teachers presenting poetry through the arts. anasoto777@Gmail.com
Manny Vega
Manny Vega was born in the South Bronx in 1956, the same year his parents migrated from Puerto Rico to partake in the evolution of the “American Diaspora,” the coexistence of people from different races and cultures living together in public housing and surrounding neighborhoods.
As a child, Manny was very curious and experimental which led him to develop his own unique creative process at an early age. He received some encouragement from his mother, her talent for sewing garments and making floral arrangements for the neighbors also served as inspiration. At the age of fourteen Manny was enrolled in the High School of Art and Design where he explored new mediums such as photography, package design, illustration, theater arts and printmaking. Manny holds high esteem for a specific teacher who provided him with experience and encouragement and invited him to take the commitment of life as an artist seriously, Mr. Marshal Davis. The themes of his artwork are reflections of his own life, popular music and dance, the day-to-day experiences of his neighbors, and his personal interest in his own heritage and spirituality. Manny also evolved as a visual arts instructor for the schools and institutions in New York City.
Jefte Valle
Jefte Valle is a first generation, American, Puerto Rican, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where he still lives and has resided all his life. Jefte graduated from New York City Technical College with an Associate degree in Science-Medical Laboratory Technology. Thereafter, he pursued a Bachelor's degree, also in Science Medical Laboratory Technology, from Long Island University. Jefte has been working in his chosen medical field for 40 years. His journey in watercolor started about seven years ago while watching his granddaughter paint with watercolor, he decided to join her. Painting became an instant passion that continued from that day on through today whereby he continues to paint and teach himself watercolor techniques.
Jefte's mantra, a quote from a Christian Monk: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
our sponsors
Endowment Supporters
Carlota Landinez, Mariela Monroy, Orlando Lopez, Ma. Eugenia Valera, Ygor Zamora, Ma. Isabel Gouvernour, Evie McGee, Gabriel Forward, Rebecca Stone, Felicia Berger, Anna Miro, Claudia Matos







Media sponsor



Festival Production & Tech Crew
Tech Director/ Lights: John McGee
Sound Tech: Kim Sanchez
Video Tech: Luis Viñoles
Stage Manager: Caridad del Valle
Deputy Stage Manager: Ivan Goris
Production Manager: Pilar Cordova
Production Coordinators: Jorge Tagliaferro, Yvanhova Figueroa & Luis Viñoles
Graphic Designer: Frances Velasquez
Dance Fest 2022 Image: Gustavo Fernandez
Social Media Coordinator: Jose G. Araujo
Photographers: Marc Bruxelle, John McGee, Frances Velasquez
Venue/ El Barrio’s Artspace: Rolinda Ramos (Director Operations & Programming)
Hospitality / Audience Services: Mervin Guevara & Debora Avendano
Box office: Mervin Guevara