Araceli Carrera is an interdisciplinary artist. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Dance Education from Arizona State University and since graduating in 2001 she began building her multifaceted pedagogy approach to dance and art. Araceli is an active teacher of academics through Dance and Visual Art in San Diego. She has and continues to dance, perform, teach, choreograph, and work with and for amazing local San Diego dance companies, schools and artists like Eveoke Dance Theater, OmoAche, Neisha’sDance, Malashock and Fresh Congress Dance. Trained in Modern Release Technique, Afro Cuban Dance, Latin Rhythms, Hip-Hop and Afro Brazilian. A visual artist, muralist, costume designer and mother that craves the exchange of art/dance as a language that expresses diversity, intention and culture. 

Alexa Fote earned her BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University. She began studying at the South Dayton School of Dance, taking ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. As she got older and more serious, she joined their pre-professional company, which she was a part of for seven years. While in the company, she went to four Regional Dance Americas to perform multiple contemporary pieces by choreographers including Shannon Bramham, Abby Leithart, and Susie Payne. She attended summer programs throughout her high school years, including The American Ballet Theatre, Point Park University, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In college, Alexa focused her energy on dance education by teaching in local schools and interning for non-profits such as Momentum Excellence in Columbus, Ohio. She explored Modern techniques, including Horton, Graham, and Cunningham, with the guidance of her professors, Crystal Michelle Perkins, Daniel Roberts, and Edward Taketa. Alexa went on to work for BalletMet after graduating college, becoming a teaching artist for their Wiggle Jig and outreach programs. Alexa loves to help kids feel excited about dance the way she is. Today she teaches various ages a multitude of styles, and she feels blessed to get to share her passion.

José Ángel Arámbula Ochoa (Tijuana, Mexico) is a director, dancer, and choreographer, and co-founder of Lux Boreal (2002), where he serves as General Director. He has played a key role in shaping the company’s artistic vision and expanding its presence across Mexico, Latin America, the United States, and Europe, while strengthening its educational and social outreach platforms. Since 2006, he has been Academic Director of the Centro de Danza y Producción Escénica de Baja California, developing training systems such as Piso-Articular and Accionar el Cuerpo. He has led major initiatives including Encuentro de Jóvenes Creadores and the 4x4 TJ Night National Choreography Competition. His accolades include multiple performance and choreography awards, Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2008), and the Arts Angel Award (2018). He holds degrees in Dance and Public Accounting and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2025.

Anna Brown Massey is a choreographer, performer, and teacher. She draws from a background in North Atlantic percussive and Scottish dances to bring rhythmic attention to choreographic forms. She works intimately with sound, and frequently enlists text in conversation with movement. Her research manifests in outside installations, multi-media immersions, and dances on stages.

Anna danced for over 25 dance companies in New York City, and has received numerous grants for choreographic research. She co-founded NACHMO (National Choreography Month), which produces hundreds of new dance artists each year through supported resource-sharing. Anna has been on faculty at San Diego State University since 2017 where she teaches dancing and writing. She holds an MFA in Dance from the Ohio State University. liveinpublic.org

Caley Hernandez was born and raised in San Diego and began dancing when she was eight. At thirteen, she became the youngest member of La Diego 2 and later auditioned and earned multiple scholarships for professional training at The Academy of Performing Arts. In 2014, she performed in San Diego Ballet’s Nutcracker before she moved to the Pacific Northwest. Caley danced professionally with Polaris Dance Theatre and also trained at Northwest Dance Project and The Portland Ballet. In 2018, she returned to San Diego as an instructor, choreographer, and company dancer for Visionary Dance Theatre. She has also performed in San Diego Dance Theatre’s Young Choreographer’s Showcase, Jason Mraz’s 2020 musical production Shine, and La Jolla Playhouse’s Pop-Up Without Walls (WOW) Festival in 2021. Caley continues to dance, teach, and choreograph while also holding the position of Executive Director at Mounrath Powell Dance.

Dyno is a founding member of San Diego based Breaking crew CYPHERST8. With nearly 25 years of Breaking experience, he has traveled and competed in many competitions — earning first place titles in Footwork Championships such as Furious Styles Anniversary in 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, Massive Monkees Day in Seattle 2019, and most recently Floorgangz Footwork 2v2 World Finals in Seoul, South Korea 2025. 

Dyno has been teaching professionally for nearly 17 years, he is a full time Breaking educator working with various organizations including UCSD Theatre & Dance, Culture Shock Training Academy, Finest City Dance, Transcendance, Etc. 

He studied Industrial and Systems Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey and graduated from the Professional Dance School of Mazatlán. Co-founder of Lux Boreal Dance Company, he explores body research, movement, choreography, lighting, design, and video for dance, theater, opera, and film. He has created or co-created over 110 works presented across Mexico, the United States, South America, and Europe. Recognized in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” he also received the Arts Angel Award for Lux Boreal’s binational impact. He teaches at universities in Mexico and the U.S., is a member of Mexico’s National System of Art Creators, serves on the board of directors of the La Jolla Symphony, and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Humanities.

Originally from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Ilana is currently teaching capoeira—an art form that combines music, dance, and acrobatics. Having taught since 2000 at more than a dozen schools in the San Diego area, Ilana brings a wealth of teaching experience to her school residencies. She participates in the Ginga Mundo Capoeira group, and plays percussion professionally with ensembles in many styles. Her current passion project is called Compassionate Empowered Women in Motion. It is a project serving economically challenged women in social, psychological and health transitions of all ages and stages residing in or working/studying in downtown San Diego and surrounding neighborhoods using dialogue, movement, music, martial arts, stretching, breath work and intentional self compassion. 

Mikeal is a San Diego native who has trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. He has performed with such companies as Unity Dance Ensemble under the direction of Emmy Award winning Tessandra Chavez and Theo Ivey, D’Shire Dance Collective (Devin Brawley), Entity Contemporary Dance Company (Marissa Osato & Will Johnston), and GetDown/PickUp (Emily Miller).

He has over 15 years of experience dancing, teaching, and choreographing both locally and internationally. He is thrilled to continue to learn and grow as an artist and to share his expression through movement.

Throughout her artistic career, Mrs. Astorga has undertaken various dance disciplines including classical ballet, tap, modern dance, Folklore Mexicano and Flamenco. She began her training at the early age of 7yrs old at the world-renowned school of Amalia Hernández (Ballet Folklórico de México), for 5 consecutive summers. She was one of the founding members of Ballet Folklórico de Pacifico in Los Angeles, CA.

As a flamenco dancer, she has appeared professionally at the famous El Cid Flamenco Tablao in Los Angeles. Patricia performed at the Grand Opening of the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. She has studied extensively in Spain with Flamenco Masters such as Juana Amaya, Jesus Carmona, Ursula Lopez to name a few. In August 2006, she formed her own Flamenco dance company, “La Esencia Flamenca.” Collaborating with local musicians from Texas and California. As a result of her ongoing efforts, she developed a wonderful collaborative relationship with the Mexican Consulate in Houston, Mexican Tourism Board, Consulado de Espana, The Museum of Fine Arts, MECA and numerous other Hispanic organizations. On December 8, 2007, Mayor Bill White of Houston, Patricia was given a formal proclamation.

Patricia currently resides in sunny San Diego, CA as of 2009. She has continued to teach both Folklore Mexicano and Flamenco. Within one year her two dance companies in San Diego (Sabor Mexico Theatrical Dance Co. of SD & La Esencia Flamenca Dance Company of SD) combined has grown to 30 dancers and musicians. Recently, Danzarts – Sabor Mexico was chosen out of 320 applicants to work with the San Diego Symphony by Bill Conti (composer of the theme song “Rocky”) production “Your Song, Your Story”. Had the privilege of Performing at Symphony Hall, Joan Kroc Theater, Embarcadero accompanied by San Diego Symphony and Mariachi Garibaldi. For 8 consecutive years, Patricia has choreographed shows for Mariachi Sol De Mexico de Jose Hernandez for their “Merry-Achi” productions each year. Also has choreographed for Lila Downs -Dia de los Muertos show in 2023.

Vika S. Hernandez is a Dance Artist, Creative Director and Event Producer. She has studied Afro-Brazilian Dance and Capoeira since 2007, and holds a M.A. in Global & International Studies with an emphasis on Global Culture & Religion. Her work weaves the healing aspects of dance as a social medicine together with a deep respect for the dancing traditions of the African Diaspora. In San Diego, she directs her own dance company Sambamerica Dance Collective, and is the Creative Director of International Women's Day Arts+DanceXchange and Oceanside's World Rhythm & Dance Festival. IG @vikadances