MCKENZIE CAHILL (Lead Singer) is a musical theater actress based in NYC. She a rising sophomore at NYU Tisch Drama in the New Studio on Broadway. She is 2024's Orange county Artist of the year and is thrilled to be making her professional debut with The Woods!

ALLEN TATE (Lead Singer) is producer, mixer, songwriter and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. As a performer, he is best known as the lead singer and main collaborator for the indie rock band San Fermin. As a producer, his work has been featured by NPR, Rolling Stone, Under the Radar and many other national outlets as well as being placed on editorial playlists for all of the major streaming platforms and released by major and independent labels. In 2021, Tate founded the label Better Company Records with his bandmate Ellis Ludwig-Leone as a joint venture with The Orchard. Allen has released two solo albums under his own name, SLEEPWALKER (2016) co produced with Ludwig-Leone and, IN THE WAVES (2019) co produced with John Agnello (Waxahatchee, Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile).

Allen works primarily out of his studio building and label HQ, Better Company Studios in Fort Greene. www.bettercompanystudios.com

CLAIRE WELLIN (Lead Singer) is an actor, singer, writer, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and organizer originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. Now living in Brooklyn, Claire, is the lead singer of the indie rock powerhouse San Fermin, makes music as Youth in a Roman Field, teaches kids and adults of all ages, and is a proud volunteer with SURJ NYC. A member of the Recording Academy, she has performed on Broadway (ONCE: THE MUSICAL), written and performed the score for the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play ACCIDENTALLY BRAVE, toured extensively with Delta Rae, San Fermin, and MALINDA, recorded as a singer and violinist on over 40 albums, and regularly composes for dance and immersive visual art projects. Broadway: ONCE ; National Tour: ONCE ; Regional: EASTLAND (Lookingglass Theatre Company) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, MAN IN LOVE (Steppenwolf Theatre Company).

ANNALISE GEHLING (Featured Performer) is a movement artist, choreographer, and performer based in NYC. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s Dance and Theatre Arts programs, their work crafts immersive experiences at the intersection of movement, music, fashion, film, visual art, and digital media. Film credits include Amanda Kramer’s feature film By Design (Sundance) and Heavy Boots’ short film Moullier (Cannes). They have collaborated with and performed for music artists Shygirl, Allie X, Audrey Nuna, King Woman, Garzi, and RY X and fashion brands such as Nike and Dreamhouse. They are a founding member of Trin Dance Theatre and co-creator of the performance project FLESH VESSEL with Keilan Stafford. Influenced by experiences in the underground, Annalise’s work explores the body as an altar to evoke transformation, expression, and rebellion. Their practice lives at the intersection of the sacred and the visceral, inviting audiences into embodied experiences.

SOPHIE ROSE SHAPIRO (Featured Performer) is an actor from Los Angeles with a love for powerful ensemble-driven storytelling. She is a graduate of UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program and a former Joffrey Ballet School trainee. Recent credits include dancing with Disney Live Entertainment, the indie short film Carnival, and performing with her band, The Painted Ladies. She’s proud to be making her NYC debut with the incredible artists of Ballet Collective.

THOMAS HOGAN (Featured Dancer) is a choreographer and dancer born and raised in New York City. As a performer, Thomas has danced with Annie Rigney, Akira Uchida, GALLIM, and the Verdon-Fosse Legacy. He has performed at venues including New York City Center, the Joyce Theater, the 92nd St Y, and Lincoln Center. Thomas is a 2025 ETD New Choreographer Grant Recipient and a National YoungArts Winner in Choreography. His work has been presented at Bryant Park, the Brooklyn Museum, Xposed Gallery, Chez Bushwick, and the Martha Graham Studio Theater. Thomas is a proud alumni of LaGuardia Arts High School and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance.

MIZUHO KAPPA (Featured Dancer) is a choreographer and performing artist with a degree in Entomology, originally from Osaka, Japan. She has recently performed with Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More NY, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, and Yoshiko Chuma & The School of Hard Knocks, among others. 

Her multidimensional choreographic works have been presented at The Shed, La MaMa, Dixon Place, Gene Frankel Theater, TheaterLab, The Brick, Ars Nova and more. She also collaborates with cross-disciplinary artists, including a neuroscience researcher, a transmedia playwright, a hybrid writer, and a choreographic researcher. These works have been showcased at New Museum, New York Hall of Science, Open Source Gallery, Grace Exhibition Space, City University of Hong Kong, House of Yes, Chocolate Factory and beyond.

Kappa was a resident artist at Experimental Film Virginia 2022, where she performed lead roles in two award-winning films, DEVOURING STONES UP CLOSE and SOLE, both of which premiered at Lincoln Center’s Dance on Camera Festival.

LESLIE ANDREA WILLIAMS (Featured Dancer), a native of Raleigh, NC, earned her BFA from The Juilliard School of Dance. As a Principal Dancer with The Martha Graham Dance Company, Leslie tours globally, performing iconic roles like Medea in “Cave of the Heart” and the lead in “Chronicle”—a performance that earned a spot on The New York Times’ “Best Dance of 2019” list.

Described as "hypnotic" and "larger than life," Leslie captivates audiences with her ability to embody complex characters and command the stage. Beyond dance, she is a singer, songwriter, actress, model, and movement director. Leslie also serves on the board of the theater company Off-Brand Opera, contributing to its innovative projects. Her diverse talents and passion continue to enrich the performing arts community, making her a dynamic and influential force in the industry.

ARCADIAN BROAD (Ensemble Dancer) is from Titusville, FL originally. He began dancing in various styles like Tap, Hip-hop and Jazz. After winning a scholarship at ADC IBC, he attended the Orlando Ballet summer program at age 15 and fell in love with the challenge of ballet. 

Arcadian is a former Principal Dancer for Orlando Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Sarasota Ballet for 13 seasons. He danced roles such as Romeo (ROMEO & JULIET), Franz (COPPÉLIA), Basilio (DON QUIXOTE), Twyla Tharp's SINATRA SUITE, Jerome Robbins’ FANCY FREE, Prince Seigfried (SWAN LAKE), Prince Ivan (THE FIREBIRD, Jonathan Harker in Michael Pink's DRACULA, Prince Charming AKA Bob in Val Caniparoli’s A CINDERELLA STORY, The Scarecrow in Septime Webre’s WIZARD OF OZ Arcadian is also a choreographer and composer, having created 15 contemporary works and 2 full-length ballets: BEAUTY & THE BEAST and WONDERLAND: MAD TALES OF THE HATTER. His full-length productions feature original orchestral scores composed by himself. Arcadian was a Top 10 finisher on Season 4 of America’s Got Talent, and has been featured on The Ellen Show and So You Think You Can Dance.

His theater credits include Tulsa in GYPSY and a Principal Dancer in FLASHDANCE: THE MUSICAL. TV credits include THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL AND ETOILE.

JUSTIN DANIELS (Ensemble Dancer), an Atlanta native, began his training at Tri-Cities High School’s Visual & Performing Arts Program in East Point, GA. He went on to earn a B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance Performance with a minor in Psychology from The Boston Conservatory and abroad at The Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China. Now based in New York City, Justin is a dynamic creative, choreographer, and photographer represented by BLOC NY. He has worked with Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste and featured in Heart of Brick, a groundbreaking production with global sensation Serpentwithfeet that blends music, theater, and dance. He is currently performing with Kyle Marshall Choreography and VLA Dance under the direction of Victoria Awkward. Justin has also been a collaborator in choreographic incubators with Dance Lab New York, and has participated in residencies at Kampnagel Summer Festival (Germany), Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, and TurnPark Summer Festival.

His work and artistry have been featured in DanceItalia! (Spring 2021) and VoyageATL (Spring 2022). Justin is passionate about expanding the collectiveness of concert, commercial, and digital dance spaces.

SHIZU HIGA (Ensemble Dancer) (she/they) is an Okinawan-Japanese American who was born in Tokyo and grew up in the Bay Area as a new generation immigrant. While attaining a Cognitive Neuroscience (B.S.) and Sociology (M.A.) degree from Stanford University, she worked with Alex Ketley and Katie Faulkner. Shizu now moves as a freelance dancer based in NY and hopes to collaborate with other artists, equally excited to imagine a more beautiful reality that embraces multi-hyphenate identities.

SALMA KIUHAN (Ensemble Dancer), a south Florida native, studied at Dreyfoos School of the Arts before attending NYU to study dance performance at Tisch and philosophy through the College of Arts & Sciences. Salma has performed works from George Balanchine, Trisha Brown, Andrea Miller, Paul Taylor, and Johannes Wieland, among others; and is the co-founder of sound-movement improvisation collective fai come vai, composing evening-length works in real time. In fall 2025, Salma will be a guest performer with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.

DEVIN LOH (Ensemble Dancer) From Fanwood, NJ, Devin Loh is a graduate of the Union County Academy for Performing Arts. She earned a BFA in Dance Performance from Purchase College, SUNY, and is the 2019 recipient of the Bert Terborgh Award. Upon graduation, Devin continued her performance and pedagogical studies at the Martha Graham School as a member of Graham 2. In 2021, she joined the Martha Graham Dance Company and since then, has performed Graham classics and contemporary repertoire by Jamar Roberts, Hofesh Shechter, and Sonya Tayeh across the world. In addition to performing, Devin teaches regularly at the Martha Graham School and as a guest master instructor. Recently, she has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award of UCAPA for her work with students and audiences alike. 'The Woods' is Devin's first performance with BalletCollective!

SOLANGE RODRIGUES (Ensemble Dancer) is a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher residing in Brooklyn, NY. She is currently dancing with Brooklyn based dance company The Pocket Fuel Groovers, and Harlem based company KR3Ts while teaching at Brooklyn Ballet in downtown Brooklyn. Solange is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College, Class of 2020, with a BFA in dance, and a Concentration in Composition. Solange was a recipient of the Baryshnikov Artist Residency for the Spring 24’ season, as well as the 2022 NYS Choreographers Initiative by the NYS Dance Force, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. She often returns to her hometown of Rochester, NY where she originally trained at Little Red Dance Studio. She spent several years teaching hip hop, contemporary, ballet, and musical theater at various schools and studios throughout the city of Rochester from 2020-2023. She has grown a passion for theater through choreographing Byron-Bergen’s High School productions of Hairspray (2023), Beauty and the Beast (2024) and Honk! (2025). She is often traveling, teaching, and choreographing for studios across the state, and is always looking for opportunities to engage with the community and collaborate with other artists.

ANNIKA WONG (Ensemble Dancer) (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer and artist who has worked in theatre, immersive theatrical experiences, and film in NYC. She is currently dancing with The Dynasties (dir. Preston Mui), Gotham Dance Theater (dir. Marc Nuñez) and is excited to be performing this summer in BalletCollective's newest production, THE WOODS, directed and choreographed by Troy Schumacher. She was co-dance captain and featured dance ensemble for Marina Montesanti's new musical, EXIST, where she worked closely with Broadway veteran Ahmad Simmons. Her work with Bated Breath Theatre Company includes their shows Chasing Andy Warhol and Bittersweet: a new play, the latter of which she was on the creative devising team for. Other credits include The Founding of the World dance visual for BAMPFA by visual artist Kenneth Tam, choreographed by Juri Onuki, as well as David Cartahena Lee’s new immersive dance experience, RESONANCE. She is a 2022 graduate of the Peridance Certificate Program. www.annikawongnyc.com 

COLIN BROOKES (Viola) Praised as “master of the strong lines”, concert violist Colin Brookes is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he made his solo debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony at the age of 17. A founding member of the award-winning Ulysses Quartet, Colin has taught in the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School, and the undergraduate programs of Yale University and SUNY Stony Brook. Colin has performed regularly with A Far Cry, The Knights, and other critically acclaimed ensembles. Festival appearances include Kneisel Hall, Appalachian Chamber Music Festival, Geneva Music Festival, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Manchester Summer Chamber Music, and Tanglewood. In June 2013 he gave a solo recital with pianist Euntaek Kim for the St. Gaudens Concert Series in Cornish, NH. Traveling and performing allow for many unexpected opportunities to capture moments in time. Colin is an avid photographer, both film and digital, and exhibits of his work have been featured at the Castleton Festival, Virginia and the Art Gallery at Valley Cottage Library, New York. Colin holds a Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School and a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from Yale University. His mentors include Ettore Causa, Heidi Castleman, Misha Amory, Nicholas Cords, Larry Dutton, Marylene Gingras-Roy, Roger Chase, Jeffrey Irvine, and Carolyn Hills. He currently plays a 19th-century Italian viola generously on loan from the Maestro Foundation, and a Thomas Tubbs bow.

GRIFFIN BROWN (Drums) is a composer-performer, poet, and artist based in New York. Described by The Wire as “impressive” and “original,” his music and performance have been featured at venues and festivals across the United States, Europe, and Canada. Premieres and commissions of various media have come from the S.E.M. Ensemble, Metropolis Ensemble, Yale University Art Gallery, Opera Elect, Princeton University Glee Club, and icarus Duo, among others. His poems appear in The Paris Review, Oxford Poetry, Plume, Poetry Northwest, and elsewhere.

LAUREN CAULEY (Violin) Violinist Lauren Cauley is a leading figure in New York’s avant-garde, known for genre-defying performances that push the boundaries of her instrument. Praised as a “mainstay of the local new music scene” (New York Times) and for her “fierce precision” (Cleveland Classical), Lauren has collaborated with renowned artists such as Chance the Rapper, Sigur Rós, George Lewis, Steve Reich, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Wadada Leo Smith, and Saul Williams. Her international career spans prestigious festivals like Venice Biennale, Newport Jazz, Beijing Modern Music Festival, and Lincoln Center Festival. She has premiered her own compositions at the Guggenheim Museum and performed as a guest artist at institutions like Princeton, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Shanghai Conservatory, and Eastman School of Music. A sought-after recording artist, Lauren has appeared on Grammy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated projects. In 2026, Lauren will appear as soloist with the Columbus Symphony to premiere a new concerto by Jeffrey Mumford. www.laurencauley.com

ANDY CLAUSEN (Trombone) is a New York-based trombonist, composer, producer, and educator. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Andy served as principal conductor and Artistic Director for Jazz at New York Youth Symphony from 2016-2023, and in 2021 joined the faculty of The New School as an Artist in Residence and professor of trombone and composition. 

An in-demand collaborator across genres, Andy has performed, recorded, and arranged for for artists including Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Aaron Dessner, Joanna Newsom, Big Thief, Feist, A$AP Ferg, Remi Wolf, Nico Muhly, John Zorn, among many others.

Andy is a founding member of acclaimed new music brass quartet The Westerlies. The Westerlies navigate a wide array of venues and projects with the precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band, and the charm of a family sing-along.

Andy is a Conn-Selmer, Eventide Audio, and Moog Artist. He lives in Fort Greene Brooklyn with his wife Rachel. Aside from music, he enjoys cooking, biking, walking, travel, and photography. 

STEPHEN RODES CHEN (Saxophone) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer/arranger based in Brooklyn, NY. After studying psychology at Yale University and music at Berklee College, he settled in NYC to forge a fiercely unique musical identity built on multiple disciplines and styles. His original music as Behaviorist explores the hidden and hushed-up sides of human nature, and he demonstrates his energetic performance style as the saxophonist of multiple bands including San Fermin and Ghost Funk Orchestra. As a producer, Stephen is interested in amplifying diverse voices, nurturing unique ideas, and creating new relationships within NYC’s often-fractured music community. Visit stststephen.com for more.

VIVIAN CHUANG (Stylist) is a wardrobe stylist and creative consultant based in New York. Her diverse background in visuals and sports culminate in a singular perspective and considered eye. It is with this sentiment that she creates compelling work with commercial clients such as Nike and on editorial platforms such as New York Magazine and Vogue.

Website: vivianchuangstudio.com

IG: @vivianchuangstudio

ADDISON MAYE-SAXON (Trombone) is a trombone player based in New York City. He is a member of The Westerlies, a brass quartet that draws influence from folk, jazz, gospel and chamber music, creating a musical experience deeply rooted in the American songbook while simultaneously challenging it. Through his work with The Westerlies, he’s collaborated with folk and indie artists including Haley Heynderickx, Aoife O'Donovan, and Sam Amidon. The Westerlies have also performed alongside the renowned Orlando Philharmonic and just released a new album entitled PARADISE.

Among his other achievements, Addison has played in the Tony award-winning musical MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, was named Artist in Residence on Minnesota Public Radio's Performance Today. Addison has performed in a wide range of venues, ranging from the stages of Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, and the Kimmel Center, to coffee shops, retirement homes, and elementary schools. 

He is an alumnus of The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Yale School of Music. Addison has strong roots in classical music, but through his education and collaborations, he’s discovered a deep passion for many genres, and exploring the limits of his musical boundaries.

TYLER MCDIARMID (Guitar) NYC-based recording engineer and guitarist Tyler McDiarmid has recorded and mixed many of the biggest names in jazz and acoustic music including John Scofield, Gregory Porter, Chris Potter, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland and Ambrose Akinmusire. With over 20 Grammy-nominated albums under his belt, Tyler has earned praise for his ability to capture artists’ true intentions in the studio and on location. In addition to his work in the recording studio, Tyler has over a decade of broadcast audio experience mixing music for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.  He also attributes much of his success and musical aesthetic to maintaining a busy performance schedule. Tyler has played and/or toured with Gil Goldstein, Lenny Pickett, Toots Thielmans, Kurt Elling, Bob Mintzer and Keiko Matsui, among others. He is also the guitarist in the critically acclaimed chamber-pop band, San Fermin (Sony Entertainment).

MARZIA MEMOLI (Rehearsal Director) from Palermo, Italy, joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2016. Her repertoire with the Company includes Graham’s THE RITE OF SPRING AS THE CHOSEN ONE, EL PENITENTE, CHRONICLE, THE PRINCESS IN CAVE OF THE HEART, SATYRIC FESTIVAL SONG, DIVERSION OF ANGELS, ACT OF LIGHT, DEEP SONG.

She performed works by Hofesh Shechter, Elisa Monte "Treading",  Benjamin Millepied, Bobbi Jean Smith, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Maxine Doyle, Pam Tanowitz, Sonya Tayeh, Lar Lubovitch, Andrea Miller, and Jamar Roberts. In 2022 she performed for Twyla Tharp in IN THE UPPER ROOM and NINE SINATRA SONGS at New York City Center. During the 24/25 season, Memoli is working with Twyla Tharp for her “60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee” tour performing nationwide. 

Memoli is a recent recipient of the Fini International Rising Star Award.

NICOLE ASHLEY MORRIS (Rehearsal Director), a movement artist from Sarasota, Florida, has been passionate about the arts from a young age. She trained intensively with Cheryl Copeland and Sarasota Ballet before earning her BFA in Dance from Florida State University. After graduation, Nicole moved to New York City, where she began working with Kristin Sudeikis and Jackie Nowicki’s NOW Dance Project. She continues to perform actively with Kristin Sudeikis Dance. As a concert dancer, Nicole has performed works by Twyla Tharp, Al Blackstone, Reed Luplau, Lauren Lovette, Troy Schumacher, Hope Boykin, Melissa Hough, Josh Prince, and Cherice Barton. She has also participated in pre-production workshops for several Broadway shows. Nicole’s additional credits include music videos for Darlingside’s ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE CITY, Ben Harper’s UNEVEN DAYS, and DISAPPEAR, and Alison Sudol’s THE RUNNER, all choreographed and directed by Kristin Sudeikis

LORENZO PAGANO (Rehearsal Director) is an international award-winning contemporary performer whose career has spanned across Concert Dance, Theatre and Opera. He started his career by joining the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2012, becoming a Guest Artist and Assistant Rehearsal Director in 2023. He has embodied the most iconic male roles of the repertory and originated starring roles for new works by Lucinda Childs, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Nacho Duato, Andonis Foniadakis, Pontus Lidberg, Hofesh Shechter, Pam Tanowitz among others. In addition, Pagano is a regisseur for the Martha Graham Center and just restaged Chronicle and Panorama with the Rome Opera Ballet Academy in Italy.

In 2024, Pagano was part of the original cast of the musical GATSBY. He has also performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

Mr Pagano was honored with the Italian International Dance Award as “Male Rising Star” in 2016 and the Premio Nazionale La Sfera d’Oro in  2022.

DJ POTTS (Sound Designer) Off-Broadway: Traverse32: TRIPLE THREAT | PAC NYC: ICONS OF CULTURE, REFUGE: A CONCERT SERIES | The Shed: OPEN CALL | The Drama League of NYC: THE BULL JEAN STORIES, HELLO AGAIN | REGIONAL: Shakespeare Theatre Company: KUNENE AND THE KING | Chautauqua Theater Company: FABULATION, or THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE | Vermont Northern Stage: KING JAMES. Education: The New School: ROMEO & JULIET, GLASS N’ MIRRORS. | Rutgers: ANGELA DAVIS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS WITH BIG EYES, HOLY WEEK. 

BEN RAWSON (Lighting Designer) is an Atlanta based Lighting Designer for Dance, Theatre, and Opera, member USA 829. Regional Theatrical/Opera design work can be seen at The Alliance Theatre, Detroit Opera, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Glimmerglass Opera, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Opera, Atlanta Opera, Florida Studio Theatre, Center Repertory Company, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Actors Express, and others. Dance design work includes collaborations with choreographers Johan Kabborg, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Claudia Schreier, Jennifer Archibald, Troy Schumacher, Remi Wörtmeyer, Kiyon Ross, Bruce Wells, Danielle Agami, Garrett Smith, Omar Roman De Jesus, Houston Thomas, Tara Lee, and Heath Gill as well as with companies such as Atlanta Ballet, BalletCollective, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, Prisma Dance Festival - Panama, BocaTuya, 92Y, Riverside Dance Festival, Fly On A Wall, and others. benrawsondesign.com

MATTHEW STEPHENS (Rehearsal Vocal Coach) Versatile music director, pianist and conductor Matthew Stephens has performed in venues ranging from Lincoln Center to Club Cumming. BROADWAY: ILLINOISE, WICKED. Additional credits include NATIONAL TOUR: The Sound of Music (Associate Conductor). REGIONAL & CONCERTS: GUYS & DOLLS (Ogunquit), THE PREFECT GAME (Theatre Row), THE BODY POLITIC (NYMF), KINKY BOOTS (ACT of CT) SWEENEY TODD (Pacific Symphony), MY FAIR LADY (Utah Symphony). A passionate advocate for new works, Matthew collaborates with organizations including the American Opera Project, Beth Morrison Productions, NYU-Tisch MT Writing Program and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. He is a former recipient of the Kenan Fellowship for Aesthetic Education with Lincoln Center Education. M.M. from the UNC School of the Arts. @maspianist

ELENA VELEZ (Costume Designer) is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Her work is known for its non-traditional synthesis of metalwork and high fashion. Velez graduated from Parsons School of Design and completed her studies at Central Saint Martins in London. Of Puerto Rican heritage but raised in the rust belt, Velez claims that the industrial nature of her nontraditional upbringing as the only child to a single mother who is a ship’s captain on the Great Lakes influenced her current artistic identity, one which she says draws heavily on the relationship between femininity and force. Her company was subsequently featured in Forbes for its work with Midwestern makers and mission to ‘democratize resources and recognition’ for artists outside of traditional creative capitals. Velez is the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2022 Emerging Designer of the Year, Elle Magazine’s 2023 Women of Impact recognizé, a 2022 Vogue Fashion Fund winner, recipient of the Fashion Trust US Sustainability Award, she is part of the 2023 Dazed 100 list, attended the 2023 Met Gala, and is a semi finalist for the 2024 LVMH Prize.

ZACH JENKINS (Stage Manager) BalletCollective: THE NIGHT FALLS. Off Broadway: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (BAM), JUNE RITES !! (Waterwell), ENDLINGS (New York Theatre Workshop), A THOUSAND WAYS: (Part 2): AN ENCOUNTER, the Under the Radar Festival, TWELFTH NIGHT, KING LEAR, THE ODYSSEY (The Public), A FUNNY THING…(MCC). Regional: ENDLINGS (American Repertory Theater), AS YOU LIKE IT, THE ODYSSEY (Seattle Rep), THE TEMPEST (Dallas Theater Center). Opera: Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Houston Grand Opera, Beth Morrison Projects, Palm Beach Opera, Opera North, The Princeton Festival, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opera Omaha, Tulsa Opera, Music Academy of the West, Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice. Events: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.