Leslie Arias Albeldano (Choreographer of Brincado El Charro) is a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso working on a BA in Dance, with a minor in Education and a 7-12 Dance Teacher Certification. She is a choreographer, teacher & dancer that works around her community in schools, competitions and social events. She plans to become a dance teacher at a high school level, where she can teach elements of technique, performance and choreography to the students. She has been a member of the UTEP Dance Team for 3 consecutive years. She represents the university with pride and honor by performing with the Marching Miners at football games, cheering and dancing at men and women's basketball games, and participating in community events with her team. Her dream is to become an educator that brings positive opportunities & experiences, and to influence her future students' lives for the better.
Paola Alvarado (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio | Choreographer and dancer in The Absence of Water in WhenWaterFalls) is a senior pursuing a major in Dance Performance with a minor in Psychology at the University of Texas at El Paso. She was born in the United States and raised in Mexico, which provides her a fluent bilingualism and understanding of both English and Spanish. For her, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is a barrier that divides the American and Mexican territories and a remembrance of the threat that migrants have faced in their search for better life opportunities in the U.S. Paola has extensive training in diverse dance areas, from ballet to breakdance, but her main strengths are Urban styles such as Hip Hop/Reggaeton, and Contemporary. She intends to engage the audience with nature, colors, and simplicity. Paola will be graduating in May 2023 and looks forward to implementing her studies in Dance and Psychology to develop a dance movement therapy program, as well as be part of a dance company that provides her with the tools to create and enhance the opportunity of being a backup dancer for artists on tour.
Nancy Alvidrez (Dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) started her training at eight years old. Her mom and godmother were always motivated and showed her how to dance. She took Break dance classes at the age of 9, continuing with the award. She became a dance leader at Ysleta Dancing Spirit 2020-2021; where she performed a ballroom dance, won competitions, and learned and understood the love she has for teaching and introducing dance to others. She is now certified as a Zumba instructor, and currently working on her dance career to become an instructor as well as a well-known choreographer.
Alexis Anderson-Chaves (Choreographer and dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) A Corpus Christi native, received her B.F.A and M.F.A from Sam Houston State University. She was a company member and choreographer with Urban Souls Dance Company for five seasons. Before moving to El Paso, she was a featured choreographer in Elijah Alhadji Gibson’s premiere of The Black Card. She has performed at Vanderbilt University Theater, The Alvin Ailey Theater, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Jacob’s Pillow. Anderson-Chaves' collegiate residencies include Houston Community College- Spring Branch, San Jacinto College- South, University of St. Thomas, and University of Texas -El Paso. Her works have been showcased at the American College Dance Festival at Lamar University and Bailando International Dance Festival at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Recently, she produced a repertory for Urban Souls Dance Company for their 2021-2022 performance season. Anderson-Chaves is the Districtwide Coordinator and Assistant Professor in Dance at El Paso Community College. She is receiving a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Administration at The University of Texas-El Paso. She is married to her college sweetheart, Mark Chaves, a freelance dancer and choreographer from Houston, TX.
Alyssa Aranda (Choreographer and dancer in Parallel of Inner Reflections) is a student at the University of Texas at El Paso working towards her degree as a Dance Major with a minor in Education. She had been involved with acrobatics and dance since she was younger, beginning with competitive gymnastics at age 8. She began dancing at age 13 at various studios, where she went on to make her varsity dance team in high school and now works at Premier Studios. Here, she works in the office and teaches her students to also find their own dance dreams. She has been involved in various works around the city such as Motion Bound at UTEP and New Year’s Eve Performances with Urban Movement Dance Academy. She looks forward to where her dance career will take her.
Rhaymee Arch (Dancer in Pop-Up Water Dance, The Wishing Well and dancer in Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is working on finishing her Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts at UTEP as a dance major with a focus in Choreography. She has enjoyed traveling to dance in performances such as the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, The Veterans Day Parade in Branson Missouri, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
Ana Berry (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is an English major with a Creative Writing minor at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo represents transition and rejuvenation. She is passionate about writing, listening to music, spirituality, and taking care of animals.
Nicolas Bowman (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is an English major at UTEP. For him, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is a symbol of hope that, even if empty or gone, can live on through the hope that everything has a chance to be resurrected from others. He is the author of two published novels with hopes to publish more while also taking time training as a professional wrestler.
Katie Brown (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is an English major at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is a symbol of perseverance, and its ability to exist despite being dry and is a reminder that she has the ability to overcome any obstacle. Katie is passionate about reading.
Phoenix Dawn Brownlee (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Psychology major with a double minor in Dance and Creative Writing at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande represents change and connection/reflection to our environment. She wants to continue to give love to the land in which we live. We and all is art.
Aliah Candia (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Creative Writing major and Film minor at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is a body that has the ability to grieve, breathe, and feel joy. Aliah is a poet and performer whose passions consist of singing to her cat, Rocky, and eating pho.
Briana Carranco (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio & Dancer in Brincado El Charro in WhenWaterFalls)
is a 3rd year student at UTEP working on getting her BA in Dance with a minor in Secondary Education and a 7-12 Dance Teacher Certification. For her, the Rio Grande is a representation of hope and a meaning of new life. She started dancing her freshman year of high school and later decided to pursue Dance as a profession. She has choreographed and taught for many schools throughout the El Paso community. Briana is also a third year member of the UTEP Dance Team and has performed for many schools and El Paso community events. She was given the opportunity to perform at the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Her goal is to become a high school dance teacher to help inspire and educate kids about the beauty of dance. She would also like to be a role model and teach students life lessons that will impact their lives in a positive way, with or without the knowledge of Dance.
is a 3rd year student at UTEP working on getting her BA in Dance with a minor in Secondary Education and a 7-12 Dance Teacher Certification. For her, the Rio Grande is a representation of hope and a meaning of new life. She started dancing her freshman year of high school and later decided to pursue Dance as a profession. She has choreographed and taught for many schools throughout the El Paso community. Briana is also a third year member of the UTEP Dance Team and has performed for many schools and El Paso community events. She was given the opportunity to perform at the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Her goal is to become a high school dance teacher to help inspire and educate kids about the beauty of dance. She would also like to be a role model and teach students life lessons that will impact their lives in a positive way, with or without the knowledge of Dance.
Mountain Movement, founded in 2016, is a contemporary and improvisatory dance company for the El Paso/Juarez border region. The company focuses on creating opportunities for the community to experience contemporary dance through performance, education, and collaboration. Mountain Movement has performed in Edinburgh at the Festival Fringe, on the Paradox Bus traveling to Austin, TX, and of course, locally, as guest artists and at galleries and pop-ups,. Now working as a trio of two movement artists, Michelle Pacillas Lopez and Natalia Portillo, and a musician, Ricardo Castro, they present collaborative work, focusing on audience engagement, improvisation, and interplay. Mountain Movement strives to create an inclusive contemporary dance culture along the border, along with advocating for the connectivity of movement.
Ricardo Castro (Musician in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Right) is an El Paso musician, photographer, and freelance artist. Along with his passion for African drumming, Ricardo also plays multi-format sets at venues around town, as well as experiments in mixing. His photography, under the name Cuarto Obscuro, utilizes film and analogue technique.
Ricardo Castro (Musician in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Right) is an El Paso musician, photographer, and freelance artist. Along with his passion for African drumming, Ricardo also plays multi-format sets at venues around town, as well as experiments in mixing. His photography, under the name Cuarto Obscuro, utilizes film and analogue technique.
Erik Corralejo (Dancer in Brincado El Charro in WhenWaterFalls) is a student at UTEP getting a BFA in Dance with a concentration in performance. His passion for dance began in his first year of high school and he has not stopped dancing since then. After graduating, he attended El Paso Community College and earned an Associates of Arts in Dance. After graduating from UTEP, Erik hopes to continue his studies to earn an MFA, to continue his passion for education and love for dance. His future goal is to someday become artistic director of his own company and continue to grow the arts scene in his hometown of El Paso, Texas.
Daniella Cortinas (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Rehabilitation Sciences major with a creative writing minor at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande is a representation of opportunity and life. Daniella’s passions include, sports, staying active, art, literature and helping others.
Lauren Crotte (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Media Advertising major and Creative Writing minor at UTEP. She is a writer and dancer. Performing in various El Paso Ballet Theatre and D’ansa Jazz Stage company productions while also competing and performing on national stages. Her passion in dance has gifted her with an immense strength and resilience in pursuing her dreams. To her, the Rio Grande symbolizes hope and represents survival, beauty, and power.
Esmirna De La Cruz (Dancer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Digital Media Productions with a minor in Film at UTEP. For her the Rio Grande/Río Bravo represents happiness. Coming from Florida and Dominican Republic, water to her is her safe space, so it feels good to be near some. She is passionate about video-making: in her spare time, she is always making videos and taking pictures.
Ailis De Luna* (Performer and author of Mapping the Rio | Choreographer and dancer of The Way of Water | Dancer in Parallel of Inner Reflections in WhenWaterFalls) is working towards a BFA in dance at The University of Texas at El Paso. Ailis found her love for dance at age seven. She is currently teaching lyrical, jazz funk and the junior competitive dance team at Premier Studios. De Luna is part of the leadership in Desert Dance as Public Relations at UTEP. She is currently trained and mentored by Melissa Melpignano, Neri Torres, Sandra Lopez Ramirez, Myron Nadel, Tawanda Chabikwa, and Josey Pickett. She was also part of productions such as New Voices in Dance with Valeria Gonzalez, Motion Bound with Neri Torres, and Experiencing the Bosque with Sandra Lopez Ramirez. Dance has been a very important part of her life and believes that dance is an art form to express yourself. She hopes to have her own dance studio in El Paso Texas and share the passion and knowledge with all of her students.
Keats Espinoza (Dancer and author in Mapping the Rio) earned a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics & Creative Writing and is currently an MFA student in Creative Writing at UTEP. For them, the Rio Grande/Río Bravo represents the persistence of life and connection. Keats is a poet, writer, and sewist who seeks to learn as much as they can and strives to stay curious.
Leena Fernandez (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Media Advertising with a minor in Marketing at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande represent the idea of love and destruction. IShe is passionate about caring for her pets and cooking.
Brianna Melina Garcia (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them & Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is currently part of the UTEP Theatre and Dance department, working towards a BFA in theatre, with a dual concentration in Performance and Tech/Design. She is also training extensively in singing, dancing and acting techniques. She was awarded with Valleto’s Summer Intensive Scholarship in Miami, Florida, in summer 2022, having completed the training in contemporary and composition dancing techniques, also having earned an honorable mention for being the only dancer from Mexico. She has also participated in different musical and cultural UTEP productions such as: Broadway in Concert (2020), Motion Bound (2022), and most recently, Zoot Suit (2022). With a wide range, they have worked on multiple audiovisual projects in different backstage areas, such as, costume design, fashion styling, set design, and directing. Fun fact: She has been using a skateboard as her transportation method for the last two and half years, specializing in cruising.
Hezekiah Grant (Dancer in Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is from Harlem, New York, and is a a UTEP Liberal Arts major in Criminal Justice, but has performed in university dance companies and performing arts companies from Stony Brook University to Harlem School of the Arts to EPCC Dance Company to GMU Dance Company. He is a sixth year veteran of Viva El Paso. He’s been in musicals such as Cats, Babes in Toyland, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Into the Woods and most recently, Motion Bound, Sleepy Hollow, and Seussical the Musical. He is deeply passionate and has a loving admiration for the arts. He plans to continue to make art and showcase more talent on the stage and on the big screen.
Laura Camila Hellmuth (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them & Whistles the Sea in WhenWaterFalls) is an ardent performer, an enthusiastic choreographer, teacher, and dance collaborator, who is eager to invite people to develop their individual talents in dance, with proper technique and motivation. She graduated with honors at the University of Texas in El Paso, with a BFA in Dance and Performance in December 2022, as well as having had the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant and a leader of Desert Dance, a student-led dance organization. Born and raised in Colombia and adopted at the age of 11 to the United States, she is now a full-time mother who serves the community in El Paso, TX, and Juarez, Mexico by sharing her passion for dance and physical movement.
Jena Jauregui (Dancer in Brincado El Charro in WhenWaterFalls) is a Dance major with a concentration in Choreography, and hopes to teach others to pursue their dancing career. She has been dancing since she was 6 years old. She was also on the competition team at Desert Eagle Productions, where she traveled to compete at many places, and got to take a workshop and meet Stephen “Twitch” Boss, known from the Ellen DeGeneres show. Jena is also in her second year on the UTEP Dance Team. While being on the UTEP Dance Team, she and her team had the opportunity to perform at the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Jena was also a part of Experiencing the Bosque, with Sandra Paola Ramirez. Her dream goal is to one day be a professional NFL or NBA dancer.
Ashley Kroft (Choreographer of Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is an interdisciplinary choreographer, educator, and movement artist. Over her thirteen years as a performance artist, Ashley has transitioned from performer to choreographer, receiving her MFA in Choreography from the University of Jacksonville, Florida. Ashley’s impetus for her research began from her competitive dance experience with a focus in the reorientation shift of the competition dancer body, working through the transitional growth from competitive dance to movement exploration. Ashley has won the Choreographic Excellence Award for her piece "Ashes", showcased in Santa Fe, NM and the Iconic Award for her piece "A Million Dreams", showcased in Santa Fe, NM. She has performed and collaborated with Orlando, Fl dance company's such as, Red Right Return Dance Company and DRIP as a Principal performer and co-director. Her works have been accepted and presented at IMMERSE Festival and Orlando Fringe Festival, at which the show she collaborated with "Does That Make Sense", won Best Dance Show Award at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. Ashley has transitioned from Orlando, FL to El Paso, TX where she instructs at The University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP, as dance faculty. At UTEP, Ashley teaches Jazz, Dance Appreciation, and Ballet Foundations, as well as choreographing annually for universities, local dance studios/high schools, and festivals for the mainstage.
Kayla Kuhajda (Dancer in Pop-up Water Dance, The Wishing Well, dancer in our secrets as we shed them & Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is a Chicago native who is studying at UTEP for a BFA in Dance. She is an officer of Desert Dance and enjoys promoting dance throughout the campus. She has performed in numerous competitions and performances such as World of Dance Chicago, Chicago’s Got Talent, IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival in Miami, FL, Motion Bound at UTEP, and Experiencing The Bosque at the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. She hopes to be a choreographer and studio owner to spread her passion of dance to all.
Mitzy Danette Lira (Dancer Pop-up Water dance, The Wishing Well, dancer in Whistles the Sea & Agonal Respite in WhenWaterFalls) is an honors student pursuing her BFA in Dance and Studio Art, with a concentration in Graphic Design and Painting. She is an officer for Desert Dance, a student organization at UTEP, where she takes the position as a Historian. She was born in the United States and was raised by her family, living in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and in El Paso, Texas. She has created art with both communities at the borderline. Mitzy has worked as a muralist in Downtown El Paso, with artists such as Los Dos, Ramon Cardenas, Kill Joy, Laurie Marshall from Unity Through Creativity, and more. At UTEP, she performed for Rayven Armijo in Motion Bound (2022) and for Sandra Paola Lopez Ramirez in Experiencing the Bosque at the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park (2021, 2022). Mitzy is currently a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, with hopes of becoming a dance photographer. Mitzy is an advocate for social and environmental justice, which she portrays through her art. As a proud UTEP student, she is grateful to all of her instructors that have educated and helped her grow as a person and as an artist. She is very excited to continue working in the visual and performing arts.
Mountain Movement, founded in 2016, is a contemporary and improvisatory dance company for the El Paso/Juarez border region. The company focuses on creating opportunities for the community to experience contemporary dance through performance, education, and collaboration. Mountain Movement has performed in Edinburgh at the Festival Fringe, on the Paradox Bus traveling to Austin, TX, and of course, locally, as guest artists and at galleries and pop-ups,. Now working as a trio of two movement artists, Michelle Pacillas Lopez and Natalia Portillo, and a musician, Ricardo Castro, they present collaborative work, focusing on audience engagement, improvisation, and interplay. Mountain Movement strives to create an inclusive contemporary dance culture along the border, along with advocating for the connectivity of movement.
Michelle Pacillas Lopez (Dancer in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Left) is an ardent desert dweller, is a movement artist, advocate, and collaborator. A UTEP dance graduate, she is grateful for the many teachers who shaped her then and after, as she continues to learn and develop her voice as a movement maker.
Michelle Pacillas Lopez (Dancer in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Left) is an ardent desert dweller, is a movement artist, advocate, and collaborator. A UTEP dance graduate, she is grateful for the many teachers who shaped her then and after, as she continues to learn and develop her voice as a movement maker.
Gustavo Maass (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Digital media production at UTEP. For him, the Rio Grande represents life because of how water is vital for human life. Gustavo is very passionate about filmmaking because he can express his self with colors, lighting, camera angles, and music. Gustavo also always cares for every one he might or might not know.
Paola Martinez (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Political Science major at UTEP with a minor in Legal Reasoning. For her, the Rio Grande represents culture. She is passionate about law and politics and is currently a member of Chicanx Pre-Law Society.
Saul Martinez (Performer and author of Mapping the Rio | Dancer in our secrets as we shed them | Choreographer and dancer for Agonal Respite in WhenWaterFalls) is a dance major who has acquired his Associate in Dance from El Paso Community College and is now pursuing his BFA at the University of Texas at El Paso. For him, the Rio Grande/Bravo represents a constant part of his life; an obstacle between two different parts of his life. He has trained with Gus Giordano, and Matt Steffanina, and has been part of a dance company run by Elijah Gibson called Social Movement Contemporary Dance. He has performed in numerous concerts at both EPCC and UTEP, and is very thankful for all the professors, mentors, friends, peers, and family who have helped and supported him along the way. He is excited and eager to end his college career with his capstone, and begin his career as a dancer, choreographer, and artist…
Romanti-ezer Mata (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them) is an El Paso native who dedicates his time to the performing arts in El Paso. He graduated from UTEP, c/o 2020 with two BFAs (Theatre and Dance). As a multidisciplinary artist, he enjoys sharing his passion and artistry with the El Paso community. Favorite credits include Godspell (Judas), Newsies (Race), Monsters We Create (NoName), and Experiencing the Bosque (Narrative Spirit).
Melissa Melpignano (Choreographer for Whistles the Sea in WhenWaterFalls) PhD, is an inter/trans/a-disciplinary dance scholar, choreographer, performer, educator, community facilitator, writer, and translator. She works as an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Director of Dance in the Department of Theatre & Dance at UTEP. Her research focuses on the stakes of dancing and choreographing in contested regions and border areas, such as the Mexico-U.S. border and Israel/Palestine (object of her second book project), in partnership with the communities that host her. The research for her forthcoming book on ballet granted her the Selma Jeanne Cohen Award from the Society of Dance History Scholars. As an international performer, with a background in various Western and Mediterranean dance forms, she danced with Hofesh Shechter, Richard Siegal (The Forsythe Company/The Bakery), Maresa Von Stockert, among others. As an artist invested in recentering dance and the body for the pursue of environmental, social, and health justice, Melissa works collaboratively with the collective Somos Agua and with artists Angel Cabrales, Sam Reveles, and Hadar Ahuvia. Her performance project #documance has received national and international attention. Get in touch: @melchoraw and melissamelpignano.com
Chandell Molinar (Performer and author of Mapping the Rio | Dancer in Parallel of Inner Reflections in WhenWaterFalls) is working towards a BFA in Dance with a concentration in performance at The University of Texas at El Paso. Before her time at UT El Paso, she attended El Paso Community College, where she was a member of Canvas Dance and served as secretary, during her time at EPCC. Once Molinar transitioned to UT El Paso, she began her training with Valeria Gonzalez, Cristina Goletti, Myron Nadel, Neri Torres, Tawanda Chabikwa, and Melissa Melpignano. Molinar has had the opportunity to perform and attend many conferences such as the American College Dance Association (ACDA), World Dance Alliance, and participate in productions such as Motion Bound, New Voices in Dance, University Spring Concert, and many senior capstones. Chandell sees dance as a way of expressing her feelings and interpreting what others feel while performing choreography.
Gabriela Muñoz (Dancer in Ripple Effect in WhenWaterFalls) is a junior pursuing a Dual Degree; a BFA in Dance and BA in Linguistics, with a minor in Translation. She is president of Desert Dance (Dance organization at UTEP) and has performed in several dance pieces while at UTEP (Motion Bound & Experiencing The Bosque at the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park), and has done some acting on the side (Zoot Suit). Gaby plans to attain a Master’s degree and wants to thank all her family, friends, and the creative peers/colleagues for their motivation and inspiring personalities.
Sylvia Muñoz (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Psychology major with a minor in Creative Writing at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande/Río Bravo is a natural and historical connection for various cultures surrounding El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Syl is a spoken word artist who advocates for mental health and wellbeing through the art of poetry.
Victoria Padilla (Dancer in Brincado El Charro in WhenWaterFalls) is a UTEP student from El Paso, TX working on her BFA in Dance with a concentration in Choreography. She began dancing at the age of 4 at El Paso Performing Arts Dance Studio, where she discovered her passion. She has completed 4 years as a member of the UTEP Dance Team, where she was given many performance opportunities, not only around campus at games and events, but also many traveling opportunities including performing in the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. Victoria is not only a performer, but a choreographer, as she has choreographed for several schools throughout El Paso. She hopes to continue her journey, with the help of the UTEP Dance Department, to one day become a high school dance teacher/coach, to spread her knowledge and passion of dance to students in hopes of inspiring them for their own futures.
Lesly Pantoja (Performer and author of Mapping the Rio) is a major in Criminal Justice with a minor in Leadership Studies at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande represents tradition and unity. She is passionate about dance and all the performing arts.
Hector Sanchez Perez (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Psychology major, with a minor in Latin American and Border Studies (LABS). He is a sophomore here at UTEP. For him the Rio Grande represents the destructive and constructive will of man over nature. He is passionate about how art can be a reflection of consciousness.
Regina Perez (Dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) from El Paso, is a twenty-one year old EPCC student currently working on her Associate Degree in Dance. She has been a part of dance since she was a child, starting in gymnastics. She then entered a dance academy, here in El Paso, expanding her skills in dance with jazz and ballet. Later on, when entering high school, she was part of the dance class for her last three years before graduating. In her senior year, her dance instructor gave her an opportunity to work with her for the Spring Dance show at Coronado High School, making her co-choreographer of one of their dance pieces. She attended another dance center in Juarez, Mexico called Midrash Dance Center where the classes were focused on modern dance. As a Dance Major at EPCC, she is the secretary of the Canvas Dance Club. All of this led to her pursuit of being a dancer and motivating herself to be part of the dance community.
Otis Pitts (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Multidisciplinary Studies at UTEP. For him, the Rio Grande represents emptiness. He’s from Dallas and a shoe designer. He’s passionate about football and is a member of the UTEP Football team.
Mountain Movement, founded in 2016, is a contemporary and improvisatory dance company for the El Paso/Juarez border region. The company focuses on creating opportunities for the community to experience contemporary dance through performance, education, and collaboration. Mountain Movement has performed in Edinburgh at the Festival Fringe, on the Paradox Bus traveling to Austin, TX, and of course, locally, as guest artists and at galleries and pop-ups,. Now working as a trio of two movement artists, Michelle Pacillas Lopez and Natalia Portillo, and a musician, Ricardo Castro, they present collaborative work, focusing on audience engagement, improvisation, and interplay. Mountain Movement strives to create an inclusive contemporary dance culture along the border, along with advocating for the connectivity of movement.
Natalia Paola Portillo (Dancer in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Center) is a a native border-child, is a local movement artist and pupil of all things dance. In her quest for authenticity, she engages in movement from trendy to experimental. She seeks to give to her community, whether through dance, as an artist; or as an educator, as a Montessori guide and yoga facilitator.
Natalia Paola Portillo (Dancer in Creosote Rain in WhenWaterFalls, Center) is a a native border-child, is a local movement artist and pupil of all things dance. In her quest for authenticity, she engages in movement from trendy to experimental. She seeks to give to her community, whether through dance, as an artist; or as an educator, as a Montessori guide and yoga facilitator.
Noemi Quiñónez (Dancer Pop-up water dance, The Wishing Well, & dancer in Absence of Water in WhenWaterFalls) is a Dance Performance major currently studying at UTEP for their BFA. They found their love for dance at a young age and started classes when they were 12 years old. They hope to one day open their own studio and pass along their teachings from their mentors, and to pass their love of dance onto others.
Sandra Paola López Ramírez (Director for our secrets as we shed them) is an interdisciplinary dancemaker, cultural organizer, improviser and mother. She was born and raised in the luscious Andes mountains in what is currently known as Bogotá, Colombia and her relationship to the Andean landscape, the music and dances from this territory and her mixed heritage deeply influences her artistic work and activism. Sandra Paola now lives in the Chihuahuan desert straddling the U.S.-Mexico border, another beautiful and complex region that has shaped her understanding of the connection between body, ancestral memory and land. In her decades of work, she has developed her practice to radically integrate her creative process and her community organizing efforts creating small and large scale works that activate public spaces, non-traditional and formal performance venues, and natural landscapes. Her commitment to transformation and healing is mostly manifested in the work of the Institute for Improvisation and Social Action (ImprovISA), an organization that she co-founded in 2011. Sandra Paola holds a M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration on Performance Creation from Goddard College and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Daniela Damaris Ramos (Dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) is a student at El Paso Community College and is majoring in Associate of Arts in Dance. In 2019, she participated in the 2019-2020 Hanks High School Fall Show. After the pandemic, she joined an urban dance group in Ciudad Juárez, In 2021 she began her studies at EPCC, hoping to create more memories.
Kirei Rios (Dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) started dancing at age six, exploring different types and styles of dance. She began with Hawaiian Dance, Tahitian Dance, and Belly Dancing. Later, she started self-learning at home, and that is when she discovered dance was something she wanted to take seriously. Kirei then received Folklore, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Jazz training. She also knows a variety of Latin dances. Kirei served in a leadership role as an officer of the Franklin High School Silver Starz Drill Team, where she would organize and help train dancers in the team. Kirei is a Dance Major at El Paso Community College and the Canvas Dance Club Vice President at EPCC. She plans to transfer to a university of her choice and continue to pursue a B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography.
Melissa Vera (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them & Absence of Water/Agonal Respite in WhenWaterFalls) is an international student and is American, with Mexican heritage. She is a junior studying for her BFA in Dance at UTEP. She has trained with Valeria Gonzales, Melissa Melpignano, Neri Torres, Myron H. Nadel, Sandra Paola Lopez, Tawanda Chabikwa and Josey Pickett. Melissa started her dancing at the age of 6 in Chicago at an school called Inspired, where she trained in jazz and lyrical dance. She lived in Merida Yucatán, Mexico for 8 years, where she trained at different dance schools such as Técnicas del arte, Milne and CEBAC. She had 3 years of experience in musical theater at Xpression of Carlos Espejel, where she started to build an interest in theater and film. She plans to study as part of her career. As a UTEP performer, she has performed several events such as Zoot Suit, We Are Water, Experiencing the Rio Bosque, Christmas Carol, Dare to Live, Motion Bound and UTEP Spirit Homecoming. Melissa’s most recent performances are in the Water Festival.
Miranda Faith Roldan (Dancer in The Way of Water in WhenWaterFalls) is 11 years old. She originally started dancing at the age of three, but then took a six year break and resumed at the age of nine at Premier Studio. She decided to join the competitive dance team two months later. She has been part of the team for almost two years now. She feels privileged to be able to participate in this event with Ailis De Luna.
Madelyne Shaleen (Dancer in Whistles the Sea in WhenWaterFalls) is a freshman at UTEP working towards the completion of her Bachelor’s degree in Education. She is an active member of the dance organization, Desert Dance. Madelyne began dancing at the age of 11 and has participated in numerous productions, with dance companies such as D’ansa Jazz Stage and Franklin Forte Ballroom Team. She is thrilled to showcase her love for dance and hopes to continue to grow as a dancer and teach others about the art of dance.
Nico Silva (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio), LMSW earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Master of Social Work, Graduate Certificate in Biology, and is currently a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. For him, the Río represents everything. He envisions a future where the arts and artists are supported to their fullest potential.
Itzel Torres (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Digital Media Production at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande/Río Bravo represents perseverance. She is passionate about all forms of art.
Nathalia Margarita Prada Uribe (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a major in Psychology with a minor in Creative Writing at UTEP. For her, the Río Grande represents a connection between cultures and people. As well as sacrifice and hope. She’s passionate about mythology and writing fiction.
Simoné Velázquez (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them) Born in Ciudad Juárez. UTEP alumni, certified Dance Therapist by Danzaterapia Mexico. Performance has always been part of life. Love volunteering and playfully teaching dance to all humans. Currently dancing with Kuos Dance Company, collaborating with ImprovIsa and teaching dance at Kids Excel.
Marayah Angeliz Vigo (Dancer in our secrets as we shed them) (she/her) is a Puerto Rican Dance Artist who is currently residing in El Paso, TX. She graduated from UTEP in 2020 with her degrees in Dance Performance and Psychology, with a minor in Technical Theatre. Post graduation she has performed at the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival in Miami and acted as a workshop facilitator and performer for the Experiencing the Bosque project. As a UTEP student and alumni she has performed in various works and productions including OBI NI, choreographed by Neri Torres, Last Days of August: Eulogy for Decency, choreographed by Myron Nadel, in between, choreographed by Sandra Paola Lopez Ramirez, and as Amina in Dance Nation, directed by Kim McKean. Marayah is currently pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Concentration in Dance Movement Therapy at Rider University in New Jersey and is excited to be performing at UTEP once again.
Judith Villanueva (Dancer in Air and Oceania in WhenWaterFalls) was born in El Paso, Texas, but raised in Denver, Colorado. After a series of being an all-around athlete, doing cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, track, and golf. She found her passion in dance. She didn’t start dancing until her junior year of high school and then became captain of the dance team her senior year. She is now studying at El Paso Community College, and hopefully, she’ll soon be able to transfer to The University of Texas- El Paso to major in dance.
Brianne Williams (Performer and author in Mapping the Rio) is a Journalism/Mass Communication major, with a Creative Writing minor at UTEP. For her, the Rio Grande represents strength and endurance. With all the manmade changes, climate change, etc., it still stands. It still flows. Brianne is a staff writer and web editor for UTEP’s Minero Magazine. She also enjoys shopping and reading outdoors.