Cliff Matias is an indigenous (Kichwa and Taino) cultural, teaching and performing artist. Since 1994 he has served as cultural Director for the Redhawk Native American Arts Council. From 1994 until 1999 he served as the New York City Cultural Director of Title 9 Native American Education.From1997-1999 he was contracted as cultural interrupter for the National Museum of the American Indian in NYC and was a feature artist in the museums production “A Native American Thanksgiving. As the leader of the Redhawk Dance troupe he has presented dance, music and educational workshops for schools, universities, public and private organizations around the world. Since 2005 he teaches a cultural diversity workshop through the opening doors program at Kingsborough Community College and a cultural dance workshop each semester at Barnard Columbia University. He is a champion hoop dancer, Northern men’s traditional dancer and a Samoan Fire knife dancer.

http://www.redhawkcouncil.org

Courtney J. Cook is a Virginia Native now residing in Brooklyn, NY. She began her movement and performance development at family reunions and her home church. She then trained in dance in local community studios. She is a graduate of the Virginia Governor’s School of the Arts and holds a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is now a company member, Co-Rehearsal Director, and BOLD facilitator with Urban Bush Women, a company member with MBDance, and featured artist with Marguerite Hemmings (we free). She is honored to be a recipient of the 2018 “Bessie” Award for Outstanding Performance for her work with all three of these organizations. As a creator, she has had the privilege of performing her solo work, “PoolPITT”, as a featured artist in ModArts Dance Collective’s Collective Thread ‘17, the Estrogenious Festival ‘17, curated by Maura Donohue, and BDAC’s Creative Emancipation Collaboration, curated by Ebony Noelle Golden. She has also had the privilege to be in collaboration with interdisciplinary artists and founders of The Golden Ratio Project, Tendayi Kuumba and Greg Purnell (FLUXX Collective 2018-2019) exploring movement, sound, theater, and visual art. Guided by her ancestors, supported by a brilliant community and legacy of powerful Black and Brown artist and organizers, she is beyond grateful. I specifically have practice and experience as a Performer (Dance, Theater, and Vocal), Visual Artist, Creative Collaborator, and Community Organizer.

Georgina Pazcoguin: “The Rogue Ballerina” is a soloist with New York City Ballet. Cofounder of diversity initiative “Final Bow For Yellowface” Georgina is breaking glass ceilings in the world of Ballet. Celebrating a 18 year career with world renown New York City Ballet, she aims to be named the company's first female Asian American Principal dancer. A steadily rising star, she is an ambassador of her art form across the platforms of Ballet, Broadway, and Film. Known as the "The Rogue Ballerina" she empowers those not fitting the "balletic ideal stereotype" with her story of success and rise through the ranks of NYCB. She most recently can be seen on stage at David H. Koch Theater and on TV in the hit Fosse/Verdon tv series. In addition to her many credits including award winning film “New York Export Opus Jazz”, Ivy in the revival of “On the Town” and originating the role of Victoria in the 2016 revival of “Cats”, Georgina is a passionate activist for foundation The Orphaned Starfish, using ballet as a universal language tool raising awareness and impacting social change.

https://georginapazcoguin.com

Sheila Lewandowski is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Chocolate Factory Theater. In addition to her work at The Chocolate Factory Sheila is a community organizer and advocate for artists, and works to increase awareness of the importance of the arts in policy making in everything from education to housing to economic development and in regards to labor on a local, regional, state and national level. She is on the Executive Committee of Community Board 2 in Queens and chairs the Transportation Committee. Sheila is a member of the Policy Leadership Council of Nonprofit New York and has been a guest professor at the Academy of Theater & Dance in Amsterdam and Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. She has been a guest speaker and panelist on topics ranging from Nonprofit Management to community organizing and development for Van Alen Institute, Dance NYC, LIC Partnership, WNYC among others.

https://chocolatefactorytheater.org

SHEILA LEWANDOWSKI is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Chocolate Factory Theater. In addition to her work at The Chocolate Factory Sheila is a community organizer and advocate for artists, and works to increase awareness of the importance of the arts in policy making in everything from education to housing to economic development and in regards to labor on a local, regional, state and national level. She is on the Executive Committee of Community Board 2 in Queens and chairs the Transportation Committee. Sheila is a member of the Policy Leadership Council of Nonprofit New York and has been a guest professor at the Academy of Theater & Dance in Amsterdam and Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. She has been a guest speaker and panelist on topics ranging from Nonprofit Management to community organizing and development for Van Alen Institute, Dance NYC, LIC Partnership, WNYC among others.

https://chocolatefactorytheater.org