Reshma Anwar was born and raised in Leipzig, Germany, where she was commissioned to choreograph a solo, "Diversity," for the 50th anniversary of Leipziger Tanztheater. She graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and attended The Ailey School in New York City subsequently volunteering to teach dance in Jamaica, Haiti, and at the Lotushouse Miami. While living in NYC, Reshma worked with Nathan Trice on The Recognizing Women Project and Jacqueline Buglisi on the Table of Silence. In Miami, she danced with Peter London Global Dance, Brazzdance, Pioneer Winter Collective, Alma Dance Theater and NWD Projects. Reshma holds a Master of Public Administration at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Iman Clark was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. In 2020, she graduated from Ohio State University with a BFA in Dance and moved to Miami shortly after. Iman’s research focuses on the arts and culture of the African diaspora within the U.S, South America and the Caribbean. Her movement style is a contemporary fusion of Afro- Caribbean dance and improvisation. Over the past year, she has been working with Miami City Ballet as a teaching artist and program assistant within their Community Engagement Department. Iman strives to advocate for the arts and to bring creative accessibility to all communities.

"After graduating college and lacking motivation to create, Miami Dancemakers has shown me to humble, honor, and trust myself as an artist.”

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Destiny Diaz is a Dominican-American Dance Artist originally from the Bronx, New York. She relocated to South Florida at the age of 12 where she discovered Hip Hop, Belly Dance, and eventually attended the Academy of Arts & Minds in Miami to further her dance training. In 2022, Destiny graduated with a BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts College where she performed works by Robert Battle, Ohad Naharrin, and Mark Morris. Diaz was a Rehearsal Assistant for professional choreographers including Adele Myers and Sandra Portal and has performed with Herman Payne, Jennifer Archibald, and Peter London. She is currently a freelance Dance Artist in Miami and a member of the Gloria Eve Dance Company in New York City.

Junior Domingos is a Brazilian Artist, choreographer and dancer who began his studies with circus technique. He is trained in a variety of physical movements including Pilates, Yoga, Ballet, Modern Dance ,Jazz, Contemporary, Ballroom and Capoeira. Junior has danced for Cia, Claudia de Souza and Grupo Raça while traveling throughout Brazil. While he lived in São Paulo, he participated in the choreography of Béjart Ballet Lausanne's "Boléro" He also worked with Ismael Ivo in Vienna, Austria for the show "No Sacre" at ImpulsTanz and São Paulo. He currently resides here in Florida where he continues his dance studies.

“As 2022 Miami DanceMakers, we plant an artistic seed and follow its process as it unravels. We dive deep into artistic development and beyond.”

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Stephanie Franco is a Miami based choreographer, educator, and movement artist. She trained with Michelle Kickasola, John Culberston, Cookie Ramos, Michelle-Grant Murray, Erica Sobol, Tilman O'Donnell, and  Medhi Walerski. From 2017-2020, Stephanie lived in Los Angeles, deepening her craft through Erica Sobol's "Lobos Art Collective"(The Gypsy Project LA), and worked with and assisted world-renowned choreographer, Mia Michaels. Since returning to Miami in 2021, Stephanie has been fortunate to be part of the Miami Movement Collective, Dale Andre’s 2022 National Water Dance Project, Pioneer Winter's 2022 Grass Stains initiative, while also furthering her research with mentor Michelle-Grant Murray. She is currently a Contemporary Dance Technique Instructor at Dance Attack.  As a movement artist, Stephanie is deeply rooted in cultural recognition through her artistry which is influenced by her Cuban heritage. As a creator and educator, she is a compassionate catalyst for diving into spiritual connections through raw embodiment.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the 2022 Miami DanceMakers’ season. I must emphasize the importance of access, especially for queer Black artists in South Florida. There is a division of opportunity in Miami, and Miami DanceMakers is one of the few programs that helps make these big art institutions accessible for our community. These past 6 months have reinvigorated my artistic process and gave me the confidence to push the boundaries of what is possible in my practice as an artist.”

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Arielle Francois is a choreographer, dancer, and model with a wide and varied background in film and performance. Some of her favorite collaborations include: Carlotta Guerreo X Desiguals Love Different and award winning film Every Step is a Prayer by Miccosukee Tribe and NOWNESS. As a first-generation Haitian and Florida native, Arielle’s mission as an artist is to cultivate a culture that reinforces black bodies in art. Arielle has her BFA in Dance Performance from the New World School of the Arts and is a proud member of the 2022 Miami DanceMakers cohort.  

"Miami DanceMakers gave me the opportunity to step into the version of myself that is confident, passionate, and brave. I am forever grateful that I was able to participate in a program early in my career that restored faith in my creative process and to trust my decision making.”

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Jenni Ima is a first generation Cuban-American artist currently residing in Miami, FL. She is a dancer, choreographer, and a filmmaker. Jenni earned a BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts/UF where she performed new works by Darshan Singh Bhuller and a Bollywood dance by Geeta Dias. She has performed works showcased at the Pérez Art Museum including Luina by Enrique Villacreses and as part of the 2021 Miami DanceMakers in Natalia Marie Rocamonde work Kaleidoscopic Reverie. Ima’s commercial experience includes live performances on Latin award shows and television with  J.Balvin, Leslie Grace, and Olga Tañon under the direction of Susie Garcia. Jenni also creates dance films including La Balsa and You Can't Force the Art out of an Artist in collaboration with Ariel Silva.

Lauryn LaPread is an African American Miami based choreographer and dancer who considers her works to be an experience closer to storytelling than dancing. With a foundation in traditional West African dance, Lauryn carried this influence with her throughout her four years at New World School of the Arts college program. After graduating, she went on to teach this same rich West African technique to students in grades 1 through 5 at Pine Village Elementary. Lauryn is always looking for an opportunity to share stories that evoke emotional response from those who are sharing in the moment. 

Nayah Merisier is a Haitian-American Dance Artist from South Florida with a BFA from New World School of the Arts (NWSA). She continued her training with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre School, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and the Joffrey Ballet School. While attending NWSA, Nayah performed in Robert Battle’s “Channels”, Ron Brown’s “Dancing Spirit”, Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom” and Darshan Singh Bhuller’s “Junun”. Aside from her own choreographic experience, she is trained in classical ballet, modern, and jazz as well as West African, Afro-Caribbean, and commercial dance styles. Nayah strives to provide representation and inspiration for young artists of color and to shed light on the Haitian and Haitian-American experience through dance.

“Participating in Miami DanceMakers uncovered parts of my artistic practice that I longed for by offering time and space for my work to develop a deeper connection to the roots I planted here in Miami. The artistic tools and experiences we shared as the 2022 cohort are ones that I will carry with me forever.”

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Rooted in Miami, FL, Chachi Perez is a queer Cuban American artist who was born into a family where dancing in kitchens became a nightly after dinner event. Chachi attended Miami Dade College under the direction of Michelle Grant Murray. They then moved to Philadelphia, PA and attended The University of The Arts under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield where she received her B.F.A in Dance. She has had the opportunity to perform and collaborate in works by Bobbi Jean Smith, Marguerite Hemmings, Katie Swords-Thurman, Curt Haworth, and Emily Wexler along with artist such as Valeria Gonzalez of VALLETO,  Pioneer Winter Collective for Miami Art Week and the South Florida Jazz Festival, and most recently Humble Materials for the production of MEDEA. 

“Having the opportunity to be a Miami DanceMaker this season opened new opportunities for me to invest in my artistry and professionalism. The incredible artists that I met and collaborated with are connections I will have for a lifetime.”

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Born and raised in the vivacious city of Miami, FL, Jennifer Rivera is a movement artist who explores and honors her identity as a Cuban-American woman through her choreographic process and performance. Jennifer studied dance at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus under the direction of Michelle Grant-Murray and received an Associate in Arts degree in Dance (2019). She continued her studies in Philadelphia, PA, at University of the Arts under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance (2021). Jennifer will be partnered with the Moss Center (formerly South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center) for her choreographic process as a Miami DanceMaker 2022 cohort.

Miami-native, Dance Artist, Rafael Ruiz-del-Vizo graduated with a BFA from New World School of the Arts. Amassing over a decade of experience, working alongside many dance artists throughout South Florida, Rafael persists on refining his skill for movement research and developing choreography. Inspired to create moments showcasing the intricacies of the human experience, he also draws inspiration from Miami’s diverse cultures, lush geography, and potent spiritual energy. Rafael has realized his passion for curating cosmic connections and his purpose in presenting thought-provoking conversations that speak to a global audience aiming towards community progress and peace.