Founder and artistic director of Paracosm Dance, Alyssa is a multimedia dance and performance artist, instructor, and visual creator. She began her training with the Brockus Conservatory in LA where she was introduced to her movement foundations of Luigi Jazz and the Lester Horton Technique. Integrating mixed martial arts with parkour and tricking, she then furthered her training at Alonzo King LINES Ballet, BANDALOOP, and UC Berkeley. She danced as a soloist with Peninsula Ballet Theater under the artistic direction of David Fonnegra and performed in works by Copious Dance Theater’s Kat Roman, BrickaBrack Theater’s Gabriel Grilli, and Scott Wells & Dancers. She danced as a guest artist with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for Judith Jamison’s retirement tour and choreographed works under the direction of Joe Goode. For her excellence in dance scholarship and performance, she received the Julia Payne Dance scholarship from UCB. She is currently an aerialist with Blue Lapis Light - receiving critical acclaim for her 2023 performance as a principal soloist in "Belonging II Universe" - and longtime collaborator with Camera Clay.  __________ For the past 13 years, Alyssa has taught dance across the world – in and out of the studio – studying osteological development and understanding different movement modalities. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in Dance & Performance Studies and Forensic Anthropology, using her pedagogical, anatomical, neurological, and osteological studies to further the integration of physiology and dance technique. Taking her findings to a global stage, she is currently a cultural exchange ambassador to China via 我的风格艺术教育, based out of the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art.

Jeremy is a USA-based choreographer, performer, and educator whose work bridges movement, technology, and somatic awareness. His professional performance experience includes contemporary and modern dance, musical theater, ballet, opera, street dance, circus, ice skating, and acting. He has performed at some of the most iconic venues around the world; the Lincoln Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the 5th Ave Theater, the O2 in London, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, and the Victoria Theater in Singapore. Most recently he has toured nearly 100 cities in 8 countries with Disney on Ice, performing as a skater, acrobat, and live host for audiences of over two million people. Jeremy holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in choreography from the University of Iowa. His choreography—known for its original movement vocabulary, interactive digital projections, and original music—has been presented across the US on stage and in film. In 2021 he co-founded Skoptur, a London-based company exploring the fusion dance and music with emerging digital arts. In 2022 and 2023 he was a Residential Lenz Fellow at Naropa University, investigating the relationship between improvisational dance and emergent forms in Buddhism and complexity theory. Jeremy is also a certified practitioner in the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education®, which informs his artistic work and furthers his commitment to teaching the next generation of artists to work smarter, not harder, to unlock their creative potential.

Eric joined Paracosm's team of creatives over 7 years ago, working with Alyssa on film projects that have premiered at both national and international film festivals. He is Paracosm's head lighting designer, bringing the company's many "paracosms" to life in unconventional spaces.  Eric's company, Camera Clay, was founded in 2009 as a collaborative effort to share ideas and create films. By 2012, they had created a handful of award-winning short films and were inspired to venture out into the world of advertising. They began producing commercials, quickly learning the ropes of advertising from some of the best strategic thinkers in the industry. In a few short years, their client work went from local broadcast to the jumbotrons of Times Square, creating several nationally-awarded campaigns along the way. After 3 years of dedicated agency work, they decided to venture out on their own and return to their roots in Texas. Since 2016, they continue to create impactful, branded content with destinations and businesses alike. They've developed a process that supports their clients' goals by speaking directly to their audience, giving voice to their cause, and bringing about change.

Alicia is an artivist, dance educator, performer, and choreographer living and creating work in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a Black, White, Brazilian, American woman and mother, and it is the intersectionality of these identities that informs and drives her work. Alicia holds an MFA from Hollins University and a BFA from the University of Arizona. Since her international return from Brazil in January of 2017, she has worked as a dance professor at several Colleges and Universities, including Salve Regina University, Grand Canyon University, Community College of Aurora, Glendale Community College, and Scottsdale Community College. She has performed works of master choreographers such as Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, and Milton Myers, Gary Abbott, Nejla Yatkin, Ray Mercer, and Christopher Huggins with Philadanco’s D2 and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. Alicia performed in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with Mario Nascimento Dance Company, had a leading role in the Beatles musical ‘Because’, and presented solo works Solivagant and Arco-Iris as a member of Rede Sola de Dança. As a teacher and choreographer, she was the Assistant Choreographer and Rehearsal Director for Contemporary Dance Company Sala B, directed by Fernando de Castro. She taught at the world-renowned Grupo Corpo and at the dance and art conservatory Palácio das Artes, where she choreographed for the graduating class of 2015 with a piece entitled Wanderlust. Since moving to Phoenix she has performed and presented work with the Black Theatre Troupe, BlakTinx Dance Festival, Breaking Ground, and was the liaison for Dianne McIntyre’s residency at ASUs Gammage. She is currently involved in her own projects, directing a high school dance program, and teaching as a faculty associate at Arizona State University.

Ethan was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He began dancing in the School of Ballet Arizona where he received his classical ballet training, as well as taking part in programs at both State Street Ballet and The Kirov Academy of Ballet. Later he would be granted a spot in Ballet Arizona’s studio company where he would continue training and performing with the company. In 2016, he entered the main company where he would do featured roles in such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Napoli, Les Patineurs, The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements, George Balanchine’s Emeralds, and a number of Ib Anderson’s works including Round, Eroica, Romeo and Juliet, Indigo Rhapsody, Preludes and Fugues and The Fire Bird.

Kate, a company dancer with Ballet Arizona, began her ballet training at First City Dance Studio, and then at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota under the direction of Daniel and Julie Blake. She then moved to Maryland when she was 16 to continue training at the Maryland Youth Ballet. Before joining the Company, Katherine danced with the Ballet Arizona Studio Company.

Taj has been training and sharpening his abilities with physical health and wellness for over a decade, running community events and advocating for his community of movers. Originating as a personal trainer, flexologist and traditional athlete, he transitioned to elevate his personal interaction with movement through martial arts tricking, calisthenics and movement art. Taking part in various scenes performing for the NBA/WNBA, The Thorn Touring Production, and more, he continues to develop within entertainment joining with Paracosm Dance.

Nicole loves dance! During her 13 years with Blue Lapis Light she has served as associate artistic director, performer, choreographer, rigger, and instructor. Her classical ballet training began at age 2 and blossomed into a life-long love of dance. She has studied at esteemed studios including Houston Ballet Academy, High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Austin School of Classical Ballet, and Marsha Woody Academy of Dance. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Dance and has continued dancing in Austin with local companies, including Sharir+Bustamante Danceworks, Sheep Army/Elsewhere Dance Theater, Austin School of Classical Ballet, Cheryl Chaddick Dance Theater, and Little Stolen Moments. She has received numerous awards from the Austin Critics Table including Best Dancer in 2007 and 2013 and Best Duet in 2008. The Austin Chronicle awarded Little Stolen Moments Best Dance Company in 2010 and Best Creative Use of Three Small Trampolines in 2007. For New Year’s, First Night commissioned her performance, Fabric of the Hour, a silks piece performed inside Austin City Hall. She was nominated Best Choreographer for her aerial choreography with ZACH Theatre’s Metamorphoses by the B. Iden Payne Awards. Nicole manages Blue Lapis Light’s studio where she teaches the art of aerial dance. She has performed aerial silks since 2005, studying with aerialists at New England Center for the Circus Arts, Air Dance Bernasconi, Aircat Aerial Arts, House of Yes, Liza Rose, and FALL. Nicole is driven by collaboration and is eternally grateful for the unique beauty in all people!

A movement artist and educator, Rayshawn is a full-time teacher at Heritage Academy Gateway and dancer with Bodies Contemporary Co., AnthroArts Collective, and Methods of Madness Dance Theater. You can find him around the valley taking class or performing within the community, most recently at BlakTinx Dance Festival 2025. As he looks towards the future, he is determined to make a lasting impact on the lives of his students, encouraging them to embrace their creativity and express themselves freely through dance. His unwavering dedication to education and passion for movement continue to shape a brighter, more vibrant world for those he teaches.

Behnam is a composer, violinist, and producer. He started playing violin at the age of 6, making his solo debut with orchestra at the age of 13. He started writing and performing his own compositions at the age of 12. By 17 he had premiered his own violin concerto and had several symphonic works performed by the Austin Symphony. He went on to study violin performance at the Colburn School conservatory, and violin and music composition at the University of Houston. Behnam has composed for film, writing and mixing the music for “1 out of 30”, as well as the entire repertoire of Paracosm Dance's award-winning films, most recently "NOW SLEEP". As a musician in Austin, he has performed original solo works for violin and voice at Zach Theater, worked as a session musician for local artists, and teaches violin, composition, and music production privately. Behnam also holds degrees in computer science and physics, is a yoga instructor, and a competitive youth team climbing coach.

Dustyn has been the Head of Costume for Paracosm Dance since its inception in 2019. Her creativity and passion for design and sewing started early, teaching herself to sew in elementary school...by high school, she was making her own clothes. She took her passion to the next level with commissioned work featuring her unique design vocabulary, moving towards the fully fleshed creation of her own sustainable fashion line. Her first Paracosm creation was a trash suit for the company, photographed for the pandemic's online galleries at the Cathedral of Junk. She has since been the lead HMUA and costume designer for Paracosm's film and stage productions, including "Mindscape", "Strings", "Paracosm's A Christmas Carol", "NOW SLEEP", and 2024's "Particles of the -". Outside Paracosm, Dustyn has been the lead HMUA and costumer for past Royal Misfit Studios projects, with work most recently featured in "Misery" and "Calypso". Also with RMS, she has worked as both a production and camera assistant.

Talia is a founding member of Paracosm and a lover of dance, music, travel, writing, reading, and all forms of art. She likes to say that she was born dancing. From a very young age she was constantly looking for ways to move her body. At age 12, she fully committed to dance and started to get to know herself as a mover. She trained in many different styles beginning with hip hop and jazz, then moving into contemporary, ballet, and modern. She took classes at studios around Austin, TX, eventually joining Ignite Youth Dance Company, which she danced with up until she joined Paracosm Dance. She then trained primarily with Paracosm, while taking ballet at Head to Toe Dance and Ballet Austin. Talia has attended many immersive and rigorous dance intensives locally and across the country including the Paracosm Dance Intensive, MODAS Dance, UT, and UNCSA. She performed as a soloist in Shakti Moves Dance Company's "Through the Looking Glass", the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in the 2022 and 2023 Head to Toe Dance Nutcracker, and played a supporting role in Paracosm’s: A Christmas Carol (2022). Currently, Talia is training as a contemporary dance major at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and plans on pursuing a life and career of dance. She is so grateful for the way Paracosm has prepared her for the professional dance world, providing her with tools of collaboration, innovation, and perseverance, as well as a basis of incredible technique and a deep love for movement!

в цьому світі є так багато різних проблем, які вас оточують, але коли ви танцюєте, ви вільні -There are so many different problems that come at you in this world, but when you dance, you are free- Immigrating to the US from Ukraine in 2024 as an international ballroom competitor, Ruslan joins Paracosm Dance as a guest performer. A semi-finalist and finalist in competitions around the world, he was a participant of the Ukrainian Dance Sports Team and candidate for Master of Sports.