Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1974, Cassi Abranches began her formal dance training at Escola Municipal de Bailados at the age of eight. As a distinguished performer, she danced with prominent companies including Raça Cia de Dança, Balé do Teatro Castro Alves, and Balé do Teatro Guaíra before joining Grupo Corpo in 2001, where she remained a principal dancer until 2013.

Cassi’s visionary choreography has shaped the repertoires of Brazil’s most prestigious companies, notably São Paulo Companhia de Dança and Balé da Cidade de São Paulo, where she served as Artistic Director from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, she returned to Grupo Corpo as Resident Choreographer, continuing her profound influence on Brazil’s contemporary dance landscape.

Her work resonates internationally, having created pieces for renowned companies such as Birmingham Royal Ballet and Ballet Nacional Chileno, alongside creative contributions to film, commercials, and music videos. Notably, Cassi was the Director of Movement and Choreographer for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, exemplifying her ability to blend artistic innovation with grand-scale productions.

Marianela Boán is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and a leading figure in the Cuban and Latin American dance avant-garde. Known for her innovative “Contaminated Dance” style, she blends multiple art forms to create bold, expressive performances. Over her career, she has created more than 50 works for dance, theater, film, and television, and has founded and directed influential companies in Cuba, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Portugal.

Her work has been presented at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Madrid en Danza, Chaillot Theatre, The Place London, and Edinburgh Fringe. An esteemed educator with advanced degrees from Temple University and the University of Havana, Boán has shaped generations of dancers across the Americas and Europe, earning numerous awards for her contributions to the arts.

Now based in Santo Domingo, Boán leads Marianela Boán Danza and continues to innovate with projects like Reactor Antígona on international tour. She has also expanded her creative reach through digital choreoVideos and virtual teaching, solidifying her role as a dynamic force in contemporary dance.

Stephanie Martinez, a visionary choreographer based in Chicago, captivates audiences through compelling works that pulse with dynamic energy and innovative movement. With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, her award-winning choreography has been commissioned by leading companies such as Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, BalletX, Bruce Wood Dance, Kansas City Ballet, South Chicago Dance Theatre, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, and Milwaukee Ballet. Her artistry extends beyond dance companies, with notable collaborations at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and American Repertory Theatre.

Renowned for her bold and contemporary approach, Martinez continually redefines the boundaries of ballet, having crafted more than 70 works for professional and collegiate ensembles across the country. Celebrated as a transformative female artist of color, she has garnered prestigious grants and critical acclaim, including recognition by the Chicago Tribune as a “chameleon” of choreography for her versatile and adaptive creative vision.

In 2020, Martinez founded PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, where she serves as artistic director, further advancing her commitment to pioneering dance narratives and expanding artistic horizons.