Brigitte Manga-Mercado was born and raised in NYC. She participated in competitive gymnastics for twelve years and finished her gymnastics career on level 9. Brigitte attended college at Radford University in Virginia, where she had the opportunity to dance with guest artist Kyle Abraham. At Radford, Brigitte had the privilege of performing at NASA Langley for its 100th year anniversary, and in 2018 she participated in an international competition in Seoul, South Korea, where she and her partner were finalists. Brigitte was a company member of Streb Extreme Action from 2019-2022, where she got to perform at the Fall Dance Festival at New York City Center, Montclair State University, University of Washington, Skidmore College, and Manhattan West Brookfield. Brigitte is currently teaching Dance at Success Academies Charter Schools and has done dance projects with SIE Dance Collective, Baira mvmntphlosphy, and Graceful Edge Dance.

Georgia native and alumnus of Temple University, Pilgreen got her start in competition dance at the age of 8 and sought classical training at the age of 13 upon attendance at Dekalb School of the Arts, a performing arts high school in Lithonia, Georgia. She has had the honor to dance and train with the late Robert Mason and can dedicate most of her training to Jennifer Davis, Artistic Director of City Gate Dance Theatre Company Inc. Pilgreen has created and performed in many works at Conwell Dance Theatre, Fringe Arts, Triskelion Arts, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Upon graduation she has worked as a freelance dance artist and plans on continuing her love for dance in the many years to come.

Kaylen is a passionate dancer, teacher, choreographer, and performer. She grew up dancing and traveling for competitions with Nicole’s School of Dance and Visual Adrenaline Show Choir in her hometown of Ankeny, IA. She earned her BA in Communication Studies, Certificate in Event Planning and Minor in Dance at the University of Iowa in 2020. Throughout her high school and undergraduate years she choreographed for numerous surrounding dance teams, show choirs and musical performances. For her work in the Music Man, she was awarded distinguished scene choreography by the IHSTA. In 2021, Luttenegger moved to New York City for opportunities to be further immersed in performance and dance culture. She made her NYC competitive performing debut with Graceful Edge Dance. Luttenegger currently choreographs and creates her own curriculum as a dance teacher in Harlem.

Shannon Shahinian is a dancer, choreographer, and pediatric social worker working in the Chicagoland area. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance as well as her Master of Social Work specializing in Children and Families. While training under Sandra Kaufmann, Sarah Fuller, and Amy Wilkinson at Loyola, Shannon performed in four Mainstage dance concerts including Dances of Death and Light, Voces Gratia, Artifacts of Self, and Ecstatic Earth. As the recipient of two Provost Fellowships, she traveled to Rome, Italy to learn from and perform with Mandala Dance Company and conduct research on human communities through the Pivot Arts Festival in Chicago. Shannon has a great passion for choreographing and presenting new works and has previously done so at Alluvion Dance Chicago’s Emergence, Trifecta Dance Collective’s choreographer showcase, and Simantikos Dance Chicago’s Chi Dance Fest. In her three seasons dancing with Echo Modern Dance Collective, Shannon had the opportunity to create and participate in multiple dance films including her work “Then, Now, & Later”. Currently, Shannon is a teaching artist at Rise Up Dance Academy, and a therapist in private practice. Shannon is a believer in the transformative powers of movement and loves sharing her passion with dancers and audiences from all over!

Tiana Thompson hails from Tokyo, Japan, graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a B.A. in Dance and English and a minor in African Studies and the African Diaspora. Tiana has performed works by notable choreographers Alysia L. Johnson, Connie Shiau, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Amy Wilkinson, and Sandra Kaufmann. Throughout her career in Chicago, she has performed with Alluvion Dance Chicago, and has presented works with Alluvion Dance Chicago and Simantikos Summer Chi Dance Fest with co-choreographer Shannon Shahinian.

Additionally, Tiana has collaborated with various filmmakers in the Chicago community to produce dance films. She has worked with students from Columbia College Chicago on the intersectional feminist film “Intertwined” as well as with students from Flashpoint Chicago on the film, “The Dance.” She has been featured in Iris Temple’s “Pretty Love” music video and most recently on Vasil Garvanliev’s music video for “Rhythm.” Tiana is currently in her fifth season as a company member with Identity Performing Arts, directed by Ginny Ching-Yin. An artist at heart with a focus on social justice, Tiana is excited to continue her journey as a performer and to foster collaborative relationships.

Daisy Morales grew up in Covina, CA in a Filipino-Mexican-American household & is now based in New York City, NY. Morales did their early dance training at Academy en l’Air Ballet School in Glendora, CA. They have also received dance education with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, the ABT: William J. Gillespie School, and The Ailey School. Morales has worked in mentor roles at the ABT: William J. Gillespie School, ABT: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the Paul Taylor Summer Intensive at USC Glorya Kaufman School, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, as well as coaching various private students. Repertoire includes performances with Alison Cook-Beatty Dance, Pacific Ballet Dance Theater, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The Ailey School, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Graceful Edge Dance. Morales is dedicated to the development of young dancers, research of severe hypermobility disorders and creating a positive environment for artists to explore their individual potential.