
Elizabeth Costello
Writer
Elizabeth Costello is a writer and collaborator with musicians, dancers, and jokers of all stripes. She has taught creative writing to incarcerated youth and to graduate students, has lived in a crumbling apartment in Istanbul, on an anarchist farm in Spain, and in a 14th-century castle in Southeastern France. Currently, she lives in Portland, Oregon, but maintains many connections to the Bay Area, including working as an editor in marketing and communications for UC Berkeley. She has written about arts and culture for venues including SFWeekly and 7×7, and her poetry chapbook, RELIC, can be found at Bird and Beckett books in San Francisco. Her debut novel, The Good War, is forthcoming from Regal House. www.elizabethscostello.com www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethscostello

Katarina Eriksson
Choreographer / Dancer
Katarina’s traditional dance background includes graduation from The Ballet Academy, Gothenburg and working at The Gothenburg State Theater and Opera, as well as with numerous choreographers and dance companies in Sweden.
Some of her performance endeavors are; Artist in Residency at CounterPULSE, San Francisco, touring in Europe with improv project Hoppalappa, site-specific work with Siljeholm/ Christophersen in Beirut, clowning at Noh Space, SF, and Teatro C’Art, Italy, performances in Norway and New York with Siri og Snelle Produksjoner, and, most recently, choreographing “Pause Piece” for herself and 3 other 50+ dancers in SF, and Gothenburg, as well as touring in Sweden with Big Wind’s adaptation of The Tempest for children with special needs. She is a regular collaborator and performance coach with Echo Theater Suitcase, San Francisco, and Spinn Dance Company, Sweden.
Katarina’s teaching and directing supports collaboration, diversity of expression, and “beginner’s mind”. Her main guides in art making are vulnerability, musicality and deep play.
https://katerimpro.wixsite.com/website-1

Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş
Poet / Movement Artist

Tanja London
Performing, haptic, visual, sound artist/ Somatic Educator
Tanja London is a performing, haptic, visual and sound artist as well as a somatic educator based in West Oakland, CA. Topics such as the erosion of democracy, inherited stress and trauma, the cultural impact of military technology, climate change and resilience shape her theoretical and in studio research. With her electronic sound projects Tanja London alias qualia-c is dedicate to experimentation and to explore the somatic impact of vibrations, interconnection, as well as the edges of her emotions and thoughts. Besides a BA in Social Pedagogy and Contemporary Dance she majored in Math and Art in German High School, holds a MFA in Modern Dance including a Screendance Certificate, is a certified STOTT Pilates® Instructor and Medical QiGong Practitioner. https://tanjalondon.com/

Bhumi B Patel
Movement Artist/Writer
Bhumi B Patel directs pateldanceworks and is a queer, desi, home-seeker, and science fiction choreographer (she/they). In its purest form, her performance work is a love letter to her ancestors. Patel moves at the intersection of embodied research and generating new futures, using improvisational practice as a pursuit for liberation. She is a member of Dancing Around Race, founded by Gerald Casel, and has presented her choreographic work in the Bay Area, Manoa, Hawai’i, Los Angeles, California, and Columbus, Ohio. pateldanceworks.org

Kristen Rulifson
Movement Artist/Performer/Director
Kristen is inspired to make work that connects us with our humanity and interconnectedness with the environment. She has fostered this practice through the study of contemporary dance, contact improvisation, axis syllabus, break dance, amongst other families of movement. Her creative work has been received throughout the Bay Area and greater North West, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, and Germany. As a Director, she bring strategies for devising new work with multiple mediums and perspectives. She pulls from her studies in the Tamalpa Life Art Process to bridge intimate memoir to the public stage and the Yat Bentley approach to character development in finding dynamic, authentic relationships to self, other, and environment. These schools of theater and creative expression accompanied by her experiences in performance, teaching, and directing support the creation and development of current and responsive work. https://www.kristenrulifson.com/

Mindy Zarem
Movement Artist
Since Mindy’s move from Boston, 16 years ago, she has been juggling family life and dance. She has a background in movement, theater arts, massage therapy, and has taught and performed in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, San Diego, Boston, Berkeley, San Jose, and San Francisco. Her inspirations include Deborah Hay, Sara Shelton Mann, Anna Halprin, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Axis Syllabus, Body Mind Centering, contact improvisation, family & friends, her little dog Lena, and nature.

Esther Young
Singer/Songwriter
Esther Young writes and performs lyrically rich, ethereal indie-folk music to highlight the power of honest storytelling. As a community engagement organizer and event host, she facilitates artists and non-profit organizations who serve and represent the multicultural creatives and families of East and Downtown San Jose. As a freelance writer, she profiles artists for Content Magazine and covers weekly events for Metro San Jose. You can find her music videos and more at hyperfollow.com/estheryoung

Catalina O’Connor
Movement Artist
Photo credit: Robbie Sweeney

Deb’e Taylor
Interdisciplinary Artist
Deb’e teaches Contemporary Dance and Improvisation/Composition at Alonzo King LINES Ballet School. She teaches and creates Taiko/Dance pieces for Social Justice themed performances for Dance Mission’s Grrrl Brigade/Youth programs, and teaches adult Taiko classes for Dance Mission. She is available to teach public workshops as well. Deb’e is a certified Gyrokinesis teacher and a certified ASL/English interpreter. Website: www.dancerartisthuman.com

Maica Folch
Movement Artist

Ramlah Yavar
Movement Artist
Photo credit: Ramlah Yavar

Sophia Grimani
Movement Artist

Sarah Morrisette
Theater and Movement Artist

Pau D’Arco
Music Artist

Jayden Torrey
Multidisciplinary Artist
As a Transgender prior service member, Jayden’s work often delves into themes of mental health, veteran support, and LGBTQIA+, reflecting a deep engagement with the world around him. His ability to convey profound messages through visual storytelling has resonated with audiences, leading to exhibits at San Diego Pride, and work in film. Jayden’s most recent credits include Worthy of Survival, where he portrayed multiple characters, conducted voiceovers, produced sound effects, and assisted with the full feature film’s story board.
With his warm spirit and genuine kindness, Jayden continues to inspire those around him, championing creativity and connection in every endeavor he pursues. He believes that art, in all its forms, has the power to heal, unite, and transform lives.

Paula Riofrío
Translator/Multidisciplinary Artist