AADF2026: Becoming Asian American

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Brian Bennett is from Lanham, MD. He began his dance training in the Competition circuit where he performed tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and broadway routines at talent competitions across the United States, winning multiple awards. He began his ballet training in High School at Baltimore School for the Arts under the direction of Norma Pera. During this time he attended summer programs on full scholarship with San Francisco Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, and George Mason University. After High School, Mr. Bennett attended Butler University in pursuit of a Bachelors of Science degree in Arts Administration under the direction of Larry Attaway. After his time at Butler he was awarded a scholarship to attend Joffrey Academy of Dance as a Trainee under the Artistic Direction of Raymond Rodriguez and Ashley Wheater before becoming a company artist with Oregon Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Kevin Irving, for their 2019/2020 season. He danced with OBT for 2 years before returning to Chicago to dance as a company artist with The Joffrey Ballet for two seasons. Brian has had the privilege to dance works from renowned choreographers such as William Forsythe, August Bournonville, Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, Liam Scarlett, John Neumier, Christopher Wheeldon, Nacho Duato, Twyla Tharp, Martha graham, Paul Taylor along with many other teachers and choreographers from all over the world.

Vrisika Chauhan is a South Asian dancer, choreographer, artist, and dance scholar in making, based in San Diego. She was born and raised in the Bay Area, CA, where she trained in Odissi, Indian classical dance, from the age of 11. As an undergraduate at UC San Diego, she choreographed for the Theatre and Dance Department showcases growing her love for dance making and training in multiple different dance disciplines. She has gotten to work with artists and companies such as CONTRA-TIEMPO Activist Dance Theater, Ana Maria Alvarez, Kara Mack, and Dr. grace shinhae jun. 

Celine Sauquillo Davis is a dance artist, journalist and designer whose work is largely informed by lifelong movement research. An alumna of USC Kaufman’s inaugural class, she has performed works by Cerrudo, Forsythe, grimes, Kylián, and more. Currently, you can find her dancing with Bodies in Play, leading weekly dance practice (open ballet classes) at Pieter Performance Space, and in digital and print at TEND, on Substack, and in LA Dance Chronicle.

hannah 하연 joo (she/they) is an artist, program builder, and educator based in Tovaangar (traditional Tongva/Gabrielino lands aka Los Angeles). Hannah has performed throughout Southern California, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York with Courtyard Dancers, Agora Dance, Donna Sternberg & Dancers, BrockusRED, Mia Moraru, and Alice Lousen & Co, and they are currently a member of the 고은춤 무용단 Goeun Traditional Korean Dance Company. Hannah's movement practice explores the transmutation of grieving, mourning, and funeral rituals in the Korean diaspora as a source for resistance, mobilization, and collective liberation.

Chloe Madding has been dancing since the age of three, with a focus in tap, ballet, and hip hop dance. Growing up in the Houston dance community, she trained all over Texas, including the Houston MET, the PAC, and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Chloe earned her BFA in Dance at California Institute of the Arts, and works as a freelance movement artist in Los Angeles and Professional Assistant at Adrenaline Dance Convention.

Chloe Rosero is a San Diego–based dancer and choreographer whose training began with San Diego Civic Dance Arts’ Performing Company, with roots in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, and musical theater. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she found her creative voice through contemporary and modern dance, performing and choreographing with Orchesis Dance Company, choreographing for Festival Mozaic, and performing Kathleen Ford’s gala-selected “Discover Ladyland” at ACDA. Since graduating, Chloe has enjoyed trying on new movement languages and stages, from Fundamental’s Afro-based team for BODYROK to High Heellers’ “Berghain” at World of Dance LA and Odessa Uno and Liza Haldo’s DROPOUT. She’s excited to keep following her curiosity and see what fits next.

kira shiina (they/she) is a Brooklyn-based dancer, sound designer, and educator with curiosities rooted in performance and experimental electronic sound. They received their BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts and have performed works by Andrea Miller, Beth Gill, Bobbi Jene Smith, Kimie Parker, Mark Caserta, slowdanger, and Tommie-Waheed Evans among others. kira shiina has presented work at Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media and Arts Bank. As an educator, she has taught at Bennington College, Drexel University, Muhlenberg College, Point Park University, and UArts. Currently, she performs with Hivewild, MICHIYAYA Dance, and Sidra Bell Dance New York.

Jeremy Zapanta began training at Burbank School of the Ballet under Elizabeth Sutton. He graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of California, Irvine as a William J. Gillespie and Glorya Kaufman Scholar where he studied under distinguished faculty including David Allan, Donald Mckayle, and Jodie Gates. Zapanta has danced as a Soloist with California Ballet under the direction of Jared Nelson, as well as San Diego Dance Theater and Malashock Dance. Zapanta is also a founding member of the Traverse City Dance Project and is a current member of The Rosin Box Project directed by Carly Topazio.