THE PERFORMERS
ANA BROTONSBorn and raised in Miami, FL, Ana Brotons began her artistic pursuits at the age of 3. This passion led her to study dance in Magnet Middle and High schools and the journey took her to Philadelphia to receive her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts. Post studies, she performed two National Tours of S2BN’s Production Super WHY Live, and then officially moved to Los Angeles to find a permanent home at Diavolo. Joining back in 2013, she spent her first 4 years as a performer, touring and teaching residencies across the US and abroad. After a few injuries, she stepped into roles offstage as Diavolo’s Tour/Production Manager, as well as being the Rehearsal Director for the Veteran’s Project for the first 5 iterations of the program. She is honored to be making a return to Diavolo and the stage as a performer and to share her truest love with you all.
REBEKAH BUBNARRebekah is a circus artist from Las Vegas, NV with a background in artistic gymnastic and floor acrobatics. She was born and raised in Granville, Ohio. She started gymnastics when she was 7 years old and competed through college at the University of New Hampshire. After graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Sustainable Environmental Planning and Design she began pursuing her artistic dreams. Her primary circus disciplines include teeterboard, powertrack, trampwall, and partner acrobatics. She has been loving getting to work with architecture and cast at Diavolo and is excited to have her dancing debut with the Trajectories team.
KATE DOUGHERTYKate was born and raised in Pennsylvania and got her BA in Dance from Muhlenberg College. After graduating, she moved to New York to work as a dancer with CoreDance Contemporary and as a performer and rehearsal director with Emotions Physical Theatre. In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles to begin a career with DiavolI. Kate began working with the company as a performer and educator in Volo, Diavolo’s Education Company. While in Volo, she became involved as a performer in the second iteration of Diavolo’s The Veterans Project, eventually dancing alongside our Nation’s veterans onstage at The Kennedy Center. Kate became a touring company member in 2018 during the creation of Voyage. She was an instructor and creator for The Veterans Project in Tampa, FL and was recently Associate Rehearsal Director for Diavolo’s short dance film This Is Me. She is currently Diavolo’s Education Program Director and Project Director and hopes to spread her enthusiasm for dance education and her love of Diavolo’s work to new audiences everywhere.
AARON FRANCO
Aaron is a Dancer, Choreographer, Instructor, and Artistry in Motion Dance & Fit Competition Dance Co-Director. He began his dance journey when he arrived in America at the age 15. Before long became a competitive dancer training in all genres of dance. After graduating at Artistry In Motion Dance & Fit he then pursued/auditioned a professional dance career. He has performed/trained with I Am Force, Royal Flux, Imma Breathe, Academy of Villains (contemporary), Nickerson Rossi Dance Company and has been a part of Choreographer Zoi Tatopoulos concept video “We Will Find IT.” He has danced in professional music videos with Artists such as FINNEAS “Shelter,” Sam Fischer “This City” and “People I Don’t Know” under the choreography of Monika Felice Smith. Aaron remains training/pursuing his Dance Career and is thrilled to debut with Diavolo: Architecture In Motion.
EMILY GRABLE
Emily was born and raised in Cranford, New Jersey. She began her dance training at the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble where she had the opportunity to perform works by Sidra Bell, Loni Landon, Andrea Miller, Adam Barruch, and Cherice Barton. In 2017 she graduated from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance with her BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Arts Management. Emily had the pleasure of performing works by Manuel Vignoulle, Martha Graham, Sara Mettin, and Alexandra Damiani during her time at Purchase. Since graduating, she has continued working with choreographers such as Charissa Barton, Shannon Gillen, Johannes Wieland and many others. In January 2020, Emily made the move cross country to Los Angeles to perform with DIAVOLO’s Institute company, VOLO. She is extremely excited and honored to be making her debut with the main company this year.
SIMON GREENBERG
Simon was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and migrated south to earn his B.F.A. in Dance from California Institute of the Arts. His movement background consists heavily of martial arts and team sports, as well a variety of styles of dance and acrobatics under the tutelage of Katie Maltsberger. Simon also has a passion for music and technology, which he is fortunate enough to be able to incorporate into his role in this company. He has been involved in several Diavolo Veterans Projects and has been inspired by the hard work that every single veteran, civilian, and member of the Diavolo team consistently invests. This is Simon's fifth year with the company, and he is extremely grateful and excited to continue working with Jacques and the DIAVOLO family.
BRANDON GRIMM
Brandon was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and joined the company in 2011. He was a full-time company member until 2014. He now resides in Las Vegas, NV working as an acrobat and costume designer. Although he is not with the company full-time any longer, his long-time love for Diavolo and the work they do keeps him coming back as a guest artist time and time again.
STEVEN JASSO
Steven began taking dance classes at Allan Hancock College after failing to be accepted into any University as a music major. He dropped out of school to pursue dance and avoid debt when an opportunity to perform with State Street Ballet arose; an opportunity that led to eight years of performing around the country. With a constant craving for the new, he attended Pacific Conservatory Theatre to study acting. After completing his acting training Steven left performing and took up work as a carpenter looking to connect with people far outside of the bubble of the performing arts world. Still with a desire to perform, he found his way to Diavolo where for the past five years he has had the privilege of performing nationally, internationally, and on "America's Got Talent." Through their Institute and outreach programs he has been using dance and movement to teach kids about trust, leadership, and teamwork. Steven is an active participant in Diavolo’s The Veterans Project which uses movement and the artistic process as therapy for military veterans.
LIANA KULCHIN
Liana, originally from Southern California, started her training as a competitive gymnast and then began dancing at the age of ten. Her background in gymnastics has been a driving force behind her love of acrobatic and athletic styles of dance. Throughout high school she competed both locally and nationally with two dance teams. Liana is currently completing a BA in Dance and a BA in Sociology at the University of California, Irvine. During her time at UC Irvine, she has had the opportunity to study under faculty such as Charlotte Griffin, Chad Michael Hall, Tong Wang, Kate Skarpetowska, Dante Puleio, and Molly Lynch to name a few. This will be the first time Liana is performing with Diavolo. She will be graduating from college this spring and is excited to begin her journey as a professional dancer.
ALEXANDRA LOCKHART
Alexandra, originally from Colorado, earned her BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, during which she also spent a semester training at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, Australia. At both institutions, she trained heavily in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Composition, and Improvisation. Alexandra has attended and performed at festivals in Germany, Canada, Israel, Austria, and Taiwan. She has performed works of Loni Landon, Johannes Wieland, Gregory Dolbashian, Shannon Gillen, Lar Lubovitch, Gabrielle Lamb, Yin Yue, Billy Bell and Aszure Barton. She has also worked in collaboration with choreographer Ellis Wood, and designers such as Rochambeau and FormShow for New York Fashion Week. Alexandra has presented work at Green Box Arts, NewSteps Chen Dance Center, The West End Theater, Hudson River Museum, and Gibney Dance. Performing Trajectoire will be Alexandra’s debut with Diavolo.
DERION LOMAN
Derion is a Multimedia Artist/Dancer based in Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. and B.F.A. In Psychology and Dance, respectively, from the University of California Santa Barbara. He began his career in Ballet Hispanico’s Second Company, where he performed at a variety of different events. Most notably the 2013 Presidential Inauguration. He then went on to tour internationally and domestically with Pilobolus Dance Theatre from 2013-2017. Derion joined the cast of Diavolo Architecture in motion in 2017 for "America’s Got Talent," and then toured with the company full time. He was also a Divisional Finalist on NBC’s "World of Dance" Season 3. Currently he works as a freelance choreographer with an array of organizations including Google, Portland Opera, and The Los Angeles Dance Film Festival. He most recently set works on Dallas Black Dance Theatre II and UC Santa Barbara Senior Dance Company.
ABE MEISEL
Abe fell in love with dance playing Dance Dance Revolution in a friend's basement. After years of party tricks at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, he began formal training at the Lawrenceville school and later at both Rutgers University in New Jersey and Hebrew University in Israel. Abe has been a member of Diavolo: Architecture in Motion since 2017, beginning in the education company, VOLO and becoming a full company member in 2018. He has been a member of each iteration of The Veterans Project since the 2nd and it is a project he is delighted to share. Abe enjoys rock climbing, full contact origami and his third favorite color is purple.
CHANTELLE MROWKA
Chantelle is a native of suburban Chicago, born and raised in the small town of McHenry, Illinois. She began her training at the age of 3 primarily focused on power tumbling and gymnastics and later, at the age of 10, transitioned to classical ballet and other dance styles. In high school Chantelle began her first professional endeavor with a contemporary fusion dance company, Chicago Dance Crash, where she expanded her movement background focusing on contemporary, modern, jazz and breakdance. She was a member of the company for six years total and later worked in Chicago with an aerial dance company called C5 Create With No Limits. In 2017 Mrowka ventured out to LA to begin her journey with Diavolo. The journey began with the privilege of getting to perform with the company on season 12 of America’s Got Talent, followed by two seasons of national and international touring with the company. In 2019 Chantelle took a contract overseas with Cirque Du Soleil where she performed as a bungee dance artist and acrobat. Mrowka will soon take part in the creation of a new show that will premiere in Las Vegas late 2022. But no matter where life takes her, returning to Diavolo always feels like home. It is truly something special and it’s always such a blessing to take the stage with Diavolo. The love for the people and the work is immense.
JUAN “Co-eL” RODRIGUEZ
Co-eL has his BFA in Dance from Arizona State University, and is an artist, educator, performer and researcher. Co-eL began his artistic venture at the age of 12 in hip hop dance, his primary form of study being Breaking or B-Boying. Through a variety of programs and training, he began to study other forms including postmodern dance, house, locking and contact improvisation as well as training in both lighting design and Technical Theater. Since then he's had the pleasure of working with artists including Raja Feather Kelly, Jumatatu M. Poe and Passionfruit dance company, just to name a few. Currently, Co-eL’s work entails the academic and embodied research of both history and aesthetics of hip hop based dance forms, primarily breaking, as well as researching his own integrative contemporary dance practice. This is Co-eL's first time performing with Diavolo and he is excited to make his debut with the company.
ANDRII STRELKIVSKYI
Andrii was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. He started his training at the age of 5 as a Folk Dancer, performing and learning traditional and culturally important dances from different nationalities like Ukraine, Greece, the Republic of Georgia, and many others. At the age of 15, he went to Kyiv Municipal Academy of Circus and Variety Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine, shifting his dance perspective from folk to commercial/modern direction, allowing him to explore not only a variety of dance styles but also learning some circus skills like juggling, Acrobatics, Mime Art as well as musicality, solfeggio, and Acting classes, to shape him as a more versatile performer. During his final year in the academy, he received an offer from Kyiv Modern Ballet, which opened his eyes to the art of storytelling through dance. Joining the fleet of AIDA Cruises as a Dancer taught him a lot about different cultures, languages, training, and values we all are cherishing. Throughout the years he performed in multiple projects like "X-Factor" (Ukraine), Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland (Ukraine), performed with Foresight Dance Theater (Kyiv, Ukraine), and many others. He lived and trained for 2 years in New York City, performing on stage with Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, Yu.S.Artistry and other freelance projects. He moved to Los Angeles to continue building his dance career and this is his first performance with Diavolo.
MATT WAGNER
Matt’s experience with varying disciplines is sewn together to create a unique performance quality. His athletic journey started as a competitive Artistic Gymnast, and grew to include Trampoline & Tumbling, Tramp Wall, Parkour, Freerunning, Acrobatic, Modern, and Ballet Dance. As an educator, Matt has extensive experience teaching gymnastics and acrobatics to all levels and ages. He also has experience teaching dance in master classes and workshops as well as setting movement pieces on students across the country. Matt originally joined the Diavolo Institute in which he performed and taught for one year prior to joining the touring company in 2016. Since then he has been touring with Diavolo both nationally and internationally, as well as currently holding the role of Associate Rehearsal Director for Diavolo’s return to the stage.
FREDDIE BASNIGHT
Freddie is a military veteran of the Iraq War and served in the U.S. Army for over 10 years. He originates from Fort Wayne, Indiana where he grew up most of his life. His professional acting career started in 2016, with early experiences as a teenager growing up in Indiana, doing theatre plays, drama classes in middle school and high school, and has earned his MFA degree for Acting at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. In his free time, he watches movies, travels, bowls, works out; does Boxing and Muay Thai training as well as creating his own films and TV Shows. He also directs, produces, and writes; has multiple award winning projects on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and several hundred film festival markets throughout the United States and world.
VERONICA BURGESS
Veronica is a US Navy veteran who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 & 2. She was stationed onboard the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship for the entire time of her enlistment. As a boatswains mate, she participated in a great deal of shipboard operations including driving the ship itself! While in service she earned her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) pin, Battle E ribbon, and humanitarian service medal. After being honorably discharged, Veronica returned to her roots in Southern California to attend California State University Fullerton. She graduated, with honors, with her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. Growing up, Veronica had trained in ballet and jazz, but it had been several years since she had performed. It was during her time at CSUF that reignited that passion and began working as an actor and model. Some recent credits include: "Lucifer" (Netflix), "Shameless" (Showtime), and "Death in Texas" (Hulu). She currently lives in LA with her husband Ronnie and son Leonardo, her biggest supporters and inspirations. She is thrilled to be performing with Diavolo and working with Jacques and her fellow veterans in creating something so powerful, unique, and cathartic as this show.
VALENTINA CAHILL
Valentina was born and raised in LA, and joined the US Army right after high school. Served 9 years active duty as Explosive Ordnance Disposal, went on multiple missions as a gunner. After her service she obtained her BA in Mortuary Science and is currently working on her second degree in Business Management. She hopes that in the next few months she can open her own Photography Studio. After battling with PTSD for so many years as aftermath of her combat experience for the first time she feels she has finally started her road to healing. Diavolo’s Veterans Project “S.O.S.” has not only helped her mental health but given her a very special opportunity to bond with her son while sharing the stage. It opened up the door to conversations she otherwise would have never known how to share with Micah. After seeing her struggle to find her inner peace he’s finally seen her genuinely smile and look at life with hope for the first time in his life. She hopes that with your support this company can continue to change the lives of other Veterans like it has for her.
CHRISTOPHER LOVERRO
Christopher is a former Police (SWAT) Officer and Army Iraq War veteran turned thespian and veteran's advocate. He is the founder and artistic director of Warriors For Peace Theatre - a collaboration of veterans and civilians who use Shakespeare and the theatre to help veterans heal, empower women, support disenfranchised groups, and promote peace through the arts. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Peace and Conflict Studies department, he is a classically trained actor, a graduate of The Second City Acting Conservatory, and has performs with Diavolo’s Veteran’s Project. He is most proud of his roles as Brutus in Julius Caesar, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, And Orlando in As You Like It. To learn more about his mission to help veterans heal and build bridges through art, or to participate, visit: www.WFPtheatre.com.
DAEMION MARCUZ
Daemion is a dance educator with a background in modern dance. He began his performing arts career at 23, first attending Salt Lake Community College and then transferring to Utah Valley University to pursue two degrees; a BS in Dance Education and a BFA in Modern Dance. Prior to dance, Dae served in the United States Marines Corps as an engineer equipment operator, stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan. He completed one tour in Afghanistan during the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign with 9th Engineer Support Battalion. During his time at UVU, Dae performed with Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Synergy Dance Company and UVU Choreography Club. Dae has worked with Repertory Dance Theater, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, LajaMartin Physical Dance Theater, and WOFA Afro Fusion. Dae was introduced to Diavolo through his mentor, Monica Campbell, who is alumni of the company, and he is honored to be a part of the Veterans Project.
EJAY MENCHAVEZ
Ejay served 6 years in the US Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. He spent over 2 years in Afghanistan as an Infantryman in a Scout Sniper Platoon. After his enlistment, he earned his bachelor's and master's in business entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California. Now he works alongside his mentor, Philip Folsom, in a leadership and culture development company called Wolf Tribe. Ejay suffers from combat-related PTSD but his service-dog, Roxi Heart, accompanies him on all of his adventures and makes sure he's not alone anymore.
TESS RUTHERFORD
Prior to graduating high school, Tess came up with the brilliant idea of joining the roughest and toughest branch of them all - The Marines. Somehow, she assumed it was a pseudo fitness program. She received a rude awakening during bootcamp. Tess learned so much from the Marine Corps from sisterhood, togetherness, teamwork and team camaraderie. She worked as a High Frequency Communicator where she trained officer candidates in Quantico VA. She has been fortunate to accomplish so many things since separating from the military such as self-publishing a book, launching and running an independent magazine, earning a Computer Science degree, and obtaining a Masters degree in Ministry. However, serving her country 4 years has proven to be one of her greatest achievement. It was challenging to the umph degree but she wouldn't have it any other way. She still maintains the discipline and work ethic instilled in her during the Corps and thoroughly thanks the military for shaping her into the woman she is today. Tess hasn't been active in dance since high school where she (aka Tiny 'T') was part of a dance group performing at talent shows. She is grateful to join the Diavolo team and looks forward to stretching her capacity to learn, grow and develop.
ANTHONY SIMPSON
Anthony was born in Chicago, IL. He joined the United States Marine Corps shortly after High School. During his time in the USMC, he served in Operation Desert Strike, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Diavolo has changed my life. I have become a better person for attending the workshop. I am no longer afraid to face my demons. Diavolo is something every veteran should experience. Theatre has a special place in my heart. We are fighting an unseen enemy, and theater is the way to flush him out.”
CARIBAY FRANKE
Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised right here in Los Angeles, Caribay has always had a passion for the performing arts. Her interest in the stage began as a child, dancing at the Pasadena Civic Ballet Center. She then studied acting at the British American Drama Academy and ultimately received her BA from the University of Southern California with degrees in Theatre and Film. Her career led her to choreograph for music videos, films, and operas—with a particular emphasis on movement-based theatre. Eventually her path led her to Diavolo, and she joined the Institute in January 2020. Caribay is thrilled to rejoin her Diavolo family for this momentous evening of live performance.
MICAH LAGUNAS
Micah is an actor, vintage enthusiast, ice cream connoisseur, and lover of art. He enjoys going to the movies, dancing, traveling and cooking. S.O.S. is his first Diavolo Veterans Project. This workshop has been life changing for him as well as one of the most exciting experiences of his life. Being part of this has helped him understand his mom’s issues with PTSD after serving in the US Army while bonding with such a supporting community. Working with Diavolo has been therapeutic, thrilling, helped him express himself in other ways when sometimes words were not enough. He’s thankful for the lessons learned and the new friends he’s made.
GABBY PARISEAU
Gabby was born and raised in Moss Beach, California. Her dance training started at the age of three with the Shely Pack Dancers. Her teachers were Shely Pack Manning and Grace Holmquist, to whom she appreciates all they had done for her in her early years. After graduating high school, she went to the University of California, Irvine where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and a Minor in Public Health. At University, she had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. S. Ama Wray, and would like to state how grateful she is to have worked with her. Following graduation, she danced for the Allayo Dance Company located in San Francisco, California where she performed with them at the Herbst theater in November of 2019. Gabrielle became a member of the Diavolo Institute in January of 2020 and has been with the second company ever since.
DIAVOLO
CREATIVE TEAM
JACQUES HEIM
Artistic Director
Jacques ([email protected]) was born and raised in Paris, where his earliest artistic experience came from street performing. He attended Middlebury College (B.F.A. in Theater, Dance, and Film), the University of Surrey in England (Certificate for Analysis and Criticism of Dance), and the California Institute for the Arts (M.F.A. in Choreography). Not strictly a dancer or acrobat, Heim calls himself an “architect of motion.” He is rather like a drill sergeant or a football coach who loves pushing dancers beyond their own physical and emotional limits to make them feel that they can conquer anything, to make them realize that they are heroes.
Heim is named after his grandfather, the late and revolutionary fashion designer who, in 1946, launched the first ever two piece bathing suit called Atome, later renamed The Bikini, and also invented le pret a porter, or Ready to Wear. Just as his grandfather broke ground in the fashion industry, Heim challenges and break the mold of conventional wisdom surrounding dance, developing the unique and incomparable aesthetic of Architecture in Motion®.
In addition to founding DIAVOLO and serving as its Artistic Director, Heim has worked extensively in dance, theater, television and special events throughout the world. In 2017, he created five new performances based on DIAVOLO creations for NBC’s America’s Got Talent, which resulted in the Company becoming one of the top ten contestants in AGT’s finale at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater. Heim recently directed DIAVOLO’s special appearance on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde’s New Year’s Eve 2017, one of the most watched TV shows in France. DIAVOLO also appeared on Helene Fischer’s 2017 Christmas Spectacular, where the German superstar sang while rigged atop one of the Company’s massive structures.
In 2004, Heim choreographed KÀ for Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, a destination show featuring apparatus inspired by DIAVOLO structures. In 2010, he was invited to be a Creative Director for the Opening Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games, in Guangzhou, China. Mr. Heim also worked with Guy Caron and Michael Curry as a consulting choreographer on Ice Age Live!, a “mammoth” arena show which made its world premiere at London’s Wembley Stadium in November 2012 and is now touring throughout Europe.
JOSE HERNANDEZ
General Manager
Since 2015, Jose has served many roles at DIAVOLO from Development Manager to now General Manager. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from California State University, Long Beach. Over the last seven years, Jose has focused his career in supporting local arts organizations in areas of major gifts, event management, strategic planning and operations. At DIAVOLO, Jose spearheads the company's foundation and grant portfolio and is the point person to all finance and operational activities. During his spare time, Jose actively volunteers for local arts and social service organizations. He’s served on several grant panels through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and has received a commendation of appreciation for his service by former Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. Jose served as an active member of the Host Committee for the 2018 Dance/USA national conference providing much needed support to the Fundraising and Budgeting Sub-Committee.
MAJELLA LOUGHRAN
Associate Choreography & Rehearsal Director
Majella was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland, and moved to New York at age ten. She received her BFA from SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory. In 2015 Majella joined DIAVOLO as a performer, touring internationally to Korea, Columbia, Spain, Germany and France. She also performed all over the US and appeared as a finalist on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent. In 2019 she spent her last season touring with the company as the soloist for VOYAGE. In 2020 Majella became the Rehearsal Director, starting with the short film This Is Me: Letters From the Front Lines. This short was the winner of the Los Angeles Film Awards (2020). This will be Majella's first project not performing on stage with the company. She is excited to be sitting on the other side of the work, immensely proud of what the dancers have put in and of the crazy journey it took to get these pieces on the stage. Coming up, Majella is excited to be working with Artistic Director Sophia Stroller and choreographer Cody Potter of IRIS company, performing in their new immersive show that will premiere in LA this summer.
MIKE MCCLUSKEY
Structure Associate Designer, Fabrication & Engineering
Mike started restoring Shelby Cobras in 1969 while attending UCLA for mechanical engineering and never stopped. Best known for its diversity of fabricating services (design, construction, welding, mechanics, finish & paint), McCluskey Ltd. blends the art of handcrafting with modern aerospace technology. Internationally known for restoration/repair of vintage Cobras, exotic concept and racecars, plus historical aircraft & jets, McCluskey also builds props and sets for stage, movies and TV. Mike’s team of highly skilled craftsmen are based in Torrance, CA, serving architectural, automotive, industrial and entertainment clients including Getty, Disney, Shelby, Northrop, Honda, and DIAVOLO.
TINA TREFETHEN
Structure Associate Designer, Fabrication & Engineering:
Tina’s mixed interests in art, extreme sports, design and industry all combine uniquely for DIAVOLO. Tina has been a world hang-gliding champion, actor in TV and commercials, pro-skateboarder, aircraft manufacturer, and partner in her brother’s music business. She has evolved into a designer, sculptor, engineer and fabricator of aluminum, steel and composites for a great variety of architectural, aviation, automotive, and graphics projects. Clients include Lotus, Getty, Boeing, Disney, BMW, Honda, plus fifteen major works for DIAVOLO, as lead fabricator, structural designer and project manager.
JEAN-YVES TESSIER
Lighting Design
Jean-Yves is a primate with a single opposable thumb. He hails from the cold reaches of Canada and once had a sexy French accent. He has since lost it. If found please take good care of it. Projects Here: This is Me: Letters from the Front Line, a Diavolo dance film capturing the courage and determination of military veterans and first responders; There: Night of Lights at the OC Fairgrounds and Everywhere: Jurassic World Exhibitions in Paris, Madrid and Chengdu.
ARIANNE VILLAREAL
Project Coordinator & Stage Manager
Arianne is an actor, singer, writer, educator, and stage manager born in New Brunswick, NJ and raised in the Cincinnati suburb of Newport, KY. After getting her BA in Theatre/Music in Indianapolis, IN, she went on to work extensively as an actor on Equity stages throughout the Midwest. Since moving to LA, she’s starred in The Tale of Turandot (Imagine Theatre) and Boni B. Alvarez’s award-winning world-premiere play America Adjacent (Skylight Theatre). As a stage manager, she worked on River City (Phoenix Theatre) and on many productions at the University of Indianapolis. She’s studied Meisner at BGB Studio, Improv at UCB, voice with Fitzmaurice Master Teacher Saul Kotzubei, and life at the West Hollywood DMV. Coming up, she will be featured in The Model, a film by Tony Award Nominee Cora Van Der Broek, and recurring in Brat TV’s hit series "Charmers." This is her first production working with DIAVOLO and she is grateful to be part of this powerful work. More info at ariannevillareal.com
FRANCE NGUYEN VINCENT
Writer & Dramaturg
France is a performing artist, literary translator, writer, creative consultant and educator. She is originally from France and has lived in Los Angeles since 2012.
At the invitation of Jiri Kylian, she began her career as a dancer with the Nederlands Dans Theater (The Hague, Holland). During her nearly decade-long tenure with the company she created works with many world-renowned choreographers including Kylian, Hans van Manen, Nacho Duato and Ohad Naharin, among others. Subsequently she joined Compania Nacional de Danza (Madrid, Spain) and the Lyon Opera Ballet (Lyon, France). Shortly after the birth of her third daughter, France redirected her career and obtained a degree in English
Language and Literature (Jean Moulin University, Lyon, France), as well as certification from the University of London as a translator. Since then, she has continuously worked in the administrations of international pedagogical institutions including the Lycée Français de Chicago and the American School of The Hague.
She is currently the Los Feliz Campus Administrator at the International School of Los Angeles. In addition to her work in the field of education, France continues to engage in creative collaboration and consultation. She has an ongoing commitment to Diavolo’s Veteran’s Project.
JIM VINCENT
Creative Associate & Movement Coach
Jim is an artist, dance-maker & creative consultant. He has more than 35 years of entertainment & cultural experience through his work in theater, opera, music, contemporary dance, choreography, special events & site-specific installations. From 2012 to 2017 he was an Imagineer & Executive Creative Director with the Walt Disney Company – Creative Entertainment. He also collaborated substantially with the R & D division on new forms of live entertainment including mixed reality and projection experiences.
Early in his career he resided & worked in Europe for more than 25 years, during which time he was a dancer, rehearsal director and choreographer with the Nederlands Dans Theater and held key positions at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (Holland), National Opera of Lyon (France) and Compañia Nacional de Danza (Spain). In 2000 he returned to the US to become the Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He was then appointed Artistic Director of the Nederlands Dans Theater through 2012. Vincent is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and currently a member of the USC Kaufman School of Dance Board of Councilors. He has been working with Diavolo for many years.
NATHAN WANG
Composer
Nathan is one of the most successful composers in Hollywood and Asian cinema. Prolific and versatile, he has written music for Jackie Chan movies, Steven Spielberg documentaries and movies for Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros. and Paramount studios. His compositions have been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Shanghai Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, and the Chicago Symphony. Born to parents who grew up from Shanghai, Nathan was raised in Los Angeles. After graduating from Pomona College, he received a Rotary Ambassador scholarship to continue his studies at Oxford University. Recently, he was named 2021-2022 Composer-in-Residence for the Huntington Library in San Marino. For this residency, he is reprising his opera, On Gold Mountain, which he wrote for the Los Angeles Opera 20 years ago. In addition, Nathan will be writing a new musical to be premiered in 2022 for his residency, which will be loosely based on his mother’s life in Shanghai during the 1930’s.
DANIEL WHEELER
Structure Designer
An internationally recognized and exhibited artist and designer, Daniel Wheeler creates in diverse media, varied scale, and in a range of contexts from private to public. The son of an educator and a therapist, he received his BA from Brown University in 1984 and after living in Japan, settled in Los Angeles in 1985. With 30 years of experience in making thematically sensitive, interactive, and highly crafted objects and environments, he is at once sculptor, builder, set designer, furniture maker, fabricator, photographer, and maker of religious and funereal objects. His design for The Campbell Hall Center for Spiritual Practice, in Los Angeles, CA recently won an award from The Interfaith Forum on Religion Art and Architecture (IFRAA) in the category of Liturgical/Interior Design. He has been designing for DIAVOLO since 1994.
ABOUT DIAVOLO | ARCHITECTURE IN MOTION®
DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion is a creative production company that explores innovation by creating unique live, cinematic, digital, and media experiences. The company uses meticulously designed architectural structures as the central inspiration for each work. The stylistically varied and intensely physical choreography has become the hallmark of this truly original world-class company. Using custom-made architectural structures, DIAVOLO combines storytelling and movement to create socially relevant work that celebrates the diversity and complexities of humankind. For the past six years, DIAVOLO has worked with veterans of the armed forces through movement workshops and public performances in communities all around the country. The MISSION of The Veterans Project is to utilize DIAVOLO's unique style of movement as a tool to help restore veterans' physical, mental, and emotional strengths.