GET TO KNOW THEM
AALIYAH BERRY
Aaliyah Berry is an inspiring example of passion and dedication within the dance Community. Her journey, started with liturgical praise dance in her church at the age of five, but Her professional dance career took flight at the age of 16 years old when she joined her first Dance Company. Traveling and performing across the country, her love for dance grew into a remarkable career. Rooted in her upbringing in Brooklyn, NY, Aaliyah has become a powerful force as a dancer, choreographer, and mentor, shaping the next generation of dancers through her work with youth teams and programs across New York City. Her artistry has reached both local and international stages. From teaching within her community to working with renowned artists like Lil Kim, Lola Brooke, Dream Doll, ScarLip, and J Balvin, Aaliyah’s influence is widespread. Notably, her choreography has been seen in global hotspots such as Germany, London, Switzerland, and Portugal. Among her many achievements, performing live at the 2023 BET Awards stands out as a defining moment in her career. Aaliyah’s unwavering faith and gratitude remain at the heart of her journey, as she continuously credits God for her blessings and success. She embraces the constant evolution of her craft, striving to grow not only as a versatile performer but also as an individual. Her story serves as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose in achieving greatness.
ALEX GOSSEN
Alex Gossen started dancing at 16 after putting on a pair of magic red shoes and hasn’t stopped since. He pranced his way through a BFA in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before meandering up to NYC. Alex likes his dancing to be vulnerable, energetic, and goofy.
CASSANDRA TOUSSAINT
Cassy aka Cass the Gr8t, was Born into a family of dancers, she learned Hip Hop from her mom, grandmother, and house parties. BET and VH1 became her training after losing her dance studio in the World Trade Center tragedy. After almost giving up on her dream, three years into marriage and becoming a mom, she reignited her dance career and worked until her passion was respected as her craft. Cassy has worked with 50 Cent, Janelle Monae, Lil Kim, Lil Mo, A Boogie with the Hoodie, and many more.
CECILY LYN
Cecily Lyn - is an actor, director and writer holding degrees from UCLA and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is an emeritus member of The WorkShop Theater Company and former workshop leader and guest artist with Rehabilitation through the Arts at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. She is featured in the award-winning film Sing Sing starring Coleman Domingo. She has appeared in numerous productions including national tours, Off and Off-Off Broadway plays, as well as film and television. On screen acting credits include: Sing Sing, Paul Schrader’s First Reformed, HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness, the web-series, Off-Off Kilter, AFI’s One of the Boys and The Friends. Stage credits include: The Revolutionists, The Color of Justice (national tour), Verbatim Verboten, with guest artist Olympia Dukakis, and NY Times Critic’s Pick Interchange at the WorkShop Theater.
DALVIN VILSAINT
I’m Dalvin Shemar Vilsaint, a well-rounded freestyle dancer from New Jersey born and raised, but trained in NYC, inspired by the talent, creativity in the dance scene and the love of music. I’m always searching for ways to do what I love on a new platform that pushes me and takes me to new spaces to do even more amazing things. I continue to aspire to be in a position to entertain people and inspire them in whatever way by just being me on any stage, any floor, in any sort of media. Hope everyone in attendance gets that extension of me while viewing and appreciating the art from my peers also. See our story in Breakin NYC!
JACY LAMAR CAMPBELL
Jacy Lamar Campbell, also known as Jason Silk, has been working professionally in the music business for 19 years. He’s been working in tech for 15 years, holding titles such as IT supervisor and graphic designer. Jacy combined his early experience as an AV tech in his church with the influence from his father who was a mechanical engineer, and pursued his passion for art through DJing. Jacy’s top 3 musical influences come from his personal connections to DJ Spinna, Brian Coxx, and Sting International. Jacy is the resident DJ and Tech Director for Fashion Week Brooklyn, Level Up BK, & EyeWonder NYC.
JIHAD ALI
Jihad has been practicing Hip Hop choreography and breakdancing for over 14 years. He began his dance training in San Diego, California when he was 11 years old. Since then, he has actively competed, performed, and taught in various locations across the United States and internationally.
JONATHAN "JON LOCK" AMABLE
Bronx Native, who started his career at 12 years of age, played Jerome in the Broadway production of South Pacific. He took a hiatus to focus on his studies and career in professional soccer. Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from continuing a career in professional sports but opened the door for his second love in dance. Amable started popping in 2012 traveling and competing in battles across the US, Europe, and Asia. His biggest break was being cast as a principal dancer and choreographer for the 2019 film "In the Heights" directed by Jon M. Chu. He loves to share his passion and put smiles on people's faces.
KAYLA MUCHOTRIGO
I am Kayla Yumiko Muchotrigo Man “Kaylayumi” from Lima, Peru. Passionate about freestyle and the art of creating through movement. Dance is what I do, who I am and what brought me here.
MAATI ANGAZA
Maati Kheprimeni Angaza is a multitalented artist from Brooklyn, NY. Credits include Made in America, The Javits Center, CitiField and more. She’s a proud graduate of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and Temple University (BFA). This is her Off Broadway debut! Maati thanks her unwavering family! Representation: Bloc Agency.
NADARA COPLIN
Nadara Coplin, 17, was born in Columbia, SC, and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She began dancing at the age of 3, training in Russian Ballet, which laid the foundation for her love of the art form. During her childhood, Nadara explored other disciplines, including martial arts and competition cheer, showcasing her versatility and drive. However, her passion for dance ultimately drew her back, and at 15, she decided to pursue it full-time and trains at Lotus Creations Academy in Brooklyn. Since then, she has trained extensively in various styles, including hip hop, street jazz, and contemporary, refining her skills and artistry. Nadara's dedication to dance fuels her dream of sharing her love for movement with the world. She aspires to become a renowned choreographer, inspiring others through her creativity and vision.
SHANNON YU
Shannon Yu 余香儒(sha/shas) is a Brooklyn, New York-based artist from Taiwan. Sha holds an MFA in Performance and Performance Studies from Pratt Institute. Shannon identifies as a dancer-choreographer and queer-creator. Shannon practices Breaking, Hip Hop, Krump, Waving, Contemporary floorwork, and Wing Tsun Martial Arts. Shannon is the founder and Artistic Director of the multimedia dance company SHA Creative Outlet. Shannon has shown work in Judson Memorial Church, Arts On Site, Triskelion Arts, Abrons Arts Center, The Landmark Loew's Theater, and the Center at West Park. Shannon was named 2023 Asian American Arts Alliance’s Jadin Wong Fellow for Dance, and 2024 BanDung residency fellow.
ANGEL KABA
Angel Kaba is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, artistic director, and cultural ambassador whose career spans continents and genres. Born in Belgium and raised in France, At a young age, Angel fell in love with the community & empowerment of Hip-Hop and African social dances that transcend language. Her early achievements include founding Contre-Tendance, a performance company dedicated to training artists and creating opportunities for self-expression on stage. In 2006, Kaba directed her first musical, Elya’s Dream, setting the stage for her future as a visionary leader in the arts. You may have also seen Angel’s previous collaborations with global artists like Rihanna, Kanye West, Burna Boy, and Salif Keita, as well as performances for iconic brands such as Coca-Cola, Nutella, and Levi Strauss & Co. Now based in New York, Angel Kaba is making history as the first African/Caribbean woman to both direct and choreograph an off-Broadway dance production with Breakin’NYC. Her work is a testament to her commitment to elevating hip-hop and street dance styles, amplifying the voices and cultures that have shaped these art forms. As an educator at renowned studios like Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey Extension, and Steps on Broadway, Angel inspires the next generation of dancers to honor the roots of the movement while mastering their craft. With Breakin’NYC, she is creating a groundbreaking movement that not only celebrates hip-hop’s authenticity but also opens the door to professional opportunities for street-style dancers, paving the way for future generations to thrive.
ELODIE DUFROUX
Elodie Dufroux was born in Loudun, France. She first got introduced to dance at the age of 7 at a dance school back home as an extracurricular activity. After moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a Masters in Science of International Business Management where she rediscovered her love for dancing at the renowned Pineapple Dance Studios, Dance Works and Studio 68, Elodie decided to take her adventure all the way to New York. Her expertise led her to work directly with choreographers such as Hamilton’s Jon Rua, Luis Salgado, and Atlantic Records choreographer Carlos Neto. Élodie recently performed as a featured dancer during the Telemundo Upfront at the Ziegfeld Theatre. She also got featured for New Year’s Eve 2019, performing at the renowned Madison Square Garden with the band PHISH in front of a sold-out arena. Thanks to her O1 - Artist Visa, Elodie continues her career in the USA as a Dancer, Teacher & Choreographer.