2025 Artists
Bold Voices. shared Rhythms. Collective Power.
Each year, BlakTinx Dance Festival PHX brings together a dynamic collective of choreographers and performers whose voices reflect the vibrancy of our communities. The 2025 artists represent a powerful range of experiences, cultures, and movement practices rooted in the African and Latin diasporas. Together, they share a dedication to storytelling through dance, blending tradition, innovation, and personal narrative to spark dialogue and inspire connection. Their artistry embodies the heart of BlakTinx: collaboration, courage, and celebration of culture. Get to know the artists shaping this year’s festival, each bringing their unique vision, rhythm, and movement to the Phoenix stage.
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Alecea Housworth
Alecea Housworth is a dancer, choreographer, and storyteller whose work centers on social justice, community, and the power of collective experience. A Georgia native, she holds a Master of Fine Arts with a Teaching Praxis Certification from Arizona State University. Her creative practice seeks to encourage forward thinking, promote change, and unify communities through dance. Currently, she teaches Dance and Theater at American Leadership Academy, where she continues to inspire the next generation of artists. Alecea’s performance credits include appearing as a field dancer in the 2023 Super Bowl LVII halftime show. She has also been selected for esteemed residencies such as Ladies of Hip-Hop—performing in the piece TBD guided by company founder Lady Byrd—as well as festivals like Dance Grenada and numerous other showcases. Through her teaching, choreography, and performances, Alecea strives to create work that sparks conversation, impacts culture, and builds community across the larger collective.
Brayan Perez
Brayan Perez was born in Veracruz, Mexico and moved to the United States at a young age. His artistic journey began in middle school through music, where he studied piano, guitar, and flute—earning recognition and awards for his flute performances. In high school, he expanded into theater, performing in community events and productions, including his standout role as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. After graduation, Brayan discovered his passion for dance while attending Scottsdale Community College. Guided by inspiring instructors, he committed fully to the art form and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education from Grand Canyon University in 2019. Since then, he has performed with numerous companies across the Phoenix Valley, including Halo Movement Collective, CaZo Dance Theatre, Rogue Dance Productions, Scorpius Dance Theatre, and currently Center Dance Core. Brayan’s diverse artistic background continues to shape his belief in the transformative power of the arts to enrich and connect communities.
Alex Solano
Alex Solano is a choreographer and performer based in Phoenix, Arizona. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance from Arizona State University in 2024, where she was honored with the ASU Gammage Scholarship for her artistic excellence. Alex is currently a company member with Anthro Arts Co. and Bodies Contemporary,, two Phoenix-based collectives dedicated to creating innovative and community centered work. As both a performer and choreographer, she is passionate about blending dance, performance art, and film to explore the intersections of movement and storytelling. Her work often seeks to illuminate the unspoken, amplify overlooked narratives, and spark meaningful conversations with audiences. With a practice that balances emotional vulnerability and sharp physicality, Alex is committed to expanding the role of dance as a tool for dialogue, reflection, and transformation. She continues to cultivate her choreographic voice while contributing to the growing landscape of contemporary performance in Phoenix and beyond.
RaShawn Hart
RaShawn Hart is a Phoenix-based choreographer dedicated to creating work that amplifies Black artistry and presence in contemporary dance. He earned his BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University before relocating to Arizona, where he has been actively contributing to the local dance community. His choreography has been performed by Convergence Ballet and Instinct Dance Corps, as well as presented at the American College Dance Festival and BlakTinx Dance Festival in Phoenix. In 2018, his work was featured in both the Phoenix and Los Angeles editions of BlakTinx, earning positive reviews from the California Dance Chronicle. RaShawn is also a regular choreographer for Scottsdale Community College’s professional company, Instinct Dance Co., where he continues to mentor and collaborate with emerging dancers. Committed to cultivating his choreographic voice, he is focused on expanding his reach in Phoenix and beyond while shaping spaces for dialogue, artistry, and representation through dance.
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RAIMIZ
Rainah Mizell (who goes by RAIMIZ) is a Philadelphia-born movement artist and graduate of Arizona State University who has been developing her artistry in the Arizona dance community for the past five years. Her work draws from styles within the African diaspora, using rhythm and groove to create a sense of catharsis, where release, healing, and joy remain central to her artistic identity. Known for a style that is feminine, suave, smooth, and infused with old-school sensibilities, RAIMIZ blends tradition with contemporary nuance, crafting work that feels both grounded and fresh. She has presented her choreography at NueBox’s NueWork Festival, Show ME Showcase, Heart and Heels AZ, and MOVE Dance Festival, gaining recognition for her distinct voice and creative depth. Alongside her performances, she is dedicated to cultivating spaces of connection through dance, inviting audiences to experience the transformative power of rhythm, community, and embodied expression.
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Diana Toledo
Diana Toledo, affectionately known as Toledo, is a Brazilian-American movement artist born and raised in Los Angeles. Her dance journey began informally with Samba, taught by family in social settings, and later expanded to Salsa and Afro-Cuban forms in high school. While initially pursuing Forensic Psychology in college, an elective Modern dance class inspired her to change paths and dedicate her life to dance. In 2011, she joined CONTRA-TIEMPO as an apprentice and later a company member, touring nationally and internationally with works such as Full. Still. Hungry, I Dream America, Against the Times, Agua Furiosa, and joyUS justUS. She also served as the company’s Community Engagement Specialist, facilitating workshops that connected dance with social justice. Toledo earned her BFA in Dance from UCLA and is currently pursuing her MFA at Arizona State University, researching Afro-Latin dance and neurodivergence while developing new choreographic works and her path toward professorship.
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Leonardo A. Caudillo
Leonardo A. Caudillo discovered his love for dance at 16, a passion that has since shaped his career as an educator, choreographer, and leader in the Phoenix dance community. After high school, his training at Arizona State University and Glendale Community College deepened his artistic insight and broadened his choreographic voice. In 2023, he co-founded Invictus Dance Project, a competition studio and creative hub that quickly became a cornerstone of the local dance scene. Invictus is home to an award-winning team that performs regularly and consistently earns top honors, while also serving as one of Phoenix’s most in-demand rehearsal spaces for artists across genres. For Leonardo, teaching dance extends beyond steps, it’s about nurturing creativity, building confidence, and fostering community. Now stepping forward as a solo choreographer, he continues to push his artistry while creating spaces where dancers of all backgrounds can grow, connect, and thrive.
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Thiditsana “Didi” Mioli
Thiditsana “Didi” is a movement artist born in Lesotho and raised in Phoenix, AZ by immigrant parents. For her, movement has always been part of daily life. In recent years, she has embraced movement more intentionally as an artistic practice. Her journey began with yoga over a decade ago, which grew into a daily practice and inspired her to teach both yoga and dance. In 2024, Didi hosted Arizona’s first Amapiano-focused dance event, celebrating rhythm, roots, and community. In February 2025, she performed in Temple of Traveling Mercies, the debut of BLK RVR Artist Collective at the Phoenix Art Museum. Passionate about African dance styles, especially those tied to her cultural heritage, Didi creates spaces where these forms are honored and celebrated. She continues to evolve as a dance educator, traveling, learning, and using movement as a tool for joy, connection, and cultural expression.
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Tranze Danza Contemporánea
Tranze Danza Contemporánea,founded in Mexico in 2011 by choreographer and director Zarina Mendoza, is a company dedicated to merging sound, movement, theatre, and poetry to foster dialogue around identity, immigration, empathy, and solidarity. With performances across South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Costa Rica, Taiwan, Mexico, and the United States, as well as teaching engagements and seasonal intensives, the company shares knowledge while inspiring transformative conversations. Now based in Phoenix, Tranze Danza includes a vibrant ensemble of Mexican and Latinx artists living in the U.S., uniting communities across borders through collaboration and immersive artistry. Zarina, a dedicated Mexican immigrant and educator, has spent over a decade teaching and performing at international festivals. She is the producer of the Mitote Dance Intensive, Studio Manager at [nueBOX], and a team member at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Through Tranze and her collaborations, Zarina continues to expand access to contemporary and Latin dance practices.
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j.bouey
j. bouey is a 2023 Bessie Award–winning performer, creator, and advocate dedicated to reshaping the dance landscape. A graduate of Arizona State University (BFA) and current MFA candidate in Dance (Interdisciplinary Digital Media and Performance), j. has performed with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, nia love’s UNDERcurrents, and The Fabulous Waack Dancers. They are the founder of The Dance Union Podcast, which launched the NYC Dancers COVID-19 Relief Fund and Dance Union Town Halls for collective action. Their choreography has been presented at New York Live Arts, Judson Church, JACK, and more. j. has received numerous fellowships, including the Jerome Fellowship, Movement Research Residency, Bogliasco Fellowship, and Dancing While Black Fellowship, among others. Currently, they serve as Assistant Director, Lighting Director, and Research Assistant for Flow State under LaTasha Barnes. Through art and activism, j. continues to build spaces of care, visibility, and liberation for the dance community.
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Hannah Victoria
Hannah Victoria is a curator, educator, and movement artist from Atlanta, Georgia. Her work honors contemporary and traditional practices rooted in the African diaspora and her faith. She holds an MFA in Dance and Choreography from Arizona State University and is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Oregon. Her choreography has been presented at the American College Dance Association Conference, California State University Long Beach, Grand Canyon University, The Black Artist Dance Collective, and other organizations. Her acclaimed solo, ...everything that has breath, celebrates the songs and dances born in the praise houses of enslaved African Americans, with performances at festivals in Milwaukee, Portland, and Phoenix. Hannah’s evening-length work, (Precept)itation, premiered at the University of Oregon in 2024, exploring rain, restoration, and faith through her signature “residency-to-performance” model. As a performer, she has appeared with the Black Angels Collective for Tobe Nwigwe at Coachella and Milan Fashion Week, and for Usher’s New Look Foundation, Atlanta Ballet, Big Boi, and in The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre. She was recently invited to join Leah Glenn Dance Theatre for the 2025–2026 season. Hannah continues to build a body of work that celebrates resilience, restoration, and joy in motion.
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Angel Castro
Angel Castro is a Los Angeles based creative artist originally from Phoenix, AZ. His multidisciplinary background spans dance, fashion, film, photography, event production, brand management, and design, making him a true creative alchemist. Angel has danced professionally with and choreographed for many of Arizona’s leading companies, including Scorpius Dance Theatre, EPIK Dance Company, and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury dance teams. Recognized by JAVA Magazine and Phoenix New Times, Angel continues to shape bold, multidisciplinary work bridging communities from Phoenix to Los Angeles.His performance in the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show with Rihanna marked a defining moment in his transition to Los Angeles. For over a decade, Angel directed HALO Movement Collective, a Phoenix-based company known for producing annual evening-length shows that he choreographed and produced independently. In 2021, he rebranded HALO as LUCID Los Angeles, expanding his creative reach beyond the stage to merge dance, film, and fashion. LUCID has since performed at BlakTinx Los Angeles, Choreographers Carnival, and Dance Camera West, and is currently developing its debut evening-length experience.
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