choreographers & DIRECTORS
Larkin was born in the Basque region of Spain and grew up in Longmont, Colorado. Larkin founded and co-founded numerous events and organizations centered around community, artistic development, and unity, such as Side by Side Dance Company, Block 1750, and Murmuration. He is incredibly invested in and has worked hard to develop the dance community in Colorado. In addition, Larkin has been teaching nationally and internationally for the past four years. He has visited over 20 countries and states, spreading his knowledge of community building, the power of self and communal worth, and movement as a basis of expression.
Chris Martin was born in Oakland, California, and raised in Boulder, Colorado. Chris's passion for dance is visible in his two decades of unwavering commitment to this craft. He has gained great international acclaim, teaching regularly at workshops and studios in over 40 countries and states. Chris is a member of internationally renowned team Choreo Cookies, through which he learned the value of being a part of a team that works towards a common goal of perpetual growth. He is currently an instructor at Building Block, a dance studio committed to helping students’ achieve their goals through the development of personal regiments. Chris freely shares his knowledge with the communities he is lucky enough to meet. He greatly values each and every one of his varied life experiences, which remind him to stay patient, kind, light hearted, and not take life too seriously.
Music & FILM DIRECTORs
Andrew uses documentary and narrative filmmaking to reflect on the beauty and tragedy of life. Cinematography is his native language, but he loves collaborating with composers, choreographers, and poets to bring a unique perspective to the documentary form. His goal is always to use filmmaking as a weapon against that injustice, and a celebration of life
Jonathan Seale was born in the flatlands of Texas and raised in the jungles of South America. After relocating to New York City in 2007, he co-founded Mason Jar Music and Nomadique, two collectives committed to fostering a community of artists in the city as well as producing work that is soulful and genuine. Following their collaboration with Grammy-winning artist Feist in 2012, Mason Jar Music was named the world's 6th most innovative music company by Fast Company Magazine. Nomadique's multi-media work has been featured by The New York Times, The New Yorker, CNN, SXSW, and National Geographic Magazine.
Ben Stamper is a visual artist who loves to make films. He is most enlivened by creative processes that raise the dignity of every human while pondering our place in this fierce and magnificent world. Ben’s passion for spirited art making has led him around the globe to work with individuals and communities to tell their stories on their own terms. Ben is a regular contributor to the Arts Collective Nomadique and currently lives in Jersey City with his lovely family.
DANCERS
Fabian Tucker started dancing in 2004 as a sophomore in high school. 9 of the past 12 years has been spent dancing on San Diego based competition team, Choreo Cookies, of which he is still a part of today. Outside of dance, he currently works as an Applications Engineer for machine-to-machine communication company, Ingenu. A graduate of San Diego State University with a Bachelors in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Fabian chose this different path so he could continue to balance dance and a full time career.
Janelle Gleason is a dancer from Sacramento, CA. While studying Creative Writing at UC Santa Cruz, she deepened her contemporary dance roots and immersed herself in hip hop, writing a book on her experiences in both genres. Janelle currently lives in San Francisco, dances with The Company and dedicates her days to ensuring that artists can fund their creative projects and continue to make great art.
Mariel Madrid considers herself a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and all around creative. She began dancing with her family in her parent’s dining room as a child and eventually followed this path of loving music and movement. Credits include: choreographing/starring in Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself”, Mark Ronson, Flying Lotus & Kendrick Lamar, a New York Times Square Billboard, So You Think You Can Dance, the Ellen Show, SKY a 3D musical, Dancing with the Stars, nominations for best choreography at the MTV Video Music Awards and the UK Video Music Awards, viral videos, multiple champions at major dance competitions with Choreo Cookies, global dance instructor, and more. She hopes to continue to spread the love of expression as long as humanly possible.
.Krystine Nicole Aguas was born and raised in San Diego, California. Her parents enrolled her in dance classes at the age of three with hopes to engage her social skills, but it wasn’t until middle school where her passion for dance truly began to develop. Growing up in a studio setting and attending the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, she has a background in various styles of dance such as tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. She has been a member of Choreo Cookies since 2008, inspiring communities locally and globally. Nicole obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is currently an Engineering Designer at Rick Engineering Company. Throughout all of her experiences, the thing she values most is the endless love and support from God, and the family and friends He has provided her with.
Mikey Ruiz was born in Denver, Colorado and has been dancing for 8 years, first starting with BreakEFX crew he primarily focused on bboying (breakdancing), Hip-hop, and the Hip-hop culture as a whole. His focus and dedication to growth, has led to a love for self expression through choreography, which is now giving him opportunities to teach and travel internationally. His pursuit for growth, inspired him to move to Hawaii at the age of 18 where he had the privilege to participate in many competitions and performances including: Hip Hop International (2012, 3rd Place 2013 2nd Place) and an appearance on America’s Got Talent Season 8 (Hype). Now residing in San Diego, California, Mikey wishes to instill the same passion and drive that sparked his devotion to dance in others, by teaching, traveling, and sharing his love for dance.
PHOTOGRAPHy, FILM, & support
Lander Andonegi is a filmmaker and photographer hailing from the Basque Country, Mutriku to be exact. He has been working as a professional filmmaker - photographer since 2014, but has been studying photography ever since he can remember. Lander dreams of taking his craft beyond the borders of the Basque Country and wishes to bring the lessons he has learned from this small but truly unique place he calls home.
Timo Dettmers is a 26-years old photographer from Oldenburg, Germany. Studying architecture since 2012, dance has always been an important passion in his life. In fact, an injury prevents him from living dance as he did in the past - but photography keeps him connected to the movement through a passion discovered over 4 years ago. Since 2012, he prooves his dedication and ability to capture artists in the right moment while working in Spain, Paris and Japan.
Ibon Taboada was born in the Basque Country in a small but beautiful town called Zarautz. There he found his love for both dance and film, and while he still dances for fun, today Ibon or “Ambolo” as most know him, finds himself building his own production company, The Krow Films. Ambolo has a passion for vlogging, production, and any story he can sink his teeth into and he brings over ten years of filming and dance experience to the table.
California raised and Brooklyn based, Jacob Blumberg splits his time evenly as a musician, sound engineer, record producer, photographer, filmmaker, chef, best boy, gaffer, drone operator, welder, master problem solver, animal whisperer, armchair philosopher and lover of rare books. Over the years, he has collaborated on some of the best and brightest creative projects happening in NYC and across the country. If there is a scene, Jacob is behind it. Jacob Blumberg = MacGyver for the 21st century.
Vivian Lin is a San Jose native currently residing in San Diego, CA. She first discovered her passion for dance at age 16, learning styles such as jazz, ballet, and contemporary. She joined hip-hop influenced team Choreo Cookies in 2012, and to this day continues to train alongside her talented teammates in various styles of choreography. Vivian currently works full-time as a Floral Designer and Production Manager at a Wedding & Event Design company.