Artistic Associates
Janis Astor del Valle has been a guest performer with Teatro V!da since 2012. She is a member of our Ferocious Women Ensemble. In addition to performing, Janis is a playwright, filmmaker, director, producer and a professor at SUNY Purchase. Her play, Trans Plantations is considered by many to be a contemporary classic. Springfield audiences were treated to excerpts of the solo play at CITYSTAGE as part of Teatro V!da's Bullying Anthology release party in 2012. In 2017 she performed her original work, Staying con la Gana, as part of our Theater Residency at the Bing Arts Center. Janis will be part of a collaboration betweenTeatro V!da and Amherst Media on a creative Puerto Rican literary history three-part series - coming soon in 2018!
www.janisastor.com 
Taylor Ho Bynum is a performer on cornet and various brass instruments, composer, bandleader, and interdisciplinary collaborator with artists in dance, film, and theater. He presently leads his Sextet, the chamber ensemble SpiderMonkey Strings, and the little big band Positive Catastrophe; all of these ensembles have recently released critically acclaimed recordings. Critics have called Bynum “a young brass master and compelling composer” (Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix), “a remarkable writer, improviser and bandleader” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com) and “one of the most exciting figures in jazz’s new power generation” (Steve Dollar, Time Out Chicago).
Taylor's New England Bike Tour in the Fall of 2010 was the impetus for our "Rumors of a New Day" production. It was an honor and joy to collaborate with Taylor. He most recently joined Magdalena Gómez and Jeremy Turgeon in a benefit for the Bing Arts Center in 2013. we look forward to future collaborations. www.taylorhobynum.com Congratulations to our long-time supporter and collaborator, Abraham Gomez-Delgado on getting tenure at Bloomfield College, New Jersey!
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Andrew B. Torres, M.S.Ed.
is currently a doctoral student in Social Justice Education and Spoken Word at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Andrew moved to our area after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with honors. He is now a Teatro V!da mentor and a host with Ign!te the M!c. A spoken word writer and performer, Andrew also performs his work. He is a Literacy Specialist (N.Y.State Initial Certification) and an English Teacher 5-9 (N.Y. State Initial Certification) Originally from the Bronx, Andrew plans to return there and start a school upon completion of his doctorate. We are thrilled to have Andrew as part of our performance and training team! We look forward to producing some of Andrew's creative work in the future. 2022: UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS! Andrew is now Dr. Andrew B. Torres and is teaching at NYU! 
Daniel Jáquez is a professional theatre director who has worked in the USA, Russia, Mexico, Switzerland, and France. Daniel has directed and produced Off and Off-Off Broadway and at renowned NYC concert venues such as The Town Hall, Symphony Space and Carnegie Hall as well as in major cities across the USA. In 2004, he directed the Off-Broadway production of Lobster Face (or the shame of amanda cockshutt) by Teatro V!da’s Co-founder, and Artistic Director, Magdalena Gómez. He is an Associate Artist at The Miracle Theatre in Portland, Oregon and at The Immediate Theater in NYC. In NYC, from 2003 to 2006, he was the Director/Producer of INTAR Theater’s NewWorks Lab. He earned an MFA in Directing from ART/MXAT Theater Institute at Harvard University. Mr. Jáquez is a Member of the Lincoln Center’s Director’s Lab, and of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Daniel was co-director for Teatro V!da's Rumors of a New Day, performed at CITYSTAGE in 2010. www.danieljaquez.com 
Kristie Soares is an Assistant Professor of Latinx Literatures and Cultures at UMass Amherst and an active performance artist. Her teaching draws heavily on queer and performance methodologies. She encourages students to “try out” intellectual concepts using their bodies, through decolonial pedagogies such as the Theatrical Jazz Aesthetic and Theatre of the Oppressed. For many years she also facilitated performance poetry workshops in schools and juvenile detention facilities around Southern California. Her own performance work is invested in making political statements in and through the body. Her most recent performance project is a play she co-wrote with her writing partner, Katrina Ruiz, entitled Arroz con Mango. The play offers a humorous but poignant depiction of growing up queer and Cuban in Miami. Dr. Soares will be working with Teatro V!da on a performance of student work at The Bing Arts Center on December 8th 2017, with a recorded presentation at Amherst Media on December 7th. www.kristiesoares.com |
María Luisa Arroyo (on right) was one of the first Founding Artistic Associate of Teatro V!da and the Poet in Residence from 2007 - 2012. In 2014 she made history by becoming the first Poet Laureate of Springfield, MA thanks to the efforts of our friend and supporter, City Councilor, Timothy Rooke. The ceremony took place at City Hall in Council Chambers on September 29, 2014. Her appointment will last two years. We are proud to have María Luisa as part of our Ferocious Women's Ensemble. Her poem, "Don't Call Me Ghetto" will be included in our next production.
Below is City Councilor Timothy Rooke, holding Poet Laureate Medal and initial Proclamation that preceded the official ordinance. We thank Councilor Rooke for his efforts in making this historic event possible. He is a long-time supporter and volunteer with Teatro V!da. 
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Lydia Pérez is the founder and CEO of the Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy, Inc. RI, a non-Profit Organization. She is a provider of Afro-Caribbean Arts Programs. Her group "Yoruba2 ", present traditional music and dance from Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The group includes such known genres as 'bomba', 'plena', Yoruba song, and other rhythms. Lydia performs and teaches music that is in her "blood and spirit". Lydia travels nationally to express through her music that her culture is alive. We are proud to have her as part of the Teatro V!da circle of artists who are masters in their respective fields. http://www.priaa-ri.org/
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Kathryn Neel is an award winning poet, a rocket scientist, scuba diver, IT specialist, martial artist, surfer, biker, certified naturalist. pilot, and a chocolatier. She has had papers published on neuroscience and is a regular contributor to TweetSpeak, an online poetry journal. Teatro V!da has staged her writing in the past and will be doing so again this year. On her visits to Teatro V!da, Kathryn has inspired us with stories from her BIG life!
http://sapphochocolatesllc.com |
Some of Our Past Artistic Associates and Guest Artists:
Fred Ho
Born August 10th, 1957
Died April 12, 2014
We will always miss our beloved friend and supporter, Fred Ho.
One of the most innovative composers, saxophonists and thinkers the world had ever known.
He traveled from NYC to see our productions, to perform with us, to teach us, to perform benefit concerts. He is the foundation of his own legacy and his work will live on of its own accord - his love, as well as his talents were fierce and indestructible.
Below is Fred's final public performance.
Born August 10th, 1957
Died April 12, 2014
We will always miss our beloved friend and supporter, Fred Ho.
One of the most innovative composers, saxophonists and thinkers the world had ever known.
He traveled from NYC to see our productions, to perform with us, to teach us, to perform benefit concerts. He is the foundation of his own legacy and his work will live on of its own accord - his love, as well as his talents were fierce and indestructible.
Below is Fred's final public performance.
This masterful and deeply moving bronze sculpture of Fred Ho was created by the internationally hailed and respected sculptor, Leah Poller. Fred trusted Leah profoundly although only having met her as he was facing a premature death. Their deeply spiritual connection that defied explanation, allowed Leah Poller to create a work in bronze that feels as if it is breathing. We are grateful to know this work is in the world. Thank you, Leah Poller.
www.leahpoller.com
www.leahpoller.com
Adult Guests Artists and Scholars Include: Founding Poet in Residence, Maria Luisa Arroyo; founding Media Specialist, Jim Lescault; founding Music Director, Heshima Moja, 2007-2010; Fred Ho; Iris Morales; Ben Barson; Janis Astor del Valle; arjuna greist; John Brandoli; Sara Littlecrow-Russell; Quincy Saul; Sandra María Esteves; Abraham Gomez-Delgado; Owen Brown; Taylor Ho Bynum; Waleska Lugo DeJesus; Kevin Sharpe; Damian Curtis; Malika Ndlovu; Warren Amerman; Freddy Chapellequin;Tom Schneeloch; Julie Lichtenberg; Kathryn Neel; Lydia Pérez; Jesus Pagan; Victor Rosario; Ray Natal; Victor "Papo" Sterling Duprey; Abdou Sarr; Wali Ghiam; Brendaliz Cepeda; Ahmed Gonzalez; Rene Gonzalez; Lorena Garay; Eugenio Huanco; Natalia Eugenia Muñoz; Eric Remschneider; Mary Patierno; Brendaliz Cepeda; Kayla Creamer; Craig Sinclair; James O'Connor; S.P. Sullivan, Andrew Torres; Felicia Lundquist; Shoba Narayana; Diana Alvarez; Tony Vacca; The Afro Yaqui Music Emsemble; among others.