Khalilah Ramirez

Teaching Artist

Khalilah Ramirez is a performance artist, author and educator. She teaches multiple disciplines including dance, yoga, and creative writing with passion and enthusiasm. Khalilah has also published two books on the subject of peace and well being while dancing professionally with Tabia Theater Ensemble and Kuumba West African Dance Group.

Learn more about Khalilah's work of creating peace through practicing the arts: https://linktr.ee/khalilahpeacedancer

Katherine Moore

Teaching Artist

Priya Narayan

Teaching Artist

Priya Narayan  is an Indian classical artist. She is trained in the classical dances of India, Bharatanatyam and Kathak.  Since 2006, Priya has taught numerous students and adults in Dance Academy settings, as well as in Community Outreach programs such as the After School Programs of the Chicago Public Schools. From 2010-2013, she was the principal dancer for Kalapriya Center of Indian Performing Arts and served as their Assistant Artistic Director from 2013-2014. She made her choreographic debut with “Reimagine: a Tribute to Vyjayanthimala.” She has performed at many notable venues, such as the Harris Theater, Field Museum, Chicago Cultural Center, and the Logan Center of the University of Chicago. Priya has also performed as a solo artist in India, her first International tour taking place in 2013. Much of her original work is deeply rooted in the classical dances of India, which she reshapes to push boundaries and ask tough questions regarding societal issues. She received her MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago in 2014. Priya joined Audacity in 2021 and has brought the world of Indian dance to San Jose and Campbell schools. She is excited to share Indian dance and music with the children of the Bay Area.

Sasha Quetzali Hernandez

Teaching Artist

Jamie Paz

Teaching Artist

To me the impact and importance of Performing arts education is big. I believe kids should learn basic fundamentals to develop, as well as seeing and experiencing the joy that can be hidden among learning all for themselves. Performing arts can change the perspective in which kids tackle daily tasks at school. Providing them the tools and allowing them to create their own crafts/projects allows them to see reward as well as grasping knowledge in such an amazing way. While under Audacity I am fully grateful for the support Rosalinda and all my other mentors/ peers are providing me with.

When I first met the kids at these schools I 100% saw the excitefulness within the kids. learning new things like Podcasting, Hip Hop dance, Folklorico, Art, and even African Drumming. They get to fully engage into different cultures and traditions the way they want to. We as Teaching artists see the massive change and result because of Performing arts. Coming from a low income neighborhood, I had no idea school could be so fun. I was super grateful to be a part of my school's Folklorico community since grade 2. Now that I get to be that person for a child, it makes me super happy and excited that kids get to fall in love with something the way I had the opportunity to. 

Hector Castañeda

Teaching Artist