WHO'S WHO IN MALPASO
FERNANDO SÁEZ (Founder/Executive Director) graduated from the School of Performing Arts at the Superior Institute of Arts (ISA) in Havana in 1988. He is also a founder and actor of Estudio Teatral de Santa Clara, was the head of the Sociocultural Development Project in Las Terrazas, Pinar del Rio from 1993 to 1997, and he served on the staff of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba since 1998 to 2014. He is also a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
OSNEL DELGADO (Founder/Artistic Director/Dancer) danced with Danza Contemporanea de Cuba from 2003 to 2011, before founding Malpaso. He has worked with choreographers Mats Ek, Rafael Bonachela, Kenneth Kvarnström, Ja Linkens, Itzik Galili, Samir Akika, Pedro Ruiz, Isidro Rolando and George Cespedes, among others. Delgado has created works for DCC, Rakatan and Ebony Dance of Cuba. Delgado is a 2003 graduate of the National Dance School of Havana, where he is also a professor of dance studies.
DAILE CARRAZANA (Associate Artistic Director/Co-Fouder/Dancer) graduated from the National Ballet School of Havana in 2003. She was a member of Danza Contemporánea de Cuba from 2003 to 2011, before founding Malpaso with Osnel Delgado and Fernando Saez. Daile has worked with choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh, Robyn Mineko Williams, Jan Linkens, Samir Akika, Pedro Ruiz, Isidro Rolando, Aszure Barton, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Ron K. Brown, among others. She has created choreographic works for her company Malpaso and for students of Toronto Metropolitan University. She has collaborated with different musicians: Lullaby for Insomnia with Jordi Sabatés (Barcelona) and in the piece Habanera with Miguel Núñez (Cuba).
DIANA ROSA HERNANDEZ (Stage Manager) graduated from the National School of Arts with a degree in acting in 2008. She is a member of Teatro Espontáneo de La Habana. Hernandez worked in the HavanaBama collaboration between the University of Alabama and Cuba. Since she joined Malpaso in March 2014, she has worked with choreographers such as Ron K. Brown, Trey McIntyre, Aszure Barton, Sonya Tayeh, Robyn Mineko Williams, Ohad Naharin, Mats Ek, Ephrat Asherie and among others. Diana Has worked also as lighting designers such as Al Crawford, Manuel Da Silva, Nicole Pearce, Burke Brown and Ellen Ruge.
ESTEBAN AGUILAR (Dancer), before joining Malpaso in February 2016, studied dance at ISA (Superior Institute of Arts)'s Faculty of Dance and was a member of Danza Fragmentada Company (2002-2014). He has worked with choreographers like Aszure Barton, Osnel Delgado, Sonya Tayeh, Robyn Mineko Williams, Aszure Barton, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, Ron K. Brown, Daile Carrazana, Ephrat Asherie, among others.
DAYRON DOMINGUEZ (Dancer) graduated from EduardoAbela Elemental Art School in San Antonio de Los Banos and from the National Dance School in Havana Cuba in 2022. He joined Malpaso Dance Company upon graduation.
ESVEN GONZALEZ (Dancer) graduated from the National School of Dance in 2014. In September of that same year he joined Danza Contemporánea de Cuba company. He has worked with choreographers such as Theo Clinkard, Anabell López Ochoa, Lea Anderson, George Cespedes, among others. He has toured nationwide and abroad in countries and organizations such the City Center in New York, National Auditorium in Mexico, La Maison de Lyon in France, as well as various venues in Great Britain, Monaco, Germany, Switzerland and Russia.
LIZ MARIAN LORENZO (Dancer) graduated from the Alfonso Pérez Isaac Art School of Matanzas and the National Dance School Fernando Alonso in 2022. An award-winning student in international competitions, Liz performed works in the repertoire of the National
Ballet of Cuba by Alicia Alonso, Ramona de Saa, and Ely Regina Hernandez, Numa. She joined Malpaso Dance Company in 2022.
DARIO ORTEGA (Dancer) graduated from the National Ballet School Fernando Alonso in 2020. He joined Micompania in 20219 where he danced works by company’s founder and director Suasano Pous. He joined Malpaso Dance Company in 2023.
LAURA RODRIGUEZ (Dancer) graduated from the Vocational Dance School Benny Moré in Cienfuegos in 2014 and from the National Dance School in Havana in 2018. She joined Danza Contemporánea de Cuba in 2017 where she danced works by choreographers such as George Cespedes, Yoerlis Brunet, Billy Cowie, Christopher Beranger, among others. She joined Malpaso Dance Company in 2023.
ILIANA SOLIS (Dancer) is a dancer and dance teacher who graduated from Raul Gomez García Art School in Holguín, Cuba. She was a member of Codanza Dance Company from 2006 to 2013. From 2006 to 2008 she also worked as professor at José Martí Pérez Arts Instructors School. She joined Danza Contemporánea de Cuba in 2015. She became a member of Malpaso Dance Company in 2019. Ileana has worked with choreographers such as Theo Clinkard, Billy Cowie, Lea Anderson, Fleur Darken and Anabel López Ochoa, among others.
JENNIFER SUAREZ RAMOS (Dancer) graduated from the Acosta Danza Academy where she worked with choreographers such as Jorge Crecis, Pontus Lidberg, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Goyo Montero. She has performed in theaters and events both in Cuba and abroad including the Holland Dance Festival, Venice Biennale, Budapest Dance Festival, and The Royal Ballet.
CARLOS VALLADARES (Dancer) graduated from the Samuel Feijó Professional School of Art in Santa Clara in 2017 and from the Acosta Danza School in 2022, where he danced works from the company's repertoire created by the choreographers Alexis Fernández and Raúl Reynoso. He joins Malpaso in November 2022. He has danced works by choreographers such Ohad Naharin, Aszure Barton, Osnel Delgado, and Ron K Brown.
GRETA YERO ORTIZ (Dancer) graduated from the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School in 2017. She also received training at the Ruth Page Center and Quenedit Ballet School in the United States. In the same year of her graduation, she was part of the National Ballet of Cuba, where she assumed various relevant roles. She joins Malpaso in 2022.She has danced works by choreographers such Ohad Naharin, Daile Carrazana and Osnel Delgado.
YOSMARA CASTANEDA VALDES (Musician) graduated from the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory of Music as Violinist and from the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) in the Viola player. She has collaborated with national and foreign artists. She has performed in Mexico, Venezuela, China, and the United States with different ensembles such as Grupo Frasis, Amigos del BuenaVista Social Club, and Arslonga. She taught classes at the Alejandro Garcia Caturla School of Music and at Elementary Schools of Music Manuel Saumell and Amadeo Roldan. Currently, she is a member of different orchestras such as the "Havana Chamber Orchestra" directed by Maestra Daiana García, the "Música Eterna" Chamber Orchestra directed by Maestro Guido LopezGavilán, "Camerata Romeu" directed by Zenaida Castro Romeu, Emsemble CANTABILE and ALMA String Quartet.
CAMILA CRESPO RAMIREZ (Musician) graduated from Guillermo Tomás Conservatory of Music and graduate in music from University of the Arts (ISA) in the specialty of violin (2020). She was part of the Autumn Course of the Transatlantic Orchestra of the Youth Academy Cuban-European in Germany (2023). She worked in the Havana Soloists Ensemble Orchestra. She currently is member of the Alma String Quartet since 2018, performing at events such as the annual editions of La Ruta de Mozart at the Mozart-Havana Festival. She has collaborated with the Espiral Eterna Editions Office of Maestro Leo Brouwer interpreting and recording his works. In 2022,
she participated in the celebrations for the liberation of slavery in Guadeloupe (French Island). She has collaborated with the Malpaso Dance Company, performing at events such as the Jazz Plaza Festival 2024. She teaches violin at the Paulita Concepción School of Music since 2021. She works as a concertmaster at the Camerata Romeu String Orchestra from 2022, conducted by Maestra Zenaida Romeu, performing at different events such as the Habana Clásica Festival 2022 and in the 43rd edition of the Latin American International New Cinema Festival.
AMAYA JUSTIZ ROBERT (Musician) graduated as cellist and teacher from the Conservatory of Music Amadeo Roldán and the Higher Institute of Art (ISA). As director and founder of the ALMA String Quartet, she has been part of the La Ruta de Mozart festival in all its editions, at the Mozart Havana festival, and in various concerts at the Basilica of the San Francisco de Asís convent. She participated in the commemoration of the National Liberation Day from slavery in Guadeloupe (French Island) invited by the government of the region. She has also performed in Brasil as part of the Sao Paolo-Havana Ensemble project conducted by Maestra Daiana Garcia. She currently collaborates with the Ediciones Espiral Eterna office. In which highlights the recording of Leo Brouwer’s three compositions for string quartet and guitar together with French guitarist Lazhar Cherouana. She has been part of other groups such as the Amado Mozart quartet conducted by violinist Michael Dabroski. She has played with the orchestra of the Lyceum of Havana, the Soloists Orchestra of Havana, and Habana XXI Ensemble. She is currently the 1st cello of the Havana Chamber Orchestra directed by Maestra Daiana García, performing in different venues and important festivals such as Habana Clásica, Jazz Plaza, and accompanying internationals artists such as Linus Roth, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Willem Stam, and Kinan Azmeh. She actively collaborates with the Camerata Romeu directed by Maestra Zenaida Romeu. She is a teacher at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, and at the Paulita Concepcion Elementary Music School.
LILIET SILVA CARMENATES (Musician) graduated from the National School of Music and graduated in music from the University of the Arts (ISA) in the specialty of violin (2023). Participates as assistant to concertmaster Aitor Hevia, in the closing concerts of the XXXI International Music Course of Llanes, Spain (2018). Member of the Alma String Quartet since 2023, collaborating with Maestro Leo Brouwer's Ediciones Espiral Eterna Office, performing and recording his works written for this format. She has collaborated with the Malpaso Contemporary Dance Company since 2020 and it includes the Jazz Plaza 2024 Festival. She is currently part of the “La Camerata Romeu” String Orchestra directed by Maestra Zenaida Romeu since 2019, performing at different events such as the 49th edition of the Cervantino International Festival in Mexico (2020), Habana Clásica Festival (2022) and the 43rd edition of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. She has recorded with the Camerata Romeu the album Libertango.
ADAM O'FARRILL (Musician) was born in Spain and now resides in NYC. She has been blessed to have studied dance in NYC since then. Stella has performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors and in Montreal with Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca, The Jeanette Stoner, Dancers in NYC, and David Thomas’ company, WRT. Stella is thrilled and humbled to work with Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca. originally from Plainfield, IL, trained since the age of two at Inspire School of Dance in Naperville, IL. She received her BFA in Dance along with a minor in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College in 2023. She has performed across the United States at various theaters, including The Joyce Theater, The NYU Skirball, and The Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, where she was a part of the Dance For Life event. Additionally, Alexa has worked with and performed repertoire by David Parsons, Pascal Rioult, and Paul Taylor as well as original works by Darshan Singh Bhuller, Hanna Brictson, Jennifer Freeman, Anthony Morigerato, Katie Langan, and Alberto Del Saz. Alexa joined the Young Dancer Division faculty at Ballet Academy East in 2021, where she remains a faculty member to this day.
AMY PAGE (LA ESTACIÓN, Costume Designer, Wardrobe Supervisor) is a costume creator and wardrobe supervisor who has worked for many years with MMDG. She enjoys working with costume designers to bring their dreams to reality and supporting artists so that they
can bring the best possible performance to the stage. Her costumes are in the repertory of Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M., Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dorrance Dance, and Camille A. Brown and Dancers. Passionate about supporting artists as they learn and grow in Academia, Amy has created costumes for Ballet Academy East, American Ballet Theater’s Make A Ballet program, and the Dance Department of Sarah Lawrence College, as well as teaching at the College of William and Mary. As a wardrobe supervisor, Amy oversaw many productions at the Mostly Mozart and White Light Festivals at Lincoln Center, as well as many touring companies who graced The Joyce Theater stage. From the Akram Khan Company to The Royal Ballet to Momix, her calm, capable presence through lightning-fast quick changes and marathon loads of laundry bring a ray of sunshine to the backstage world. She has toured with Ballet Hispanico, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dorrance Dance, and Philadanco. On Broadway, she has had the pleasure of dressing Tatiana Maslany in Network, as well as the cast of Hamilton and Hadestown. In the television world, she worked as a costume fitter on the last three seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She has also taught children’s dance classes at the Dance Center, 2014-2017. She holds a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
KAREN YOUNG (TITLE, Costume Designer) is an artist and costume designer based in New York. She has worked extensively with world renowned dance companies, choreographers, directors and artists. The breadth of her work has spanned from fine art exhibitions to costumes of many genres of contemporary performance and dance. Amongst others, she has worked with artists Eve Sussman, Matthew Barney, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Kyle Abraham, Wendy Whelan, The Royal Ballet, and Miami City Ballet to name a few. She is currently the costume design consultant to the Martha Graham Dance Company during the process of reconstructing all of the costumes of the Graham Repertoire. Young holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, received a design fellowship from the N.E.A and Theater Communications Group, and was a visiting fellow at London College of Fashion.
ROYA ABAB (Associate Lighting Design) began singing professionally when he was 17 years old. He is the great-grandson of the legendary singer Antonio "El Chaqueta" and the son of singer Carmina Cortés and guitarist Salva de María. He has worked with Rafael Amargo, Carmen Cortés, and flamenco companies in Andalucía. He has also performed in tablaos all over Madrid and Málaga.
MANUEL DA SILVA (Production Manager, Lighting Designer & Supervisor) was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in South Florida where he developed a passion for theatre and the arts at a young age. Manuel attended The University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his BFA in Lighting Design and Technology. Now an NYC based lighting designer, Manuel has had the chance to work with several Off-Broadway theatre companies, including designing the world premiere of La Tía Julia y el Escribidor at El Repertorio Español. Manuel has also had the opportunity to display his work at the Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Portfolio Review and the National Design Showcase East.
BRIDGET CASTON (Company Manager) has worked in arts administration since 2021. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BBA in Consulting and Change Management, she has held roles with Gesel Mason Performance Projects, K.DMC, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance’s 90th Anniversary Festival. From 2022–2024, Caston was Associate Producer at the Joyce Theater Foundation’s in-house producing entity, Joyce Theater Productions (JTP), where she contributed to projects including serpentwithfeet’s Heart of Brick, Hope Boykin’s States of Hope, and Caleb Teicher’s Bzzz, and served as company manager for touring productions. She also helped launch and manage the Joyce’s New York Center for Creativity & Dance. In 2024, she supported Max Roach 100, a centennial celebration featuring Ayodele Casel, Rennie Harris, and Ronald K. Brown, among others. Most recently, she was Company Manager for A.I.M by Kyle Abraham (2024–2025). Caston is dedicated to advancing the growth, efficiency, and sustainability of performing arts and artists for years to come.
JOYCE THEATER PRODUCTIONS (JTP) is the in-house producing entity for The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc., formed to create original work for The Joyce’s stage and for worldwide touring. The initiative provides dance artists who have little or no formal management or infrastructure the means to create productions of the highest standards of excellence. The program also includes the Associate Company model, offering sustained producing, fiscal and/ or administrative management to companies that may require short or longer term support. Originally founded in partnership with Sunny Artist Management, Inc. (SAM) in 2014, JTP has since supported projects with Daniil Simkin, Wendy Whelan/Brian Brooks, Arthur Pita/James Whiteside, Maria Kochetkova, Caleb Teicher, Alexei Ratmansky, Molissa Fenley, and L.A. Dance Project, and maintains and ongoing relationship with Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company.