Sally Jacques, founder of Blue Lapis Light, creates site-specific aerial dance works that transform urban spaces by engaging architecture with movement, music and nature.

As native of England with multicultural heritage, Jacques’ life has been unconventional from childhood on. As a young dance performer, she hitchhiked throughout Europe with little money, sleeping on beaches, broken down ruins, and even a heated phone booth in the Swiss Alps. A seeker at heart, Jacques continued to travel to many parts of the world and connect with dedicated and inspiring activists from diverse backgrounds. All of Jacques’ memories breathe life and vision into Blue Lapis Light.

Jacques’ early career included international performances in Munich, Barcelona, Vienna and Costa Rica. She studied dance at The Place and The Contemporary Dance Center in London and attended the Lee Strasberg Drama School in New York to study improvisation and acting. Jacques also studied movement at the Oval Theatre in London.

For many years, Jacques traveled the world for social justice, attending the United Nations Conferences and World Social Forums in Brazil, Vienna, China, Mumbai and Spain. She participated in peace talks in Germany, Malta, and Italy, and attended the United Nations Environment and Development Plenaries in Florida. Jacques worked with the Everardo Foundation to raise awareness of Mayan genocide in Guatemala and worked with the American Committee to Save Bosnia. She traveled to the rape camps in the former-Yugoslavia collecting medical supplies for the refugees. In 1993, Jacques performed a dance-monologue at the United Nations Conference on Human Rights in Vienna.

The recipient of numerous honors, Jacques has been awarded: the USA Artists Fellowship Award Nominee (2008), Austin Arts Hall of Fame Inductee (2007), Samsung Signature Award (2006), Greater Austin YWCA Woman of the Year for Achievement in the Arts (2003), Honorary Lifetime Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society (2003), Art Matters, NYC (1992) and The Susan B. Anthony Award for Peace (1988).

Jacques has received several Austin Critics Table Awards including: Best Dance Concert (2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2017), Top Ten Performances (2004), Top 10 Dance Events (2006), Top 10 Dance Treasures (2010, 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2020), Top 10 Joys of Dance (2019) and Best Choreographer (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017).

Receiving multiple grants throughout her career, Jacques has been bestowed: the New Form Regional Initiative Grant with José Luis Bustamante funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation and Andy Warhol Foundation (1994), National Endowment for the Arts (1988, 2006-present), Texas Commission on the Arts (1991-present), and the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division (1991-present).

Jacques’ work has been recognized and featured at South by Southwest (SXSW) Community Screening (2018), PBS/KLRU‘s Arts in Context Belonging, Part One (2017), PBS/KLRU‘s Arts in Context Here and Beyond (2014), PBS/KLRU’s Austin Now: Faces of Austin (2006), and PBS/KLRU’s Austin Now (2004). 64 Beds for the Homeless has been screened at museums in New York City, Berlin, Madrid, and currently showing in Museo Nazinolae Delle Arti del XX1 in Rome. Jacques was a featured speaker at PechaKucha Austin (2019).

As well as being interviewed on many radio and television stations, Jacques has also had her work studied and published in several magazines and books. Some of these include: Site Dance: Choreographers and the Lure of Alternative Spaces by Carolyn Pavlik and Melanie Kloetzel (2009), Dance Appreciation, a collegiate textbook by Dawn Davis Loring and Julie L. Pentz (2021), 64 Beds and Other Site Works by Sally Jacques (1996) published by Plain View Press, and Flying High Above the Texas Sky: Aerial Dance Takes Off in the Lone Star State by Nichelle Suzanne/Arts & Culture Texas (2019). Jacques has had essays published about her works in Portugal, New Zealand, Atlanta’s Arts Papers (1988-2004), Performance Magazine, Chicago (1993), Austin American-Statesman, and The Austin Chronicle (1988-present).

To make dance accessible for all and to foster a sense of community, Jacques taught movement to at-risk teenagers, prison inmates, and senior citizens for many years. Currently, Blue Lapis Light mentors at-risk youth through the Youth Taking Flight program.

Nicole Whiteside loves dance! During her 20 years with Blue Lapis Light she has served as performer, choreographer, rigger, teacher, and associate artistic director. Her classical ballet training began at age two and blossomed into a life-long love of dance.

She has studied at esteemed studios including Houston Ballet Academy, High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Austin School of Classical Ballet, and Marsha Woody Academy of Dance. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Dance and has continued dancing in Austin with local companies, including Sharir+Bustamante Danceworks, Sheep Army/Elsewhere Dance Theater, Austin School of Classical Ballet, Cheryl Chaddick Dance Theater, and Little Stolen Moments.

She has received numerous awards from the Austin Critics Table including Best Dancer in 2007 and 2013 and Best Duet in 2008. The Austin Chronicle awarded Little Stolen Moments Best Dance Company in 2010 and Best Creative Use of Three Small Trampolines in 2007. For New Year’s, First Night commissioned her performance, Fabric of the Hour, a silks piece performed inside Austin City Hall. She was nominated Best Choreographer for her aerial choreography with ZACH Theatre’s Metamorphoses by the B. Iden Payne Awards. Nicole manages Blue Lapis Light’s studio where she teaches the art of aerial dance. She has performed aerial silks since 2005, studying with aerialists at New England Center for the Circus Arts, Air Dance Bernasconi, Aircat Aerial Arts, House of Yes, Liza Rose, and FALL. Nicole is driven by collaboration and is eternally grateful for the unique beauty in all people!

This is Amy’s tenth year dancing with Blue Lapis Light, and her fourth year as a Rehearsal Director for the company. She holds a BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from TCU, and teaches a variety of aerial and ground-based dance classes. Amy has had the pleasure of working with many companies and choreographers over the past couple of decades, including Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, Ariel Dance Theatre, Ellen Bartel Dance Collective, Jennifer Sherburn, and more. She has danced and choreographed for several bands/musicians, including Knifight, Kesha, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Band of Heathens, Sorne, and Nightdrive, to name a few. She feels lucky to have found a space where her passion for scaling and jumping off tall structures can help contribute to the light and love that is at the heart of Blue Lapis Light.

Kari Burke is an Austin based dancer, choreographer and somatic coach. She began dancing professionally at age 16 with modern and ballet dance companies, continued to perform with artists like Rick Ross and Kanye West, and is entering her 13th year as an aerialist with Blue Lapis Light. Kari has choreographed and presented numerous works, including a tv show episode awarded an Emmy. She earned her dual BA in Dance Performance/Choreography and Psychology from Hope College. She then continued on to study behavioral coaching with Oxford Psychologists before starting her private somatic coaching practice. Kari is passionate about helping people find healing through movement, and is deeply honored to collaborate with Blue Lapis Light to create prayers for the planet.

Ricky Dashner found his passion for dance in the colorguard of his small town high school band. Before moving to Austin from Meridian, Texas, he joined the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps. There he toured the country on 3 national tours in the summers of 2016, 2017, and 2018 under the direction of Tiffany Quinstein. Gathering his experience at the time, he directed the La Vega HS Colorguard in 2017, and has choreographed/assisted at Meridian HS(2016), Palmer HS(2016-2022), and Lake Travis HS(2021).

Ricky moved to Austin to pursue a degree in Dance at Austin Community College studying Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and Contemporary dance. Roxanne Gage, Ellen Bartel, Jun Shen, Melissa Sanderson, and Melissa Watt, have influenced and strengthened his technique in numerous ways with their classes and teachings while he’s studied with the program.

Ricky has performed in “A Wild Love for the World”, and “Dead Reckoning” in collaboration with Darla Johnson and the college. He also performed with ATX Winterguard (“Unresolved” 2021) under the direction of Raymond Holland and Milo Salinas. Still studying, he has been honored with the opportunity to dance with Blue Lapis Light as an aerialist and ground dancer. Belonging II Universe is Ricky’s first piece collaborating with the company. He hopes to share his growing love for the art of dancing on earth and in the air!

Jack is a quiet yet quirky military brat that began his dance journey at age 16. After Breakdancing for few years, he took his first ballet class at UT El Paso. Upon moving to Austin in 2011, Jack became more intrigued and began dancing modern. In 2015, he received the Austin Critics Table award alongside Alyson Dolan for Best Duet. He taught several levels of Cechetti ballet method at ONE Academy of Dance for 11 years and retired in 2022. He has recently started performing with Early Era Collective. Jack is stoked for yet another performance with Blue Lapis Light.

Katie is an Austin-based dance artist and educator. A performer, public school teacher, professional learning facilitator, UT lecturer, dance studio office manager- Katie’s connection to dance and dance education continues to evolve. The through-line for Katie is her passion for community-building and belief that dance is for everyone. Katie is thrilled to be flying with Blue Lapis again this season, and looking forward to her next project: Dance Across Austin’s Day of Dance Festival presented by MINDPOP, AISD Fine Arts, and The Creative Learning Initiative. This free community event is open to all, and Katie would love to see you there.

Lisa is an Austin, Tx unicorn with a BFA in Dance from UT, and an MA in Dance Performance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. She lived and performed in NYC with companies including Kristin Sudeikis Dance and Depth Dance. In Austin, Lisa has worked with companies & artists including Blue Lapis Light, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Co, Ty Graynor, Ventana Ballet, Jennifer Sherburn, Ellen Bartel and BLiPSWiTCH, and frequently produces choreography for the McCallum HS Dance Department. Since 2018 Lisa has worked alongside Austin Dance Festival to co-produce the "Dance on Film" screenings, and seasonally curates "Dance Film Night" at Austin Community College. Most recently she has been a co-producer and performer in “Dance Carousel” and looks forward to the upcoming 2024 showcase. Lisa is honored to have a home in the Blue Lapis Light family- her premier performance was in "Belonging, Part One" with the windows quintet, and she has also been lucky to perform with a small cast in the Charlotte International Arts Festival.

Clay Moore grew up as a competitive dancer from Houston, TX.  After graduating, he trained in Los Angeles and New York City prior to landing in ATX. Now an Austin based choreographer and performer he has been featured in works with ARCOS Dance, BLiPSWiTCH,  Jennifer Sherburn, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company. He tours during the winter with Lightwire Theater based in New Orleans and shares his passion and education as an Assistant Director of a youth dance group, Ignite Dance Company at Balance Dance Studios.

Ivry Newsome received his BFA in Dance in May 1995 from the University of Texas at Austin. Already performing professionally with local dance companies like New Afrikan Dance Company, Kinesis, Mosaic Dance Body and Conservatory Dance Theatre, Austin felt like home. Ivry began working with Sally Jacques Productions appearing in Probe One: Impossible Destiny and many other productions over the years. In 2001, he joined Pointillism Jazz Consort, a New American Jazz Company based in Washington DC. He currently serves as Executive Director and Principal Company Member for UNESCO Cultural Ambassador Company. “Dance is a gift that allows the artist to speak and learn more about this human experience and create beauty through movement… I honor The Gift of Dance in each of us.”

Christine holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin. In search of a creative outlet, Christine discovered a love for aerial arts and began silks training with Blue Lapis Light.  She enjoys performing and teaching aerial silks and pole in Austin. She is grateful for the art as well as the inspiration and support she has found within the aerial community.

Jun started formal dance training during high school, where he learned ballet, Chinese classical opera dance, and Chinese folk dance. In 2001, he graduated with his BA in dance at Beijing Capital Normal University. Sunny earned his MFA in Dance from UT Austin in 2016. Sunny is the Founder and Artistic Director of Austin-based Shen Jun Movement Effect. Sunny has choreographed and performed worldwide at dance festivals including Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, Grand Performances (LA), Dance Salad Festival (Houston) and Busan International Dance Festival. In his early career, Sunny joined Wuxi Song & Dance Troupe and later choreographed and danced for Beijing Dance LDTX. He has collaborated with many artists and dance companies including Willy Tsao, Scot Putman, Charles Anderson, Hugo Dalton, Wang Jianwei, Hou Ying, Jennifer Sherburn, Ziru production, Alonzo-King Lines Ballet Training Program, Ellen Bartel Dance Collection and Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company. Sunny has also instructed dance locally and internationally. He has taught dance at Sansori High School and April Rain School of Chinese Dance and currently teaches as an Assistant Professor at Austin Community College. In June 2017, Sunny formally joined Blue Lapis Light as a principal dancer and choreographer. In 2018, he was awarded Best Dancer by the Austin Critics Table for his performance in Belonging, Part One (2017).

Barry was raised in Texas and comes to Blue Lapis Light with 28 years of rock climbing experience and 45 years in the construction industry. He served on the Central Texas Climbing Committee (CTCC) for 14 years. The CTCC is an independently chartered advisory committee established to provide guidance and expert knowledge to Texas Parks and Wildlife regarding rock climbing resources and the placement of fixed protection at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. In 2018, Barry and his team received the Always a Safe Flight Award, a Special Citation from the Austin Critics Table for his rigging design and execution in Belonging, Part One (2017). When not throwing ropes for Blue Lapis, Barry can be found hiking, climbing, biking, and repairing the trails of Central Texas and North America.

James Faerber has been rock climbing for almost 30 years and guiding full time since 2001, primarily working at Enchanted rock during the winter season and traveling to Colorado and Wyoming in the summers. He also enjoys alpine climbing and guiding and has guided numerous ascents of high peaks in the western US as well as expeditions to the volcanoes of Mexico climbing Orizaba (18,500ft), Izta and Malinche successfully. He stays busy as the Senior Guide and Director for Outpost Wilderness Adventure (www.owa.com). His experience rigging climbing setups transferred well to rigging off the side of a building and he enjoys rigging occasionally with Blue Lapis Light aerial dance. He is an American Mountain Guides Association Apprentice Rock Guide and also a currently certified Wilderness First Responder. In the past James also volunteered on the Central Texas Climbing Committee (2009-2011 & 2019-2021), the Board of Directors for Advance Colorado and is currently the section chair for Texas for the American Alpine Club. He enjoys working with all people who are passionate about the outdoors, arts, and preserving natural spaces!

Adam is a Warrior’s Way Trainer, AMGA Assistant Rock Guide, and AMGA SPI Certified. He has worked with BLL on a number of shows including Belonging, Part One for which the BLL rigging team received the Always a Safe Flight Award, a Special Citation from the Austin Critics Table for their rigging design and execution.

William wears many hats. His electronic music and interactive audio environments for dance have been presented in concerts across the country. He has appeared on stage as a multi-media performance artist, and offstage running sound for live music concerts. Meadows has worked as a composer and sound designer on projects by Deborah Hay, Forklift Danceworks, UT Dance Department, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, and Austin Shakespeare, and has worked with Sally Jacques and Blue Lapis Light since 1996. His work has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Award for Best Sound Design in 2007 and 2010, and with numerous nominations for Best Original Composition, Best Sound Design, and Best Lighting Design.

Lindsey started dancing classical ballet at 13 and continued for 6 years under the direction of David Alejandro Duran. After high school, she traveled abroad in Germany and China during a Discipleship Training School where she experienced native forms of dance. Upon moving to Austin, she began choreography and improv classes with Darla Johnson, earned her Certificate in American Sign Language from Austin Community College, and began to explore sewing and costume making.

After transferring to Texas State, she became a member of Merge Dance Company for the 2016-2017 season and performed with them in Trinidad for the Contemporary Choreographers’ Collective Dance Festival. She also joined Transient Dance Collective in 2016 and was the President from 2017-2018. Her dance films, Refine and Imprisoned, have both been selected for various film festivals. She graduated from Texas State in May 2018 with her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography. She continues her self- taught work as a seamstress and teaches dance in the Austin area.