Sally Jacques, founder of Blue Lapis Light, creates site-specific aerial dance works that speak to social, political and spiritual issues. A seeker at heart, Jacques honed her artistic vision during her time hitchhiking throughout Europe. Recognized for her international efforts against human rights abuse, environmental endangerment, homelessness and racism, her activist views inform her artistic journey.

A native of England, 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 as a protégé of John Trigger.

Jacques has been the recipient of numerous grants and accolades, including: USA Artists Fellowship Award Nominee (2008); Austin Arts Hall of Fame Inductee (2007); Samsung Signature Award as part of First Night Austin (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); NFRI Grant funded by the NEA, Rockefeller Foundation, and Andy Warhol Foundation (1994) with José Luis Bustamante; Art Matters, NYC (1992); TCA (1991); NEA (1988); COA Cultural Arts Division (1996); numerous Austin Critics Table Awards (1995-present), and the Susan B. Anthony Peace Award (1988).

Jacques has been recognized and featured in: SXSW Community Screening (2018); PBS/KLRU’s Arts in Context (2017 & 2014); NYC, Berlin and Madrid museums (2015); Site Dance (2009); Faces of Austin (2006); PBS/KLRU’s Austin Now (2004), 64 Beds and Other Site Works (1996), United Nations Conference on Human Rights (1993); Performance Magazine, Chicago (1993); Art and the Public (1993); numerous newspaper and magazine articles published internationally including Atlanta’s Arts Papers, Austin American-Statesman, and The Austin Chronicle (1988-present).

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

Nicole loves dance! During her 13 years with Blue Lapis Light she has served as associate artistic director, performer, choreographer, rigger, and instructor. 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 and The Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin Awards including Best Dancer and Best Duet. Little Stolen Moments was voted Austin’s Best Dance Company 2010 and recognized for Best Dance on Three Miniature Trampolines. 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!

Sunny 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, 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).

Kari started her dance training with Gem City Ballet in Dayton, Ohio and went on to earn her dual BA in Dance Performance/Choreography and Psychology from Hope College in Holland, MI. Since her move to Austin in 2010, she has worked as a freelance dancer and choreographer for several artists including Kanye West at SXSW, Rick Ross at the MTV Woodie Awards, and Weird Al at the Moody Theater. Kari joined Blue Lapis Light in 2011 and is grateful to perform as a company member and soloist, teach Silks I in the studio, and serve as Rehearsal Director and House Manager from time to time. Currently, Kari is also the Studio and Marketing Manager at Originator Studios, a video and VR production company.

Jairus is a local dancer, choreographer, performer, and instructor. Living in the Austin area for the past twelve years, Jairus has been honing his dance and performance craft from Austin’s best instructors and choreographers. He is currently an instructor and choreographer for Balance Dance Studios, and he has choreographed for several competitive and youth companies. Jairus has worked with many local names, such as the Early Era Collective, Jennifer Sherburn, the UT student body, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company, and many others. Jairus continues to explore and hone his artistic and dance craft.

Kaylee holds a BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University. While at Sam Houston, she performed in several faculty and guest artist works including solo and ensemble, and received several awards and scholarships such as The Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Scholarship. She has danced professionally in Dallas and New York City with the Positive Space dance company and in Houston with Nicolay Dance Works. She has also experienced dance on an international level by attending Dance Italia, a summer dance intensive in Lucca, Italy. Kaylee is proficient in various dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, improvisation, pointe, modern, aerial and Gaga. She currently lives in Austin and performs with Lisa Nicks and Blue Lapis Light.

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 is currently a Cechetti ballet instructor and principal dancer at ONE Academy of Dance. Jack is stoked to be returning for his fourth performance with Blue Lapis Light.

Roxanne is a faculty member for the Austin Community College Dance Department. She is proficient in teaching Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Dance Production and Performance Workshops. Roxanne holds dance degrees from Kilgore College and the University of Texas at Austin. She was a Kilgore College Rangerette Lieutenant and a Swingster. She has toured & performed with the Sharir Dance Company, Andrea Beckham Collaborative Dance Company, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and Blue Lapis Light Site Specific Aerial Dance Company. She danced in varied works by Yacov Sharir, Heywood “Woody” McGriff, Jose Bustamante, Ohad Naharin, David Dorfman, Doug Varone and many more. She was the assistant choreographer for the movie Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock. She is a dance instructor, choreographer, dance judge and dance curriculum director for MA Dance. She is on the planning and production committee for the Austin Dance Festival and the Director of the Austin Dance Festival Youth Edition. This is Roxanne’s fourth season with Blue Lapis Light.

Susan began studying aerial dance with Blue Lapis Light in 2011 and joined the company in 2012. She has a wide variety of movement training including aerial silks, harness, lyra, pole, partner acrobatics, modern dance, ballet, rock climbing, and yoga. She performed with Blue Lapis Light in Heaven Earth One (2012 & 2013), Love’s Prayer (2012), East ~ West (2013), In Light (2014), Edge of Grace (2015), Radiance (2016), and Belonging (2017 & 2018). She has also had the pleasure of performing in and around Austin with Rapt Aerial Dance, Austin Community College, and Jennifer Sherburn. While not in the air, she moonlights as a web developer.

Anika began classical dance at the age of five and has continuously explored dance throughout her life. She graduated with a BA in Hospitality Management and a Minor in Dance from New Mexico State University, where she was a member of the Contemporary Dance Theatre. In 2008, Anika began her aerial dance training in New Mexico. She has had the opportunity to work with exquisite choreographers and perform across the US. In 2012, Anika moved to Austin to join Blue Lapis Light and has had the honor of collaborating on 40+ site-works under the artistic direction of Sally Jacques. She enjoys performing on aerial silks, corde lisse, spanish web, harness, and continues to dance on the ground as well! In 2018, she was honored to be awarded Best Dancer by the Austin Critics Table Awards for her performance in Belonging, Part One (2017). In Austin, Anika finds herself enjoying life through teaching at Pure Barre Austin, performing and collaborating with Rapt Aerial Dance, the 11:11 project, connecting with awesome people/causes and spending time with her husband and their two pups. Her passion to learn through both training and teaching allows her to grow and continuously find the beauty in movement and inspiration through the possibilities of the human anatomy.

Lisa, an Austin-born dance artist, studied at UT Austin and later received an MA in Dance Performance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. In 2013, Lisa moved to Brooklyn, working with art collectives Romulus NYC and Semillas Dance Collective, and performing choreography by Kristin Sudeikis and Depth Dance. In Austin, Lisa dances with Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and is the Administrative Assistant for Austin Dance Festival, as well as Co- Producer for ADF’s “Dance on Film.” She collaborates in projects with Shen Jun Movement Effect, Jennifer Sherburn, Rosalyn Nasky, Lindsay Taylor, Ellen Bartel, and Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre. Lisa’s latest performance as a Blue Lapis Light company member was Spring 2019 in North Carolina for the Charlotte SHOUT! festival.

Clay grew up in Houston as a competitive dancer. After graduating, he trained in Los Angeles with the Edge Performing Arts before choreographing at local Houston studios and dancing as a freelance artist with J&D Entertainment and LEON Dance Arts. Since moving to Austin, he has worked with ARCOS Dance, BLiPSWiTCH, Jennifer Sherburn, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and has been featured in recent music videos including Tomar & The FCA and Kae Astra. He recently joined the Blue Lapis Light family making In Light his third production with the company. Clay shares his passion for movement by teaching classes at Alisa’s Dance Academy and works with Leap of Joy as their Artistic Director.

Amy received her BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from TCU. As a performer/choreographer, she has had the opportunity to present work all over Texas, the US, and Europe with many local companies/choreographers including (but not limited to) Blue Lapis Light, Aeriel Dance Theatre, Ellen Bartel Dance Collective, Ready Set Go, Jennifer Sherburn, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, BlipSwitch, Sky Candy, Woven Feet, and Rapt. She has also danced and/or choreographed for several musicians including Kesha, Band of Heathens, Linen Closet, Sorne, Technicolor Hearts, Nightdrive, Walker Lukens, and others. Amy is also a Certified Yoga Instructor, Licensed Massage Therapist, and creator of Amy’s Apothecary.

Ivry 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.”

A Houston native now residing in Austin, Rayce began his dance journey when he joined his high school colorguard team. He went on to perform competitively with open and world class colorguards in the Austin area, bringing him to the Austin Community College dance department. He has performed in multiple productions put on by ACC and several personal projects as well. Rayce teaches colorguard at multiple highschools, and is currently working toward his associates in dance at ACC. After graduating, he hopes to earn his bachelors degree at the University of Texas, leading him to his ultimate goal of obtaining his doctorate of physical therapy. Rayce plans to open his own competitive, world class winterguard and hopes to assist the marching arts community with movement education.

Emily is a dancer, freelance choreographer, producer and Pilates instructor. She is a collaborator with Ready/ Set/Go and a co-producer/creator of the Seam Project. She has had the pleasure of dancing for many local artists and companies over the years such as Blue Lapis Light, Kathy Dunn Hamrick, Chaddick Dance Theater, Sharon Marroquin and Ellen Bartel Collective. She is delighted to be a company member with Blue Lapis Light and looks forward to performing in Beyond the Clouds.

Alex is a lighting designer and director whose work can be seen at concerts, festivals and events throughout Texas, including ACL, SXSW, FunFunFun Fest and Formula 1. Soto specializes in creating high-end visual displays utilizing 3D projection mapping and LED video presentation, and he has worked with national and international artists throughout his 12-year career. Soto’s lighting design and design implementation work on the annual Dell Children’s Gala in Austin has been written up as “production values you’d expect from the Oscars.” His work has also been profiled in Projection, Lights and Staging News. Soto has worked with Blue Lapis Light on various projects as a Lighting Designer since 2012.

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 an amateur seamstress and teaches dance in the Austin area.

Lizzy Allen is originally from Portland, Oregon. She joined Blue Lapis Light as an intern in 2018, immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon with degrees in dance and arts management. In 2019 she took on the role of production manager for the In Light performance at the IBC Bank. Lizzy has since been involved in several Blue Lapis Light productions, and when she is not running around behind the scenes for Blue Lapis she can be found teaching yoga, working on other local productions around Austin, or working on the New Orleans Jazz Festival’s cultural department. After some time away from Austin, Lizzy is thrilled to return to her home to work on another spectacular Blue Lapis Light performance.

Jessica is originally from Rome, New York. After years in the financial industry, she decided to pursue her passion for philanthropic work. For the first three years of her nonprofit career, Jessica worked for the AIDS Services of Austin finance department and then with The Arc of the Capital Area as their Operations Manager. At The Arc, Jessica was first exposed to nonprofit arts working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After leaving The Arc, Jessica refined her administrative and management skills before joining Blue Lapis Light in August 2017. Since finding her home at Blue Lapis Light, Jessica has fallen in love with the organization and the performing arts.

Jenn Vigh joined the Blue Lapis Light family in 2017 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a BA in Communications and a Minor in Dance. Since moving to Texas, she loves training at Blue Lapis’ studio in aerial silks, and dances in the air and on the ground with BLL, Lisa Nicks, Ready Set Go, and Austin Oddities. During her time with Blue Lapis, she has enjoyed helping manage studio promotions, donation campaigns, large scale performance marketing strategy and publicity. In addition to her time spent marketing for Blue Lapis, Jenn has been honored to perform in the company’s fall productions. Jenn loves Blue Lapis and feels blessed to work with such an incredible company!

Katrina Repman is a freelance designer and the owner of Austin's only acroyoga studio: Empowered Acro. She earned her BFA in Design in 2011 from the University of Texas at Austin. Inspired by the vision and passion of Blue Lapis Light, Katrina is thrilled to contribute her skills to such a creative, talented, and kind-hearted team.

Earl has more than 30 years experience with film and digital still photography. His work has appeared in numerous publications and web sites including Business Week, Rolling Stone, Wired and Spin.