MEET THE CREW
JESSI
-
Jessica (Jessi) is a New Jersey-based fusion dance teacher and performer with a rich background in lyrical, jazz, and American Cabaret Belly Dance. She is a certified Level 1 ITS (Improv Team Sync) Instructor, the director of CoDanCo, and the producer and curator of Arcana Fusion Belly Dance. She also leads the Belly of the Beast student dance troupe, creating opportunities for emerging dancers to explore and perform fusion styles.
Alongside her dance partner and “dance wife for life,” Jessi performs throughout the tri-state area and along the East Coast as one half of the dangerously fun fusion duo, The Gerudo Vagrants.
Known online as the “Internet Mom Friend,” Jessi is a vocal advocate for fellow spoonies and those with invisible illnesses.
Outside the studio, she’s usually complaining about poor matching-making in Overwatch, slaying demons in Devil May Cry, drawing on her iPad, or racing toward a cosplay deadline. In her professional life, Jessi leads a team of audio and web engineers, blending creativity and leadership with her ever-present spark.
Follow Jessi:
@rainboanonymous
@thegerudovagrants
@arcanafusiondance
DEVON
-
Devon (DLock) is one of the most sought out dancers in the entertainment business. His love of dance started at a young age inspired heavily by Michael Jackson, cosplay/anime, and a wide variety of artists.
Devon has trained in various styles, favoring Krump, hip hop, popping, and animation styles. Outside of his dance career he is also the co-founder of a Star Wars inspired performance group named Urban Force. The group specializes in light saber choreography and fight scenes.
Devon has always enjoyed sharing his love of dance and performance with others and always lights up a room with his presence.
In 2019 Devon had his first opportunity to perform at a cosplay event and has continued to be a force within the community.
Follow Devon:
@dlock917
@nevod_jedi
@urban_forcephl
ANDRIEL
CURLY BRIGHT
-
Curly Bright is a Virginia-born dancer and circus acrobat with a background in competitive cheerleading. Her performance repertoire includes pole dancing, chair acrobatics, aerial Lyra, and fire eating. Apparatus still in training include trapeze and silks. Don’t try these tricks at home, kids!
Follow Curly Bright:
@curlybrightproductions
SLINGTAILE
ZIRAKI
Katie
Sami
calixta starr
kano
valkyrie
-
Anðriel has had a love for performance since childhood. Growing up involved in music and theatre, she couldn’t let it go. Anðriel started belly dancing in 2008, and it captured her heart. Her first instructor, Aaliyah Jenny Cohen, introduced her to fusion and the FCBD style and became a Certified FCBD Partner Studio in October of 2014. When Anðriel and Jessi started dancing together, they started learning ITS, which has been a staple in their performances ever since.
Anðriel is a proud mom of three amazing kids who continue to teach her so much about life. When she isn’t dancing, she loves watching movies and shows with her hubby, reading fantasy, and cursing whilst playing video games (she’s just not that good). “In real life,” Anðriel works full time as a Certified Surgical Technologist.
Follow Anðriel:
@andriel_8
@thegerudovagrants
-
Ziraki is a smol excitable gremlin who doesn’t leave her house. When she does decide to venture out into the world, it’s to attend conventions or go to dance class or find something really yummy to eat.
Ziraki prefers dancing in the dark environment of anime convention raves, but somehow found herself on stage with a whole company of cosplay dancers. She’s not sure how that happened but she’s happy to be here. Much like a dog at a birthday party.
Follow Ziraki:
@___ziraki
-
Slingtaile is also known as the Daffodil Prince, Spirit of the Jersey Devil and is one half of a band called Bastard Feather. Slingtaile found his start in dance in 2010 by leading Rave Circles as Raving Link at AnimeNEXT (rip) and later MAGFest as well as other conventions nearby. Slingtaile now has found his home performing with Cosplay Dance Company.
Follow him and SKUMKIDWIZARD with the handle @bastardfeather on Instagram, Youtube and Spotify.
Follow Slingtaile:
@slingtaile
-
Hi, I’m Katie - menance to ceiling fans, master of the spin and certified multitasker. With 17 years of hula hooping under my belt (or, more accurately, around my waist), I specialize in flow arts! A busy stay-at-home mom by day and a hoop dancer by… well, all the time! I can always be found with a hoop in hand. Life’s better when you’re spinning!
I love bringing characters to life one spin at a time, proving that hula hoops aren’t just for the playground. While I love performing, my true passion is sharing the magic of hula hooping with others. I volunteer teaching others how to spin and discover their own flow—because every one deserves a chance to feel like a hoop superstar!
Whether I’m wielding a glowing hoop or one engulfed in flames, one thing’s for sure—I come to slay (and not set my costume on fire...hopefully.)
Follow Katie:
@kupkateee
-
Sami has been dancing in various styles since childhood, with modern and lyrical dance sticking with her into adulthood. She is a hoop flow artist, floorwork enthusiast, and amateur pole dancer and aerialist. Sami has years of dance choreography under her belt and enjoys tying the lyrics of music to movement. She has been cosplaying and attending cons since the mid 2000s, and dancing in cosplay since 2019.
Follow Sami:
@sami_j_gilray
-
Jenn - AKA - Valkyrie!
This performer hails from the outer rings of the DC Galaxy.
Virginia-born and ready to rumble, they have performed on stage in many forms, and look forward to busting some moves at the next event.
Follow Valkyrie:
@valkyriesja
-
Calixta Starr is an award winning, international theatrical fusion artist from NY. Her unique storytelling style has been featured in numerous stage shows, dance festivals and pop culture conventions - including New York Comic Con, MAGFest and Festival de la Bete Noire - and is a member of Geek Chic Entertainment as well. Calixta is also a member of Splendor Solis, a trio of fusion dancers that utilize storytelling as the foundation for their artistry.
Calixta Starr’s training in multiple dance forms blend together to create pieces that are like “live” movies that tell a character driven story as well as continually push the boundaries of theatrical dance.
Follow Calixta Starr:
@calixtastarrdance
-
Alex, aka Kano, began learning hip-hop moves and freestyle from friends, which led to Breakin’. Along the way, Alex also gained knowledge in Latin dancing.
He started attending cons in the late 20-teens and has been dancing in cosplay ever since!
Follow Kano:
@alemar9682