KAYLA JOHNSON Born and raised in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Kayla Johnson began her dance training at Art Of Dance, then at St. Paul Conservatory for performing artists where she had the opportunity to perform with TU Dance Company. Kayla received her Bachelors Fine Arts in dance at California Institute of the Arts and has performed in works by Rosanna Gamson, Becca Lemme, Kira Blazek, Joan H Padeo, and Brigette Dunn – Korpela. 

ALEXANDRA RIX is a movement artist and bodyworker based in LA. Rix has collaborated in the works of Christine Bonansea, Rebecca Bryant, Colleen Dunagan, Stephen Koplowitz, Rebecca Lemme, Jennifer Polins, Colleen Thomas, and KevinWilliamson. Rix trained at California State University Long Beach where she graduated with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Dance Science. 

JUSTIN MORRIS began his dance training at Riverside City College in multiple genres including modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. They have performed in numerous choreographic works presented in the Inland Empire, the greater Los Angeles area, and nationally. These works include collaborations with Jay Carlon, Sue Roginski and Kirsten Johansen. They have also performed in works created by Kevin Williamson, Alexx Shilling, Colleen Thomas, visual artist David Lamelas, Rebecca Bryant, Rosa Rodriguez-Fraiser, and Summation Dance Company. Justin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from CSU Long Beach’s Department of Dance and is a current faculty member at Renaissance High for the Arts in Long Beach.

KEVIN WILLIAMSON is an LA-based movement artist and Assistant Professor of Dance at Scripps College. A Lester Horton Award recipient, Bates Educators Fellow, Johnson Faculty Achievement in Research Awardee, and Center Theatre Group Sherwood Award Finalist, his works have been presented at DanspaceProject, REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival, Dixon Place, CounterPulse, LACMA, Austin’s OUTsider Festival, Minnesota Fringe, Diversionary Theater SD, and the Beijing Dance Festival. Williamson has performed with David Rousseve/REALITY, Maria Gillespie’s Oni Dance, LA Contemporary Dance Company, Robert Moses’ Kin. He received his BA and MFA in Dance and Choreography from UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance. 

ANNA LUISA PETRISKO is a composer, musician, and visual artist. She recently received the Map Fund award for her new opera VIBRATION GROUP which debuted at LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions). Whether it is experimental opera, multimedia installation, or a tropical new age pop album, her work is an otherworldly spectacle that explores future and ancient ideas, invested as much in the sacred as in technological speculation. 

TASO PAPADAKIS is a commercial art photographer and filmmaker, whose images are known for their strong narrative and use of light.  Taso has photographed for and made dance films with Kevin Williamson for many seasons and currently makes images for LA Opera, Opera UCLA, and AMDA.   His photo work is often published in the LA Times and his motion films are in the collection of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. Highlights in his documentary work include photographing the Dalai Lama and assignments with remote communities in El Salvador.  Taso holds a degree in Religious Studies from the University of Southern California and is a large-scale painter of movement and celebration.

KELSEY VIDIC was born in Florida and began her career in costumes by interning with Brevard Music Center, STAGES St. Louis, Gomez-Gracia in London and the Santa Fe Opera. She received an MFA in Costume Design at the University of Texas at Austin. Her work focuses specifically on bodies, textiles and space with collaborations that include Intel Corporation, Opera på Skåret in Kopparberg, Sweden, American Players Theatre, Kevin Williamson+Company and LA Contemporary Dance Company in various design roles. Vidic currently works as the Costume Designer and Shop Manager for the Dance Department at California State University, Long Beach.    

This year, a portion of donations & ticket sales made during the HOT Festival will be donated to organizations that support queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. 

DP TV programs are free, and participating artists are remunerated. Donations help support the community during this challenging time as DP continues to bring together visionary artists and adventurous audiences. If you can make a gift at this time, we’re very grateful for your consideration! Support DP