Geri Brown is a storyteller, an educator, and social entrepreneur whose work is threaded in breaking the barriers to access and building safe, equitable, and inclusive communities. Her work utilizes art (dance, theatre, and music) as the catalyst for change. She runs three organizations called the Trifecta of Change. Geri is the Founder and Creative Director of Liberate Artists Inc., a dance education movement and benefit corporation, which utilizes dance education to build confidence and promote social growth in young people. Not a dance competition or dance convention, Liberate Artists Inc. has created its own pathway forward that focuses on helping students be their best self in a non-competitive environment. In her work with Liberate Artists Inc., Geri has traveled all over the world making dance the catalyst for change. From Australia to England to New York to Texas, Liberate Artists builds each dancer up through their catch phrase “You Are Enough.” They inspire kids and promote socio-emotional growth through mindfulness, colorful history, inclusionary practices, and award over $500,000 in scholarships per year. Including the Patricia A. Woodward Inspiration Award, which has been awarded since 2016, where Liberate Artists pays for dancers tuition for an entire year at their home studios. In an effort to ensure dance education is safe, equitable, and inclusive Geri serves as the Founder/Organizer for Dance Education Equity Association (DEEA). DEEA is an organization dedicated to serving the dance community through their BE COURAGEOUS courses, community support, and systemic based consulting work. Dance Education Equity Association educates to implement their expectations of safety, equity, and inclusivity into dance communities everywhere. By working together, in compassionate accountability, DEEA is working to make dance for all. Always, Enough Foundation is the final pillar in her trifecta of change.In an effort to continue to support families and provide additional socio-emotional support, Geri is the President and Executive Director of Always, Enough Foundation [501c3]. Always, Enough Foundation breaks barriers to access to ensure performing arts education is for all. In their effort to remove financial barriers to access, Always, Enough Foundation pays for tuition, travel, accommodations and meals, for dancers and their families to attend dance competitions, dance conventions, and other performing arts opportunities that meet their standards of safety, equity, and inclusivity. Geri is also a member of the newly initiated Intersectionality Task Force for the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS). IADMS's mission is to enhance the health, well-being, training, and performance in dance by cultivating medical, scientific, and educational excellence. As an artist and storyteller, Geri graduated cum laude, with her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Pace University. As a student and post graduation, Geri was hired as the Assistant Recruitment Coordinator under the tutelage of her mentor Patricia A. Woodward, and then became the Interim Recruitment Coordinator for the entire Pace University Performing Arts Department. There, she assisted and managed thousands of auditions and applications for the Acting Program, Musical Theatre Program, and then the novel Commercial Dance Program, and was also responsible for ensuring all of the performing arts students, had the requirements needed to graduate. Geri is a trained actor, singer, dancer and writer, who uses the word storyteller to best describe her work. As a member of Actor’s Equity Association, Geri has performed Off-Broadway, in pre-Broadway productions, and in NYC theatres. Geri also originated her role in Tales from the Tunnel starring alongside Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner Wilson J. Heredia, who originated the role of Angel, in the Broadway musical Rent. Due to her exceptional character work, Geri has been highlighted for her work by The New York Times which quoted “Geri Brown is ferocious as the station clerk who has seen it all,” and by TheaterMania “Geri Brown radiates presence, attitude, and a sense of humor.” Additionally, Geri has been researching and writing a spoken word musical about civil rights and LGBTQIA2+ rights activist, Marsha P. Johnson, for the last eight years with her collaborator and friend Brett Macias. As a storyteller, Geri continues to create spoken word, poetry, and essays. From storyteller to educator to social entrepreneur, the pulse of all of Geri's work is her mission is to inspire all to truly know that "You Are Enough," exactly as you are, in the skin and body you are in.”

Audry is a New York based dance arts manager, choreographer, teaching artist, and yoga instructor. She began her career as a performer traveling the country by bus in Sesame Street Live, by horse in Dolly Parton’s Stampede, internationally by ship for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and under the big top for Circus Hermanos Vazquez and Cirque Montage. From there she focused her energies on teaching ballroom in New York City classrooms, choreographing for Concordia Conservatory, and spending summers at Stagedoor Manor theatre camp. From high schools to regional theatres she has choreographed several musicals including Cinderella, Grease, HAiR, Aida, and Working. Along the way Audry has taken several opportunities to step into management positions with roles including dance captain, company manager, experience manager, and now Director of Operations for Liberate Artists. Today you can find Audry working, traveling, and teaching for Liberate Artists, sharing the love of Sesame Street traveling with Sesame Workshop, spreading the word on the benefits of yoga to anyone who will listen, and choreographing musicals in her spare time.

Deion Muse is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer born and raised in South Boston, VA. Currently teaching and training at the award winning Essence of Movement Dance Studio, Deion has a true passion and gift for dance. As a well-rounded dancer and choreographer, Deion has had the opportunity to work in a diverse array of genres from musical theatre to hip hop. Select credits include: XeQtion Dance Team, VCU Ram Cheerleader, CompleX Modeling Troupe, Black Ice Dance Crew, CompleX Modeling Troupe, Black Ice Dance Crew, Essence of Movement performance choreography, Shrek the Musical, Oklahoma!, and Gypsy. In 2018 Deion made history with Liberate Artists INC as the first dancer to be chosen and successfully completed Focus 2018 (as an Apprentice in Los Angeles, California) and Phoenix Fire 2018 (as a Primo in Brooklyn, NY). In training with Liberate Artists INC. Deion has had the opportunity to assist and study with some of the most successful dance educators in the industry including: Lauren Froderman (winner of So You Think You Can Dance), Samo Soto (Netflix’s “The Get Down”), and Emmy Award winning choreographer Mia Michaels.

Even before engaging with formal training, Travis Cooper - also known as Santikaro, meaning “peace-bringing ray of light” - has been in love with movement and dance since he was a child. As a kid, he discovered a passion for the choreographic process, making dances with willing family members.  He participated in many years of training in diverse dance techniques and has since become invested in teaching and facilitating dance and movement classes around the country. While Santikaro is grateful for his thorough training and full career in the dance industry as a dancer and choreographer for music videos, tours, commercials, TV shows, films, dance companies, and industrials, he has spent years learning to integrate those formative experiences into the larger tapestry of living a purposeful, meaningful, authentic life. Most recently, he is approaching the dance and movement classes he offers as a way of holding space for people no matter where they are in their journey, and seeks to provide a rich experience for all, regardless of whether students are trained in dance or not. Santikaro holds space in a way that is simultaneously firm and gentle, steady and sturdy, and rooted in the belief that while we are each different beings, we are all part of one larger energy, and so we are inherently complete just as we are in each moment.  Travis is inspired by and curious about how all parts of a person inform one another. Santikaro is honored and devoted to serving people through holding space for people to come home to themselves through the exploration of movement and dance.

Julie Carter, originally from Alabama, is a graduate of Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance with a Jazz Concentration. She trained at Alabama Ballet and has traveled to numerous countries as a dancer for Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines and Spirit Productions. She has assisted teachers such as Jason Parsons, the late Doug Caldwell, Elizabeth Parkinson (Chorus Line), Kathryn Mowat Murphy (Moving Out), and has performed works by Jason Sparks, Luam, Mike Esperanza, Jaclyn Buglisi, Merce Cunningham, among others. Julie is on the Contemporary Faculty at Steps On Broadway, and has been a Guest Artist for the Martha Graham School’s Summer Intensive, Manhattan Movement Art Center, Dance Teachers Club of Boston, and The School at Steps. Currently a teacher for Liberate Artists, Julie has had the opportunity to work alongside well-known artists from So You Think You Can Dance, including Lauren Froderman, Comfort Fedoke, and Alex Wong. Most currently, she is a company member of NYC-based Dance Into Deliverance and is an adjunct instructor for Sacred Heart University’s Dance Department.

Fox is a commercial hip hop and musical theatre performer. Fox has been performing and competing on stage for over 19 years, with experience and training in various genres of dance, including but not limited to: jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, pointe, hip-hop, salsa, and modern to name a few. 

Fox  is a graduate from Penn State University, majoring in Dance Stage Management and Performance. Since graduating, she has performed, stage managed, and directed multiple productions.  Fox assists, directs, and choreographs local tristate musician’s music videos and live performances, as well as choreographers dance videos and content.  Fox enjoys teaching at multiple studios and hosting workshops.  Though Fox is usually seen teaching hip hop and lyrical, you can find her in AM Ballet and heels classes at night all in the heart of NYC. Fox’s life motto is, “Never let the dreams you had as child be forgotten, you have more time than you think”.

Alicia is a recent graduate of Lindenwood University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Jazz and a Minor in Musical Theatre. She started dancing at the age of four in South Carolina. She's trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, and hip hop. During high school, she danced competitively on the Studio b Dance Team and her high school team in Lafayette, IN. She was a Liberate Artists prodigy at Phoenix Fire 2019 and an apprentice at Phoenix Fire 2021 and 2022 in New York City. Alicia attended ACDA in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, performing Megan Mayer’s piece “when the fire continues” in their Gala showcase. She’s attending this event again this year, performing Brenna Mickley’s “Relax, Repeat.” She performed at The Big Muddy Dance Festival in 2021, dancing in “Before the Numerberg Code” by Tricia Zweier. Alicia also performed during National Dance Week in St. Louis, showcasing Alicia Love’s “Stand There and Look Pretty.” She performed at the Polar Express at Union Station during the holidays as an elf, chef, and conductor. She’s also performed at Six Flags St. Louis during Fright Fest as a performer in Dead Man’s Party. Last year, she choreographed for the 2022 Winter Dance Concert at Lindenwood University. After she graduates, she hopes to work in the cruise line industry as a performer in their Broadway-style shows.

Breanna Davis, MS, R-DMT, LMHCa is a Registered Dance/movement Therapist from Indianapolis, Indiana and has a Master’s in Dance/Movement Therapy and is in the process of achieving her Mental Health Counselor License. Through The Andrea Rizzo Foundation, Breanna brought Dance/movement Therapy back to Riley Children’s Hospital where she provides therapy services to kids, teens, and parents during their hospital stay. Breanna works to help connect others to movement as a way of emotional expression, pain management, coping, and encouraging positive self-esteem and body image. Breanna also works as a dance teacher and choreographer. Bringing all of her passions together, DEEA has been a source of rejuvenation with the efforts to make sure dance spaces are safe, equitable, and inclusive for all. Contact Breanna: Breanna@danceequityassociation.com

Lynsey began her dance training at Unique Performance Arts Center in New Jersey and has a Bachelor of Science in Dance from Penn State University. While at Penn State she was on the 3x National Champions Lionettes Dance Team, performing at football and basketball games. Lynsey has been with Liberate Artists for five years, assisting our guest and traveling faculty. She can be seen in Miles Keeney's "Got Pride?" video and has choreographed award-winning routines. Lynsey continues to share her passion for dance with others through teaching and choreography.

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