
Dava Huesca (Day -Va Wesca) is a Performing Artist, Choreographer, & Educator splitting her time between New York City and Los Angeles.
PORTFOLIO
*List Only*
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CATS (2024) | Rumpleteazer | Perelman Arts Center
Saturday Church (Movement Workshop) (2024) | Dancer | New York Theater Workshop
Spell #7 (2024) | Dahlia | The Public Theater
The Last New Years Eve (2023) | Marla Phelan | McKittrick Hotel
Monster Ball (2023) | Marla Phelan | The McKittrick Hotel
Cameo (2023) | Ogemdi Ude| Gibney Presents
Midsommars Night Party (2023) | Marla Phelan | The McKittrick Hotel
An Eclectic Dance to the Music of Time (2023) | Jacolby Satterwhite | Lincoln Center
Midnight at the McKittrict (2023) | Marla Phelan & Stefanie Batten Bland| The McKittrick Hotel
Works and Process Guggenheim (2022) | Yin Yue Dance Company|
Moonfest (2022) | Karencici | Barclays Center
We’re Going to Mars (2022) | Christoph Wrinkler Company| Sophensaile (Berlin)
Telfar | Damani Pompei | Telfar
The Oddsey (2021) | Quaba Ernest | Arts on Site
Chez Bushwhick AIR Resident (2021)
In the Stillness (2021) | LLAB RATS Dance | Art Cake
Life After (2020) | LajaMartin | Dance Film
Lost Tribe (2020) | LLAB RATS DANCE| Ciclo Dos
Plug Walk (2020) | LLAB RATS Dance| Triskelion Arts (2020)
Study on Intimacy [a] (2020) | LLAB RATS Dance| Arts on Site STUFFED
TenderHeaded (2020) | LLAB Rats Dance | Battery Dance Festival
VIM/VIGOR untitled (2020) | VIM/VIGOR| New York City Center
Staycee Pearl Dance Project (2018 - 2019)
Dissolving Empire Original Cast (2019) | Johanness Weiland | Springboard Danse Montreal
Bodies of Water Melt (2019) | Vanessa Goodman| Springboard Danse Montreal
Here to Here (2019) | 2nd Best Dance Company | Dance Theater Lab
Second II (2018) | Rena Butler | Dance Theater Lab
Data Rage (2018) | VIM VIGOR | Springboard Danse Montreal
Dafke (2018) | MAZE Dance Company | Springboard Danse Montreal
HUMAN HEREOS (2017) | Sidra Bell | Pepsi Co Theater
Bric Brac a Baby (2017) | Maxine Doyle | Dock 11
Helios Ritual to the Sun (2015) | Martha Graham | Joyce Theater
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HOPE ROAD Bob Marley *Associate to Tanisha Scott* (2025)
Steps Dance Conservatory (2024)
Whim Whim Dance Company (2023)
Chez Bushwhick RECESS (2023)
Concert Concepts (2023)
University of Michigan SUMMIT (2023)
Dance Lab New York (2023)
Gibney Pro (2023) *Asst. LajaMartin*
Peridance Certificate program, student graduation solo (2022)
Barnard Dance (2022) *VIM VIGOR*
Yale Summer Drama Cabaret (2022)
Gibney Pro (2022) *Asst. LajaMartin*
Chez Bushwhick AIR Resident (2021)
Art Cake (2021)
Ciclo Dos (2020)
Triskelion Arts Center (2020)
Arts on Site STUFFED (2020)
Battery Dance Festival (2020) *LLAB RATS*
SUNY Purchase (2019) & (2021) *LLAB RATS*
The CRAFT NYC (2020) *LLAB RATS*
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Annmarie School of Performing Arts
Barnard Dance
Broadway Dance Center A.I.M
Brickhouse
Dance Lab Next Gen
Fierce Dance
Gibney Dance
Gibney Pro
Jump Dance Studio
Los Angeles Contemporary Dance
Mahattanville College
MOVE|NYC|
Movers Bodega
New York University
Peridance Capezio Center
Steps on Broadway
SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance
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Dance Lab New York (2023)
Gallim Moving Women Residency (2021)
Chez Bushwhick AIR resident (2020)
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TELFAR NYFW (2022)
Parade Naked Chase (2022)
TELFAR TV 2021
Prom Girl (2017)
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Dance Magazine 2025 “25 to Watch”
Obie Award: Best Ensemble in a Musical (2025)
Desire Keras From the Heart Award (2015)
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SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance (2019)
Fiorello H. LaGuardia Arts High School (2015)
Springboard Danse Montreal (2018 & 2019)
Springboard X (2017 & 2023)
The Galen Hooks Method Pro (2022)
b12 Berlin (2017)
Gaga Israel Winter Intensive (2018)
Peridance Youth Ensemble (2012-2014)
ABOUT
Dava Huesca, named one of Dance Magazine’s ‘25 to Watch’ in 2025, is a dynamic freelance performing artist and choreographer. Trained at Fiorello LaGuardia Arts High School and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, Dava has performed in a range of productions, including CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Rumpleteazer, Assistant Dance Captain), Yin Yue Dance Company, VIM VIGOR dance company, and much more! Known for her grounded contemporary movement, Dava continues to expand her artistic practice through concert dance, musical theater, and choreography.
Dava's passion for choreography evoked during the COVID-19 Pandemic, prompting her to create opportunities for herself. In 2020, she co-founded LLAB RATS, an interdisciplinary arts collective focusing on art as activism for the benefit of the Black community. Through LLAB RATS, she has performed and choreographed for various venues, including Battery Dance Festival, CPR, Ciclo Dos, Purchase Dance Company, Arts on Site, The Craft NYC, and POP UP NYC.
As a freelance choreographer, she has received commissions from Whim Whim Dance Company, Dance Lab New York, Yale University's Summer Drama Cabaret, Peridance Certificate Program Graduation Solo, and worked as an associate choreographer with Laja Martin for Gibney Pro. Dava was honored as the first Springboard Danse Montreal nominated recipient of Jonah Bokaer's Arts Foundation AIR Founder's Residency in 2021 and was among the first round of choreographic artists for Gallim's Moving Women residency in 2020.
As an educator Dava offers a grounded contemporary floor work experience, emphasizing alignment, efficiency, and fluidity. Drawing inspiration from acrobatics, Graham technique, modern dance, and partnering, she prioritizes effective body alignment to ensure safety during high-risk movement. The floor will become a friend and will aid the dancer in strength, stability, and agility.
Dava's contributions to dance education and teaching have been acknowledged through her roles as an adjunct professor at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, MOVE|NYC|, Barnard at Columbia, Gibney Pro, Peridance, Brickhouse, Broadway Dance Center, and other institutions. She has been recognized for her impact in the dance world, including accolades from Desiree Kera's from the Heart (2015), and mentions in The New York Times and Dance Spirit magazine for her viral dance fashion Instagram page, @issadancelook. For 1.5 years Dava took over the position of Artistic Programs Manager for the arts and social justice organization MOVE|NYC|.
Press & Publications
Dance Magazine: Introducing Our 2025 “25 To Watch”
The New York Times: The Stuff They Strut On the Jellicle Catwalk
The New York Times: Review: A 10th Life for The Jellicle “Cats” Now on the Runway
New York Post: ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ review: The most fun you’ll have at the theater this summer
The Queer Review: The Mother of Reinvention – Theatre Review: Cats “The Jellicle Ball” (Perelman Performing Arts Center, New York) ★★★★★
The Daily Beast: Any CATS haters will be instantly cured by Cats the Jellicle Ball
The Chicago Tribune: Review Cats The Jellicle Ball in New York give this musical a whole new ballroom life!
Exeunt: Cats: The Jellicle Ball at Perelman Performing Arts Center
Playbill: On the Red Carpet: Jellicle Cats, and Broadway Stars, Came Out to the Cats Opening Night
New York Times: Best of Theater 2024
New York Times: Best Dance Performances of 2024
Wall Street Journal: The Best Theater of 2024: Surprising Stagings and New Perspectives
Washington Post: 10 best plays and musicals of 2024: Rachel McAdams, ‘Oh, Mary!’ and more
TIME OUT: Best of the City: The 17 best things Time Out New York editors saw, ate and visited in 2024
Dance Lab New York: Inside the Lab
The Seattle Times: Seattle dance performances you don’t want to miss in fall 2023
The New York Times: Five Dance Instagram Accounts You Should Follow
Dance Spirit Magazine: #Follow Friday