Dava Huesca (Day-Va Wesca) is a Performing Artist, Choreographer, & Educator splitting her time between New York and Los Angeles.
ABOUT
Dava Huesca is a freelance choreographer and performing artist. She began her dance training at Fiorello LaGuardia Arts High School in New York City and holds a degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Dava’s professional performance career includes: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Rumpleteazer, Assistant Dance Captain, U/S Victoria), Ogemdi Ude (Guest Artist), Yin Yue Dance Company (Guest Artist), VIM VIGOR (Company Member), Telfar, Jacolby Satterwhite (An Electric Dance to the Music and Time), Johannes Weiland (Dissolving Empire), Laja Martin (Guest Artist), Maxine Doyle (Brick Brack A Baby), Rena Butler (II. Second), Marla Phelan (The McKittrick Hotel), Stephanie Batten Bland (The McKittrick Hotel), Sidra Bell (Human Heroes), Christoph Wrinkler Company (We’re Going to Mars), and the Martha Graham Dance Company (Helios: Ritual to the Sun).
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|.
PORTFOLIO
*List Only*
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CATS (2024) | Rumpleteazer | Perelman Arts Center
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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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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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)
Press & Publications
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
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