As a creator and director, CHARLOTTE BRATHWAITE (Artistic Advisor)’s genre-defying works illuminate the realities and the dreams of the marginalized and center unheard, unseen, and overlooked stories. Dealing with subject matter from the historical past to the distant future, her work brings to light issues of social justice, race, sex, power, and the complexities of the human condition. Awards include Art Matters, Princess Grace, Creative Capital, United States Artist and Map Fund. She is an Associate Professor Theater Arts Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). www.charlottebrathwaite.com

REID BARTELME and HARRIET JUNG (Costume Design) Harriet Jung and Reid Bartelme met in 2009 while pursuing fashion design degrees at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. They started designing collaboratively in 2011 and have focused their practice primarily on costuming dance. They frequently design costumes for works by Pam Tanowitz, Kyle Abraham, and Justin Peck. They have devised costume centric performances for commissions from the Museum of Art and Design and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. In 2023 they made their Broadway design debut with Bob Fosse’s Dancin’. Reid and Harriet have completed research fellowships at NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. They continue designing costumes and sets for dance productions around the world while expanding the scope of their practice outside the theater.

OLIVIA WANG (she/her), originally from Queens, New York, is a first generation Chinese American artist. She has recently graduated with a BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase College. She has trained at The Ailey School, French Academie of Ballet, and was a part of the inaugural class of MOVE|NYC. Olivia has had the opportunity to perform works by Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Norbert De La Cruz III, Martha Graham, Michiyaya, Nigel Campbell, Kyle Abraham, and Roderick George. Wang has attended summer programs at A.I.M, Martha Graham, MOVE|NYC, and Hubbard Street. She is an Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA member. Wang joined A.I.M in 2024.

GIANNA THEODORE (she/her) Raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Gianna began her dance training at Ballet East Studio under the direction of Susan Lyle and Chelsea Nasby. Gianna is a graduate of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and a three-time YoungArts Merit Scholar/Honorable Mention. She graduated with a BFA in dance from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program Class of 2020. Throughout the course of her training, she has performed works by Robert Battle, Chuck Wilt, and Bradley Shelver. She attended Springboard Danse Montreal, where she performed work created by RUBBERBANDANCE, and Parts & Labour Danse. Gianna has ventured through many cultures and styles of dance, such as house and African, which has helped land her lead roles in music videos. She has also performed professionally with artists such as Ebony Williams, Mark Caserta, Maleek Washington, and Jennifer Archibald. She recently performed during a residency with Helen Simoneau Danse. Gianna joined A.I.M in 2019.

NIYA SMITH (she/her), is an Atlanta, Georgia native. She began her training at Dancemakers of Atlanta under direction of Denise Heard Latimer and Lynise Heard. She has attended summer programs with BODYTRAFFIC, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. She received her BFA in Dance from The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. During her time at Purchase, she performed works by George Balanchine, Yue Yin, Alvin Ailey, and Kevin Wynn. Niya gives thanks and gratitude to those who have helped shape her into the person and artist she is today. Smith joined A.I.M in 2025.

LUC SIMPSON (he/him) is a French American dancer from San Diego, California. He is a recent graduate of The Juilliard School, with prior training at both Golden State Ballet Academy and the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. In 2021, Luc was recognized as a National YoungArts Finalist in Modern/Contemporary Dance. He has since had the privilege of performing works by Kyle Abraham, Sharon Eyal & Gai Behar, Sol León and Paul Lightfoot, Aszure Barton, Jermaine Spivey, Johannes Weiland, Yue Yin, and others. Luc is a guest performer with A.I.M for White Space.

DONOVAN REED (they/them), a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began their dance training at the age of 16. Soon after, Reed attended college at The University of the Arts where they received their BFA in May of 2016. During their time in college, they participated as an artist in residence at Die Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition, Reed participated in an independent artist program where their training was extended with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Other studies include PHILADANCO!, Eleone Dance Theatre, and The Rock School for Dance Education. They have performed works by choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Regina Van Berkel, Sharon Eyal, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Beth Gill, Andrea Miller, Tania Isaac, Meredith Rainey, and Helen Simoneau. In 2024, Reed was selected as one of Dance Magazine's “Top 25 to Watch”. Reed joined A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2018.

WILLIAM OKAJIMA (he/him) Originally from Irvine, California, William Okajima’s love for music and dance originated from a young age, growing up in a household full of artists. Will’s extensive training began at Orange County School of the Arts, and supplemented his dance training at both Westside Dance Project and Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy. At just age 13, Will obtained his first professional dance role in Sia’s The Greatest music video, and fell in love with the commercial world. Since, he continues to be a part of Los Angeles' vibrant commercial dance scene, featuring in nationwide advertisements (Honda, Apple, Pull & Bear), as well as international campaigns. Most recently, Will traveled to Dubai to feature in the country’s latest tourism film. A recent graduate from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, Will received a BFA in Dance under the guidance of individuals including Kyle Abraham, Bret Easterling, Jermaine Spivey, Jodie Gates and William Forsythe. At Kaufman, Will has performed featured roles in works by Jiří Kylían, Micaela Taylor, Tyce Diorio, Desmond Richardson, Dwight Rhoden and Hope Boykin. Will also received a minor in entrepreneurship through the USC Marshall School of Business. In doing so, Will hopes that his studies of the intersections between dance performance and personal branding will allow him to tackle the demands of the commercial and concert dance world with a uniquely informed academic perspective. Will is a 2025 Princess Grace Award Winner. Will joined A.I.M in 2024.

DESTIN MORISSET (he/him) Born and raised in Queens, New York. Destin is a graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. He has trained at MOVE|NYC and French Academie of Ballet. Destin is a recipient of the 2021 Gregg Burge Award and 2025 Outstanding Senior in Dance at SUNY Purchase. He has performed works by choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Norbert De La Cruz III, Chanel DaSilva, Greg Lau, Roderick George, Jie-hung Connie Shiau, LajaMartin, Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, and Yue Yin. Destin was formerly a company artist with The Dash Ensemble led by Gregory Dolbashian. Morisset joined A.I.M in 2025.
 

FAITH JOY MONDESIRE (she/her) Brooklyn-born dancer Faith Joy Mondesire joined A.I.M by Kyle Abraham in 2023. Her roots in dance started as a liturgical dancer at her local church. Later she worked with choreographers such as Joseph Hernandez, Sidra Bell, Kristen Foote, Melanie Gambino, Doug Varone, and Abdel R. Salaam and Dyane Harvey (Forces of Nature Dance Theater), among others. She has performed at Dance Africa BAM, NJPAC, The Apollo, and elsewhere. Dance Magazine published her feature, “I’ll Never Forget My First Pair of Flesh Tone Tights” in 2020. Training: Edge School of The Arts, Brooklyn Dance Project, Restoration Youth Arts Academy, LaGuardia High School, SUNY Purchase, Alonzo King Lines Ballet Summer Intensive. Mondesire joined A.I.M in 2023.