About
Larissa Velez-Jackson (LVJ) (they/she pronouns) is a choreographer, interdisciplinary artist, performer and teacher who uses improvisation as a main tool for research and creation, focusing on the movement, vocal sound and stories of our bodies. LVJ employs humor to grant audiences warm access to contemporary art's critical discourse, being called “an adroit physical comedian” who “seems to be questioning entrenched conventions of contemporary performance” in The New York Times. In 2011, LVJ launched a song-and-dance collaboration with their husband, Jon Velez-Jackson, called Yackez, “The World's Most Lovable Musical Duo." Yackez presented a two-act world premiere at New York Live Arts in March 2017, entitled “Give It To You Stage.” For more info on Yackez visit www.yackez.com. LVJ creates performances as the Artistic Director of their project-based company, LVJ Performance Co.
Velez-Jackson's works have been curated internationally in Mexico City, Mexico and Madrid, Spain. Their works have been performed widely in New York City, including The Bushwick Starr, The Chocolate Factory Theater, Roulette, Museum of Art and Design, Danspace Project, New Museum, American Realness Festival at Abrons Arts Center, and Martin E. Segal Theater. Velez-Jackson is a passionate teacher of mind/body wellness and fitness classes. Pre-pandemic they were working at 92 St Y and West Side YMCA in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in the older adult population. Larissa's private teaching includes Pilates, functional and corrective exercise and Gentle Rasa Yoga. Their recent choreographic works, "Give It To You Stage" with Yackez and "Zapatografía/Shoegraphy" at Bushwick Starr incorporated a cast of senior dance-exercisers. The latter featured members from the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC). With the support of Henry Street Settlement (HSS) and an AirSpace residency at Abrons Arts Center, LVJ restaged "Zapatografía/Shoegraphy" in December 2018 at Abrons Arts Center with seniors from HSS and the original cast from RBSCC.
LVJ is a Puerto Rican-Italian-American originally from Newark, New Jersey, and an ongoing cancer survivor of multiple myeloma. They are committed to the healing and transformative potential of integrating art and body/mind practice. LVJ is honored to have most recently been awarded a Caroline Hearst Choreographic Residence at Princeton University (2021-2022), Dance/NYC's Disability. Dance. Artistry Residency for 2022, Choreographic Fellowship with AxisDance Co. in Berkeley, California (2023) and an awardee of the NYS Danceforce Choreographic Initiative (2023). The theme of healing, of self and community, continues in their newest project with Jon Velez-Jackson (Yackez) that began its research at the Pillow Lab at the historic Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts in Spring of 2023 and continued its research at Chapman Steamer Arts in Newburgh, NY in December of 2023.
For a more complete biography go to this LINK.
Velez-Jackson's works have been curated internationally in Mexico City, Mexico and Madrid, Spain. Their works have been performed widely in New York City, including The Bushwick Starr, The Chocolate Factory Theater, Roulette, Museum of Art and Design, Danspace Project, New Museum, American Realness Festival at Abrons Arts Center, and Martin E. Segal Theater. Velez-Jackson is a passionate teacher of mind/body wellness and fitness classes. Pre-pandemic they were working at 92 St Y and West Side YMCA in New York City for fifteen years, specializing in the older adult population. Larissa's private teaching includes Pilates, functional and corrective exercise and Gentle Rasa Yoga. Their recent choreographic works, "Give It To You Stage" with Yackez and "Zapatografía/Shoegraphy" at Bushwick Starr incorporated a cast of senior dance-exercisers. The latter featured members from the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC). With the support of Henry Street Settlement (HSS) and an AirSpace residency at Abrons Arts Center, LVJ restaged "Zapatografía/Shoegraphy" in December 2018 at Abrons Arts Center with seniors from HSS and the original cast from RBSCC.
LVJ is a Puerto Rican-Italian-American originally from Newark, New Jersey, and an ongoing cancer survivor of multiple myeloma. They are committed to the healing and transformative potential of integrating art and body/mind practice. LVJ is honored to have most recently been awarded a Caroline Hearst Choreographic Residence at Princeton University (2021-2022), Dance/NYC's Disability. Dance. Artistry Residency for 2022, Choreographic Fellowship with AxisDance Co. in Berkeley, California (2023) and an awardee of the NYS Danceforce Choreographic Initiative (2023). The theme of healing, of self and community, continues in their newest project with Jon Velez-Jackson (Yackez) that began its research at the Pillow Lab at the historic Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts in Spring of 2023 and continued its research at Chapman Steamer Arts in Newburgh, NY in December of 2023.
For a more complete biography go to this LINK.
LVJ Performance Co.
photo by Melissa Bunni Elian, mural by Ananda Nahú
LVJ has been the Artistic Director of LVJ Performance Co. since 2010. With LVJ Performance Co. they have presented work under several different monikers. For educational outreach LVJ has presented work as Star Particle Experimental Dance (S.P.E.D.) Their dance ensemble names also include The Star Crap Dancers, Yackez Dancers and Generations, LVJ's company of older adult nonprofessional dancers.
Photos of "Generations" Company
LVJ Performance Co. 2023 (Yackez project)
Malcolm-x Betts, Shizu Homma, Mary Read, Jon Velez-Jackson, Larissa Velez-Jackson
LVJ Performance Co. 2021-2022
Angie Pittman, Mary Read, Larissa Velez-Jackson
LVJ Performance Co. 2019-2021 (including Yackez Dancers)
Malcolm-x Betts, Talya Epstein, Joey Kipp, Awilda Rodriguez Lora, Mary Read, Marion Spencer, Larissa Velez-Jackson, Jon Velez-Jackson
LVJ Performance Co. 2017-2018
Martita Abril, Arantxa Araujo, Talya Epstein, Kylie Kleven, Jess Pretty, Awilda Rodriguez Lora, Mary Read, Kris Seto, Larissa Velez-Jackson
Star Crap Dancers, Yackez Dancers + S.P.E.D. 2013-2017
Tyler Ashley, Laurie Berg, Lillie DeArmon, Talya Epstein, Miguel Angel Guzmán, Sarah Holcman, Raja Feather Kelly, Benjamin Kimitch, Monifa Kincaid, Joey Kipp, Abigail Levine, Caitlyn Marz, Stevie May, Perel, Antonio Ramos, Mary Read, Jon Velez-Jackson, Larissa Velez-Jackson, Stephanie Velez, Ashley R T Yergens
Star Crap Dancers 2011-2012
niv Acosta, Tyler Ashley, Ben Asriel, Laurel Atwell, Talya Epstein, Lily Gold, Sarah Holcman, Larissa Velez-Jackson
LVJ Performance Co. 2010
Sarah Holcman, Andrea Johnston, Abigail Levine, Katy Pyle, Regina Rocke, Jon Velez-Jackson, Larissa Velez-Jackson