Meet the Artists

Keshet Company Dancers are full-time employees at Keshet wearing many creative hats! These incredible artists are the beating heart of our organization, leading with grace, integrity, and inclusivity. They are changing the landscape of dance by changing the model of what a dance company can look like – and is allowed to be.

Founder and Artistic Director

Shira Greenberg

She/Her

Keshet Founder & Artistic Director

Shira founded Keshet in 1996 focusing on the intersection of contemporary dance, community, and systems-change advocacy. Her work is focused on accessibility for artists and audiences, the connection of dance and the juvenile justice ecosystem, the dynamic contemporary dance scene locally and globally, and economic development initiatives via arts entrepreneurship, performing arts makerspaces/residencies, and community engagement. 

Since launching the organization in 1996, she has created over 60 original dance works for stage and film, including “Nutcracker on the Rocks” [“Any unmoved spectators had to be dead” – Arthur Alpert, Prime Time Magazine]; “Ani Ma’amin” [one of the most moving and beautifully designed dances this viewer has experienced…totally absorbing” – Jennifer Noyer, Albuquerque Journal]; and “A beast an angel and a madwoman” [“Transformative” – Matti Straub-Fisher, KaosPilots, Bern, Switzerland].

She has been recognized by multiple organizations and awards including the Martin Luther King, Jr Multicultural Council’s Keep the Dream Alive Award for “creating an environment where the medium of dance is used to build cross-cultural and social bridges to every aspect of society” and the Obama Administration’s President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities for her influential work at the intersection of dance and juvenile justice. Additional honors include the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women; New Mexico Business Weekly’s Top Performing CEO of a non-profit organization, the New Mexico Humanitarian Award, and the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award recognizing the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity and civic and social responsibility. She has been a guest speaker throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East, sharing Keshet’s integrated approach of professional contemporary dance with programming in the areas of social justice, economic development, and creating spaces of belonging.

She has raised over 20 million dollars for Keshet during her tenure thus-far, growing the organization from an idea spark to a vital organization within the New Mexico arts ecosystem, with 30+ employees housed within its namesake performing arts center anchoring Keshet as a creative and activated space for artists and audiences from across the city, state, country and world. She is honored to continue to learn and grow and deepen Keshet’s impact in community with the incredible Keshet team.

Company Dancers

Ana Lopes Aréchiga

she/her

Company Dancer, Director of Programming & Engagement, Teaching Faculty

Ana is originally from Mexico and has a BA in Contemporary Dance and Psychology, having graduated with honors Summa Cum Laude in Psychology, Magna Cum Laude in Dance from the University of New Mexico. She apprenticed for Kamea Dance Company in Israel in 2014. She joined Keshet Dance Company as a Company Dancer in 2016 and has continued dancing with Keshet ever since. She has also danced for the Jewell and Company, Blythe Eden Dance Company, J. Garcia Dance Company, lisa nevada dance, and Esteban Garza Dance Company, just to name a few.

She has been an adjunct faculty at UNM in the Theater & Dance Department since 2021. She has been part of Keshet’s team since 2014, in 2020 her role expanded to become a part of Keshet’s leadership team as Director of Programming & Engagement. As a choreographer she most recently premiered Hevel, a full-length work in 2022. She is currently working on a collaboration with multimedia composer Zachariah Julian, which is set to premiere in early 2026.

Elysia Pope

she/her

Company Dancer, Director of Arts & Justice Initiatives, Teaching Faculty

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Elysia’s work explores the essence of artistry and advocacy in her role as the Director of Arts and Justice Initiatives and Company Dancer. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from the University of New Mexico, nurturing her passion for movement and expression.

Elysia’s training spans across the dance world, where she has honed her craft under the guidance of esteemed mentors and choreographers including Robert Battle, Erika Pujič, Zoë Knights, lisa nevada, Donna Jewell, Vladimir Conde Reche, Blythe Kanis, Yeztli Danza y Arte, the J. García Dance Company, and Lawine Torrèn. Her expansive training has afforded her the opportunity to perform all over the globe, in Canada, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.

Elysia’s professional journey reflects her diverse skill set and unwavering commitment to serving the arts community. Prior to her current role, she lent her talents to diverse positions, from curating fine art portfolios and designing donor events at People For the American Way in Washington, DC, to stewarding community grassroots donors at the National Institute of Flamenco.

Elysia’s work centers on the fusion of art and activism, where creativity becomes a conduit for social transformation.

Juliana Gorena

she/they

Company Dancer, Digital Content Coordinator, Teaching Faculty

Juliana was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she graduated from the University of New Mexico with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Dance. She grew up training at the Public Academy for Performing Arts and in Keshet’s Pre-Professional Program (KP3) before joining Keshet Dance Company as an apprentice.

As an experienced teacher for dancers of all ages and abilities, Juliana prioritizes keeping a safe and fun-filled classroom, focusing on creating a safe and fun environment while reshaping the dance world into one she can be proud of. In 2024, she had the privilege of teaching and choreographing for dancers in Japan, showing her the power of cultural exchange through dance. Continuing her teaching journey, in January 2025, she joined Keshet’s M3 teaching team – providing arts education in juvenile justice settings.

In addition to her dancing and teaching, Juliana also serves as the Digital Content Coordinator at Keshet.

Kamila Rojas

she/her

Company Apprentice, Teaching Faculty

Kamila was born and raised in New Mexico, but her family is originally from Costa Rica. Kamila first started dancing at the age of 3 and has loved it ever since. She has been dancing with Keshet for fourteen years and is a recent graduate from Keshet’s Pre-Professional program which she was in for ten years.

She has been fortunate enough to dance in many Keshet Productions including Nutcracker on the Rocks and Alice an Adventure of Wonder and Wondering. During those years she assisted with multiple classes and dance camps, where she learned her love for teaching and inspiring the minds of young dancers.

She is attending nursing school at the University of New Mexico in the Fall. She also hopes to continue her love of dance by joining Keshet’s company as an apprentice and as Keshet teaching faculty, thanks to all of the wonderful Keshet Staff who have supported her along the way!

Laura Orozco Garrett

she/her

Company Dancer, Community Education & KP3 Program Manager, Teaching Faculty

Laura Orozco Garrett grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and graduated from Goucher College. She is the former Artistic Director of Moving Arts Española. She has taught and choreographed all over New Mexico at various organizations, including Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, En Pointe School of Dance Los Alamos, Keshet Dance and Center for the Arts, Moving Arts Española, Millennial Music Makers (Tri-M) Santa Fe, and The Santa Fe Playhouse.

Her work, Junto a ti, was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Brooke Pierce Award in the Fine Arts and was selected to be performed in the American College Dance Association’s National Gala in 2020. This work explores her Mexican heritage and the pain caused by policies of the United States to many immigrant families. In March 2020, she directed, produced, and curated an art gallery and performance entitled “Mujeres Fuertes.” For this production, she brought together Latina artists and performers from Baltimore to showcase their work centered on the theme of honoring influential Latina women from history. In 2022, she was selected into the first National Cohort of David Herrera Performance Company’s Mentorship and Networking Program, LatinXtensions.

As a performer, she has danced in works by Karole Armitage, Charlotte D’Amboise, Iyun Harrison, Kevin Jenkins, Ann Reinking, and Yin Yue. Follow her work at www.lauraorozcogarrett.com

Sonia Bologa

She/Her

Company Dancer, IT Coordinator, Teaching Faculty

Originally from Timisoara, Romania, Sonia has been a New Mexico resident since 2006. She has dedicated her life to dance since the age of 16, studying modern, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, latin ballroom, and Mexican folklorico. After graduating from UNM in 2013 with a B.A. in Contemporary Dance, Sonia joined Keshet as a company dancer and teacher.

Sonia’s journey as an educator has included teaching in Keshet’s Movement + Mentorship = Metamorphosis (M3) program and in Keshet’s Pre-Professional Program (KP3). As a company dancer, Sonia is involved in the creation and performance of new works created for and with Keshet. Considering the profound impact dance has had on her life, Sonia believes that art can make a significant impact on anyone’s life, whether they take a class in a studio, perform on stage, or watch dance from the audience.

Téa Woodland

she/her

Company Apprentice, Teaching Faculty

Téa grew up in Helena, Montana dancing with Cohesion Dance Project (CDP) for 11 years. As a recent high school graduate, she moved to Albuquerque to further her dance training and teaching at Keshet. Her love for dance started at age 6 and grew larger with every production of Nutcracker on the Rocks she was in, most recently performing as Rat Queen for her 9th year of the show in Helena. Teaching became a passion of hers in 2021 when she began teaching 6-8 year old modern dance at CDP and this love has grown with every additional class she has taught. She sees Keshet as an amazing learning and growth opportunity that she feels so lucky to be joining as a company apprentice and teaching faculty for the year.