Kaitlin McCarthy (she/they) is a Seattle-based dance artist, journalist, and teacher. She has spent the last 15 years performing and choreographing in venues locally, regionally, nationally and abroad, including a decade as a regular collaborator with MALACARNE under the direction of Alice Gosti. She also presents work with longtime creative partner Jenny Peterson as duo “The Bonnies,” who will present a new evening-length work as part of Velocity’s 2026 season. As a journalist, she has spent the last thirteen years writing about the Seattle scene as a regular contributor to City Arts Magazine, Dance Intl Magazine, PublicDisplay.Art, and SeattleDances.com, where she has been the Editor since 2016. In 2022 she received a fellowship to the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Center for Theatre, where she studied criticism with leaders in the field. More at kaitlinmccarthy.com

Alex Ung (he/him) is a first generation, queer, Tai Dam Asian American choreographer. He was raised in a tight-knit Tai Dam community in Des Moines, Iowa and started dancing in college. In 2007, he moved to Seattle and has taught a variety of dance forms to all ages from hip-hop to contemporary, choreographed for musical theater, Seattle Pride, and numerous theaters around town and performed with my own company and many local choreographers. Alex started the Guild Dance in 2018 and has performed throughout Seattle, the Seattle area, and a tour in Reno, Nevada where we performed our re-invented version of Appalachian Spring made famous by Martha Graham. Inspired by stories of all kinds, Alex's Immigration Stories was informed by the story of his family's immigration out of war torn Laos into the United States.

Following a 30year career in dance, Vicki Watts (she/her) now works as Executive Director at Seattle’s award-winning Moisture Festival. She stays connected to the dance world through her freelance work as a research supervisor for dance teachers at the Royal Academy of Dance, her service as Chair of the Board of Studies for Benesh International in London, her role as a Fellow of the International Council of Kinetography Laban and as the facilitator of the newly-established Dance Pedagogy Brownbag series in collaboration with Marlo Martin.

Amy J Lambert (she/her) is a Seattle-based dance artist who playfully choreographs and directs in the realms of theater and concert dance. She obtained her BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts and is an active dance maker, producer, and dance educator. She is currently the director and choreographer for AJnC Dance-Theater (now named RicketySticks Dance-Theater) and her work has received critical acclaim as she “creates works that masterfully blend the beautiful physicality of dance and the playful absurdity of theater...” (SeattleDances). Find out more at AmyJLambert.com

DéShawn Morton discovered his passion for dance at the age of 15 while attending Tacoma School of the Arts. He began formal training at Tacoma City Ballet. He continued his education at the University of Arizona, where he earned his BFA in dance with a triple emphasis in ballet, modern, and jazz. DéShawn further honed his craft through summer study at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School and has performed across the globe, from South Korea and Germany to stages throughout the United States.

Beyond performance, DéShawn is a passionate educator and mentor. With over 15 years of teaching experience, he has inspired young dancers through roles including Ballet Program Director at Starmakers Academy, Dance Camp Director with the Dance Institute of Washington, and Dance Educator at Thomas Pullen K–8 Performing Arts School in Prince George’s County. He has also held leadership positions as School Director at Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, Dance Manager with Seattle Theatre Group, and AileyCamp Director for two years. DéShawn remains dedicated to cultivating the next generation of artists through discipline, creativity, and community engagement.

DéShawn is now the Artistic Director of Mo' Motion Dance Project, a professional dance company based in Tacoma, Washington, and Mo' Motion Dance Academy, a youth- centered training program committed to developing technical skill, confidence, and artistic excellence in young dancers.

Erricka Turner Davis (she/her) is currently an adjunct dance professor at Cornish College of the Arts and Green River Community College. She has performed with Poetry+Motion, 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Chamber Dance Company, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Opera, Sankofa Theatre, Oakland Ballet, and Spectrum Dance Theater. She received her BFA in Ballet Ed. with Honors from The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and her MFA in Dance from The University of Washington, Seattle, WA. She has choreographed, taught, and lectured at Annie Wright School’s Arts Programs (Creative Movement/Dance) and musicals (Zombie Prom and Urinetown), Summer Dance Lab, Walla Walla, WA, TAT Lab, Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, SOAR Academy, AileyCamp (STG), Seattle, WA, Jack and Jill of America Honoree Ball-Seattle Chapter, Tacoma Arts Live (11 Days of MLK, Jr.), Harlequin Theatre (Soul on Fire, Let The Good Times Roll), Spectrum Dance Theater, Northwest Tap Connection, ARC School of Ballet/ARC Dance Productions, Tacoma School for the Performing Arts (SOTA), Allegro Performing Arts Academy, Ballet Bellevue, Evergreen State College, Northwest Dance Intensive, Evergreen City Ballet, University of Washington Dance Series, and other venues throughout the Pacific Northwest.