Puerto-Rican born choreographer Yanira Castro is a Bessie-award-winning artist. She formed “a canary torsi” in 2009, a collaborative group of performers and designers. Her work has been presented by Danspace Project, NYLA/DTW, The Invisible Dog, New Museum, PS122, ISSUE Project Room, and EMPAC, among others, and has toured nationally and internationally. She is a participant in LMCC’s Extended Life program. Other fellowships/residencies include: MANCC Returning Choreographic Fellow, Vermont Performance Lab, Artist Ne(s)t (Romania), and Rockefeller Foundation (Bellagio). She has received awards from NEFA’s National Dance Project, Jerome Foundation, MAP Fund, New Music USA, Trust for Mutual Understanding, and USArtists International.