Miami Light Project launched Here & Now in 1999, as the first program of its kind in South Florida dedicated to commissioning and presenting Miami-based performance and multi-media artists. Since its inception, we have commissioned work from more than 100 artists, laying the foundation for Miami’s reputation as a cultural center of international importance.
Here & Now commissioned artists are identified through an open request for proposals and selected through an adjudication process completed by a panel consisting of MLP programming team members, working artists, colleagues, and Here & Now Alumni.
Arielle François
Arielle François creates multimedia dance work using live audio-looping, projection mapping, film, and puppetry, in collaboration with her community, as a creative and critical study of Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean culture and dance. She works to create containers where Black woman can embrace their inherit abundance. A first generation Haitian originally from Kissimmee Florida, François investigates these dances through site responsive performances, that adapt and communicate with the works immediate environment. Arielle believes in the power of black joy and works to put hope at the center of her narratives. She is really interested in exploring the mundane magic of Black women’s lives.
Junior Domingos
Junior Domingos is a Brazilian Artist, choreographer and dancer who began his studies with circus technique. He is trained in a variety of physical movements including Pilates, Yoga, Ballet, Modern Dance ,Jazz, Contemporary, Ballroom and Capoeira. Junior has danced for Cia, Claudia de Souza and Grupo Raça while traveling throughout Brazil. While he lived in São Paulo, he participated in the choreography of Béjart Ballet Lausanne’s “Boléro” He also worked with Ismael Ivo in Vienna, Austria for the show “No Sacre” at ImpulsTanz and São Paulo. He currently resides here in Florida where he continues his dance studies.
Nicolle Garcia, Dion Kerr & Tim Watson
Nicaraguan-American singer and writer Nicolle Garcia, South Florida multi-instrumentalist and media artist Dion Kerr, and Boston guitarist and media artist Tim Watson compose realms of celestial, ethereal melodies and soul-stirring harmonies. With soprano vocals that transcend language barriers, ghostly voices effortlessly weave between English and Spanish, carrying profound tales of life and spirituality. Like a celestial lullaby, the gentle strumming of Tim Watson’s ambient guitar blends harmoniously with the resonating depths of Dion Kerr’s unique six-string hollow-body bass. Nicolle Garcia’s lyrics, a tapestry of poetic expression, unfurl like whispers from distant realms, painting vivid landscapes of human experiences.
Osmani Tellez & Lisa Kusanagi
Osmani Tellez is a Cuban-born Miami-based dance artist. He graduated from the National School of Arts in Havana. As a professional dancer, he had the pleasure of working with companies including Danza Abierta, Danza Hoy, Rajatabla, and Neodanza as well as with artists such as; David Zambrano, Mia Lawrence, Jeremy Nelson, Tim Feldmann, Bo Madvig, Kirstie Simson, Chamecki-Lerner, Jennifer Monson, Jennifer Miller, and Yvonne Meier. He uses improvisation as a tool toexplore subjects and develop ideas in personal and authentic ways. His own choreographic work has been presented worldwide.
Lisa Kusanagi is a Japanese multi-award-winning artist with expertise in choreography and screendance. She investigates conceptual virtuosity through physical artistry and leverages her transnational upbringing and influences in the creative elements of her projects. Her works have been presented in over 30 countries including at the 60th Ann Arbor Film Festival, the 10th Aesthetic Short Film Festival, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Movement.
