Collaborators

Originally from Puerto Rico, Omar Román de Jesús is a choreographer and the director of the NYC-based Cultural Movement Collective BOCA TUYA. He is the inaugural Baryshnikov Arts Center Fellow at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, a 2025 Works & Process Recipient, and a former Artist in Residence with 92NY. Omar is also a 2023 Dance Magazine Harkness Promise Awardee and was recently awarded the Alan M. Kriegsman Residency at Dance Place and the Kennedy Center. His accolades include the 2026 National Dance Project Production Grant (NDP) to support the creation and U.S. touring of YAHAIRA YAHAIRA, the 2022 Princess Grace Award in Choreography, the 2022 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Choreography, the 2022 Palm Desert Choreography Festival Grand Prize, and the 2020 Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship at Jacob's Pillow.

He has created works for over 30 companies and pre-professional programs, including The Paul Taylor Dance Company, Charlotte Ballet, The Juilliard School, Ballet Hispánico, BalletCollective, St. Louis Dance Theater, Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Whim W'Him, The Ailey School, and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Most recently, Omar made his European choreographic debut with WINNDance in Germany, creating a trio for Silvia Azzoni, Gil Roman, and Diana Vishneva that premiered at the 20th International Festival of Contemporary Dance of Biennale Danza in Venice.

Omar began his formal training at the School for the Performing Arts in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He was a member of Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico from 2006–2011 and received a scholarship to the Ailey School in 2011. He has toured nationally and internationally with Ballet Hispánico, Parsons Dance, and Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico.

Rachel Secrest (she/her) brings a deep understanding of both artistic excellence and organizational leadership to her role as Company Manager of Boca Tuya. Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Rachel graduated summa cum laude from the Fordham/Ailey BFA Program with degrees in Dance and Political Science. Her performance career includes work with River North Dance Chicago, Parsons Dance, and three seasons with Jessica Lang Dance, followed by engagements with BODYTRAFFIC and roles as principal dancer and dance captain for the Washington National Opera and LA Opera.

Since Boca Tuya's founding, Rachel has been an essential collaborator. Over the past three years, she has helped the company find its feet, not only as a performer but as a vital behind-the-scenes force. From managing complex touring logistics and rehearsal schedules to building trust-based systems of communication between artists and leadership, Rachel has shaped Boca Tuya's identity as a company that values both artistic risk and organizational clarity.

Olivia Coffey (she/her) is a NYC-based dance artist, teacher, and choreographer. As an Austin, Texas native, she grew up training in a wide variety of dance styles and techniques before touring with season IX of the DanceMakers Inc. Collective program in 2022-2023. In Fall of 2026, Olivia will receive her BFA in Dance, concentrating in Choreography and Modern, with a Minor in Business at Marymount Manhattan College (now known as Northeastern NYC). During her time there, she has performed repertoire by esteemed faculty and guest artists while exploring her own choreographic voice. She is interested in integrating an ethics of care into her contemporary movement vocabularies. Olivia shares her work and passion for dance while teaching and choreographing across North America, helping shape the next generation of artists. Olivia is deeply honored to be joining BOCA TUYA, as she steps into the role of Company Manager.

Joshua Bristow (he/him) is a producer and administrator based in South Carolina. He has supported artistic process and performance at organizations at Jacob's Pillow, the Brown Arts Institute at Brown University, Work Light Productions, Spoleto Festival USA, and The Yard.

Joshua is currently the Development Associate for NCCAkron, a national center for choreography that supports process, creative and administrative inquiry, and positive failure. In 2025, Joshua founded Big + Tall Performance Works, a company that supports artists in the development and presentation of new work. In this capacity, he works with slowdanger (MD), Kimberly Bartosik (NYC), The Love Makers Company (CO/Berlin).

He holds a BA in Arts Management from the College of Charleston and enjoys speaking about the field of arts administration.