NTC Foundation awards Liberty Station studio space to four dancers

NTC Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the development of 26 buildings in Arts District Liberty Station, has announced four dancers as the 2024 Emerging Artists. The Emerging Artist program awards studio space to emerging talent for 18 months at Arts District Liberty Station.

Four talented dance makers have been selected as this year’s recipients and will be making Arts District Liberty Station their home for the next 18 months, exploring their creativity and strengthening their skills in the arts and culture hub of San Diego. This year’s recipients are Joyce Lien Kushner, Sol Dela Rosa, Lexii Regina, and Micah Parra.

“The NTC Foundation created the Emerging Artist program as a way to support the new wave of up-and-coming artists in San Diego by providing them a studio space in the heart of Arts District Liberty Station where they can enrich their talents further,” said Lisa Johnson, president and CEO of the NTC Foundation. “Among the many talented artists considered, we are honored to present the studio space to four different dance makers. With each dance artist possessing unparalleled skills and creativity, we are excited to see their journey of growth throughout the new year!”

This year, the NTC Foundation received 20 submissions for the Emerging Artist program and has awarded a space in the Dorothea Laub Dance Place building to four dancers from the San Diego/ Northern Baja region each from a culturally diverse background. The individuals will use this space to help build their careers in San Diego, engage with other artists, and grow their audience and patron base for future success.

Joyce Lien Kushner

Born and raised in San Diego, Kushner’s first love has always been dancing, specializing in modern, contemporary, and dance conditioning. Despite moving away and switching career paths for a short time, Kushner’s journey has led her back to her hometown, reigniting her passion for not only creating captivating dance pieces but also teaching and training dancers of all ages across California. With this residency in Arts District Liberty Station, Kushner aims to curate an Asian American dance showcase, championing diverse narratives, fostering collaboration through innovative choreographic practices, and providing dedicated space for dance artists to refine their craft. Her vision embodies a commitment to nurturing creativity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and cultivating a vibrant, inclusive dance community in San Diego.

Sol Dela Rosa

For Dela Rosa, being selected for the Emerging Artist Program is a full-circle moment. As a young artist, Dela Rosa took summer workshops, and open classes, and performed professionally for the San Diego Dance Theatre in Liberty Station. Now many years later, Dela Rosa is back in Arts District Liberty Station facilitating classes and educational experiences along with presenting some of his work. With this new space, Dela Rosa looks forward to integrating himself into the rich and creative community in the Arts District, collaborating and exchanging knowledge with others.

Lexii Regina

Regina is a multidisciplinary movement artist known for her curious exploration of storytelling. Utilizing the mediums of acrobatic dance, physical theater, improvisation, modern dance, and circus, she creates works exploring mental health, human connections, the communities that lift us, and the hope that keeps us going. Regina is thrilled to have been chosen as an Emerging Artist at Arts District Liberty Station and looks forward to using the beautiful studio space to develop a variety of short-form and evening-length performances and dance films. She is excited to see how she can contribute to the vibrant arts community and enrich the experience of visitors to Liberty Station.

Micah Parra

Parra has always been immersed in the world of dance. Growing up, Parra was quickly integrated into the circus community, leading her to the San Diego Circus Center in 2021. Since then, Parra continued to hone in on her acrobatic skills through various programs around San Diego. Excited to have a beautiful, accessible space to collaborate with

other artists of multiple mediums, Parra looks to cultivate her creative voice and facilitate a space where people learn to appreciate art as an invaluable tool for healthy expression and human connectivity.

This year’s selections were made by a panel of leading individuals in San Diego’s arts and culture scene each with a unique and culturally diverse perspective as it relates to dance including John Malashock, Victoria Hamilton, Grace Shinhae Jun, Daniel Dennert, and Victoria Reed.