MIRAH MORIARTY [SF Bay Area] and RODRIGO ESTEVA (SF/ Mexico] are the co-founding directors of the festival and DANCE MONKS. They have taught and performed internationally over the last 20 years as a duet and extensively with world-renowned companies including as members of Pearson Widrig Dance Theater Company (1994-2001, NYC) in major festivals, universities and venues  throughout the United States and Mexico as well as in Canada, Peru and Europe, including at: The Joyce Theater (NY), The Kennedy Center (DC),  PS122 (NY), The Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival (NY), Bates Dance Festival (ME), Middlebury College (VT), Bard College (NY), IberoAmericana University of Mexico City, Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa), FAEL (Festival de Artes Escenicas) of Lima, among many others.  
 
Mirah began her training as an elite gymnast. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance (2014) from Hollins University (VA) in conjunction with William Forsythe (Germany).  She also studied dance formally at the School for New Dance Development (SNDO/EDDC) of Amsterdam, Oberlin College (OH) and received her Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) at Goddard College (VT) with a focus in Interdisciplinary Arts.  She has immersed herself in dance as a healing practice for growth and transformation. 

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Rodrigo was born in Mexico City and began his training in classical Ballet with Dagmar Kortum and at the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (National University of Mexico). He performed with the renowned late Gerardo Delgado, En Dos Partes, of Mexico City including as finalists in INBA/UAM. Rodrigo studied formally at the Trisha Brown School (NYC), The Merce Cunningham School (NYC) and Nikolais and Lois Dance Lab (NYC) with support from FONCA Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (National Endowment for the Arts in Mexico). He is a Certified Shiatsu Therapist and a graduate of the advanced studies program at the Acupressure Institute of Berkeley. 

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