MOVEMENT

Alejandro Perez is a Los Angeles–based, first-generation Mexican-American dance artist, educator, and choreographer whose work bridges street dance foundations with contemporary performance. He began dancing at age 12 and gained early recognition as a member of the internationally recognized dance crew Marvel Inc., performing around the world, including at Keep On Dancing in Beijing, one of the largest hip-hop events globally. Perez has performed and collaborated with artists and companies including Sidra Bell Dance New York, ISHIDA Dance, DawsonDanceSF, ZiRu Dance, Mike Tyus & Company, Versastyle, and CubaCaribe. His training includes scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow, Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, and UCLA’s Summer Dance/Theater Intensive. As a choreographer and educator, Perez has created works for programs including Training Ground SF, YAGP, and CSSSA. In 2025, he was selected as one of five choreographers for Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works 2025. His artistic practice centers community, cultural connection, and expanding access to dance.

John ‘Spirit’ Swapshire’s journey began at Ames Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. His passion for dance and music eventually led him to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he studied at the Conservatory of Music and Dance. After earning his B.F.A., Spirit’s talent took him to national and international stages across musical theatre, concert dance, film, and commercials. Having worked with artists such as Beyoncé, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, House of Yes, and 7 Fingers, Spirit has evolved far beyond the role of a dancer. In addition to his background in the performing arts, Spirit has pursued an education in the mystical arts. As a 9th-degree Energy Master Teacher, he utilizes divination, mediumship, and energy healing to serve as a guide through truth and human expression. Spirit is excited to share his space and work with the Los Angeles community.

Otis Donovan Herring is an internationally touring dance artist, choreographer, actor, and educator from College Park, Georgia. A graduate of Howard University, he has performed with renowned companies including Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and Black Grace, building a career that spans the United States, Aotearoa New Zealand, and stages around the world. His performance credits include appearances at the Kennedy Center Honors, a 30-city arena tour with R&B legends SWV and Xscape, and work in film and television projects across major streaming platforms. Otis has also contributed to Broadway development and served as assistant to choreographer Camille A. Brown on A Streetcar Named Desire. Now based in Los Angeles, Otis continues to teach, choreograph, and perform internationally, specializing in African diasporic and contemporary movement. He is thrilled to be collaborating with Bernard Brown/bbmoves while continuing to develop his artistic voice and is deeply grateful for the aroha, encouragement, and support of God, whānau, and friends throughout his journey.

Montay Alejandro Romero is a Los Angeles based interdisciplinary artist who was born in San Diego, California. He received his BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts in 2015. Montay is a choreographer, educator, movement artist, and performer. He has worked with a range of dance companies, celebrities, brands, actors, musicians, and public figures through commercial, concert, and performative dance. While concert dance has been the vehicle driving his passion for movement, he arrived in the underground ballroom scene in 2015 which activated a core awakening through a form of movement called Vogue. Montay currently explores how the agreements between Vogue and contemporary forms can bring forth prolific innovation, release, and healing in the body. Montay plans to continue creating space for others to learn, witness, and experience the gift of movement through a unique and emerging perspective.

Sherman DeWayne Wood is a Los Angeles–based dancer, choreographer, creative director, and movement coach whose work spans theater, television, film, live performance, commercial campaigns, and concert stages. Known for his dynamic physicality, musicality, and versatility, Sherman has collaborated with leading artists, brands, and creative teams across the entertainment industry. Select credits include Disney’s Broadway production of The Lion King, the Cécred Hair Show, Cirque du Soleil, Spectrum Dance Theater, and other acclaimed stage and live performance productions. Beyond performing, Sherman is the founder and creative force behind BAM JAM, a movement platform centered on artistic exploration, community, and authentic self-expression. His work blends technical precision with storytelling, creating experiences that inspire both performers and audiences. Passionate about mentorship and the evolution of dance culture, Sherman continues to develop innovative choreography while cultivating spaces where creativity and connection thrive.

Achintya Bose, born in Chandigarh and raised in Mumbai, is a dancer, actor, and model; and has a BFA in Dance with a Minor in Pedagogy at the California Institute of the Arts, supported by scholarships - including the Dean's Retention Grant, Sharon Disney Lund Foundation Scholarship in Dance, CalArts Merit Scholarship, and CalArts Access Grant- and his own successful fundraising. He is best known for his lead role as Asif in Sooni Taraporevala’s Yeh Ballet (Netflix, 2020) and starred in WAACK GIRLS (Amazon Prime Video, 2024). A youth ambassador for the ARDEA Foundation, he bridges Indian and international dance communities through performance, teaching, and collaborative projects.

SOUND

Alxander Ivey, aka the South Central Sweetheart, of Black Bass Collective is a Los Angeles native whose sound is a vibrant tribute to the rhythmic roots of club culture and the energy of the West Coast. Starting his DJ journey at 15, he later became one of the founders of one of Los Angeles' Favorite underground parties, Black Bass Collective. Alxander’s influences span from Jersey and Baltimore club, Chicago juke, Hip-Hop, cartoon soundtracks, and New Orleans bounce. Alxander brings a raw, nostalgic, and forward-thinking approach to his sets. Known for his unique style and infectious energy.

DJ Jeibing (of Noprxssure) is a Los Angeles based DJ bringing his Southern roots into hip hop, R&B, and electronic music through emotional, genre-bending sets that feel nostalgic and forward-moving at the same time. Known for his RETROTRADE mix series, he approaches sound with a feeling-first mindset, shaping sets that stay fluid, textured, and physically engaging. He brings a futuristic edge to his selections, pulling from different worlds while keeping the energy warm, soulful, and built for movement.

Los Angeles-based DJ/producer and co-founder of Black Bass Collective, DeFacto X has emerged as a key figure in the queer black underground music scene. His unique style allows him to infuse sounds from his various travels across the globe that create genre bending sets. DFX approaches sound design from a deeply rooted somatic feel; and as a curator, he focuses on fast moving rhythmic beats pulling from the origins of Detroit Techno, yet balancing out the deep bass with slick yet high energetic southern influences coming from New Orleans bounce and chopped and screwed music rooted deep in his Texas origins

Sissies: Something Perfect Between Ourselves 

• Movement: Bernard Brown 

• Music: DeFacto X

• Visuals: Malachi Middleton

• Original Lighting Design: Chu-Hsuan Chang

• Original Costume Design: Arrington Fleming

• Movement Artists: 

  • Achintya Bose

  • Otis Donovan Herring

  • Malachi Middleton

  • Alejandro Perez

  • Montay Romero

  • John “Swapshire

  • Sherman Wood 

Sections

…This is an Origin Story…

• Sound: excerpt of “Sound Barrier: Sylvester”

• Performance: Malachi Middleton 

Make Me Feel

• Sound: You Make Me Feel (demo), mixed by DeFacto X

• Performance: Malachi Middleton, Alejandro Perez, Montay Romero, Sherman Wood, Otis Donovan Herring, John Swapshire 

Love 2 Love U

• Sound: DeFacto X

• Performance: Movement Artists

STAT

• Sound: DeFacto X

• Performance: Movement Artists

God Bless the Child

• Sound: DeFacto X

• Performance: Movement Artists

Soft and C*nt

• Performance: Montay Romero

Rock UR Body

• Sound: DeFacto X 

• Performance: Movement Artists

The Rapture

• Sound: DeFacto X

• Performance: Otis Donovan Herring, John Swapshire 

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round

• Sound: Traditional Spiritual, performed live by Bernard Brown

• Performance: Achintya Bose

Redemption

• Sound: redemption, serpentwithfeet, mixed by DeFacto X

• Performance: Malachi Middleton 

…eternal life…

• Sound: Ha-Ya, The Clark Sisters, remixed and edited by DeFacto X

• Performance: Achintya Bose, Otis Donovan Herring, Alejandro Perez, John Swapshire

Special Performance: Gia Tisci

You Are My Friend

• Sound: You Are My Friend, Sylvester and the Two Tons of Fun, recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House(1979), mixed and edited by DeFacto X 

• Performance: Movement Artists

THE SISSY DOMAINS

The Sissy Domains are a collection of locations foundational for Black Queers that view home not as a fixed site but instead as a notion of comfort, camaraderie, and collaboration. This exhibition, spearheaded by visual director and artist, Malachi Middleton and curator, Bernard Brown, invites us into these Sissy Domains.

The Sissy Domains are landing places in a transformed Pieter Performance Space, now a gallery. The gallery is divided into six domains:

• Grandmother's House

• The Closet

• The Club

• The Payphone

• The Vanity

• The Altar

These domains are meant to be lived in and visitors are invited to engage, occupy them and interact with the objects.

The Altar is where we honor those who have passed on and those who are still with us. You are invited to add notes and items to this space for those you wish to honor.

The Sissy Domains are insurgencies, acts of remembering, belonging, conjuring, and demanding a future with Black Queerness prominently centered.