(R)Evolution Artist Program
What is the (R)Evolution Artist Program?
DISCO RIOT’s (R)Evolution Artist Program is a cohort-style immersive educational paid internship program focused on offering substantial and sustained support for San Diego-based emerging/rising dance artists. We provide a small group of Rising Artists (ages 20-26) a specially curated immersive experience in DISCO RIOT inner workings for a full programming season (January-October 2025). Within the program, Rising Artists will focus their efforts in one of two immersive dance-based educational tracks – dance pedagogy or performance production. To supplement their focused tracks, the program will include free DISCO RIOT dance classes, monthly professional development workshops and cohort meetings, a monthly check-in with a uniquely designated DISCO RIOT mentor, opportunities to immerse themselves in performance and event production, apprenticeship opportunities with Malashock Dance Company, and a 10-week S P A C E residency as part of a culminating artistic project.
Over the course of the season, Rising Artists will develop an understanding of the local performing arts ecosystem, engage with an extended network of dance professionals, local studio spaces and performance venues, and build relationships with fellow artists. Rising Artists will develop transferable skills essential for a successful career in the arts, including but not limited to speaking and writing about their creative processes, arts marketing and promotion, grant analysis and writing, collaborative problem solving, project documentation, artistic leadership, developing competitive applications, and performance production. Together we will build critical skills for a healthy, autonomous, successful career in the field of dance. We believe the next phase of building a truly sustainable dance ecosystem in San Diego hinges on the integration of young artist voices.
2025 (R)Evolution Interns
Ilyana Hughes (she/her)
Ilyana Hughes is a San Diego based dancer and choreographer from Dayton, Ohio. She received her BFA in Dance from Howard University in 2023. In San Diego, she has had the pleasure of performing, choreographing, and teaching. Her artistry stems from her experiences as a Black woman.
Erik Jaimes (he/him)
Erik Jaimes, a 22-year-old dancer and choreographer from San Diego, has honed his craft for nearly a decade. A graduate of CSU Fullerton, he’s worked with artists like Brad Beakes and Jamila Glass. Notable highlights include performing at the 2023 DUMBO Dance Festival and receiving Gala recognition at the 2024 ACDA Baja Conference.
Milana Gorobchenko (she/her)
Milana Gorobchenko is an interdisciplinary artist blending dance and technology to explore humanity’s evolving relationship with the modern world. With a foundation in diverse movement styles and a background in computer science, she creates art integrating technology and performance, striving to challenge and expand how audiences experience movement and art.
Niza Galindo (she/her)
Niza Galindo (Hispanic, b. 1999) is a San Diego-based dancer with a B.A. in Dance from California State University, Long Beach. She started her dance journey with TranscenDance, growing a love for modern dance and floor work. She has performed locally at the Lyceum Theater, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Spreckels Theater. Her passion for injury prevention and recovery has inspired her to pursue a career in physical therapy. She looks forward to furthering her impact by combining her artistic talents with her passion for helping others.
Lauren Lee (she/her)
Lauren Lee (李爱玲) is a movement artist and dance maker currently based in San Diego. She has been fortunate to perform and present work within the San Diego dance ecosystem, as well as at the 2025 Keshet Makers Space Experience in Albuquerque, where she was a visiting artist-in-residence. Lauren’s work is largely informed by somatic movement and improvisational practices. Drawing from her background in public health, she is interested in using movement as a mode of healing and a tool for exploring human resilience and relationships.
