Sally Jacques, founder of Blue Lapis Light, creates site-specific aerial dance works that speak to social, political and spiritual issues. A seeker at heart, Jacques honed her artistic vision during her time hitchhiking throughout Europe. Recognized for her international efforts against human rights abuse, environmental endangerment, homelessness and racism, her activist views inform her artistic journey.

A native of England, Jacques’ early career included international performances in Munich, Barcelona, Vienna and Costa Rica. She studied dance at The Place and The Contemporary Dance Center in London and attended the Lee Strasberg Drama School in New York to study improvisation and acting. Jacques also studied movement at the Oval Theatre in London as a protégé of John Trigger.

Jacques has been the recipient of numerous grants and accolades, including: USA Artists Fellowship Award Nominee (2008); Austin Arts Hall of Fame Inductee (2007); Samsung Signature Award as part of First Night Austin (2006); Greater Austin YWCA Woman of the Year for Achievement in the Arts (2003); Honorary Lifetime Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society (2003); NFRI Grant funded by the NEA, Rockefeller Foundation, and Andy Warhol Foundation (1994) with José Luis Bustamante; Art Matters, NYC (1992); TCA (1991-present); NEA (1988-present); COA Cultural Arts Division (1996-present); numerous Austin Critics Table Awards (1995-present), and the Susan B. Anthony Peace Award (1988).

Jacques has been recognized and featured in: Dance Appreciation Book (a collegiate textbook published in 2021); the Barton Creek Time Stream Exhibit (2020); SXSW Community Screening (2018); PBS/KLRU’s Arts in Context (2017 & 2014); NYC, Berlin and Madrid museums (2015); Site Dance (2009); Faces of Austin (2006); PBS/KLRU’s Austin Now (2004), 64 Beds and Other Site Works (1996), United Nations Conference on Human Rights (1993); Performance Magazine, Chicago (1993); Art and the Public (1993); numerous newspaper and magazine articles published internationally including Arts and Culture Texas, Atlanta’s Arts Papers, Austin American-Statesman, and The Austin Chronicle (1988-present).

Over the years, Jacques has been invited to speak about siteworks and the way architecture and the environment inform and inspire the choreography and vision of each work. Her most recent presentation took place at Pecha Kucha Austin (2019). In 2022, she will speak at a join conference for the International Association for PE, Dance and Sport and the National Dance Society.

To make dance accessible for all and foster a sense of community, Jacques taught movement to at-risk teenagers, prison inmates, senior citizens for many years. Currently, Blue Lapis Light mentors underprivileged youth through the Youth Taking Flight program.

Nicole loves dance! She has been a part of Blue Lapis Light since it was founded in 2006. She serves in many roles including associate artistic director, performer, choreographer, rigger, and instructor. Her classical ballet training began at age two and blossomed into a life-long love of dance. She has studied at esteemed studios including Houston Ballet Academy, High School for Performing and Visual Arts, Austin School of Classical Ballet, and Marsha Woody Academy of Dance. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Dance and has continued dancing in Austin with local companies, including Sharir+Bustamante Danceworks, Sheep Army/Elsewhere Dance Theater, Austin School of Classical Ballet, Cheryl Chaddick Dance Theater, and Little Stolen Moments. She has received numerous awards from the Austin Critics Table and The Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin Awards including Best Dancer and Best Duet. Little Stolen Moments was voted Austin’s Best Dance Company 2010 and recognized for Best Dance on Three Miniature Trampolines. For New Year’s, First Night commissioned her performance, Fabric of the Hour, a silks piece performed inside Austin City Hall. She was nominated Best Choreographer for her aerial choreography with ZACH Theatre’s Metamorphoses by the B. Iden Payne Awards. Nicole manages Blue Lapis Light’s studio where she teaches the art of aerial dance. She has performed aerial silks since 2005, studying with aerialists at New England Center for the Circus Arts, Air Dance Bernasconi, Aircat Aerial Arts, House of Yes, Liza Rose, and FALL. Nicole is driven by collaboration and is eternally grateful for the unique beauty in all people!

Susan Harkey has had the joy of dancing with Blue Lapis Light since 2012. She has a wide variety of movement training including aerial silks, harness, lyra, pole, partner acrobatics, modern dance, ballet, rock climbing, and yoga. She performed with Blue Lapis Light in Heaven Earth One (2012 & 2013), Love’s Prayer (2012), East ~ West (2013), In Light (2014 & 2019), Edge of Grace (2015), Radiance (2016), Belonging (2017 & 2018), Luminations (2018 & 2019), and Beyond the Clouds (2020). She's also had the pleasure of performing in and around Austin with Rapt Aerial Dance, Austin Community College, and Jennifer Sherburn. While not in the air, she moonlights as a web developer.

Anika began classical dance at the age of five and has continuously explored dance throughout her life. She graduated with a BA in Hospitality Management and a Minor in Dance from New Mexico State University, where she was a member of the Contemporary Dance Theatre. In 2008, Anika began her aerial dance training in New Mexico. She has had the opportunity to work with exquisite choreographers and perform across the US. In 2012, Anika moved to Austin to join Blue Lapis Light and has had the honor of collaborating on 40+ site-works under the artistic direction of Sally Jacques. She enjoys performing on aerial silks, corde lisse, spanish web, harness, and continues to dance on the ground as well! In 2018, she was honored to be awarded Best Dancer by the Austin Critics Table Awards for her performance in Belonging, Part One (2017). In Austin, Anika finds herself enjoying life through teaching at Pure Barre Austin, performing and collaborating with Rapt Aerial Dance, the 11:11 project, connecting with awesome people/causes and spending time with her husband and their two pups. Her passion to learn through both training and teaching allows her to grow and continuously find the beauty in movement and inspiration through the possibilities of the human anatomy.

Clay grew up in Houston as a competitive dancer. After graduating, he trained in Los Angeles with the Edge Performing Arts before choreographing at local Houston studios and dancing as a freelance artist with J&D Entertainment and LEON Dance Arts. Since moving to Austin, he has worked with ARCOS Dance, BLiPSWiTCH, Jennifer Sherburn, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company and has been featured in recent music videos including Tomar & The FCA and Kae Astra. He recently joined the Blue Lapis Light family making In Light his third production with the company. Clay shares his passion for movement by teaching classes at Alisa’s Dance Academy and works with Leap of Joy as their Artistic Director.

Amy received her BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from TCU. As a performer/choreographer, she has had the opportunity to present work all over Texas, the US, and Europe with many local companies/choreographers including (but not limited to) Blue Lapis Light, Ariel Dance Theatre, Ellen Bartel Dance Collective, Ready Set Go, Jennifer Sherburn, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, BlipSwitch, Sky Candy, Woven Feet, and Rapt. She has also danced and/or choreographed for several musicians including Kesha, Band of Heathens, Linen Closet, Sorne, Technicolor Hearts, Nightdrive, Walker Lukens, and others. Amy is also a Certified Yoga Instructor, Licensed Massage Therapist, and creator of Amy’s Apothecary.

Ivry Newsome received his BFA in Dance in May 1995 from the University of Texas at Austin. Already performing professionally with local dance companies like New Afrikan Dance Company, Kinesis, Mosaic Dance Body and Conservatory Dance Theatre, Austin felt like home. Ivry began working with Sally Jacques Productions appearing in Probe One: Impossible Destiny and many other productions over the years. In 2001, he joined Pointillism Jazz Consort, a New American Jazz Company based in Washington DC. He currently serves as Executive Director and Principal Company Member for UNESCO Cultural Ambassador Company. “Dance is a gift that allows the artist to speak and learn more about this human experience and create beauty through movement… I honor The Gift of Dance in each of us.”

Sunny started formal dance training during high school, where he learned ballet, Chinese classical opera dance, and Chinese folk dance. In 2001, he graduated with his BA in dance at Beijing Capital Normal University. Sunny earned his MFA in Dance from UT Austin in 2016. Sunny is the Founder and Artistic Director of Austin-based Shen Jun Movement Effect. Sunny has choreographed and performed worldwide at dance festivals including Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, Grand Performances (LA), Dance Salad Festival (Houston) and Busan International Dance Festival. In his early career, Sunny joined Wuxi Song & Dance Troupe and later choreographed and danced for Beijing Dance LDTX. He has collaborated with many artists and dance companies including Willy Tsao, Scot Putman, Charles Anderson, Hugo Dalton, Wang Jianwei, Hou Ying, Jennifer Sherburn, Ziru production, Alonzo-King Lines Ballet Training Program, Ellen Bartel Dance Collection, Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company. Sunny has also instructed dance locally and internationally. He has taught dance at Sansori High School and April Rain School of Chinese Dance and currently teaches as an Assistant Professor at Austin Community College. In June 2017, Sunny formally joined Blue Lapis Light as a principal dancer and choreographer. In 2018, he was awarded Best Dancer by the Austin Critics Table for his performance in Belonging, Part One (2017).

Barry Wilson was raised in Texas and comes to Blue Lapis Light with 28 years of rock climbing experience and 45 years in the construction industry. He served on the Central Texas Climbing Committee (CTCC) for 14 years. The CTCC is an independently chartered advisory committee established to provide guidance and expert knowledge to Texas Parks and Wildlife regarding rock climbing resources and the placement of fixed protection at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. In 2018, Barry and his team received the Always a Safe Flight Award, a Special Citation from the Austin Critics Table for his rigging design and execution in Belonging, Part One (2017). When not throwing ropes for Blue Lapis, Barry can be found hiking, climbing, biking, and repairing the trails of Central Texas and North America.

Alex is a lighting designer and director whose work can be seen at concerts, festivals and events throughout Texas, including ACL, SXSW, FunFunFun Fest and Formula 1. Soto specializes in creating high-end visual displays utilizing 3D projection mapping and LED video presentation, and he has worked with national and international artists throughout his 12-year career. Soto’s lighting design and design implementation work on the annual Dell Children’s Gala in Austin has been written up as “production values you’d expect from the Oscars.” His work has also been profiled in Projection, Lights and Staging News. Soto has worked with Blue Lapis Light on various projects as a Lighting Designer since 2012.

William wears many hats. His electronic music and interactive audio environments for dance have been presented in concerts across the country. He has appeared on stage as a multi-media performance artist, and offstage running sound for live music concerts. Meadows has worked as a composer and sound designer on projects by Deborah Hay, Forklift Danceworks, UT Dance Department, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, and Austin Shakespeare, and has worked with Sally Jacques and Blue Lapis Light since 1996. His work has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Award for Best Sound Design in 2007 and 2010, and with numerous nominations for Best Original Composition, Best Sound Design, and Best Lighting Design.

Lizzy Allen is originally from Portland, Oregon. She joined Blue Lapis Light as an intern in 2018, immediately after graduating from the University of Oregon with degrees in dance and arts management. In 2019 she took on the role of production manager for the In Light performance at the IBC Bank. Lizzy has since been involved as production manager for several Blue Lapis Light shows, and when she is not running around behind the scenes for BLL she can be found teaching yoga, working on other local productions around Austin and New Orleans. In the beginning of 2021 Lizzy took over marketing for the company and is now the communications coordinator and production manager. Blue Lapis Light has become Lizzy’s home away from home, and she is deeply honored to be involved in so many beautiful productions.

Jessica is originally from Rome, New York. After years in the financial industry, she decided to pursue her passion for philanthropic work. For the first three years of her nonprofit career, Jessica worked for the AIDS Services of Austin finance department and then with The Arc of the Capital Area as their Operations Manager. At The Arc, Jessica was first exposed to nonprofit arts working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After leaving The Arc, Jessica refined her administrative and management skills before joining Blue Lapis Light in August 2017. Since finding her home at Blue Lapis Light, Jessica has fallen in love with the organization and the performing arts.

Ana was first inspired to join the BLL community in 2012 after seeing Heaven-Earth-One at the Long Center. The silks hanging between pillars, Austin skyline, ethereal music, lighting projection, and use of space made the entire performance magical. Ana knew she wanted to be a part of something so beautiful, and began taking silks classes. By 2015, she had choreographed and performed two solo silks performances, one of which was her high school senior project. Ana began assisting BLL’s production team in 2019 for In Light. BLL brings love and light into the world by way of movement and connection to the planet and will always have a special place Ana’s heart.

Earl has more than 30 years experience with film and digital still photography. His work has appeared in numerous publications and web sites including Business Week, Rolling Stone, Wired and Spin.