Team
Alicia Mullikin is an Indigenous Chicana dance artist, educator, and community organizer. She is the visionary behind El Sueño. With a Master's degree in Dance from Cal State University of Long Beach, Alicia's dance experience spans both classical dance styles and Indigenous Danza Azteca, granting her a unique perspective in fostering culturally resonant dance centered on racial literacy and decolonization. Her work has been featured at numerous schools, institutions, and studios across the United States which has propelled Alicia's powerful expressions of Mexican Indigenous Identity to the forefront. In 2023, Alicia's unwavering dedication to advocacy earned her recognition as one of only fifteen national artists honored as an Arts Advocacy Leadership Fellow by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures. Through her artistry and activism, Alicia Mullikin strives to empower historically marginalized communities and nurture future ancestors.
ALICIA MULLIKIN
founder + DIRECTOR
Tessa Bañales is a movement artist and collaborator of Persian and Mexican American heritage. Beyond her role as a Production Stage Manager with Teatro Zinzanni, Tessa has been a co-director for PRICEarts N.E.W. Dance Company where she channeled her dedication towards representing and empowering local communities. She actively partners with groups like El Sueño, where she can merge art with advocacy to uplift marginalized people and communities. Through her involvement as a dancer and production manager with El Sueño, she is able to seamlessly blend her artistic passion with her backstage expertise, amplifying narratives of shared history and aspirations for the future. Tessa has been instrumental in bringing to life some of El Sueño’s most ambitious exhibitions and projects.