Nicole Spring spent her early years as a dancer and actor, later finding a passion for filmmaking. She particularly enjoys dance-focused films and looks forward to continuing to explore, collaborate, and connect with other humans across different mediums as she continues to grow as a producer and director.

Nicole stumbled into the world of screendance in her mid 20s and instantly felt a calling to organize a film festival dedicated to the genre. In 2017, she took the leap and founded LA Dance Shorts Film Festival. The festival was renamed Los Angeles Dance Film Festival in 2022.

Alyssa Thompson currently works in animation as a Production Manager. Before finding a career in animation, her work as a dance artist took her throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Since shifting her creative work to dance films, she has found a place where her background in live performance and film experience are able to intersect. She particularly appreciates that in film you get the opportunity to step out of reality and experiment with something you envision in limitless ways. Alyssa also enjoys teaching Pilates and spending time with her husband and their two cats.

A San Antonio, Texas native, Felicia Guzman began her ballet training at the Vladimir Marek Ballet Academy and performed with the San Antonio Ballet Junior Company. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT, balancing her academic pursuits with a lifelong passion for dance.

After relocating to Southern California, Felicia refined her artistry under Ruben Tonoyan at Media Dance Center and performed as a Soloist with Media City Ballet. Her diverse career includes performances with Ballet Santa Barbara, Lost Angels Ballet, City Ballet of Los Angeles, Creations Dance Theater, Kenneth Walker Dance Project, and LA Unbound, showcasing her versatility and dedication to the craft.

Felicia's artistic journey has evolved to encompass a variety of dance styles and mediums. In 2020, she partnered with Maritza Navarro to present the LA Dance Film Festival, building on an event originally founded by Betsy Uhler and Lex Roman. As a current member of the festival's leadership team, Felicia is passionate about celebrating the intersection of dance and film, curating an inspiring platform for artists from around the globe.

Steven J. Butler is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose work thrives at the crossroads of movement, music, and storytelling. He began his creative journey as a dancer and choreographer, appearing in Transformers 2, The Latin Grammys, Weeds, Good Morning America, and collaborating with artists like Ludacris, Cheat Codes, Aaron Carter, Nick Carter, Paulina Rubio, and Macy Gray.

Steven earned his B.A. in Film from ArtCenter College of Design, graduating with distinction. Since then, he’s directed music videos for Precarious Records, Ultra Records, and Raid Records, and has been recognized by Slamdance, the Addy Awards, Zooppa, the Los Angeles Dance Film Festival, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Blue Ribbon Panel. His writing, directing, and producing reflect a deep curiosity and a knack for blending form and feeling.

He’s a 2018 TEDx speaker and an active force in the creative community, with projects ranging from a holiday art party and toy drive for Pasadena youth to music and visual storytelling for Jōviky. Steven serves on the board of the Los Angeles Dance Film Festival and has lent his curatorial eye to the Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival and the American Dance Festival’s Movies by Movers. His collaborative work also extends to AGBO's Lobby Theatre and the Armory Center for the Arts.

Whether he's behind the camera, in the studio, or building space for community-centered art, Steven brings an open mind and a thoughtful perspective—always in pursuit of stories that move, connect, and challenge.

Tedx: https://youtu.be/hEVQdkRtbqI

Lolly is a choreographer, stylist, and somatic mentor who weaves together healing, artistic exploration, and embodied practice to help people connect more deeply with their bodies and express their most authentic selves.

Rooted in dance, fashion, and somatics, their work empowers clients to reclaim presence and identity through movement. Based in Los Angeles, Lolly teaches weekly contemporary dance classes and offers one-on-one sessions in Pilates and somatic mentorship.

Through their brand LollyPopCulture, they blend the intentionality of fine art with the influence of pop culture, exploring what unapologetic self-expression feels like in the body—and how that sensation can be translated across artistic mediums. Their signature movement style is intimate, raw, and unmistakably their own: a fusion of anatomical precision and emotional instinct.

Since 2021, Lolly has led somatic meditations for dance film festival audiences—both online and in person—inviting viewers into a more embodied experience of movement onscreen. As a board member of the Los Angeles Dance Film Festival (LADFF), they are passionate about expanding how people engage with dance in cinematic form.