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THE LIGHT ENSEMBLE 2024 - 2025
The Light is an innovative youth program that invests in Chicagoland youth ages 14-19 as both activists and artists. We meet once per week in April & May, twice per week in June, and 3-4 times per week in July. You'll learn the intersection of live performance & social change to create new solo & ensemble work.
Pinqy Ring, aka Marisol Vélez, Director of Youth Programming and Lead Teaching Artist (she/her/ella)
is a radical and revolutionary Puerto Rican rapper, decolonizing minds one rhyme at a time and aligning her destiny through Hip Hop. Born and bred in Chicago, she manifests her vision for a more just world as multi-hyphenate MC, Hip Hop Educator, speaker and U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador - traveling overseas to manage and facilitate Hip Hop diplomacy programming. With philanthropy as part and parcel of her platform, Pinqy prides herself in mentoring the next generation of creative change agents and providing culturally competent consulting to organizations looking to engage youth and explore Hip Hop as a transformative tool. In 2023, Pinqy Ring became a TEDxChicago performer, was featured on NPR, and was named “Best Hip Hop Artist” by the Chicago Reader. Though she is proud of her awards and accolades, Pinqy's most prized possession is the platform she’s purposing for historically excluded communities of the world. Hip Hop has taken her from the 'hood to speaking at Harvard, and Pinqy Ring raps her legacy loudly into place while creating pathways for others to do the same. To learn more about Pinqy, check out her performance at Collaboraction’s recent House of Belonging at Experimental Station.
Linda Sol, teaching assistant (she/her)
Linda Sol is a poet turned rapper hailing from the west side of Chicago making waves with her innovative style and captivating lyrics. Her genre-fluid production, intricate flows, and lyrical precision carry listeners through the evolutions of herself, emphasizing the duality of life we all experience. Still early in her career, Sol has had the honor to open for 2 Chains, Dreezy, Omar Apollo, Mereba, Dua Saleh, Phony Ppl, Jamila Woods, A. Chal, Shangela, Samaria, Queen Key, Glorilla, and Phoebe Bridgers. Since then, Sol has taken strides as her own creative director, producing unique and professional visuals to her music. Sol is currently working on her next single "Right Now", set to release later this summer. Until then, here is a video of her amazing spoken word poetry and most recent music video for her song, Woah.
Adalys (any pronouns)
Meet Adalys, a queer, curly headed performer from Little Village. Adi uses dance and poetry to share aspects of her identity and stories from her community. She was awarded Nexstars’ national trophy for her performance with 8Teenth Hip Hop crew, and you can find her writing in “ChiArts Writes” Volumes 7 and 8, as well in Depaul’s “Blue Book: Best American High School Writing for 2023.” As a member of The Light, Adi aims to perfect her writing skills and advocate for the inclusion of BIPOC people and the awareness of body liberation.
Ameeor (she/her)
Ameeor is an African American singer, actor, songwriter and artivist encouraging social change through the arts. Raised on both the South and West sides of Chicago, Ameeor is passionate about uplifting others and advocating for the destruction of all forms of inequality, discrimination and injustice. Deeply rooted in the performing arts community in Chicago, Ameeor is a student at ChiArts, and a proud member of Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir)'s highest ensemble “Voice of Chicago.”
Aura (any pronouns)
Aura is an artivist that speaks love through their music. Being a genderfluid Latinx teen, they strive to be a beacon of light for the people who come after them. Aura has performed at Harris Theater and Jones College Prep. Aura wants to share their story as an Ecuadorian- American, showing just how inspiring they can be. On the big stage and in protest, Aura aims to protect the people who were once like them.
Carrington, aka Iced Strawberry Cream (any pronouns)
Carrington, aka Iced Strawberry Cream, is a multi-talented performer born and grown on the south side of Chicago. She has performed in many school performances, such as their yearly elementary school’s Kwanzaa performance, Chicago High School For The Arts’ curtain call and AAPI showcases, and also at ComplexCon as a part of an art exhibit. She hopes to do more performances centered around Black excellence and empowerment, which is what she has always fought for as a young African American.
GG (she/her)
Meet GG, a multi-talented performing artist born in Ethiopia and raised in Chicago on a mission to spread love and body positivity through her artwork. From an early age, Girma was inspired by the visual arts pieces created by her parents, which led her to a love for violin, acting, singing and musical theater. As a member of “The Light,” GG is making new performance pieces about her social justice platforms such as racism, body positivity and feminism.
Marlen (she/her)
Marlen is a Latina artist from Chicago that utilizes her passion for musical theater to amplify the social justice platforms of feminism, climate change, racism and homophobia. She has performed in Alice in Wonderland (2023) and Dear Diary (2024) at ChiArts High School, where she is in the musical theater conservatory. She also is part of the Uniting Voices Choir. Marlen hopes to use her platform to advocate for better opportunities in her southwest side neighborhood, and all around Chicago.
Mercedes (she/her)
Mercedes is a professionally trained dancer who graduated from The Chicago High School for the Arts. Mercedes has choreographed multiple pieces, including the dance section of the Latinx showcase at her school, and was the first-ever student choreographer for the schoolwide musical “Sister Act.” Challenging the stigma that art is not a viable career path, Mercedes creates work that inspires a community of creatives, emphasizing that despite one’s upbringing or obstacles in life anyone is capable of pursuing their passion.
Montiara (she/her)
Get to know Montiara, an African American singer and performing artist from the south side of Chicago. She strives to inspire and connect with others, as well as tell stories and create awareness around mental health, climate change and women’s empowerment. Montiara is a student of the vocal conservatory at The Chicago High School for the Arts, and is a part of The Example Setters’ youth poetry team.
Samantha (she/her)
Samantha is an actor from Hermosa who uses her passion for theater to advocate against gun violence. Samantha has collaborated with prestigious companies such as Goodman Theater and Lookingglass Theater Company. Since placing third in the 2024 August Wilson New Voices city finals, Samantha is focused on experimenting with new roles that are the epitome of her own story, lineage and experiences.
Sathvik (he/him)
Sathvik is a nerd. He is an artist from Chicago who produces plays, boxes and wants to save the world. Sathvik recently stage managed a seven-act short-play festival, Cut To The Chase, at The Artistic Home. He is also credited as Executive Producer on The Shoemakers, Dracula, and Alice in Wonderland. He’ll start at Middlebury College in the fall majoring in International Politics and Economics.
Serenity (she/her)
Serenity is a 16-year-old African American performer who wants to spread awareness around mental health and racism through her art. She is a multi-faceted artist - dancing and acting - but her strongest suit is her singing. She has been a praise dancer at Christ Universal Temple, and she works at an organization called Angel’s Message that helps immigrants and the unhoused. She hopes to use her platform as an artist to promote change in the world, where people are more positive and open minded.
Heading to Lolla?
Stop by the Collaboraction Theater Tent to See The Light and The Luminaries perform at Kidzapalooza!
The Light
ENSEMBLE CLASS OF 2022 - 2023
PHOENIX DOVE ENSEMBLE
Earl Hester
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CJ DAHGOD
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SYDNEY SANAA
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BIGG CENO
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ENSEMBLE CLASS OF 2021 - 2022
UNICORN ENSEMBLE
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PHALLON PIERCE
Identical twins Phallon and Kyra Pierce, aka The Pierce Twins, are actors, dancers, athletes, models, motivational speakers and activists. They currently have a bill on the Illinois House Floor, called The Pierce Twins Law, that would ensure K-12 curriculums throughout the state of Illinois will include books written by diverse authors. They are freshmen at Bolingbrook High School and live in Naperville. Naturally, their social justice focus is diversifying school reading curriculums.
KYRA PIERCE
Identical twins Phallon and Kyra Pierce, aka The Pierce Twins, are actors, dancers, athletes, models, motivational speakers and activists. They currently have a bill on the Illinois House Floor, called The Pierce Twins Law, that would ensure K-12 curriculums throughout the state of Illinois will include books written by diverse authors. They are freshmen at Bolingbrook High School and live in Naperville. Naturally, their social justice focus is diversifying school reading curriculums.
NATE BUESCHER
A talented young TV and stage actor, singer and dancer, and a member of the Chicago Bulls Bulls Kidz for five years. He is a freshman at Lincoln Park High School and lives in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Nate’s social justice focus is supporting Black Lives Matter.
MARCUS JACKSON
A child of educators who has been acting since age five, starting with plays at his church before signing with an agent and since acting in a number of TV shows. He lives with his family on the South side of Chicago and is a senior at Lindblom Math and Science Academy. Marcus’s social justice focus is community empathy.
JOY SMITH
Mentored Ella Rae
