I'm Loaya Quesada
Operations & Finance | Content Specialist
Throughout the 20 years of my career, I have successfully built strong relationships with institutions, clients, and communities in the arts and culture industry as an artist, administrator, producer and creative developer.
My collaborations with non-governmental organizations, non-profits and individuals involved in social work includes dance and theater educational programs, talk shows, festivals, conferences, music concerts and art exhibitions, among others.
2022
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Creator & Coach
Cadereo
San Juan, PR | 2022
Cadereo is the first in a series of workshops designed to explore questions about how we allow ourselves to freely negotiate pelvic movement in a system so caught up in patriarchal conversation. Through a series of guided improvisation exercises, we allow participants to share, discover and talk about their experiences as women in dance.
2019
Performer & Production Collaborator
A Marriage of Cultures
Austin, TX | 2019
Performed and collaborated in the organization of the spring concert for the UT Middle Eastern Ensemble, Bereket, directed by Roberto Riggio and presented as a live theatrical concert in the Bates Recital Hall of the University of Texas in Austin.
2018
Performer
ComeUnity
Austin, TX | 2018
Part of the Austin Bellydance community project ComeUnity that showcased local dancers in collaboration with the legendary local music band Atash. Directed by Rania Kandil, her project presented the generational evolution of the dance in the city of Austin, TX.
2017
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Show Creator & Host
Danzando Tonight
San Juan, PR | 2017
Danzando Tonight is a monthly livestream talk show that showcased local dance artists from Puerto Rico. We started this project as part of the community outreach programs developed in Almacén 63. Danzando Tonight was the first live talk show to be broadcast in Puerto Rico for digital media, focused exclusively on dancers across the island.
2017
Producer & Stage Director
La Leche
San Juan, PR | 2017
Multidisciplinary arts showcase with a diversity of local artists from different fields. Created in collaboration with dancer and actor Franklyn Fuentes, La Leche had 3 successful season presentations, reaching 3 full attendance shows.
2016
Co-Producer & Logistic Coordinator
Lebanese Love Affair
Miami, FL | 2016 - 2019
Co-producer for the Lebanese Love Affair festival since 2016. This 3-day dance festival takes place during the month of March in Miami, Florida. It focuses on Middle Eastern Dance and provides 20 hours of training, a dinner show with live music and dance performances, and a closing gala with guest dancers at the Flamingo Theater in Brickell Bay, Miami.
2015
Educational Panelist
Hablemos de Belly
San Juan, PR | 2015
Produced under the umbrella of Nailah Dance Company, this educational panel fomented conversations around cultural, political and historic topics within Middle Eastern dance.
2013
Actor & Production Assistant
Leamos Todos Juntos
San Juan, PR | 2013 - 2017
Collaborated with group director Adriana Pantoja in her project Leamos Todos Juntos, a theatrical afterschool book reading program for K-3 students that successfully exposed hearing-impaired children to new forms of art with a joyful and engaging program.
2013
Co-Founder & Host
Ecléctico Árabe
San Juan, PR | 2013 - 2017
In collaboration with Puertorrican dancers Diana Lee Huertas and Yesenia Rivera, Ecléctico Árabe was a monthly dance show in the center of Old San Juan. Hosted by one of the most popular tourist restaurants in the capital, our show reached over 1k individuals per presentation.
2012
Instructor & Curriculum Developer
D'Danze Arts
Bayamon, PR | 2012 - 2017
Worked directly with Deliany Casillas, owner and artistic director of D'Danze Arts, to create a youth curriculum for bellydance, musical theater and acting. I choreographed award-winning performances and was responsible of teaching 4 weekly classes, reaching and average of 12 students per class.
Founder & Creative Director
Nailah Dance Company
San Juan, PR | 2010
Started building our community in 2010, and by 2014 our studio headquarters was established in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Committed to offering women alternative choices for leisure and self-development, our program offered students to grow up to a professional level and company performance.
2010
2009
Assistant Producer
Festival Pirata Verde
Culebra, PR | 2009, 2011, 2012
This 3-day music and arts festival included educational conferences and workshops on best practices for recycling and a broad weekend entertainment program.
2008
Co-Founder & Organizer
Hafla Belly Dance Show
San Juan, PR | 2008 - 2014
In collaboration with professional dancer and choreographer Valerick Molinary this annual dance show offered a stage to Middle Eastern artists, created a bridge of communication between studios and was a constant in the Puerto Rican bellydance community for 10 years.
San Juan, PR | 2006-2008
UX Design
Content Management
In 2017 I developed great interest in technology softwares to better understand and engage our communities and work spaces. As a certified UX/UI Designer, I have worked on projects that better the access to wellness and community programs through research and design. Implementing and designing content solutions to websites and social media.
