Founder / Artistic Director

Joel Aguilera is a Houston Native with an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and BFA in Dance from the University of Houston. Aguilera has experience touring nationally and internationally as a professional dancer, performing in countries like Albania, Costa Rica, and Montenegro. In Houston, Aguilera has opened up for John Legend, Pitbull, and Lil’ Wayne alongside Kreate Inc, entertained with Houston Rockets Launch Crew for two seasons, and currently spends his time teaching at several studios in the Greater Houston area. Aguilera is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Mezclada Dance Company and has presented his work in Houston, New York, Milwaukee, and St. Louis as well as in many dance festivals such as “Barnstorm Dance Fest”, “Emerging Choreographers Showcase”, ”16th Annual Celebration of Dance”, “Mind the Gap 8.0”, “Mind the Gap 13.0”, and “Texas Latino/a/x Contemporary Dance Festival” where he fuses his Breaking foundation with Modern dance and Latin Culture.

Assistant Director

Lizzy Aguilera received her BFA in Dance from the University of Houston and is currently working towards her MFA in dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Aguilera is a principal dancer for Mezclada Dance Company and also works alongside her husband, Joel Aguilera, as the Assistant Director of the company. Additionally, Aguilera is a company member for six degrees dance company. Previously, Aguilera has guest danced for several other dance companies including Noblemotion, Psophonia, and Dance Houston.

Aguilera teaches a wide array of dance styles but specializes in teaching Jazz, Contemporary, and Acrobatics. Aguilera is the Assistant Artistic Director of her family owned dance studio, Dayton Academy of Dance, and was previously the Director of the dance program at Crosby Middle School. Aguilera is highly experienced in studio team choreography, drill team choreography, but always stresses the importance of proper technique and a firm classical foundation no matter the platform.

Project Coordinator

Current Monster Energy athlete Jeffrey Louis, a.k.a B-Boy Jeffro, hails from Houston, TX with over 15 years of dance experience. Louis is representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in Breaking, the newest dance sport to join the games. With around the globe competitions/performances and his combined Sports Kinesiology education, Louis created FitBreak. A ground-breaking fitness program that combines break-dance and fitness exercises, to optimize human performance and promote overall health. Jeffrey is now a part of Break Free Worldwide team as an Executive Director, and aims to bring Breaking to new heights. Louis is now the Project Coordinator and core dancer for Mezclada. Some of Louis’ competitive breaking accomplishments include 1st place in IBE Crew Battles 2021, Temple Rock 7, Bboy City, Freestyle Session, Temple Rock 6, Temple Rock 5, and many more.

Core Dancer

Sonia Engman is a choreographer, performer, educator and certified personal trainer. Modern dance, ballet, and street and styles are the basis of her movement knowledge. Sonia received her B. A. in Dance and Arts Management in 2016 from the University of New Mexico. She has performed in productions like the Young Choreographer’s Showcase in NYC, in principle roles in productions like Shira Greenberg’s Nutcracker on the Rocks, Amazon Prime’s Nutcracker Party and ensemble work including Hannibal, a multidisciplinary work in the Alps of Austria. Sonia has taught dance and set work in KC, TX, NM, MT, AZ, and MO.

Sonia relocated to Houston in 2019 to begin an adventure in search of opportunity and growth. Sonia is now starting her first season in Mezclada and second season as a company member with Open Dance Project. She is also a part of Hip Hop and House dance crews, Assorted Flavas and The Lockin’ Keez..

Core Dancer

Kenny Louis is an entertainer based in Houston, TX. He is currently the Coordinator of the Houston Rockets Launch Crew, a core member of RAD (Rock All Day) Crew and is a principal dancer for Fly Dance Company. At 14 years old he began breakdancing and has been performing since. In high school, he entered Inertia Dance Company which helped him enhance his skill and explore the possibilities of dance - he performed in symphonies, parades, half-time shows, musicals, concerts, and won first place as Dance Champion at MA Nationals. After graduating high school, Kenny continued to study dance at the University of Houston and decided to peruse dance as a full time career. In 2013 he joined the Houston Rockets Launch Crew and solidified his place as captain three years later, then also became Coordinator 4 years later. 2013 was also the year he joined Fly Dance company, which has allowed him to travel the United States as well as entertain audiences abroad in over 12 countries. Despite his love of performing, Kenny has always retained a passion for teaching and started his role as a teacher in 2010. He currently works throughout the greater Houston areas.

Core Dancer

Julia Cipriani is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she began her training at Thomas Dance Studio. She holds a BFA in dance, as well as a kinesiology minor, from George Mason University where she performed in works by Christopher d’Amboise and Stefanie Nelson, as well as conducting a research project on the efficacy of mental imagery for technical dance corrections. Her choreography has been presented at Harris Theater (GMU), the Jack Guidone Theater (Washington D.C.) and the ACDA Mid-Atlantic South Conference Gala (Meredith College). Upon graduation, Julia collaborated with composer Kenneth Michael Florence at the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists (Peter Askim & Christopher d’Amboise, directors) at NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts in New York City to create an original piece, both of music and movement. Shortly after NEXT Fest, Julia relocated to Houston to perform with NobleMotion Dance as a guest artist and has since performed in works by Adam Castaneda. Dwain Travis, Joel Aguilera, and Nicola Bennett. She is currently a dance artist with The Pilot Dance Project (Adam Castaneda, director) and a teaching artist at Rowland School of Ballet in Kingwood, Texas.

Core Dancer

Elyssa Vega is a dancer and dance teacher in the Houston area. In May 2020, she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Houston (UH). Her choreography has been showcased in the Texas Latino Contemporary Dance Festival and various venues around Houston. She has danced with Psophonia Dance Company, performing in the evening length work, Colony in 2019. Vega enjoys teaching and choreographing for the competition team at Dayton Academy of Dance as well as taking dance classes around Houston. Vega is currently an Assistant Director for the Lariaettes drill team at Dobie High School. She is excited to be apart of Mezclada Dance Company and to continue to contribute to the Houston dance community.

Core Dancer

Hector Cisneros is a Houston based Venezuelan dancer, competitor, and instructor varying in styles and genres with rich experience in breaking. Cisneros actively competes in the competitive breaking circuit, performs nationally, and teaches locally. In Houston, Cisneros is the Captain of the Houston Rockets Launch Crew, Core Dancer of Mezclada Dance Company, Member of RAD Crew, and Head instructor with Fitbreak Workout. A few of Cisneros highlights include performing with The Houston Symphony, The San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts, Kaleidoscope Festival, Hispanic Bar Association, and Barnstorm Dance Fest. Competitively, Cisneros has qualified for events including The Red Bull BC One Houston Cypher, TX Breaking Open, Breakfree’s Break X, and Silverback 2017. Lastly, Cisneros is currently on track to attain his Bachelor's Degree in Design and Digital Media from the University of Houston.

Apprentice

Sydni Alaura Lee has been dancing for 7 years and teaching for 5. Lee started her dance career at Dayton Academy of Dance in 7th grade where she was later offered to start teaching in her 9th grade of high school. Since then, Lee has choreographed award winning group routines and solos. Last year Lee was given the opportunity to become an apprentice at the Mezclada Dance Company in Houston. Lee is currently instructing at Dayton Academy of Dance and Profusion Performing Arts. Lee is also going to Lee college and will be transferring to the University of Houston’s dance program in Fall of 2023, where she will go to school for her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance.