Ellie Alfonso is a passionate, curious, and empathetic artistic learner who grew up in Lima, Peru. She is currently a performer, dancer, and emerging movement artist pursuing a degree in dance with a minor in psychology at Texas Woman's University in Denton. While living in Peru, she began ballet training at age 4. Later, in Texas, she studied jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary, and Latin styles. She began her modern dance training at Collin College, where she continued to strengthen her ballet technique and was introduced to more performance opportunities. She was part of their modern dance company (Collin Dance Ensemble), where she had the opportunity to perform in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, Texas. She has had the privilege of traveling to events such as the American College Dance Association (ACDA) for the past 4 years. Traveling and culture are central to her family connection and self-identity, and she finds ways to cultivate and enrich her artistic practices wherever she goes. She is deeply rooted in her Peruvian and Cuban heritage, so culture and rhythm play an important part in her artistic identity. She is a spiritual and intuitive person who enjoys connection with others. Her artistic practice centers on the relationship among movement, holistic healing, and mental health. She hopes to use her compassion and teaching skills to use movement as a tool for self-expression, connection, and healing across generations.