Fausto Rivera (he/they) is a Chicano dance artist from the Pacific Northwest. He graduated with a BA in Dance and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Washington, where he was awarded the Evelyn H. Green Endowed Scholarship for artistic merit and promise. He grew up training in Mexican Folk Dance, and trained in ballet and modern dance in college. While at the UW, he danced with the Chamber Dance Company, under the direction of Hannah C. Wiley, performing work by Lar Lubovitch, Danny Shapiro/Joanie Smith, Bill T. Jones, and Doug Varone. He is a founding member of Seattle’s Au Collective, a collective of dance artists highlighting the work of artists from marginalized communities. With Au, he has been able to present and perform original choreography throughout the PNW, as well as NYC. Fausto worked under the artistic direction of Donald Byrd at Spectrum Dance Theater, for six seasons, and was fortunate to tour throughout the country and abroad. This is his first season with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and he is excited to grow as an artist and an educator. He hopes to keep using dance as a tool for dismantling systemic and cultural oppression.