Our Story
VelaDance is a professional contemporary and modern dance company based in South Jersey. Rooted in the lineage of American modern and concert dance, we create repertory work that is technically rigorous, emotionally honest, and unmistakably human.
Our work lives in the space between shadow and light — sorrow and breakthrough, struggle and grace — pursued with an unwavering commitment to excellence, beauty, and truth. Everything we make rises from a single conviction: "And the darkness could not overcome the Light."
With both professional and pre-professional dancers sharing the stage, VelaDance creates movement that wrestles with sorrow, struggle, beauty, sacrifice, and renewal — a professional concert dance company enriching the South Jersey arts community through disciplined artistry and meaningful storytelling.
What We Do
We believe dance has the power to heal, unite, and inspire. Everything we create is rooted in that conviction.
Rooted in contemporary and modern dance, our artists train with rigorous discipline — developing a movement vocabulary that is both expressive and deeply skilled. Excellence is the foundation everything else is built on.
We believe access to the arts changes lives. VelaDance is committed to bringing dance education into South Jersey schools and community spaces — planting seeds that grow far beyond the stage.
Every performance we give is an invitation — to feel something real, to be seen, to encounter beauty in unexpected places. We create work that stays with people long after the lights go down.
South Jersey is home, and we take that seriously. We partner with schools, local organizations, and cultural institutions to use the art of dance as a bridge — bringing people together and making concert dance accessible across our community.
The Artists
[ Photo ]
Founder & Artistic Director
Honduran-born and raised in Pleasantville, NJ, Deivin is a dancer, choreographer, and emerging artistic leader. A graduate of ACIT's Performing Arts Academy and Stockton University (B.A. Dance Studio Operations), he trained with Zion Dance Project in Dallas, TX under artistic director Vincent Hardy, making his choreographic debut at their 2024 Summer Series. He founded VelaDance to serve his community through disciplined artistry and purposeful storytelling.
[ Photo ]
Founding Artist & Choreographer
A New Jersey–born dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Emily discovered dance at 12 and trained at Stockton University in ballet, jazz, modern, improvisation, pedagogy, and kinesiology. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts (Health & Wellness / Dance) from Thomas Edison State University. In summer 2025 she performed with Zion Dance Project in Dallas, TX. Emily leads a community dance program and is a founding creative voice at VelaDance.
[ Photo ]
Founding Artist & Choreographer
South Jersey–based dancer, teacher, and choreographer trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, acro, and tap. A Stockton University alumna, her performance credits include Koresh's Artistic Showcase (2023), Temple University, and Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers' InHale Performance Series (2025). Through VelaDance, Saita continues to share her artistry and passion for using movement to bring Light into a dark world.
On Stage
A dedicated training ground for the next generation of artists. VelaDance Training Company is built for pre-professional dancers ready to bridge the gap between student and professional — where rigorous technique meets artistry, mentorship, and real performance experience.
We are building something intentional. Something worthy of the dancers who dream of more. Details coming soon.
Support the Arts
Your support helps VelaDance create professional concert dance opportunities in South Jersey, sustain our artists, and bring meaningful work into the community we love.
We are deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, Luz Art International Fund, for making IGNITE possible. Whether you are an individual patron or an organization, every contribution moves us forward.
Media
VelaDance welcomes media inquiries, feature requests, photography, and editorial coverage. For high-resolution images, artist bios, and press materials, please reach out directly.
Reach Out
Whether you're looking to book VelaDance for an event, explore sponsorship, or simply learn more about our work — we'd love to hear from you. Darkness never has the final word.
Enter your card below. Payment is processed securely by Stripe — veladance.com never receives your card details.