Yaritza Flecha is a native of Chicago and holds a BA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Throughout her time at U of I, she has been in various undergraduate & graduate student works ranging in styles such as House, Umfundalai, and Modern. Yaritza has mentored under Maria Torres for Afro-Cuban & Latin Jazz techniques as well as Musical Theatre Direction. Yaritza’s research and pedagogy is founded in Afro-Caribbean movement, exploring the freedom and circulation of the hips, fluidity of the spine, and visceral expressions of ancestral knowledge & remembrance. Yaritza has been a long-time dancer and choreographer at The Miracle Center, a performing arts organization dedicated to fostering the lives of both youth and young adults through theater and dance. Currently, Yaritza is partnered with various community centers throughout the west and south side of Chicago, teaching Yoga & Dance, while pursuing her MAT in Elementary Education at North Park University. She is a certified Somatic Stretch Coach specialized in PNF assisted stretching and holds her 200hr RYT in Vinyasa Yoga.