About the Artist

Yackez is the art pop/multimedia collaboration of Jon and Larissa Velez-Jackson, aka Papi Jon and Twitta. Jon is a songwriter, writer, and full-time journalist. Larissa is a multi-platform artist, choreographer, movement educator, and director of LVJ Performance Co. In 2016, LVJ was nominated for a New York Dance and Performance "Bessie" award for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer. LVJ is also a two-time Foundation for Contemporary Arts grants awardee. They formed Yackez in 2010 as both a celebration and critique of popular culture, politics, urban living, and most notably, themselves. Their world premiere performance “Give It To You Stage” was commissioned by New York Live Arts in 2017 with support from New York Live Arts’ Live Feed program, Gibney Dance Center DIP program, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Mount Tremper Arts, and was featured in The New York Times. After their harrowing health ordeals, they took the inevitable leap in 2019 into podcasting with their show "Life Advice, " available on Apple Podcasts, and “Life Talk” on Spotify. The musical duo often performs with their beloved mascots, Yacky and Zee, and their post-modernist dance ensemble, the Yackez Dancers. Their recent songs and dance-theater spectacle were created with the support of the New York State DanceForce Choreographer’s Initiative (2023-2024) and Jacob’s Pillow Pillow Lab residency (2023.)

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for all ages

Audience Interaction

simple line dancing not mandatory. We'll seek audience volunteers to backup dance on the fly. Audience is free to move around the space, including resting and dancing.

Covid-19 Safety policy

This event does not require masks to be worn