Staff

Dance was Sarah’s first love, justice was her second. 

Upon realizing that their passion for dance could live in unity with her queerness, and in collaboration with her organizing—she created Dear Queer Dancer to be a wellspring of liberation, power, and expansion for the LGBTQ+ community.

Sarah is a queer, Bolivian-American cultural practitioner, dancer, and filmmaker from the Bay Area. Sarah received her B.A. from Mills College in Public Policy and her M.F.A in Cinema from San Francisco State University. Her video work has been leveraged by social justice organizations like Advancement Project, The Utility Reform Network, and Just Cause/Causa Justa to win progressive campaigns. Sarah’s “2020 PSA” video was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network in the program, Where Do We Go From Here? Sarah’s documentary, “Dear Queer Dancer,” aired on PBS in July 2021.

Dear Queer Dancer transformed from a documentary to an arts service organization that centers the professional and creative success of LGBTQ+ dancers.

Paolo’s work background includes project management, digital marketing, and communications. He graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Marketing and has worked with multiple nonprofits and advertising agencies, including San Diego Habitat for Humanity, FCB West, and Ayzenberg.

He found dance at a young age and it unlocked a path of self-discovery. Paolo was part of a competition team based in San Diego called 220 Second to None, and credits that experience as one of the things that gave him the confidence to come out of the closet.

Paolo joined Dear Queer Dancer to combine his work experience, love for dance, and desire to empower the LGBTQ+ community. He hopes to spread positive change and create safe spaces through dance, in the same way it did for him.