tinypistol

Born and raised in Central Pennsylvania, Asha Benjelloun moved to San Francisco in 2014 to continue her training with Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program. In 2016 she joined Maurya Kerr’s tinypistol, where she remains a frequent collaborator; she has also freelanced with Dawsondancesf and The Cambrians. She has had the privilege of performing works by Adam Barruch, Peter Chu, Marco Goecke, Robyn Mineko Williams, and Ohad Naharin among others. After spending a year with Hubbard Street’s Professional Program, Asha was invited to be an Apprentice for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s 2019-2020 season. She is currently freelancing in the Chicagoland area.

Malik Burnett, a Washington, DC native, is an arts manager, dancer, and currently the Assistant Manager of Dance Programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He previously served as a Dance Coordinator for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, where he developed a dance program for youth ages two–twelve. Malik is a member of Maurya Kerr’s tinypistol and performed in the Merce Cunningham Trust’s “MinEvent” as a part of their Centennial Celebration, as well as performing works by Tariq O’Meally, Britta Joy Peterson, Juel D. Lane, Twyla Tharp, Shen Wei, Helen Pickett, and Robyn Mineko Williams. He studied at The Washington School of Ballet, The Ailey School, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Sidra Bell Module. Malik holds a BFA in Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and an MA in Arts Management from American University.

A native of Brooklyn, Faith Joy Mondesire began her formal training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, and recently graduated from SUNY Purchase College with her BFA in Dance and BA in English Literature with a concentration in African American Studies. Throughout her years at Purchase Faith had the opportunity to perform and work with artists such as Joseph Hernandez, Sidra Bell, Kristen Foote, Melanie Gambino, Kyle Abraham, and Doug Varone. Faith joined tinypistol in 2020.

Tory Peil grew up in Ashland Oregon where she trained under Sylvia Bolton. She went on to spend over a decade dancing in Seattle in projects ranging from ballet to burlesque and opera to nightclubs, the majority of her career with Whim W’Him under the direction of Olivier Wevers. Tory retired from dancing in 2018 but is honored to be a part of tinypistol.

Chelsea Reichert is a freelance dancer currently based in the Bay Area. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College and also studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. The many incredible people she has met at and outside of both of these places have shaped her work deeply.  She’s had the privilege of performing with Maurya Kerr/tinypistol, Sharp & Fine, Kickbal, Courtney Mazeika, Christine Cali, Emily Hansel, Larry Arrington, and Kinetech Arts. Being an extreme beginner at playing the guitar is currently bringing her some joy. 

Suzette Sagisi is a Filipinx-American dance artist born and raised in California. Her company credits include Hope Mohr Dance, dazaun dance, Sandra Chatterjee, Brice Mousset, James Alsop, Academy of Villains, Gerald Casel Dance Co., and Katie Faulkner's little seismic, among others. She has danced for music artists such as Beyoncé and Fabolous, and has appeared on shows such as MTV's Made and America's Best Dance Crew. Suzette holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a master's degree from Tufts University, both in Philosophy. She serves as a Board Co-Chair of Hope Mohr Dance and resides in Berlin, Germany. Suzette is honored to have joined tinypistol in 2020.

Cleo Ledet is a Baltimore-based graphic designer. Through her work with the branding agency Design B&B, she has had the opportunity to work on global brands including McCormick Spices, Dove Chocolate, and Johnson's Baby. Her real passion, however, is helping artists and small businesses tell the world who they are. Cleo holds a BFA in graphic design from Academy of Art University. Her past lives as a dancer, barista, and audio tour salesperson also inform her work.