ARTIST BIOS

Bennyroyce Royon (he/they/siya) is a queer Filipino-American dance artist and cultural producer creating between Seattle and New York City. Passionate about the performing arts, education, and community building, Royon’s choreography explores identity, culture, and belonging, inspired by love, nature, and the cosmos.

A Juilliard graduate, Royon has performed with notable companies and choreographers, including Aszure Barton, Jessica Lang, Sidra Bell, and Karole Armitage. He has worked on Broadway and with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. The New York Times highlighted his “keenly focused, succinct way with movement.”

Royon has received choreographic commissions from Atlanta Ballet and Ballet Hispánico, and has earned multiple awards, including the MAP Fund grant, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Hope Corps grant, and the Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works Choreography Award. His project-based contemporary dance company, Bennyroyce Dance, has performed at prominent venues in NYC and beyond.

Active in his communities, Royon serves as co-chair of the Eastside Culture Coalition, an Artist-in-Residence at the Filipino Community of Seattle, and a Washington State Arts Commissioner. He is also a co-curator for the Base Residency Program. More at www.bennyroyce.com.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Chameleon, a multidisciplinary contemporary dance experience by artist Bennyroyce Royon, offers a profound exploration of reinvention, boundless creativity, and queer joy. This powerful work delves deep into personal lived experiences, confronting past traumas and celebrating the discovery of supportive communities. Through visceral, dynamic movement, innovative visual design, and compelling theatrical elements, “Chameleon” guides audiences on a transformative journey. It illuminates the resilience of the human spirit and the empowering process of shaping an unapologetic future—one that is authentic, vibrant, and filled with hope. The performance serves as a powerful testament to personal evolution and the beauty of self-acceptance.

HOW TO SUPPORT

To join the community of support, please contact erin@velocitydancecenter.org, or make a gift at the link below. As a fiscally sponsored project, all gifts to maia made through Velocity Dance Center are tax deductible.