Faith Balderrama

Biography

Faith Balderrama is a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Southern California. She graduated with a B.A. in Dance Performance from Oral Roberts University in 2020 and is based in Chicago. Faith performed with South Chicago Dance Theatre for three seasons and had the honor of working with Terrence Marling, Noelle Kayser, Jackie Nowicki, Donald Byrd, Monique Haley, Kate Weare, Frank Chavez, and Joshua Blake Carter. She also performed works by Kia S. Smith and Tsai Hsi Hung for the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 2024. As a choreographer, Faith has created new works for the Oral Roberts University Dance Department, Little Fire Artist Collective, and the Winifred Haun and Dancers Third Coast Contemporary Dance Program.

​

Additionally, Faith received a Chicago DCASE Individual Artist Program Grant in 2023 to produce an evening-length work in 2024 entitled “HER.” She was then invited to perform an excerpt of the work at the Harvest Contemporary Dance Festival in Chicago in 2024 and at the St. Louis Contemporary Dance Festival in 2025. Faith currently freelances as a performer, teacher, and choreographer throughout the Midwest and performs with Little Fire Artist Collective and The Seldoms dance company in Chicago.

Faith's Artist Statement

As a dance performer, choreographer, and instructor, I create intrinsic and engaging experiences through movement that illuminate the human soul and stimulate meaningful connections between artists and community members. Intrigued by the universal language of dance, my choreographic works highlight ubiquitous human experiences, exploring topics such as family systems, nature, human development, faith, interpersonal relationships, and mental health. My pieces address overlooked aspects of social, political, and cultural constructs that hinder human empathy, trust, and reconciliation. I prioritize fostering vulnerability and authenticity in rehearsals and performances that impart a sense of belonging and purpose among participants. My creative process integrates conceptual and emotional exploration to engage the mind, body, and spirit. I derive movement ideas from other creative mediums such as music, visual art, design, theater, and homemaking. Overall, I build worlds that challenge audiences’ perceptions of reality and increase awareness of one’s body, civic responsibility, and environment.