BAM Presents: A Celebration of African Diasporic Dance

Yasmar Cruz is a Puerto Rican artist, educator, and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience based in New York City. She holds a BA in Performing Arts & Public Relations from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s in Dance Education from the City University of New York. In NYC, she has worked with youth educational programs and nonprofit organizations developing, implementing, evaluating, and delivering culturally relevant curriculums for over 2,000 students. As a guest artist for dance companies, she performed in opening acts for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, MACY’s Day Parade, Lincoln Center Galas, and as part of the opening performances for The Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade with Danza Fiesta. She is a recipient of the Cycle IX Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellowship (ICA) from the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York City. In 2021, she received the Communitas America Community Impact Award for her holistic wellness initiative incorporating dance and yoga with BIPOC women during the pandemic. She is the founder of Danzartes and Arts and Culture organization and has received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Hunter College School of Education in 2025.