Steven James Rodriguez Velez is from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. He started his first practice of movement while studying karate, Judo, kung fu, and katas. After becoming a black belt in katas at the age of 13, Steven discovered his passion for movement and dance. Steven moved to San Juan in 2004 where he was accepted to the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras to study dance and theater. Steven discovered his passion for contemporary dance while working under Petra Bravo, a professor at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras and founder of the company HINCAPIE. In 2009, Steven joined the company ANDANZA which allowed him to dance the repertory of many choreographers from Puerto Rico, Spain, Brasil, and Canada. In addition to being a company member, Steven was a teacher in the school of Andanza and several other establishments until 2015, when he moved to North Carolina and started working with the Black Irish Company directed by Ronald West. In 2016 Steven joined Black Box Dance Theatre, directed by Michelle Pearson. Steven teaches all over the triangle and state and is a certified ShaGa teacher.