About Negative Space
Who we are
Negative Space Dance Collective (NSDC), led by Alexa Lopez Plush in collaboration with the dancers, is an emerging contemporary dance ensemble based in San Diego, California, committed to pushing the boundaries of movement and performance. NSDC is rooted in collaboration and experimentation, the collective crafts immersive, unconventional works that invite audiences into dynamic, and ever-evolving experiences. Centering improvisation as both a creative and performative tool, the collective embraces spontaneity not only in the choreographic process, but also within the final performance itself, allowing each piece to remain alive and responsive in the moment.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create dance performances and experiences that reflect the human lived experience through collaboration, improvisation and immersive yet unconventional performances.
Our Story
Alexa has been a long-time collaborator with Ranier Martinez & Erin Kracht, collaborating and dancing together since 2018. As part of SDSU’s post-modern dance program, Alexa dwelled into alternative dance-making techniques that go beyond traditional choreographic teachings. Alexa and Ranier began to explore more improvisational scores in their Live Arts Fest (2022) piece runaway, where they incorporated clothing layering and movement transformations. After a few years as Operations Director at San Diego Dance Theater, Alexa had the pleasure to create a piece with their workstudy dancers Ilyana Hughes, Mariana Lara, Kamil Richardson, and Samara Rodriguez. Together, they created Everything has been out of order…(2024), a dance about time and grief. After creating you took my breath away (2025) with the whole cast, Alexa decided to create the collective to continue to capture the magic and define what our goals are as an ensemble. Improvisation has always led each project in the collective, and it will continue to be the foremost important element in the future.
