Alicia Kaplan  (Actress. Director, Choreographer, Teacher & the Founder & Producing Artistic Director of Danisarte):  Now in its 32nd year, Danisarte is a not-for-profit bilingual theatrical production company whose mission is to develop original productions in English and Spanish with the goal of increasing understanding among people of many cultures and nations, develop, and showcase the talents of minority artists. Danisarte has offered bilingual acting and playwriting workshops, an annual theatrical festival in East Harlem, and served as an incubator for novice artists and an experimental platform for professionals. Alicia has developed and directed 60 plays for Danisarte and many other theatrical companies and institutions.
Alicia studied ballet under the tutelage of Nina Novak and performed with the Ballet Nacional de Venezuela. As a child, she also performed at the Teatro Municipal and on television. She and her sister Betty were members of the trio “Las Antonettes,” created by their mother Ruth Antonofsky, and performed throughout Venezuela on all the television variety shows. Later, she studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance in New York with Maria Swoboda, Luigi, and Merce Cunningham, and acting with Uta Hagen, as well as with Sonia Moore at the Stanislavski Center for Performing Arts. Her acting debut in New York was in the world premiere of Roman Chalbaud’s The Terrible Angels at the Henry Street Playhouse. Off-Broadway in New York, Alicia performed at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Repertorio Español, The Public Theatre, The Pearl Theatre, The Theater of the Americas, the Latin American Theatre Ensemble, and Teatro Thalia, among others. She performed at the Gala Theatre (Washington D.C.) in Dinner for Two, by Santiago Moncada and Lope de Vega’s El Rufian Castrucho. At The Zach Theatre (Austin, Texas) and Vermont Stage Co. in The Clean House by Sara Ruhl.  And at the Pasadena Playhouse (California), Penetratus by Betty Kaplan. In Colombia, she toured with Thalia’s No Problemo Amigo, and Danisarte’s Soliluna:  a magical voyage thru five continents (as the Creator, Director, and Actress).  A veteran of more than 265 productions including television series, films, theatre, commercials, and broadcasting, Alicia has performed in the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain, She has portrayed Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, North and South American characters in contemporary and classic comedies and dramas in English and Spanish.
 

AWARDS: The Association of Latin Critics of New York (A.C.E.), The Hispanic Organization of Latin Artists, Aplausos, Palmas de Oro, the Latin American Theatre Ensemble, The Screen Actors’ Guild’s Joseph C. Riley Service Award for her work with the Equal Ethnic Opportunities Committee, and the Medaille D’Argent from the Société Académique D’Éducation et D’Encouragement from France in recognition of her contributions to the acting profession.  From Mexico, an Award from the Ayuntamiento Constitucional y el Instituto de Protección de la Infancia.   In Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Alicia was bestowed an “Honor Distinction.” In New York, the “Gabriela Mistral, Frida Kahlo, Julia de Burgos Reconocimiento” from the Galo Plaza International Committee, a Latin American Theatre Award, and the “Premio Concepción Arenal Aponte” from the Latin American Cultural Center of Queens, New York. From Spain, for Artistic Excellence, a Special Recognition Award from el Ayuntamiento de Churriana de la Vega. In 2018, Alicia was awarded a Golden ACE Award. In 2021, Alicia became a “Legacy Artist” of the Entertainment Community. She has been a Premio Arte Awardee and was also awarded a Latin Alternative Theatre (LATA) Award and a Citation from the City of New Jersey. Recently, Alicia was bestowed Talía Awards for: Lifetime Achievement Award “Gilberto Zaldivar”, the Herberto Dumé Award for Theatrical Development, and was named a Pillar of the Hispanic Theatre of New York for her artistic and cultural achievements.   
Alicia is a SAG-AFTRA and A.E.A. member, A Founding member of The East Harlem Council for the Arts & former Board Member of the Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center in East Harlem, and a former EEOC member of SAG-AFTRA. HOLA, and AEA. Alicia has been a Host and Presenter at the Latin ACE Awards, Talía Awards, and the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors’ Galas.
As the Founder & Producing Artistic Director of Danisarte, Alicia directed and presented several Lorca bilingual theatrical festivals at La Nacional in New York City from 2019 - 2023.  During the Pandemic, she spearheaded the Premiere of the first virtual bilingual theatrical festival of “Lorca Lives/Lorca Vive”. She is the Producing Artistic Director and Broadcaster/Interviewer of Welcome to My World with Alicia/Bienvenido a Mi Mundo con Alicia. (Youtube/akDanisarte). In 2021, Alicia conceived and directed Danisarte’s bilingual theatrical festival “Lorca Forever / Lorca por siempre” at La Nacional. In 2022, Alicia made her debut as an actor/dancer in the Russian opera “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” at the Metropolitan Opera House. During 2023, Alicia produced, directed, choreographed, and played the role of Luna during the tour of “Soliluna…” throughout the five boroughs of New York.  She also produced & directed the “Lorca’s Lasting Legacy” dramatic concerts celebration at La Nacional. Alicia is featured as a performer during the concert of Dayramir Gonzalez’s original musical compositions of Lorca’s poems, commissioned by Danisarte, with dancer Dandara Veiga. Alicia also became the Foreign Correspondent for the Argentinian web/television series Alba Presenta. In 2024, Alicia directed the critically and publicly acclaimed production of Fade by Tanya Saracho. Alicia continues her virtual and theatrical life and is eternally grateful to the press, our artists, sponsors, contributors, producers, directors, volunteers, and the public for the support of Danisarte and herself throughout the years.