Carlos Ivan Irizarry

Born Carlos Ivan Irizarry into a Puerto Rican family in The Bronx, he developed a passion for dance at a young age. At 11, he joined the Bronx-based performance company La Luz, where he trained in jazz, ballet, salsa, flamenco, Afro-Cuban, and street dance. By age 18, he had advanced to the adult company, La Santa Luz, performing internationally. During this period, he also discovered and embraced voguing. At 21, Carlos signed with a talent agency, leading to professional work with artists such as Sam Smith, Camila Cabello, Madonna, Estelle, Ashlee Simpson, and Beyoncé. Six years into his industry career, he pursued his interest in working with children, joining Sesame Street Live! at 26, where he toured globally for four years as a dancer and portraying characters including Cookie Monster and Bert. This experience provided him with time for reflection and to refine his career goals.

In 2014, Carlos moved from New York to Los Angeles to expand his career opportunities. Now 41 and based in Los Angeles, he has continued to build his resume, dancing and choreographing for major artists including Lizzo and Ariana Grande, and collaborating with Sam Smith & Calvin Harris. He has also featured in campaigns for brands like Nikita Dragun’s beauty line. Carlos gained further recognition on HBO Max’s show Legendary, serving as Assistant Choreographer and Co-Host in Season 2 alongside Creative Director Tanisha Scott. He is an active member of the West Coast Chapter of the House of Basquiat, holding the title of Overall Father of Fubu in the Kiki scene. He regularly teaches vogue in various locations, including Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Australia.

Most recently, Carlos completed the Renaissance World Tour with Beyoncé. As part of this, he secured a partnership with BeyGood, which led to two major ball events that garnered attention in publications such as Billboard, Black Enterprise, and Hollywood Reporter. He is actively involved in expanding and promoting the Ballroom scene on the West Coast through his work with Shady Gang Productions. Carlos identifies as a creative and model, channeling his energy into movement and dance to tell stories, blending feeling, experience, and narrative into his performances. His versatility includes salsa, vogue, and street dance, and he emphasizes adaptability in his work.