Meet Our Culture Shock Management Team

Sebastian Martinez, Executive Director

Sebastian has been a dancer in South Bay San Diego for the last 16 years. Sebastian is a community advocate and leader from South Bay San Diego. Sebastian’s work, with an emphasis on trauma-informed care, has resulted in efforts that include feeding half a million people in San Diego county during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Sebastian also led community efforts to address the unhoused crisis (as the Executive Director of Community Through Hope at the time) with an emphasis on decriminalization through policy, prevention and housing efforts. Sebastian was honored as the 2022 Molina Healthcare Champion for his outstanding work. Sebastian is dedicated to empowering young Black, Brown, and queer leaders across San Diego County, especially in areas where they are often underrepresented (and feel unwelcomed), including the nonprofit sector. He is a strong advocate for equity in the arts and champions reimagining the workplace to prioritize inclusivity and honor neurodiversity at every level. Sebastian’s work is firmly rooted in and draws inspiration from abolitionists past and present. All of Sebastian’s work is centered in the collective liberation of the most vulnerable. Sebastian is currently the Deputy Executive Director of Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo) and the Executive Director of Culture Shock San Diego.

Deion Williams, Artistic Director

Deion Williams is an African American choreographer, pro dancer, and talent based in San Diego. He is the founder and director of Young Hustle Dance Company and is signed with 216 Talent Agency. He has worked with different entities such as choreographer Hollywood, Coco Jones, Myke Towers,Natalie La Rose, and Dapper Boi. He has also trained in community spaces such as: Monsters of Hip Hop, Supergalactic Beat Manipulators, Supremacy Dance Fam, and more. Deion strives to give back to his community and champion black and brown dancers. His motto: “G-G-A. Why be GOOD when you can be great, and why be GREAT when you can be AMAZING”.

Troy Wilson, Studio Manager

Troy Wilson has been dancing for 10+ years, learning and growing into his craft. Years of development as a Choreographer/ Dance Instructor / Dance Artist and Mentor. His dancing and training started at the age of 14 at Coronado Middle Schools Performing Arts Academy. Over the years he has gained an educational appreciation for the arts and giving back to the community. In high school he studied at Coronado School of The Arts, which he emphasized on musical theater and dance. At this school is where he developed and learned; Choreography Techniques, Staging Techniques, Theater Practicum, Audition Prep, and Teaching As A Profession. Over the years he has worked with Coronado High Schools Dance Division, Coronado Middle School Performing Arts Program, Mater Dei Catholic High Schools Dance Division, Mar Vista High Schools Dance Division, Silver Strand Elementary, Village Elementary School, Grossmont High School, Chula Vista High School, Bonita Vista High School, Sage Creek High School, Valhalla High School, The Origin Hip Hop Performance Academy, Heartbeat Dance Academy, SoKaliente Dance Company and many more. He has trained at many dance studios across San Diego County & LA County: Culture Shock San Diego, Studio FX, Academy Of Performing Arts, Kruciaal Element Dance Company, MLC (Music Learning Center), A Time To Dance, Majesty in Motion, IDA, Millennium Dance Complex Orange County Millennium Dance Complex Hollywood, and Playground LA. Troy has also performed with numerous dance teams over the years, gaining a stylistic background: IL2D/ Kreative Direction, D.o.C (Definition of Creativity), Pixie Stixx Burlesque Troupe, LV’s Island Fusion Project, MzCDance Hip Hop Burlesque Project, Ramon Ivey Project, NuEra directed by Darkie & Nana Simmons, Robotix Dance Family (He served as the Chief Operations Officer from 2018-2021). Prior to that he served as the Alpha Bots Co-Director & RDF Bot Ambassador). Troy was also a Troupe member & Social Media Coordinator of Culture Shock San Diego’s Aftashock Dance Troupe Spring Season of 2022 . Troy is currently in the process of going back to school to gain a 2nd degree (B.A in Human Resource Management. With obtaining a degree in H.R Management, he’s hoping to be able to inspire the community and share his passion and creativity to various dance studios and institutions alike. Or to gain a 2nd degree in Education to help pave the way for academic innovation in the dance community. Troy recently served as the Assistant Studio Manager & Scholarship-Teacher Assistant Program Coordinator at Culture Shock Dance Center. He’s currently the Studio Manager – Work Study Program Manager at Culture Shock San Diego, Valhalla High Schools – Junior Company’s Assistant Director & Director of Operations/ Junior Divisions Co – Coach of H2A Dance Company in Coronado, CA.

Amanda Brown – Development/Marketing Coordinator

Originally from Dallas,Texas, Amanda graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Biology and a B.S. in Liberal Studies in May 2018. Following graduation, Amanda eagerly packed her bags and traveled from her home state of Texas to San Diego, California in order to pursue graduate school at San Diego State University. After almost three years (which included writing a thesis in the middle of a global pandemic), they earned their M.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies from SDSU in May 2021. Since then, Amanda has found their way into the non-profit development sphere, by joining the Resource Development team at San Diego Mesa College in partnership with the San Diego Mesa College Foundation, where they work to raise funds for student scholarships and campus programs. Finding Culture Shock felt like the perfect fit and Amanda is excited to be part of a team/organization where she can put her knowledge into practice and engage in such transformative work. 

Brianna Bautista, Studio Operations  Supervisor

Brianna Bautista started dancing at 4 years old in hip hop and hula at Tonys Salamat Dance Art Center and MLC. Brianna then went to SDSCPA in middle school and high school were she trained in other art forms such as ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and river-dance ( Irish step dance). She then started training at Culture Shock Dance Center in 2018 to 2020 by joining the Scholarship Program before closing down during the pandemic. During that time, she joined a “project team” SIN (strength in numbers) directed by: Janelle Adviento, Richie P and Kendall Iler.Brianna continues to train at Culture Shock San Diego, Studio Fx, and Offstage by GRV.

Lolita Burgess, Studio Programs Supervisor

Lolita Burgess is a young woman who is constantly finding ways to feed her hunger for dance. She began her search in 2018 and found the guidance she needed through Culture Shock San Diego’s Scholarship Program—swiftly becoming a Teacher Assistant the following year to Kris Wagner. After a taste of being part of a community, Lolita has since then become a Work Study Member with Culture Shock Training Academy, joined the Front Desk Staff, and completed a season with Culture Shock San Diego Dance Troupe directed by Sean Memije. She has also been fortunate to perform in Culture Shock’s Cabaret Night (2019) and Platform Dance Showcase (Era Molina,2022 & Sean Memije, 2023). Currently, Lolita is part of the Culture Shock family as the Work Study Program Supervisor and a bi-weekly Burlesque Instructor alongside her mentor, Troy Wilson. As Lolita continues to add to her plate, she hopes to be more involved in the community and learn the different ways she can contribute her talents and drive.