Jesús Quintero (Benjamín) is a theatre practitioner, performance scholar, and ritual and spiritual performance researcher. His work explores the intersections of performance, decolonial resistance, and transcultural healing practices, focusing on Santo Daime and Spiritism as South American performance traditions.

Jesús began his artistic journey as a theatre actor and director, using Applied Theatre to empower underserved communities in Colombia. His dedication to social transformation through the arts led to the creation of globally recognized Educational and Diversity Inclusion programs. In 2012, he expanded his research into Performing Studies for Healing, integrating Integral Arts Therapy to address the mental and emotional wellness of youth facing complex challenges.

His professional experience includes serving as Program and Human Resources Director at Residential Treatment Centers, where he facilitated collaboration among patients, clinicians, educators, and staff, fostering an environment of mutual healing and growth. He also worked as a Behavioral Interventionist – FBDT at AMIkids, supporting adolescents and young adults in the juvenile justice system through theatre-based interventions and behavioral transformation strategies. As a Theatre Educator at Doral Performing Arts Academy, he implemented Intersectionality and Radical Imagination methodologies to address systemic issues such as racism and segregation, advocating for Latino immigrants and refugees navigating the U.S. educational system.

Jesús holds an MS in Art Education from Florida State University (2023) and an MA in Performance Studies from New York University, where he continues his research on ritual performance, decolonial methodologies, and the dramaturgy of death, healing, and transcendence in Afro-Indigenous traditions. His current work, DEATH: Ayahuasca and the Performative Dramaturgy of Santo Daime, examines how sacred hinários function as living archives, transmitting ancestral knowledge, spiritual sovereignty, and collective resilience through ritual performance.

WHY PS @ NYU? 

My decision to study Performance Studies was a natural progression of my lifelong dedication to exploring the transformative power of theatre and the arts. This dedication was sparked in Colombia, where I witnessed firsthand how Applied Theatre could uplift underserved communities and address deep-seated social issues. As I continued to work globally—from Brazil and Italy to India and Russia—I saw the profound impact that performance can have on individuals and communities, particularly in contexts of healing and social justice.

My academic pursuits, including completing my MS in Art Education at Florida State University, have always been driven by a desire to integrate artistic practice with education and therapeutic methodologies. Performance Studies at NYU, with its interdisciplinary approach that encompasses theory, anthropology, and social engagement, provides the ideal environment to deepen my research and expand my practice. It allows me to critically examine the role of performance in society, while also developing new strategies to address the challenges faced by marginalized groups, such as Latino immigrants and refugees.

Performance Studies offers a unique space to blend my practical experience with academic inquiry. This enables me to contribute meaningfully to the field and continue using the arts as a powerful tool for social change.