Julana Torres, known as “La Colorá” is a multifaceted artist gracing Portland and national stages for over 25 years. The daughter of legendary Broadway performer Julane Stites and renowned percussionist Bobby Torres, she has been immersed in the world of performing arts since birth. A graduate of Portland’s acclaimed Jefferson Dance Program, she further refined her craft with Eveoke Dance Theater in San Diego, The Royal Ballet’s Barbara Remington, Salsa Con Clave in Puerto Rico, and esteemed institutions like Peridance Capezio, The Broadway Dance Center, and Alvin Ailey New York, where she received a full scholarship at the age of fifteen.
Professionally, she has made significant contributions to the Portland dance community as the founder of the successful pre-professional dance program at Franklin High School. Additionally, she has served as co-director for the Ache Comparsa Group and the Orishas Traditional Dance Troupe. Her choreography and performances have been featured by prestigious organizations, including Disney, the New York New York Hotel, Nike, Will Vinton Claymations, the Oregon Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Oregon Ballet Theater.
Beyond her dance career, Julana has appeared in Netflix’s Trinkets and the feature film Losing Addison. Her regional theatre credits include roles in productions such as Crowns (PPH), Evolve (Red Door Project), Between Riverside and Crazy (Artist Repertory), Water by the Spoonful (Profile Theatre), and the first revival of the one-woman show Mala (Coho) by Melinda Lopez. Most recently, she choreographed Jersey Boys for Lakewood Theatre, starred as Aurora in Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Stumptown productions) and originated the role of Iz in the world premiere of Reggie Hoops, written by Tony-nominated playwright Kristoffer Diaz.