low res (3).jpg You said: one sentence image description Copilot said: Copilot A black-and-white printed photograph shows a costumed ceremonial figure wearing a horned mask, layered patterned garments, and long fabric-covered arms, with a caption below reading “Ezenwanyi (Maiden mask), She is the Queen of Ekwuru.” low res (2).jpg You said: one sentence image description Copilot said: Copilot A black-and-white printed photograph shows a masquerade figure completely covered in long raffia fibers holding a staff, with a caption identifying the figure as “Akpuọokiekapụala (Ọkakpọ),” responsible for the inspection of roads. low res (1).JPG You said: one sentence image description Copilot said: Copilot A black-and-white printed photograph shows two elaborately costumed masquerade figures standing outdoors, with one figure bowing toward the other while both wear heavily patterned garments and layered ceremonial adornments, accompanied by a caption identifying them as Ezemuọ and Adamma masquerades.

Finding the Mad Women of Igbo Masquerade

London-based Igbo-American artist, writer, and dramaturg Chibueze Crouch-Anyarogbu searches for vestiges of women in Igbo masquerade.

April 20, 2026 | Read Article

An illustrated magazine cover titled “Stance on Dance, Issue 9, Spring/Summer 2026” depicts a ballet dancer mid-pose wearing a flowing turquoise tutu against a textured, painterly background of muted beige, black, and pink brushstrokes.

The Spring/Summer 2026 Print Issue!

Stance on Dance's Spring/Summer 2026 print publication is out! Get your copy now!

April 13, 2026 | Read Article

Iega speaks to a group of dancers huddled around him on a stage.

Facilitating Human Communication and Connection

Kevin Iega Jeff reflects on his life as a dancer, choreographer, and institution builder, using the creation of "Noi-Tar-Gim"—inspired by his father’s migration from the Jim Crow South—to explore how dance can foster human development, communal connection, and the preservation of Black artistic legacy.

April 6, 2026 | Read Article

Umi IMAN dances the Jingle Dress Dance against a white background, wearing a sacred regalia known as the Jingle Dress. IMAN’s dress, like others of its kind, is adorned with rows of metallic cones that create sound as she moves. The Jingle Dress Dance is a healing dance that originated with the Ojibwe people and is now embraced across many Native communities.

Creating a Home for Afro-Indigenous Dance

Afro-Indigenous Muslim dance artist Umi IMAN explores how home, identity, and community shape her work through Al Taw’am and Sequoia Ascension, using dance as a tool for cultural preservation, resistance, and belonging.

March 30, 2026 | Read Article

Latest Articles

Finding the Mad Women of Igbo Masquerade

April 20, 2026

The Spring/Summer 2026 Print Issue!

April 13, 2026

Facilitating Human Communication and Connection

April 6, 2026

Creating a Home for Afro-Indigenous Dance

March 30, 2026

Quynn Johnson is a Black woman dressed in a sleeveless, denim jumpsuit and silver sparkled loafers, dancing in a pool of light. She glances toward the floor as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. There is a drum set in the background catching some of the light and a collection of living room decorations, including a lamp and a stool, piled in the foreground.

Spreading the Joy of Rhythm and Movement

Quynn Johnson, a Maryland-based master tap dancer and teaching artist, fuses tap, sand dance, and body percussion to tell stories in classrooms and on stages around the world.

March 23, 2026 | Read Article

Ani leaps along a sandy shoreline, wearing flowing magenta clothing and lifting a long palm frond overhead as the ocean and pale blue sky stretch behind.

Being the Bridge

Ani/Anito Gonzales Gavino, a Pilipinx multidisciplinary artist, discusses Ani/MalayaWorks, an ongoing collaboration with their daughter, Malaya, as well as how their work serves to bridge the Pilipinx diasporic experience.

March 16, 2026 | Read Article

A person sits casually on a wooden stool in a dance studio while a dynamic, dance‑like silhouette is cast dramatically on the wall behind them.

Creating Dance for Community

Brooklyn-based choreographer John Heginbotham shares his artistic path and his commitment to creating community-centered dance works, including a new intergenerational project with people living with Parkinson’s.

March 9, 2026 | Read Article

A young woman supports an older man in a gentle partnered movement exercise inside a studio space.

Improving the Reach of Dance

Niamh O’Loughlin, a dance artist based in Scotland, shares how her choreography blends folklore, community engagement, and inclusive dance practices—most recently through "Spell Body," a dance‑film project created with people living with Parkinson’s.

March 2, 2026 | Read Article

A group of dancers wearing colorful, ribbon-adorned costumes performs energetic movements along a busy urban roadside.

Putting Dance Back in Public Spaces

Illuminatetheatre, a Nigerian dance collective founded by Ojudun Taiwo Jacob, brings performance into public spaces to make dance accessible for the community, to empower youth, and to celebrate African heritage.

February 23, 2026 | Read Article