Articles from the ‘Interviews’ collection

A group of performers on a stage wear bright, ballet folklorico dresses and hold out the flowing skirts while dancing.

The Abuelita Movement

Las Abuelitas de Oro, a group of women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s who perform ballet folklórico in San Antonio, Texas, demonstrate the value of cultural and intergenerational exchange.

May 18, 2026  |  Read Article

Dancers in a ballet class stand in first position with raised arms around barres in a spacious studio with mirrored walls and industrial-style architecture.

A Home for Young Dancers

Karah Abiog, founder of The Training Ground SF, describes how she provides a supportive space for young dancers to grow artistically, bridge the gap to professional careers, and contribute to a revitalized Bay Area dance community.

May 11, 2026  |  Read Article

A black-and-white photograph shows Rachael and Jess standing close together against a dark, reflective wall, both leaning forward with open mouths and relaxed postures, captured mid-movement in an urban outdoor setting.

Dancing a Mercurial Legacy

Courtney King contemplates the mercurial nature of legacy with Rachael Dichter, a dance artist in the Bay Area and partner of the late choreographer Jess Curtis.

April 27, 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