Revealing Hip Hop Dance’s Potential

An Interview with Kim Sims-Battiste BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT Kim Sims-Battiste is the executive director of Culture Shock Oakland, a hip-hop dance organization dedicated to innovative performance, artist development and community enrichment. In this interview, Kim shares the power and potential hip hop has to foster community across many realms. ~~ […]

February 27, 2017  |  Read Article

Connecting Beyond Demographic

An Interview with Marissa Brown BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT New York based dancer and choreographer Marissa Brown shares her desire to connect through dance and move beyond demographic labels. ~~ Where do you most commonly derive inspiration for your work? From personal, social or political matters (or a mix)? A big […]

February 23, 2017  |  Read Article

Bringing African Dance into the Larger Conversation

An Interview with Rujeko Dumbutshena BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT Originally from Zimbabwe, Rujeko Dumbutshena is a contemporary African dance artist currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her artistic statement describes herself as: “representing the roots of my people while embracing the vibrant evolution of our culture.” In this interview, she discusses […]

February 20, 2017  |  Read Article

Exploring Intersectionality Through Dance

An Interview with Alice Sheppard BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT; PHOTOS BY ROBBIE SWEENEY Alice Sheppard is a dancer and choreographer who splits her time between San Francisco, New York and the United Kingdom. Her work is most notable for exploring the intersections between disability, race, gender and sexuality. Her newest work, […]

February 16, 2017  |  Read Article

Creating Happier, More Just Communities Through Dance

An Interview with Sarah Crowell Sarah Crowell has worked at Destiny Arts Center—an Oakland-based organization that exists to end isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people—since 1990 as a dance teacher, artistic director, workshop facilitator and program development director, and served as the organization’s executive director from […]

February 13, 2017  |  Read Article