Dancing While Black

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Dancing While Black Dancing While Black is an artist-driven initiative of Angela's Pulse that supports and illuminates th

DANCING WHILE BLACK is an artist-led initiative of Angela's Pulse that supports the diverse work of Black dance artists by cultivating platforms for process, performance, dialogue and documentation. We bring the voices of black dance artists from the periphery to the center, providing opportunities to self-determine the languages and lenses that define their work. Dancing While Black operates at t

he intersection of aesthetics and organizing. Central to the work is building partnerships – with presenters, organizers, curators and artists. Since 2012, Dancing While Black has established ongoing partnerships with Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, NYU’s Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, Human Rights Project at the Urban Justice Center, Purpose Productions and Urban Bush Women. Our partnerships are rooted in a mutual commitment to equity and serving the needs and visions of artists. In a field that encourages individualism, our work prioritizes community building. We celebrate that there is a momentum building around shifting the dance landscape, and we are committed to help shepherd these efforts. Our commitment to equity requires our solidarity with others who are also doing the work.

A glimpse into the Dancing While Black Fellowship ✨In April, the 2026 DWB Fellows gathered at BAAD! for a transformative...
04/06/2026

A glimpse into the Dancing While Black Fellowship ✨

In April, the 2026 DWB Fellows gathered at BAAD! for a transformative Master Class with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.

A core part of the Fellowship experience is learning directly from Master Artists—building embodied connections to the lineages, legacies, and visionaries who have shaped the field and continue to move it forward.

Through her workshop, Jawole invited Fellows into her creative process, challenging them to dig deeper, trust their instincts, and uncover their own creative impulses.

Thank you, Jawole, for sharing your Legacy in Action with us and for inspiring the next generation of artists.

In April at BAAD!, DWB Master Artist Ishmael Houston-Jones led a public workshop titled Embracing the Awkward, attended ...
02/06/2026

In April at BAAD!, DWB Master Artist Ishmael Houston-Jones led a public workshop titled Embracing the Awkward, attended by a dozen participants that spanned three generations. The gathering focused on improvisation, grounded in Ishmael’s premise that “challenging oneself while at the same time prioritizing care, (of oneself and of a group) can lead to exciting and unexpected discoveries.” We will use Improvisation Techniques into creative art making.”

The group moved through connection, contact, risk-taking and embodied listening – all rooted in Black dance lineage.

A reflection from 2026 DWB Fellow Elinor Kleber Diggs on Ishmael’s class: “I appreciate the freedom that was made by your work. The more dimensions we add to what it means to be Black, the more room there is for humanity.”

📷 Abraham Felix

A glimpse into the Dancing While Black Fellowship ✨In May, Master Artist Ishmael Houston-Jones guided our Fellows throug...
02/06/2026

A glimpse into the Dancing While Black Fellowship ✨
In May, Master Artist Ishmael Houston-Jones guided our Fellows through a powerful workshop centered on improvisation and collaboration. Reflecting on the experience, Ishmael shared:
“What they created was so much alive... there was so much investment in the work that it was almost shocking. I give this prompt, and they take off and they do it full-bodied and full-throatedly. And that's amazing to me.”
What resonated most deeply was the sense of community in the room.
“It felt like they felt safe in this community,” he continued. “They could be fully themselves—or as fully themselves as they wanted to be. And that was really profound.”
After each Master Class, we gathered around a long table to share a meal, ask questions, tell stories, and build connections that extend beyond the studio.
Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2026, as the Fellows reunite for a workshop with Onye Ozuzu, who will also lead a public class through our Master Classes for the Masses program.

Dancing While Black’s Master Classes for the Masses series continues with an inspiring workshop led by choreographer and...
20/05/2026

Dancing While Black’s Master Classes for the Masses series continues with an inspiring workshop led by choreographer and educator Onye Ozuzu.

Ozuzu is a choreographer, performer, researcher, and arts leader whose interdisciplinary work explores improvisation, embodiment, and cultural identity. She currently serves as Dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago and is known internationally for her research-driven creative practice.

📅 Saturday, June 13, 2026
🕓 4:00 – 5:30 PM
📍 Movement Research
Open to all levels and pay what you can.
Come move, learn, and experience the creative practice of one of today’s leading dance artists.

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/dancing-while-black-master-classes-for-the-masses-2026

Join us for Dancing While Black’s Master Classes for the Masses, a series of vibrant workshops with dance visionaries, c...
11/04/2026

Join us for Dancing While Black’s Master Classes for the Masses, a series of vibrant workshops with dance visionaries, centering Black dance praxis.

This season starts TODAY with a special master class led by Ishmael Houston-Jones.

📅 Saturday, April 11, 2026
🕓 4:00 – 5:30 PM
📍 BAAD! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance

Houston-Jones is a choreographer, performer, author, and teacher whose improvised dance and text work has been presented worldwide. A four-time New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award recipient, his work explores collaboration, history, and the political power of collective practice.

Open to all levels and pay what you can. Come learn, move, and engage with one of contemporary dance’s most influential voices.

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/dancing-while-black-master-classes-for-the-masses-2026

✨ Space may be limited.


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