When Kendra Kimbrough Barnes and Laura Elaine Ellis cofounded the Black Choreographers Competition: Right here and Now, they needed to convey communities collectively and to nurture and domesticate aspiring Black artists by giving them a secure area to create inspirational works.
That type of artistically encouraging atmosphere will likely be evident Feb. 7 by way of June 21 because the African & African American Performing Arts Coalition and Ok Star Productions current the twentieth anniversary version of the pageant with quite a few occasions in San Francisco.
The pageant opens on the Museum of the African Diaspora on Feb. 7 with a free discuss, “Throwback to the Future: Dance Artists in Dialogue,” moderated by Halifu Osumare, professor emerita of African American and African Research at College of California, Davis, with Joanna Haigood, Robert Moses, Raissa Simpson and Dazaun Soleyn on the panel. The choreographers of various generations will talk about what it means to be Black within the Bay Space dance scene, each now and since 1989, when Osumare based Black Choreographers Transferring Towards the twenty first Century.
The occasion additionally presents a touch for what motivated curation of the 2025 pageant.
Kendra Kimbrough Barnes is co-founder of the Black Choreographers Competition, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with a number of occasions in San Francisco from February by way of June in 2025. (Courtesy Kendra Kimbrough Barnes/Black Choreographers Competition through Bay Metropolis Information)
“It was about the bridging of our predecessor—it had been exactly 10 years since BCM had ended when we started in 2005—and so we wanted to do work with Dr. Osumare and have us focus on the legacy of artists that have come through that festival or have been participating in our festival,” Barnes explains. “And then we start to see the legacy of some of those artists who are now presenting works and mentoring other artists.”
Accompanying the MoAD discuss is “Spirit of Sankota: Bridging the Legacy of BCM and BCF,” a free exhibit of pictures, movies, artifacts and memorabilia curated by Pete Belkin and Tiersa Nureyev. The exhibit will transfer to the San Francisco Public Library on March 22 after which to the Minnesota Road Mission from Might 3 to June 21.
On Feb. 8, Soleyn and Algin “Align” Ford seem at MoAD in an expanded model of their duet “Healing Intimacy.” Immersive performances at midday, 2 and 4 p.m. are billed as a response to the exhibition “Liberatory Living: Protective Interiors & Radical Black Joy,” a showcase of latest interiors by 16 designers and artists reflecting on dwelling as a spot of motion, pleasure and relaxation.
Dazaun Soleyn (Photograph by Fox Nakai)
Algin “Align” Ford (Photograph by Alexis Sosa) The Black Choreographers Competition: Right here and Now presents Dazaun Soleyn and Algin “Align” Ford in an expanded model of their duet “Healing Intimacy” on the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 2025. (Courtesy Black Choreographers Competition through Bay Metropolis Information)
Extra performances, each new items and revivals of favorites from previous festivals by 16 choreographers, happen over two weekends from Feb. 22 by way of March 2 at Dance Mission Theater. Programming displays the pageant founders’ assist for and rapport they’ve with the choreographers, who’re inspired to innovate.
“We curate artists, but we don’t curate works that they are bringing,” Barnes says. “We have such a relationship with the artists that there is a certain amount of trust in the work they will bring, and we allow them to experiment, bring new works, and bring works that they are currently just exploring.”
On Feb. 22-23, this system consists of new dances by Byb Chanel Bibene, Gregory Dawson, Moses (founding father of the San Francisco troupe, Robert Moses’ Kin) and Simpson, in addition to revivals by Portsha Jefferson, celebrating 20 years with the pageant, and Deborah B. Vaughan, co-founder and inventive director of Dimensions Dance Theater in Oakland.
Barnes factors out that Dawson, a former dancer with LINES Ballet, and Simpson each got here by way of the BCF mentoring program.
On March 1-2, the “Next Wave Showcase” presents premieres by rising artists, together with Tara Bucknor, Gabriele Christian, Clarissa Dyas, William Brewton Fowler Jr., Sriba Kwadjovie, dominique lesleyann, Justin Sharlman, Natalya Shoaf, Soleyn and Tamara Williams.
Transferring ahead, Barnes wish to see the pageant tour all through California, which she believes will additional its targets and its future.
“Mentoring is a huge part of our mission,” she says. “So being able to train other arts administrators can help to carry on the legacy of BCF here in the Bay Area and is why we would want to venture out into other communities.”
The Black Choreographers Competition: Right here & Now runs Feb. 7-8 on the Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St., S.F.; Feb. 22-23 and March 1-2 at Dance Mission Theater 3316 twenty fourth St., S.F.; free exhibitions are at San Francisco Public Library’s Koret Auditorium 100 Larkin St., S.F.; and Minnesota Road Mission, 1275 Minnesota St., S.F. Tickets are $20-$35 at bcfhereandnow.com.
