The African & African American Performing Arts Coalition and K Star Productions present the Black Choreographers Festival: Here and Now (BCF). From February to June, the festival will welcome the new year with its twentieth anniversary, showcasing a broad offering of events, installations, and performances. With the chance to witness over 16 Black choreographers, do not miss an opportunity to attend this landmark in the Bay Area's dance scene.
Beginning in 1989 with Dr. Halifu Osumare's Black Choreographers Moving Towards the 21st Century, in 2005, standing on the shoulders of BCM, Laura Elaine Ellis and Kendra Kimbrough Barnes debuted the Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now.
Highlighting the diversity of Black dance - from modern and contemporary to tap to hip-hop and traditional African - this year, the BCF presents back-to-back weekends with unique events hosted in several venues across San Francisco.
"By having African American artists come together we can remember our contributions not just to dance but contributions ranging from science to math to visual art to literature," said Laura Elaine Ellis, Black Choreographers Festival Co-creator. "We can celebrate ourselves. That's why the festival should always happen."
Healing
Dialing in on one of the many queer intersections of the festival, the Bay Area Reporter had the pleasure of interviewing Dazaun Soleyn, a queer black choreographer part of this year's festival. In collaboration with artist Algin "Align" Ford, the duo will be working to create a multi-medium dance piece at MoAD entitled "Healing Intimacy." Premiering Feb. 8, each iteration is different. The public is invited to attend one or all performance times at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm with free admission.
Tickets for Dance Mission Theatre and select MoAD performances range from $12 to $35. All other events are free, and while donations and RSVPs are appreciated, they are not required. This event is a perfect way to visit MoAD before they are closed for renovations from March through September.
Join these emerging choreographers for their site-specific activation of MoAD's "Liberatory Living: Protective Interiors & Radical Black Joy," an exhibit on display since Oct. 2, 2024, running through Mar. 2. The show investigates Black domesticity through reimagining décor and atmospherics.
With Soleyn and Ford entering the scene, dance, music, and audience participation accentuate the exhibit. In their interview, Soleyn anticipates a performance that will "activate the whole museum."
Family
Soleyn spoke highly of their co-creator, remarking on Ford's substantial work in the Bay. First and foremost Ford is a dancer, having performed in spaces such as SF MOMA and the Guggenheim. Leaving the Bay Area, they have continued to advance as a dancer, DJ, and videographer in the underground dance and ballroom scene of New York City. After ten years, Ford is thrilled to be back in San Francisco performing for the BCF for a third time.
Soleyn expressed particular excitement for how Ford's experience in sound design will enhance the audience experience.
For Soleyn, "the festival is like family." Ellis brought them into the BCF's fold for their mentorship program in 2015. Their involvement with the festival has been mutualistic, as demonstrated by their enthusiasm for the upcoming project.
"Both Ford and I are grateful that Laura Ellis thought of us for this project, which is really about establishing a movement presence within the museum for the whole day," said Soleyn.
Many of Soleyn's connections in the Bay Area, from San Francisco to Oakland to Hayward, have stemmed from the BCF. There is a certain "preciousness" in being a part of something that continuously fosters them as an artist. Their work, as of late, revolves around standing witness to queer intimacy, creating a cathartic experience for both those on stage and those in the audience.
Soleyn and Ford, with a history of working together, feel comfortable embodying the tenderness they express on stage. The choreographers have been coming to rehearsals from many different angles.
Soleyn's architectural background, including a Master's degree from the California College of the Arts, is immediately evident in the spatial and structural elements.
Queerness in dance
Soleyn's dance work offers a deeply personal and artistic representation of Black queerness, whether they perform solo or choreographs ensemble works. Dance has always coincided with their sexuality, once pushing against it and now working in perfect synergy.
There was a time in Soleyn's life when he "was so afraid of being associated with the queer dancer that I completely walled myself off." It was after studying in San Francisco at Alonzo King LINES Ballet that great art embraced queerness, as it so often does.
"When I was first involved with the BCF, I was in my early twenties and just coming out."
Now, approaching ten years going, Soleyn brings an evolved expression of "authentic vulnerability with queer artists so that other people can witness our relationship in real-time. Our trust, our siblinghood, how we show up for each other. Even across generations."
Attending Soleyn's upcoming shows at Geneva Powerhouse and his website (dazaunsoleyn.org) are the best ways to stay up-to-date on his developments.
Additionally, Soleyn's performance is accompanied by a wide range of programmed events. The festival's complete schedule is detailed below.
EVENTS
February 7-8: Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) - 685 Mission Street, SF
Feb 7, 7pm: Panel Discussion - "Throwback to the Future: Dance Artists in Dialogue" (moderated by Dr. Halifu Osumare) Free with MoAD admission.
Feb 8, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm: Free Site-Specific Performance - "Healing Intimacy" with Dazaun Soleyn and Algin Ford
Osumare hosts a panel with Joanna Haigood, Robert Moses, Raissa Simpson, and Dazaun Soleyn for an evening that brings together three generations of Black choreographers. Their conversation will center around their experiences of being Black in the Bay Area's dance scene and how the landscape has transformed throughout the years.
The panel also brings in "Spirit of Sankofa: Bridging the Legacy of BCM and BCF," an exhibit by artists Pete Belkin and Tiersa Nureyev. This piece will eventually travel from MoAD to the San Francisco Public Library on March 22 and then on to Minnesota Street Project, where it will reside from May 3 to June 21 for other BCF events.
February 22-23, 7:30pm: Dance Mission Theater - 3316 24th St. BCF Concerts in association with Dance Mission Theatre; World premieres & established works of dance.
With its legacy planted in the heart of the mission, Dance Mission serves as the perfect hub for the BCF's two weekends of performances. Come to one or both performances and enjoy works by Byb Chanel Bibene, Dazuan Soleyn, Gregory P. Dawson, Robert Moses, Raissa Simpson, and fan favorites like Portsha Jefferson and Deborah B. Vaughan. $20 Adv/Students/Seniors, $25 General at the door, $35 VIP-Reserved Seating, 2-Performances Pass $30 ($15 per performance date).
March 1-2, 7:30pm: Dance Mission Theater - 3316 24th St. New Voices/New Works in association with Dance Mission Theatre; Showcase featuring emerging and mid-career artists.
Continuing with another weekend of performances, reconvene at Dance Mission for two more evenings of dance. Amongst many other great artists, the night brings forth members of the BCF's Artist Mentorship Program, Clarissa Dyas and Justin Sharlman, matched with mentors Joanna Haigood and Dazaun Soleyn, who, respectively, will both premier new works. $20 Adv/Students/Seniors, $25 General at the door, $35 VIP-Reserved Seating, 2-Performances Pass $30 ($15 per performance date).
Mar. 22, 2pm: San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St.
Panel Discussion and Performances
The festival takes center stage at the beloved main branch library for a unique blend of panel discussion and performance. Join the conversation with Dean Beck-Stewart and dance artist and educator L. Martina Young, Ph.D., all moderated by Osumare. As mentioned, the event includes lively performances by Bibene, Shoaf, Sharlman, and lesleyann.
May 3- Jun. 21: Minnesota Street Project,1275 Minnesota St.
Minnesota Street Project will host the festival's concluding events, which promise an exciting and innovative start to the summer season.
The Black Choreographers Festival's expansive programming speaks for itself. This rich and comprehensive calendar not only centers Black voices but also showcases the breadth of Black dance, a form often pigeonholed in American culture, spanning a wide range of styles and perspectives.
The BCF has a long history of fostering community and intergenerational, intercultural dialogue that certainly does not stop at the edge of the stage. With sections of the festival coinciding with Black History Month, the festival stands as one of the many ways to celebrate Black culture and modern artistry. Beyond just a series of performances, the BCF is a vital cultural force, enriching the community and empowering artists and audiences alike. It's an experience that resonates long after the final curtain.
www.bcfhereandnow.com
www.moadsf.org
www.sfpl.org
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife.
Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!