BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS

BAY AREA DEAF ARTS
January 14–February 21, 2021
Curated by Antoine Hunter
Curatorial Residency Exhibition
Upcoming Programs | Virtual Gallery Experience | Safety Plan


Bay Area Deaf Arts celebrate and center the art forms and cultural expression historically rooted in the Deaf community, raising Deaf awareness in non-Deaf populations, and inviting collaboration between Hearing and Deaf artists. Curated by renowned performer and activist Antoine Hunter for SOMArts’ Curatorial Residency program, this exhibition asks us: Where are the voices of Deaf and Deaf people of color? What truths are we willing to listen to? Do you know they have more to show than just talk about Deaf culture itself?

This exhibition celebrates the shared language of the Bay Area Deaf community, American Sign Language (ASL). Hunter invites audiences to listen and learn about Deaf arts, Deaf Queer arts, Deaf BIPOC arts, Deaf women arts, Deaf with disabilities and more. The virtual gallery and accompanying programs are open to both Deaf and Hearing community members in any location around the world.



​

​EXHIBITING ARTISTS Antoine Hunter ASL Love clare cassidy Deepa Agarwal Drago Renteria Gungaa Tuvshinbat Jon Kastrup Orkid Sassouni CURATOR Antoine Hunter

---

Click Here to VIEW UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Grand Opening Night with Bay Area Deaf Arts (Click play to watch) 

Tune in via Facebook or YouTube live for
Bay Area Deaf Arts virtual programs!
​Don't forget to subscribe.
Programs are subject to change and we invite you to follow UJDC, Antoine Hunter and SOMArts on social media  .

ABOUT THE CURATOR
Bay Area native Antoine Hunter, also known Purple Fire Crow, is an award-winning Internationally-known African-American, Indigenous, Deaf, Disabled, choreographer, dancer, actor, instructor, speaker, Producer and Deaf advocate. He creates opportunities for Disable, Deaf and hearing artists and produces Deaf-friendly events, and founded the Urban Jazz Dance Company and Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival.
Antoine has received numerous grants and awards including the inaugural Jeanette Lomujo Bremond Award for Humanity, Isadora Duncan (Izzie) for Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, and SF King of Carnaval.
​
Antoine’s work has been performed globally, most recently in Turkey, the UK, and Russia. He has lectured across the U.S. including at Kennedy Center’s VSA, Harvard and Duke University, and the National Assembly of State Arts. In 2019 alone, his company, Urban Jazz Dance Company, an ensemble of professional Deaf and Hearing dancers, performed for and engaged more than 4,200 schoolchildren. His shoe company, DropLabs, and Susan Paley just released an innovative product to help people feel music through their shoes. He is Vice President of Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency (DCARA’s) Board. DCARA is a non-profit, community-based social service agency serving the Deaf community. Established in 1962 as one of the first Deaf-run agencies in the country.

---

“A pattern of light emerges through my comprehension of a patina of understanding of my traumatic childhood, identity crisis and adulthood journey; though fragmented, vivid and without resolution. I seek to make the world brighter, more colorful, joyful and to give the viewer an optimistic outlook and help deal with the negativity in the world,”
​shares artist Jon Kastrup.

---

News:

Internationally acclaimed deaf dancer Antoine Hunter is the curator of a virtual art exhibit in San Francisco called the “Bay Area Deaf Arts.” The exhibit is open to anyone online and continues until February 21. Website: https://somarts.org/event/bada
​Transcript: www.dailymoth.com/blog/bay-area-deaf-arts-festival

‘Bay Area Deaf Arts’ exhibition explores the diverse experiences of Deaf creators by Joe Dworetzky, Bay City News Foundation February 4, 2021 (Click Here to read the Full article!) 

THE trigger I SURVIVED AT 9 YEARS OLD by Antoine Hunter

Warning ⚠️ this artistic video may make you cry or triggered.... be patience with yourself..
(Story is below)
THE TRIGGER I SURIVEd AT 9 YEARS OLD-
I’m 9 years old and it 2020...

This video: Masculinity? Masculine (collective Black man) identity presence either threatens white privileged “authority” or triggers modern day lynching anxiety.

With every beat of a clock, video I watched that documents a black life being beaten, robbed, tricked, mocked, and stolen, my Black Deaf soul fades, fades, fades.

VIDEO: Stamped:
5 minute artistic video by Antoine Hunter. Antoine is a dark dark-skinned African American, Cherokee, and Blackfoot Native American man with long black dreadlocks and a full ebony beard. He is wearing a fitted black v-neck shirt and sitting in front of a solid blue background.

00:00-00:10 The video begins with a portrait-mode video centered over a black wide-screen background. Antoine looks directly into the camera, smiling, and rearranges his hair until he is pleased with how he looks. The audience views Antoine through the lens of his phone, alternating between interacting with the phone and directly addressing viewers.

00:10 Antoine signs PRECIOUS and swipes his hand across the camera suggesting a filter change. He then begins laughing hard and holds his left hand on his chest.

00:18 Antoine swipes across the camera again, purses his lips, and shakes his head in light disagreement with what he sees on his screen.

00:27 He swipes his finger across the screen and is empowered indeed beauty with his look. He snaps his fingers in a zig-zag across his chest.

00:31 Antoine swipes across his screen again and his facial expression slowly changes from happy to concerned to and he leans back from the camera.

00:42-01:15- Antoine watches the screen and begins to tear up.

01:15 Antoine’s left eye drifts to the side while his right eyes stare straight and white text appears at the bottom of the screen reading (Eyes Twisted). The camera zooms to a close up of Antoine’s eyes and a single tear spills over from his left eye.

01:47 The camera angle switches back to portrait mode and tears run down Antoine’s face. His eyes shift slightly to the right then return to the camera.

02:00 The video fades out and another portrait mode shot appears. Antoine brushes his beard and sings and signs I’m Black, Deaf and I’m Proud. Music notes and red, yellow and black calligraphy text appears: I’m Black, DEAF, and I’m proud.

02:00-2:15 Antoine snaps his fingers, brushes his beard, sings, and moves to the beat of his song and brushes his hair.

02:15- The clip fades out and another fades in of  Antoine crying, his left eye fully to the side. The camera slowly pans out.

02:23- Solid white flashes across the screen and a closeup widescreen shot of Antoine screaming appears.

02:23-2:41 Antoine screams and shakes. The camera pans out and the video slowly returns to portrait mode as Antoine, head down, raises clenched fists and continues to screen and shake in clear emotional agony. Antoine looks directly into the camera then looks down and

02:41-2:52 Tears roll down Antoine’s cheeks as he looks into the camera and lowers his fists.

02:54-2:58 A new clip fades in of Antoine wearing a red half-face mask. He struggles to breathe and uncovers his mouth and nose. He clenches his hands over his chest and removes the mask.

02:58 The portrait mode shot of Antoine with tears running down his cheeks reappears.

03:00-3:07 A new clip of Antoine, bare-chested, appears. He looks rapidly from left to right in terror, attempting to protect himself from unseen threats.

03:07-3:09 The screen flashes to Antoine in the black shirt tucking his hair behind his right ear.

03:09 The screen flashes back to Antoine bare-chested and protecting himself.

03:14 A brief flash of Antoine tucking his hair behind his right ear blends into a clip of him laughing with increasing intensity, both clips are transparent and can be seen simultaneously as they blend together. He appears to be holding his heart as he laughs and claps his hands together as if being told a hilarious joke.

03:30 Antoine signing gradually appears, transparent, behind the clip of him tilting his head back and laughing. He signs WHEN WILL THIS STOP?

03:33 Antoine yells and signs WOO and places his hands across his chest, his laughter verges on tears and he signs YES!

03:40 Two portrait shot clips of Antoine appear, juxtaposed. LEFT CLIP: Antoine’s palms are pressed together in prayer at his forehead. His eyes are closed as he says his prayers with all his heart.

RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs, When will this STOP as he looks directly into the camera. He signs, When will we be able to grow together? SUBTITLE: When will this STOP.  When will we be able to grow together

04:09-4:25 LEFT CLIP: Antoine continues to pray and tears roll down his cheeks.
RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs This MUST stop. The HATE MUST STOP. The RACISM and DISCRIMINATION MUST STOP. | SUBTITLES:  HATE MUST STOP. The RACISM and DISCRIMINATION MUST STOP

04:26 LEFT CLIP: Antoine signs love.

04:27-04:40 LEFT CLIP: Antoine lowers his hands, closes his eyes, and cries softly. He raises his left fist, palm out, in a sign of solidarity, resistance, and strength. He wipes his tears away and begins to braid his hair behind his head. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine signs STOP the KILLING and shifts his eyes down in a slow blink. He then looks straight into the camera. He leans forward, points into the camera, eyebrows raised, and signs you, STOP the KILLING | SUBTITLES: STOP the KILLING

04:40: LEFT CLIP: Antoine holds his hair behind his head with his right hand and wipes away tears with his left hand. He continues to braid his hair. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine taps his chest, his heart, and signs: WE HUMAN here, He takes deep breaths and slowly blinks his eyes. He signs WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! | SUBTITLES: WE HUMAN here. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

4:50: LEFT CLIP: Antoine looks directly into the camera and finishes braiding his hair. He raises his fist again in the sign for solidarity, resistance, and strength. RIGHT CLIP: He signs, STOP the KILLING. He looks off camera, to the right, then the left, then directly at the camera and nods. He signs a final time STOP the KILLING. | SUBTITLES: STOP the KILLING.

05:00: LEFT CLIP: goes out. RIGHT CLIP: Antoine looks into the camera one last time.]

Warning ⚠️ this artistic video may make you cry or triggered.... be patience with yourself..

THE TRIGGER I SURIVEd AT 9 YEARS OLD-
I’m 9 years old and it 2020...

This video: Masculinity? Masculine (collective Black man) identity presence either threatens white privileged “authority” or triggers modern day lynching anxiety.

With every beat of a clock, video I watched that documents a black life being beaten, robbed, tricked, mocked, and stolen, my Black Deaf soul fades, fades, fades.

https://vimeo.com/423479123/f98002b7f8

Video Description subtitles  - for Deaf -Description
https://youtu.be/lBkAflzBlj4
Ps We Aint WEAK!

Make your stomach sick?
Trigger the neuroendocrine mechanisms that produce inflammation and  Emotional Dysregulation of the immune system.

Kenya Downs from PBS wrote...
When black wrongful death goes viral, it can trigger PTSD-like trauma. It was written- people of color, frequent exposure to the shootings of black people can have long-term mental health effects.

A 2012 study found that black Americans reported experiencing discrimination at significantly higher rates than any other ethnic minority. The study, which surveyed thousands of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans, also found that blacks who perceived discrimination the most, were more likely to report symptoms of PTSD. Although African-Americans have a lower risk for many anxiety disorders, the study reported a PTSD prevalence rate of 9.1 percent in blacks, compared to 6.8 percent in whites, 5.9 percent in Hispanics, and 1.8 percent in Asians.

QUESTION: What does this mean for BLACK Deaf people and BLACK Disable people?

Flowing breath of a Black Man in tears!

Hey everyone,

I decided to bring you with me or share the experience with you all. I'm excited and getting ready for a show working with Joanna Haigood of Zaccho dance theatre. 

Zaccho Dance Theatre (ZDT) creates and presents performance work that investigates dance as it relates to place. Artistic Director Joanna Haigood's creative work focuses on making dances that use natural, architectural and cultural environments as points of departure for movement exploration and narrative. Haigood's innovative work involves in-depth research into the history and the character of sites, often involving local communities in the creative process, and typically integrates aerial flight and suspension as ways of expanding performers' spatial and dynamic range. In addition, Zaccho provides performances in San Francisco, nationally and internationally as well as an arts education program for the local community.  

Artistic Director Joanna Haigood relocated to San Francisco from New York in 1979 and co-founded Zaccho Dance Theatre in 1980. Zaccho is one of a handful of dance companies in this country focused on site-specific dance. Joanna Haigood's work has been commissioned by leading arts presenters both nationally and internationally. Among them are the National Black Arts Festival, Festival d'Avignon and Festival d'Arles in France, the Exploratorium, Capp Street Project, Dancing in the Streets, the Walker Art Center, Jacob's Pillow, the San Francisco Art Commission, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and the McColl Center for Visual Art. Her choreography has also been commissioned by Alonzo King's Lines Contemporary Ballet, Robert Moses' Kin and Axis Dance Company and is in the repertory of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.

Pretty cool huh!??? I love working with her. 

I've done a few work such as "Sail Way!", "negro baseball league", "Dying while black and brown". 

I will be focusing on two shows events with Zaccho dance theater. One will be for Black Choreographer Festival (Feb) and  Zaccho Dance theatre (April). 

The dance will be focusing on "Dying while black and brown". 

Joanna Haigood created a new work inspired by the Equal Justice Society's campaign to restore 14th Amendment protections for victims of discrimination including those on death row. (African American Men on Death row!)

I guess you can see why I want to bring you on this journey with me. Not only this dance had challenge me physically but also mentally and spiritually. Joanna had me in a place where I had to continually questions myself "who am I" in advance level!  

Day 1...(2.10.2014)

I performed this before at UCSF with the same crew/cast. Matthew Wickett, Rashad Pridgen, Travis Rowland. These brothers are one of Bay Area finest dances artist! We're back! I love these, we push each to next level of dance!

Unlike before we had time to develop ...  Who are we, movement, language. Research real life prison, prison guard, gas chair, fight, smell, sounds and everything that come with or down to Death Row. Physical dance, climb, muscle train, team trust , self trust, cues, jumps, rolls and much more to develope for the dance. 

Sometime to be professional it mean get the job done in short amount of time and make it work.

Warmed up, went over ours parts, went over lines. Let go from the top! On top of 8 feet house shaped pole props. Pole house grams! No rope for net for safety. Honestly thanks God they have 2 inches mat! 

We sit be who we are..(Start)..Guys started yelling. I wonder what they are saying but response as they are angry lost prisoner! " hey hey hey, come here, kiss it up! Come come come here! Sucker, hey Hey bob!! Whhaaaaaaaaaa!" Banging on the poles made house frame! It's shake, we jumps ! We rolls. We yelled. We fight. 

20 mins had passed!

I climbing up! They pulled me! Oh no! It's time! What going on, come on I know what's going on!

I'm Charles Rector #721. 

There I saw it, in the room BEHILD the glasses walls. I saw my real life baby sisters and I saw those family watching me. I said my lines , my final statement ..

ANTOINE , WHEN YOU DO THIS SOLO I WANT THE BREATH TO BECOME THE SHAPE, THE MOVEMENT, ALLOW IT ENVOLVE IT. FLOWING. - Joanna Haigood! 

Wait did she say flowing or rowing?? Both is not the same thing but yet fit for the same thing! What do you expect.. I'm Deaf, I have hard time knowing what said but I'm a good guesser. Assuming she said flowing.. Flowing is what I'll do!  Flow like water! It a good thing my birth sign is a water sign. Don't that sound like Mr. Bruce Lee in a way. Ms Haigood remind me of Me Bruce lee's quote. 

"You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend."

Bruce Lee

( Standing Down Stage Center-Solo)

I saw my child , I saw my little girl, I saw the day she was born, how the mother was in tears.. The tears that I could never forget! "Flow with the baby" I told her and she smile with full trust and ok! As I pray flow with our gifts, to flow with love , flow with our miracle, flow with God! 

I stood there on stage allowing the breaths of memories to flow in me. Letting it, the breath take shape to my body without forcing anything.. Such feeling began to pull me deeper into my spirit, the breath goes louder, longer, faster, as it fight to continue to breathe. I began to shake! I'm getting tired! Unstoppable shake, I look up I saw that I didn't not want to stop breathing for my little girl !

I felt all black men standing in the room watching me as their own life is watch through me. Some were tall, strong , old young, gay & str8, skinny , bald, and one said to me " I was only 22, I and my girlfriend made love for the very 1st time and it was in the basement..her uncle and father caught us. Force her to say she was raped. That's I rape a white girl! I was 36 when I die. The only thing kept me going was that I heard I had little girl. Never saw her. Share my story too! Brother!" 

He touched my shoulder! I was breathing then went black I felt such pain in my stomach! I said to that spirit tearfully "..brother, I'm trying, for all of you...thank you.." He let go of me. 

Then I saw Ms Joanna Haigood, in my face rubbing my shoulder asking if I was ok.. " Yeah, what happen is my thought" .. I would say something but I was still crying not only that I was on my knee on the mat! (How did I get there?) dang ! I know what happen.. Wow, the show must go on. My part was done. I was dead. The other 3 dancers continue their story. 

(Dance over)

Me: I'm crying like a bi$&h..

Travis: no, you're crying like a human being!

(Rehearsal over.)

Long day of teaching and lead meeting plus more. Finally in bed. I pray. "...thank you for protecting me and my family from seen and unseen things.. Thank you for the wonderful blessing flowing in my life... Please continue those blessing as I continue to praise you. Bless those spirits that came to me today for their tears flow with my....".(private conversation with God)..."Good night and amen." 

Wow...

May the Spirit of Dance flowing into you!

Wink!

Antoine hunter 

Feb 27, 2014

(Psalm 46:1) 

Thank you for reading

Antoine Hunter in Dance Magazine 2013 "Why I Dance"

Hey
There everyone - I just want to take the time to give thanks to ONE OF MY FAVORATE WRITTER.. Wendy Perron !!!!
She took a minute with me to learn about Deaf culture.. As many of you know English is not my 1st language and an Editor job is to correct us  LOL!!!!

One day I wrote: "I am an African-American Deaf dance artist" She said, change Deaf to deaf...

Now I know my English is bad but I knew my culture, scary as it sound I almost couldn't reply back because who am I kidding it WENDY PARRON!!  Who am I to correct her lol !!

Yet!!

 I knew as President of Bay Area Black Deaf Adocate and CAD's Director at Large for Northern, CA.  

California Association of the Deaf

I had to be brave and explain our culture.

She was so beautiful and sweet and very direct. She say She learned something new in the forms of writing.

She change deaf into Deaf and I want to say THANK YOU MS WENDY PARRON!!!!!! FOR LISTENING TO MY STORY AND SEEING US AS DEAF AND NOT deaf..

Peace and Love

-Antoine Hunter

This written work is in Dance Magzine

• 
  
• |
 
• 
  

Why I Dance: Antoine Hunter

By Antoine Hunter

An award-winning dancer/choreographer and beloved figure in the Bay Area, Antoine Hunter has danced with Savage Jazz Dance Company, Nuba Dance Theatre, and Robert Moses’ Kin dance company. He founded Urban Jazz Dance Company and is co-director/founder of Iron Tri-Angel Urban Ballet. He teaches at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Dance-A- Vision Entertainment, and Ross Dance Company, where he also serves as rehearsal director. Hunter has performed and taught in Rome, London, Cuba, and Africa.

Photo by Matt Haber, Courtesy Hunter.

I am an African-American Deaf dance artist. My desire for dance began at the age of 4. I can remember seeing everyone break dancing and I wanted to try. I got on the cardboard and did a spin and a kick—but then there was a bam!—I wound up in the hospital with an injured knee.

That knee injury was painful, but not as much as the idea of not ever being able to dance again. My passion for dance was put on hold until I was 5 and my mother took me to see Oakland Ballet. I was so in awe of the dancers’ poise, grace, and their ability to use their bodies to tell a story. They touched the hearts and souls of the audience—of me.

But my mother couldn’t afford to take me to any kind of dance class. We were very poor. At the same time, I found it harder and harder to fit in with the other kids—to be understood, to be heard.

I would want to play outside with the other kids, and their parents wouldn’t let them play with me. Maybe it was because I was black. I wanted to hang out with the other kids of color, but they didn’t want to play with me either. Maybe it was because I was Deaf. I tried to socialize with deaf people, and they didn’t want to hang out with me either.

I began to feel very alone and, at one point, suicidal. But soon, there was a beacon of hope. Dance. It wasn’t until I enrolled in Skyline High School in 1995 that my passion for dance was reignited. At first, the classes were very hard and I felt intimidated. And just like during my childhood years, no one wanted to dance with me. But then my dance teacher, Ms. Dawn James, approached me and told me to create a solo. I decided to dance to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

 

When the music started, I began rocking my head side to side as if a boat were rocking me. I grabbed my shoulders as if I were cold and alone in the dark. Then, letting the music take me over, I was moving all over the room. During the instrumental break of the song, I began to dance as if lightning, fire, wind, water, and finally the earth were attacking me.

When I finished dancing, everyone had so many different expressions on their faces—even before they clapped. Many people told me that they could understand me and feel me.

From that day forward, I went on to learn other “languages of dance”—like African, ballet, and so much more. Soon I began to teach these languages to others. Dance is so powerful. Not only does it have the ability to bring people together, but it also has the power to heal.

 

I dance because I’m happy. I dance because I’m free. Lordy hallelujah, for the spirit of dance has saved me!

Copyright © 2014 DanceMedia, LLC. All Rights Reserved - See more at: http://dancemagazine.com/issues/September-2013/Why-i-dance-antoine-hunter#sthash.27owLDuv.dpuf

Dance is so powerful. Not only does it have the ability to bring people together, but it also has the power to heal. - Antoine Hunter

Thank you Ms Wendy Perron

ShareThis Copy and Paste

- See more at: http://dancemagazine.com/issues/September-2013/Why-i-dance-antoine-hunter#sthash.27owLDuv.dpuf

Deaf Culture is Present at the SF's Ethnic Dance Festival !!!!

For the 1st time history Deaf Culture will be present at Ethnic Dance Festival

Please be Sure to look our SF Chronicle New Paper and June/Aug InDANCE 

Please look out for Antoine Hunter Fan PAGE!!!
Please Share with other and come Support Deaf Culture!!!
I want to thanks Amazing Wanda Sabir! For she was the one who reminded me to audition!!
Antone Hunter will perform a SOLO!!!!! Come see the newest work!

Sent by: World Arts West Reply to the sender

Read about the 35th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in this Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Datebook Section Tickets for the 2013 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival are selling fast! “A glorious achievement... I heartily envy the Bay Area residents who can see the three programs I must miss” -Alastair Macaulay, chief dance critic for The New York Times Don't miss out on the celebration. Get your tickets here before they're all gone. ..........................................Urban Jazz Dance Company / Photo by RJ Muna ...................................... Come see Urban Jazz Dance Company  in the 35th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival In this stunning solo, Antoine Hunter presents American Sign Dance, expressing felt syncopation through the athletic body. Hunter unites jazz, African, hip-hop, gospel, and signing as a poetic gestured language. The piece honors deafness as human experience. We will be performing June 29 & 30 at Yerba Buena Center's Lam Theater in San Francisco. Click here for tickets! This year's Festival features 35 extraordinary dance companies in a series of thrilling and inspiring performances honoring cultural legacies and highlighting the vibrancy of the Bay Area’s world dance community. For tickets and a full performance schedule, visit www.sfethnicdancefestival.org Urban Jazz Dance Company performs:  Saturday, June 29 at 2pm and 8pm Sunday, June 30 at 2pm Tickets are going fast, so don't wait! Tickets are $18 - $58; Subscriber discounts are available when purchasing tickets to three separate performances; Group discounts for 20 or more are available; Kids 12 and under receive half-price admission for all Saturday matinees. This e-mail was sent from World Arts West Immediate removal with PatronMail® SecureUnsubscribe. To forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague, use this link. To change your e-mail address or update preferences, use this link.

History Made! Antoine hunter Join: 35th Anniversary Festival Schedule Announced

Hello-

As far as I know - 

1st time in history Deaf Artist's work is presents as Deaf Culture's work in SF Ethic Dance Festival !!! 

Antoine Hunter will be presenting Deaf Culture!!!!

This festival is very hard to get into so manh hundred of beautiful different culture people are coming from all over the world to audition to present their culture. Only few out of a hundred are picked. You're presenter Antoine Hunter - will be on the front line - His company Urban Jazz Dance Company - Present No matter where or what you are you still can reach your Dreams! 

Please my deaf community please - join me and support me and our people. Show we are here!!! 

Festival Weekend Four, June 29 & 30
Lam Research Theater, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm; Sunday at 2 pm
Tickets: $18, $28, $38, $48, $58
TICKETS ON SALE BEGINNING APRIL 18
Available online, or by phone 415.978.2787

Urban Jazz Dance Company (American Sign Language Dance)
In this stunning solo, Antoine Hunter presents American Sign Dance, expressing felt syncopation through the athletic body. Hunter unites jazz, African, hip-hop, gospel, and signing as a poetic gestured language. The piece honors Deafness as human experience.

Sent by: World Arts West Reply to the sender

Tickets for the 35th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival on sale April 18! You can beat the rush and purchase your tickets early by becoming a Festivalsupporter. Don't miss out on your chance to get the best seats in the house! Click here for more information. Sponsor a FestivalArtist Take advantage of this opportunity to become a sponsor of one of this year'sFestival artists. You'll receive prominent recognition in our Program Book, and VIP tickets to theFestival. More information is available here. 2013 Isadora Duncan Dance Awards Festival Artistic Director CK Ladzekpo has been honored at this year's "Izzie" awards for his many years of work teaching and promoting African music and dance at UC Berkeley. Congratulations, CK! More information about CK and the other distinguished honorees can be found here. ....................Antoine Hunter/Urban Jazz Dance Company / Photo by RJ Muna  2013 Festival Schedule Released The World United Through Dance We celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival this year with a series of thrilling and inspiring performances honoring cultural legacies and highlighting the vibrancy of the Bay Area’s world dance community. Named as the 2012 “Most Valuable Player” in dance by the San Francisco Chronicle, this year’s Festival features dances from Bali, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Haiti, Hawai‘i, India, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, the Middle East, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Senegal, Spain, Tibet, and the continental US. Each weekend’s program is different, and includes innovative works by masterful dancers and numerous cross-cultural collaborations. The Festival opens in grand style at San Francisco City Hall on Friday, June 7 with a special Rotunda Dance Series performance and Artist Dialogue with Ballet Folklórico Netzahualcoyotl and Fogo Na Roupa Performing Company. Join us on Saturday, June 8, at the Legion of Honor museum for a special, innovative performance and Artist Dialogue featuring Charya Burt Cambodian Dance. Weekends two, three and four of the Festival are at the Lam Research Theater and the Forum at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and feature breathtaking performances by more than 30 Bay Area dance companies. Be sure to join us for these special events: Performance, Artist Dialogue, and Ojo de Dios (God's Eye) making workshop with Ballet Folklórico Costa de Oro. Saturday, June 22, at 11:30am. Artist Dialogue with four Bay Area dance leaders - Blanche Brown, Colette Eloi, Latanya d. Tigner, and Deborah Vaughan - who will reflect on the history and current status of dance from the African Diaspora with Festival Artistic Director CK Ladzekpo. Saturday, June 29, at 6:30pm.  For the full Festival schedule and other information, please visit ourwebsite. connect with us This e-mail was sent from World Arts West Immediate removal with PatronMail® SecureUnsubscribe. To forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague, use this link. To change your e-mail address or update preferences, use this link.