Red Clay Dance Company

Description

Red Clay Dance, Chicago’s premiere Afro-Contemporary dance company, is an award-winning ensemble that tours and performs locally, nationally and internationally the choreographic work of its’ Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward. This company of Artivists creates and performs thought-provoking, uplifting, challenging, socially-conscious African Diasporic dance for audiences around the world.

Work Sample

LOVE LETTERS TO CHI-IL choreographed by Founder and Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward is a love letter to her beloved home city, calling it to become all that is has the possibility to be.

Body of Evidence choreographed by guest artist Bridget Moore is a company repertory work that explores the beauty and strength of womanhood.

EKILI MUNDA | What Lies Within, choreographed by Vershawn Sanders- Ward and Jona Byarhunga of Keiga Dance Company is an evening length work that explores the inner connectedness between Africa and the Diaspora, unearthing the similarities and differences in the two choreographs artistic voices.

These works show the breath and depth of our repertory. 

History

Red Clay Dance, founded in 2008, is Chicago’s premiere Afro-Contemporary dance company, is an award-winning ensemble that tours and performs locally, nationally and internationally the choreographic work of its’ Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward. This company of Artivists creates and performs thought-provoking, uplifting, challenging, socially-conscious Afro-Contemporary dance for audiences around the world. 

Artistic Vision

The company's artistic vision is deeply rooted in its' founders identity as a Black/African Diaspora woman and her responsibility to be a vessel through which her culture is amplified and evolves. Her artistry serves as an entry point for her collaborators and those that witness the work to examine and dialogue about cultural and socio-economic inequities. Her embodied practice is an Afro-Contemporary esthetic, which is informed by Dunham Technique, Chicago House, and West African dance, specifically from Guinea and Senegal.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

The organization as a robust education department and has successfully facilitated masterclasses and workshops for all ages and skill levels. The company is versitile in bringing its' Artivism framework into all of its' community engagement experiences.