ChromaDiverse

ChromaDiverse 501(c)(3) building an inclusive future for dance by making its rich histories discoverable, searchble, and accessible to communities everywhere.

Celebrating over 50 years of artistic excellence, community connection, and cultural preservation with Oakland’s own Dim...
09/03/2026

Celebrating over 50 years of artistic excellence, community connection, and cultural preservation with Oakland’s own Dimensions Dance Theater.

Featured here is a captivating moment captured by photographer Harry Wade from Beneath the Baobab, choreographed in 1986 by the legendary Donald McKayle (1930–2018). Drawing inspiration from the baobab tree—often called the "Tree of Life" in African traditions—the piece uses the tree as a symbol of endurance, deep roots, and ancestral memory. McKayle’s choreography fuses traditional African rhythms with contemporary modern dance, reflecting Dimensions' enduring commitment to embodying the historical and contemporary experiences of the African dDiaspora.

Founded in 1972, Dimensions Dance Theater remains dedicated to making art accessible and fostering healing, understanding, and social justice through performance and education.

Check out the Dimensions CurtainConnect page here: https://curtainconnect.com/organizations/f6eef50f-75de-44d3-80da-22c4c44137f7

📸 Anisa Rasheed, Yvette Isler, and Latanya Langston-Johnson (left to right) in Beneath the Baobab, Photo credit: Harry Wade.

Become a Member of our Growing Dance Network— - CurtainConnect.com, Powered by ChromaDiverse.

From his 1963 stage debut at age 12 alongside Diane Keaton in The Sound of Music to securing over 300 commissions during...
09/03/2026

From his 1963 stage debut at age 12 alongside Diane Keaton in The Sound of Music to securing over 300 commissions during his 20-year tenure at the Kronos Performing Arts Association, Laird Rodet’s journey is a powerful testament to a life dedicated to the arts.

Laird’s early career saw him singing and dancing through 13 musical theater productions, culminating in Eugene Loring’s Kiss Me Kate at UC Irvine. Throughout the 1970s, he pursued degrees in English, Education, and French while performing in over 20 thesis works and dancing with ensembles across California and Utah—including the Orange Coast College Dance Department, Penrod-Plastino Dance Movement Theatre, Matti Lascoe Dance Theatre, Della Davidson’s Fairspace, and Repertory Dance Theatre’s student ensemble, RDT Too.

In 1976, Laird transitioned his stage background into visionary arts management. Over the decades, he served as Executive Director of Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, General Manager and CEO of Oakland Ballet Company, and Assistant Director of the Dance Program at the National Endowment for the Arts. Following a 40-year executive career and a decade as a strategic philanthropy consultant through 2025, Laird continues to advise independent artists, support arts legacy planning, and champion the performing arts community.

Visit CurtainConnect.com to explore Laird Rodet’s full career archive, historic performance history, and extraordinary artistic legacy: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/laird-rodet

📸 Laird Rodet, Fairspace the Dancing Theatre, 1977-1981. Photo credit: Unknown.

Become a Member of our Growing Dance Network—CurtainConnect.com, Powered by ChromaDiverse.

Organization Spotlight: Parangal Dance Company! Based in San Francisco, California, Parangal Dance Company has been dedi...
09/01/2026

Organization Spotlight: Parangal Dance Company!

Based in San Francisco, California, Parangal Dance Company has been dedicated to preserving and promoting Philippine Indigenous culture since its founding in 2008. Under the artistic leadership of Eric Solano, alongside key leaders like Director of Music Major Julian, Dance Director Jet Tagle, and Artistic Lead Kim Requesto, Parangal pays tribute to Philippine heritage through meticulous research, workshops, and captivating performances.

Through ongoing immersion visits and direct mentorship with Indigenous culture bearers, Parangal serves as a powerful bridge—inspiring Filipino Americans to connect deeply with their roots while educating broader communities on the richness of Philippine ethnic attire, music, and dance traditions.

Explore Parangal Dance Company’s story, leadership, and active members on CurtainConnect.com today: https://curtainconnect.com/organizations/c3bb7fc7-04b9-49b9-ae46-d321b327c612

📸 Photo Credit: Parangal

Become a Member of our Growing Dance Network—CurtainConnect.com, Powered by ChromaDiverse.

Meet Eric Solano—a Filipino dance practitioner, educator, cultural preservationist, and the founder/Artistic Director of...
08/28/2026

Meet Eric Solano—a Filipino dance practitioner, educator, cultural preservationist, and the founder/Artistic Director of Parangal Dance Company!

Born in Manila, Philippines, and currently based in San Bruno, California, Eric has dedicated his career to preserving and celebrating Philippine Indigenous traditions. Over the years, he has collaborated with more than 80 Culture Bearers across 30+ Indigenous communities in the Philippines, bringing authentic stories and traditions to stages worldwide—including Carnegie Hall, the White House, and international festivals across four continents.

His remarkable contributions to the arts and cultural preservation have earned him and Parangal prestigious accolades, including President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 and 2026 Isadora Duncan Dance Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Company Performance and Visual Design. When he isn't directing Parangal, Eric shares his deep passion and knowledge as an educator at the University of San Francisco.

Discover more about Eric Solano’s powerful journey and connect with performing arts professionals on CurtainConnect.com: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/esolano

📸 Eric Solano

Become a Member of our Growing Dance Network—CurtainConnect.com, Powered by ChromaDiverse.

From his early beginnings discovering dance in church and seeing a Dance Theatre of Harlem lecture demonstration in 1999...
08/26/2026

From his early beginnings discovering dance in church and seeing a Dance Theatre of Harlem lecture demonstration in 1999, Christopher Charles McDaniel carved out a remarkable professional path. His expansive career has taken him to esteemed companies like the Los Angeles Ballet and Ballet San Antonio, as well as a celebrated tenure as a leading dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, leaving an indelible mark on the ballet world.

Today, Christopher continues to inspire the next generation as the new Artistic Director of Dances Patrelle.

Check out his inspiring professional story, milestones, and achievements today on CurtainConnect.com: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/c-c-mcdaniel

📸 Teaching at SAB, The School of American Ballet, New York City, 2024.

A defining artistic force in Bay Area dance for many years, Abra Rudisill served as a principal ballerina and ballet mis...
08/24/2026

A defining artistic force in Bay Area dance for many years, Abra Rudisill served as a principal ballerina and ballet mistress with the Oakland Ballet Company from 1982 to 2002. Her extraordinary range and emotional depth spanned masterworks by legendary choreographers like Agnes de Mille, Anthony Tudor, and Bronislava Nijinska—earning her critical acclaim as a "world-class Juliet" and a 1998 Izzie Award nomination for her performance in Tudor’s Lilac Garden.

Today, as the Founder/ Artistic Director of the Alameda Civic Ballet, Abra continues to inspire the next generation of dancers, leaving an indelible mark on the living history of American dance. Explore her career story and archive on her CurtainConnect profile: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/abra-rudisill

📸 Abra Rudisill, Fairfax, California, 1981. Photo Credit: Bonnie Kamin

Kabby Mitchell III (1957–2017) was the first Black company member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he performed as...
08/21/2026

Kabby Mitchell III (1957–2017) was the first Black company member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he performed as a soloist. After his dance career, he dedicated his life to teaching and community-building. With Klair Eldridge, he founded the Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (TUPAC); the school officially opened in 2017, two months after his passing.

Become a Member of our Growing Dance Network - CurtainConnect.com, Powered by ChromaDiverse.

📸 Kabby Mitchell III

Every artist’s journey is unique, and Mal Mead’s path in the performing arts is a powerful reminder that passion has no ...
08/20/2026

Every artist’s journey is unique, and Mal Mead’s path in the performing arts is a powerful reminder that passion has no timeline. Recruited out of a Zumba class at age 64, Mal joined Jubilee American Dance in Berkeley, CA, stepping into the rich world of American folk dance without any prior background in couples or folk dancing. Through years of dedicated rehearsals, he mastered multiple dance styles, spatial awareness, and the art of engaging deeply with both fellow performers and audiences on stage.

For Mal, folk dance is about bringing history to life through attitude, music, and spirit—creating engaging entertainment while honoring traditional roots. Since 2012, his journey with Jubilee American Dance has proven that dedication and curiosity can open extraordinary new doors at any age.

"It's never too late to start dancing, and it's always too soon to stop!" What inspires you most about starting a new artistic path?

Check out Mal's story on his CurtainConnect profile: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/mal-mead

📸 Mal Mead, Jubilee American Dance, 2015. Photo Credit: Becky Coulter.

If Ronn Guidi’s remarkable eye for talent was not immediately obvious, the dancers he cast would soon prove its accuracy...
08/19/2026

If Ronn Guidi’s remarkable eye for talent was not immediately obvious, the dancers he cast would soon prove its accuracy. Here, three young ballerinas—Stacey Swaner Moore, Danna Cordova, and ChromaDiverse founder Judy Tyrus herself—perform Guidi’s ballet Rags, and while no one could’ve predicted their illustrious careers in dance, Guidi’s perceptiveness is made evident by their journeys, all of which started at Oakland Ballet.

📸 Artists: Judy Tyrus, Stacey Swaner, Danna Cordova. Photo credit: Unknown

Dance requires sheer athletic force disguised as effortless art. Capturing the raw strength of a powerhouse body mid-pos...
08/18/2026

Dance requires sheer athletic force disguised as effortless art. Capturing the raw strength of a powerhouse body mid-pose takes a photographer who truly understands the mechanics of movement and form.

Today we're spotlighting photographer Jeremy Kyle Gruner, whose incredible work highlights the extraordinary physique, tension, and unbelievable shapes dancers push themselves to achieve. From the intense control to the dynamic angles, his portfolio is a masterclass in dance photography.

Check out more of Jeremy’s work on his CurtainConnect profile: https://curtainconnect.com/profiles/85836ce5-017c-4756-a318-94b6794aef7e/gallery

📸: Promotional Photo, Alejandro Valera from ABT. Photo Credit: Jeremy Kyle Gruner

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