Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now

Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now We strive to serve the community through providing a forum to increase the visibility of African Ame

The Black Choreographers Festival: Here and Now strives to serve the community through providing a forum to increase the visibility of African American dance. Understanding the impact and importance of the African and African American experience in dance, this project aims to recognize the ingenuity and uniqueness of African and African American Choreographers. It is a project integral to the Bay

Area arts community presenting local and national artists in a series comprised of contemporary and traditional concerts, showcases, mentoring, educational programs, community partnerships, symposia and archival documentation. We endeavor to foster a new generation of supporters ensuring the longevity of both established and emerging artists.

03/01/2026

In the 1940s and 1950s, Black ballerinas were training in church basements, community centers, and segregated studios — because most major ballet schools would not accept them.

Classical ballet in America was treated as a white institution. Black dancers were told their bodies didn’t “fit” the aesthetic.

So they built skill anyway.

Some studied under pioneers like Katherine Dunham, who fused African diasporic movement with classical technique and forced critics to recognize Black dance as serious art.

Others left the United States entirely. Europe often offered contracts and respect that American companies refused to give.

In 1948, Janet Collins became the first Black prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera. But even then, she was asked to wear lighter makeup so her skin would not appear too dark under the stage lights.

That was the era.

So when you see a Black woman confidently posed in ballet slippers from this period, understand what that represents:

Training without access.
Excellence without institutional support.
Discipline in a system designed to exclude.

Black ballerinas did not wait to be invited into classical spaces.

They mastered them.

Weekend 1 was truly a vibe and we’re ready to do it again. Would love to see you. Please get your tix before we sell out...
02/26/2026

Weekend 1 was truly a vibe and we’re ready to do it again. Would love to see you. Please get your tix before we sell out! 🫶🏾

Happy to share that BCF is one of Dance Magazine’s nine performance picks nationally for February!
02/21/2026

Happy to share that BCF is one of Dance Magazine’s nine performance picks nationally for February!

February is packed full of dance performances, with festivals, premieres, and U.S. debuts spanning styles and coasts.

In case you missed it... take a listen to co-founder laura elaine ellis and artist Dazaun Soleyn's interview on KALW Sig...
02/20/2026

In case you missed it... take a listen to co-founder laura elaine ellis and artist Dazaun Soleyn's interview on KALW Sights + Sounds. Festival opens this Saturday & Sunday Dance Brigade's Dance Mission 7:30 PM.

On today's show poet Kevin Dublin talks about love and his upcoming performance at KALW's "Sights + Sounds After Dark." Then, we hear about what's coming up at the Black Choreographers Festival. And a Valentine's Day block party in the Mission.

What an honor to be chosen as the Datebook Pick! Thank you Datebook SF for the feature!
02/16/2026

What an honor to be chosen as the Datebook Pick! Thank you Datebook SF for the feature!

Black Choreographers Festival returns with new premieres, rising Bay Area voices and hip-hop innovators in its 21st season.

BCF 2026 NEEDS VOLUNTEERS 💛21 years • 2 weekends • Dance Mission TheaterSee the show for FREE and help power a community...
02/15/2026

BCF 2026 NEEDS VOLUNTEERS 💛
21 years • 2 weekends • Dance Mission Theater

See the show for FREE and help power a community-driven festival!
Roles include:
🚪 Ushers
🛍 Merch
🎭 Artist Hospitality
🎬 Tech Support

Support the arts. Build community.
✨ Volunteer with BCF 2026 ✨

Sign up for BCF 2026 ( https://signup.com/go/UrktLBk ) on today!

This year’s line up is 🔥🔥🔥 Can’t wait!
02/02/2026

This year’s line up is 🔥🔥🔥 Can’t wait!

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