B L A C K C H O R E O G R A P H E R S
F E S T I V A L: H E R E & N O W
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AWARDED ~BEST OF THE BAY
- SF BAY GUARDIAN 2009
RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF BLACK DANCE
IN THE BAY AREA, 2019
ABOUT US
BCF is Bustin’ out of February!
The Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now just celebrated its 10 year Anniversary!
As we embark on the next 10 years – we are looking to expand the way we present our programming, support artists, and nurture our community partnerships.
We are in the midst of creating a new structure for BCF this year - spreading our Festival series of performances, master classes, artist opportunities throughout the year.
BCF Oakland – plans are in the works to present a summer concert series at Laney College. Look out for details, coming soon!
West Wave Dance Festival, BCF Edition - in November, this will be the venue for our Artists Mentoring Program (AMP), with community events: public forums and work-in-progress showings, in conjunction with dynamic concerts featuring emerging choreographers participating in AMP. This opportunity made possible through an invitation and new community partnership with WWDF, presenter Joe Landini.
Bustin’ out of February is a way for us to "grow" - to provide more visibility to artists, to expand our community partnerships, and to increase programmatic and support mechanisms throughout the year, that align with our mission.
AAAPAC and K*Star*Productions have always been fluid about the approach to programming the festival each year - doing what is best to support choreographers and community…keeping the vision forward.
African and African-American Performing Arts Coalition
A San Francisco based, non-profit organization, AAAPAC was founded in 1995 by a collective of artists who were looking to create better performance opportunities for African and African American performing artists as well as produce shows that reflect the aesthetic and cultural representation of the African and African American experience. As AAAPAC's executive director, Laura Elaine Ellis has co-produced successful events such as the Labor of Love Dance Series, The Quilt Project: Pieces of Me and the Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now.
K*STAR*PRODUCTIONS
Formed in October 1996 by Director, Kendra Kimbrough Barnes K*STAR*PRODUCTIONS serves as a performing arts presenting organization for the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble (KKDE) and the co-presenter of the Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now. Our goal is to make culture exchange experiences accessible to the community at large with a focus on African-American constituents. This goal is attained by forming alliances, traveling, producing concerts, master classes, hosting public symposiums, and providing professional development information to new forming dance companies.
The Black Choreographers Festival MISSION STATEMENT
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.