UC Irvine

This thesis explores the intersection of African-American heritage and creative process in concert dance choreography for contemporary black dance artists. I will examine how perceptions of blackness influence the spectrum of creative work produced by these artists. I investigate the historical engagement of 20th century black dance pioneers in concert dance, socio-political factors that influenced their work, and the notion of “Black Dance”. This research will then examine the cultural influences and work of five contemporary African-American dance artists working in the field today. Lastly, I will reflect on my own creative process and create a multidisciplinary screendance titled Intersections filmed in the Experimental Media Performance Lab at UC Irvine. In this choreographic work, I illustrate my own perception of blackness and cultural influences, and I explore where I position myself in the continuum of black voices in contemporary dance.