DEL Dance To Belong 2025
Ann, Felice Santorelli, and DEL Dance to Belong 2025 Participants
DETAILS
When — July 14th-17th, 2025
Where — DEL 92NY
Service — Facilitation
Reflections on “Dance to Belong”: A Transformative Week of Dance History at DEL
It was an honor to co-facilitate the Dance to Belong dance history course at the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) alongside the brilliant Felice Santorelli. Over the course of an unforgettable week, we explored the rich and complex tapestry of American dance history, honoring underrepresented dance artists whose work continues to shape the field today.
We began our journey with an illuminating session led by Ninotchka Bennahum, who shared the 150-year history of dance at 92NY. From there, we turned our focus to the trailblazing legacy of Pearl Primus, learning about her groundbreaking work in cultural and social activism through dance. Noel Staples-Freeman guided us in learning Fanga, a dance of welcome rooted in West African traditions that Primus helped bring to wider audiences.
Day two brought us into the world of José Limón. We examined his life, artistic vision, and lasting impact on modern dance, then immersed ourselves in a phenomenal master class with Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company. His insights and embodied knowledge made the history come alive in the studio.
On day three, we took inspiration from Martha Graham’s “19 Poses” to create original dance compositions and had the privilege of learning from Graham dancer Anne Souder. We also celebrated the remarkable life of Yuriko, a pioneering Japanese-American dancer whose resilience and artistry left a profound mark on the Graham tradition.
We concluded the week with a powerful and heartfelt final day. We were deeply honored to welcome Matthew Rushing, Associate Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, whose presence and reflections enriched our collective understanding of belonging through dance. Our students presented deeply thoughtful final projects that celebrated and amplified the stories of historically marginalized dance artists.
I am so grateful to Felice Santorelli, our guest artists, and all of the incredible students who brought their passion, insight, and creativity to this transformative week.
