We are excited to resume our Creating Change Conversation series in January 2021 with BIPOC artists looking back at changes made and looking ahead to changes needed in theatre and dance organizations and education.
Panelists:
Jinyoung Lee Hanley, Dance, Florida
Professor Jin Lee Hanley is a dance artist who serves as Chair of the Department of Dance at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she has taught since 2005. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Florida Dance Education Organization and is co-chair of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (FL).
Professor Hanley grew up in A-san, South Korea, and started her classical ballet training at age 16. She won her first National Dance Competition title while still in high school, placed fourth at the National Korean College Competition, and began dancing professionally at age 21. She graduated from Kong-Ju National University with her Bachelor’s degree and secondary education teaching license.
After college, Professor Hanley moved to New York City to dance and study, graduating from New York University in 2003 with a Master’s degree in Dance and Dance Education, attending Merce Cunningham’s modern dance studio as a full-scholarship student, and serving as Director of Dance for Little Flock Church. She later became certified as a second-generation Pilates master, qualified to teach other instructors seeking Pilates certification. Professor Hanley also continues to regularly attend dance intensives at places such as the Julliard School, Limón Dance Company, and Mark Morris Dance Center.
As a performer, Professor Hanley’s professional experience includes working as principal dancer with Park Sunyoung Ballet Company in South Korea, and dancing with Hasadim Mission Ballet Company (South Korea), Columbia Ballet Theatre (Spokane, WA), and H.T.Chen and Dancers (New York, NY). She has worked with renowned choreographers including Douglas Dunn, Randall Flinn, Sungyong Kim, and Jeanguy Saintus Riché. She has performed in numerous locations across the U.S., South Korea, and Europe. Ms. Hanley has choreographed over 120 works, served as resident choreographer for the World Missions Conference in New York City, and taught master classes for various events and organizations, including the American College Dance Festival, National Dance Education Organization, and Project Dance Paris.
Over the course of her career, Professor Hanley has gained high acclaim as a leading modern dance artist and teacher, recognized for her distinctive flowing movement quality and deep artistic spirit. However, her extensive performance and teaching experience in, and great love for, ballet and other performance styles help her to connect with students from all dance and cultural backgrounds.
Donation info: https://www.pba.edu/giving/other-opportunities/general-giving.html. Select “Other” and type “Dance”.
Darius Manuel, Theatre, Florida
Darius J. Manuel is the Founder/Executive Artistic Director of Renegade Theatre Company & Conservatory. With a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Darius has a decade of experience as a Director, Performer and Teaching Artist. Darius has directed/choreographed shows, taught classes, private lessons, specialty workshops, and camp programs while influencing children and young artists at various organizations across South Florida including: Area Stage Company, Dillard Center for the Arts, Broward Center for the Arts, Parkway Middle School of the Arts and the Florida Children’s Theatre where he won the 2016 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreographer for his production of Carrie the Musical. Select directing credits include: Ragtime, Annie, Legally Blonde, Matilda, Bring It On (Florida Children’s Theatre); Spring Awakening (Area Stage Company); Next to Normal (University of the Arts). As a performer, his work is acclaimed locally, regionally and nationally. South Florida audiences recognize him from Tarzan (Terk) and Memphis (Gator) with Slow Burn Theatre Company and The Wiz (Lion) with Broward Stage Door. He won the 2019 National Society of Arts and Letters – Florida East Coast Drama Competition and went on to place at the National level. He graced stages in Philadelphia, performing Kiss Me, Kate (Paul), Marie Christine (Paris), A Chorus Line (Richie) and starred in Philadelphia’s Mainstreet Musical Festival. He also appeared in the 2016 Broadway National Tour of “Elf the Musical”. "My voice does far more than just sing…” Here by the kindness of strangers and faith from loved ones.
IG: @legallydarius CashApp: $rtcconservatory Venmo: @rtcconservatory
Rosa Navarrette, Theatre, California
Rosa Lisbeth Navarrete is a writer and mother living in El Sereno, California. She is a Peruvian immigrant and storyteller. Her family’s journey north is a monumental story that inspires many of her creative works; essays, poetry, and short scripts. In 2020, Rosa’s short bilingual play Chabuca, Susana, Mami & Me was part of Chicanas, Cholas, y Chisme Playwriting Festival - Womxn In Herstory. Then Rosa was part of the inaugural cohort for the Black, Indigenous, People of Color Sci-Fi Screenwriting Lab with Justice for my Sister. Later, Rosa completed the program Art of Leadership: From Individual Voice to Collective Impact with the Los Angeles County Arts Ed Collective. Rosa values open anti-racist conversations about the shift in consciousness happening right now in our various communities. Last Summer she gave a talk to California State University, Fullerton students and faculty of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, as part of an online conversation about Social Justice themes in theater; facilitated by Professor Celia Martinez-Sáez. Rosa is a Board Member with Casa 0101 Theater & Community Engagement Associate for Invertigo Dance Theatre.
More info: www.rosastory.com
Lynne Streeter Childress, Theatre, Maryland
Lynne Streeter Childress is a playwright, actor, teaching artist, singer, director, and the founder and artistic director of Building Better People Productions, a professional theater company based in Annapolis, MD, that does shows for young audiences all based in themes of kindness, respect and the things that make us all better people. This is her 27th year in professional theater, with much of that experience in theater for young audiences. This includes performing at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage and Adventure Theater, and teaching for institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library. Through all those experiences, Lynne has seen firsthand how theater can communicate the most important things in the clearest and most interesting of ways, especially to young people. Lynne lives in Annapolis, MD with her husband and son.
Donation info: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/building-better-people-productions/general_support
Esrom Williams, Jr., Dance, Florida
Reigning from an Indo-Jamaican heritage, Esrom Williams, Jr's. unique artistic voice has developed through the interdisciplinary studies of western and ethnical dance styles, along with arts management and American dance performance. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance performance and Choreography from The University of Florida, Esrom relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where he was position as the Dance Director for Valley High School’s pre-professional dance program. After 2 years in Las Vegas, Esrom was accepted into his graduate studies for Contemporary Dance performance and choreography at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. His research practice has many faces, investigating topics of race, gender, mental health, hybridity, and social justice. Esrom is also the founder and creative executive director for the project-based dance company, Ataraxia Dance Theatre Company. One of the company’s mission is to help promote a positive shift in the way artists collaborate with each other and to help build a culture that strives off inclusivity. Esrom most currently choreographed and directed several dances for film projects this past Fall 2020 for Broward College that speak to mental health and social injustice.
This event is PWYL. Suggested donation is $10. Registration is required.
Join us on Google Meet! The Conversation is recorded and sent to registered audience members approximately 24hrs after the event.
Thanks to New City Players for partnering with us again for these conversations!
Funded in part with a Seed Grant from The Pollination Project.