Welcome to the 2026 Intersections Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Each year, the Intersections Festival brings together artists and audiences at the crossroads of art, culture, and community, and this year is no exception. We are thrilled to welcome you to a festival that celebrates the incredible diversity of voices, stories, and styles that make our stages come alive.
This year we received over 110 applications, making it one of our most competitive seasons yet. The result is an extraordinary lineup of artists representing a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives. From music and dance to theater, film, and spoken word, Intersections 2026 showcases the boundless creativity of our city and beyond.
As we celebrate this festival, I’m also proud to reflect on an inspiring year at the Atlas. We’ve expanded our Field Trip program, welcoming hundreds of students from across the region to experience the arts, many for the first time. Our new Broadway Concert Series has brought world-class performers to H Street, turning our stages into unforgettable nights of song and storytelling. And through our Master Class Series, artists and audiences alike have connected in meaningful ways, learning, growing, and sharing in the joy of creation.
None of this would be possible without the generosity of our supporters. As a nonprofit performing arts center, we rely on your contributions to keep these vital programs alive and to provide space for artists to create, for students to discover their voice, and for our community to come together through the power of performance. If tonight moves you, I invite you to make a gift and help ensure that the Atlas remains a home for creativity and connection for years to come.
Thank you for being part of this vibrant community and for supporting the arts that bring us together. Enjoy the festival and all the intersections that await.
With gratitude and excitement,
Jarrod Bennett
Executive Director
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Welcome to the Atlas Performing Arts Center and our 2026 Intersections Festival! This is the 17th year of presenting our special and diverse blend of dance, music, spoken word, film and theater to audiences here on historic H Street. Over the years, we have thrilled our patrons with unique programming and I’m sure that the 2026 Intersections Festival will continue that storied tradition. Every year that I attended the Intersections Festival, I have been moved by the artistic talents of our performers, many times not knowing about their specific genres until I arrive at the Atlas. I encourage all of you to attend a performance, grab a bite to eat on H Street, and, if you are so inclined, make a gift to the Atlas so that we can continue to provide this amazing Intersections Festival for years to come.
All the best,
Philip Holmes,
Board Chair
Jenna Murphy & Amy K Bormet: Sex Monster
February 14 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
Sex Monster is a cabaret that distills the history of monsters through a contemporary (and sexy) female lens.
Glade Dance Collective: NACHMO DC 2026 Sampler Showcase
February 15 | 6:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
The NACHMO DC Sampler Showcase presents a selection of world premieres by local choreographers who have created a new work during the NACHMO January Challenge.
Fairouz Foty and Malikat al Dabke: Sowt Al Ard صوت الأرض
February 20 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
Sowt al Ard blends opera, Arabic instrumentation, Levantine dabke, projections, and sensory immersion into a ritual of remembrance, asking what stories the earth holds.
DEVIATED THEATRE: siGHt
February 20 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Spirits whisper warnings, a haunted family, and a world between life and death collide in a dance opera of aerial silks, foreboding whispers, and kinesthetic precision.
Flame & Forté: The Faces of Satine
February 21 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
What lies beneath the glitter. The allure is only the beginning. The faces of Satine pulls back the curtain and takes the audience on a journey into the mind of an illustrious, seemingly irresistible artist.
MOORE Contemporary Theatrics: Beneath The Sun
February 21 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
A visceral dance reimagining of A Raisin in the Sun, exploring Black dreams, survival, and identity through contemporary movement and theatrical storytelling.
Capital City Symphony: Hope!
February 21 | 7:00 pm | Lang Theatre
A symphonic adventure centered around human connection, the power of community to overcome, and, through music, the healing and hope that is possible.
Osama Mahmoud Ashour: My Name is Not Bin Laden
February 22 | 5:00 pm | Lab I
One man. One name. Too many assumptions. A sharply funny solo show about identity, discomfort, and surviving post-9/11 America — with jokes.
Soulmatic: Time Machine
February 22 | 5:30 pm | Lab II
Time Machine is a family performance honoring Black American freestyle dance, rhythm, and legacy through storytelling, movement, and the shared journey across generations.
Ari Agha: Key of T
February 22 | 6:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
An interactive music/theater performance sharing transgender singer Ari’s voice transformation with testosterone. Join us to hear yourself anew and be part of the choir!
Carly Harvey: The Chrysalis- Blues At The Crossroads
February 22 | 6:00 pm | Lang Theatre
A vibrant fusion of blues, gospel, jazz, rock, funk, and my Native Scat—intersecting with fancy dancing, flamenco, and tap to celebrate culture, rhythm, and transformation.
Shawn Shafner: Sheldon Feldman Sings the Songs They Told Him Not to Sing
February 27 | 7:00 pm | Lab I
“Sheldon Feldman Sings the Songs They Told Me Not to Sing” is an interactive musical theater cabaret from a tone-deaf septuagenarian urging audiences to take center stage in their lives and never look back.
galax movement duo & friends: duality
February 27 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
galax movement duo invites you to an evening of dance and film featuring other members of the DMV dance community! For one night only, experience the different relationships of humanity through movement and art.
Capitol Movement Inc: Reflections
February 27 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
Reflections revisits 20 years of powerful performances while exploring today’s pressing social issues through movement, memory, and the enduring resilience of our communities.
Cartier Williams Dance Theatre: Rhythm Refix
February 27 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Rhythm Refix blends intricate footwork, contemporary music, and cinematic storytelling. It reimagines tap as a vibrant art form, celebrating Black cultural heritage with innovative choreography.
Qi Yu Quartet: Guzheng Meets Jazz
February 28 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
Blends traditional Chinese melodies with jazz harmonies and improvisation, creating a fresh fusion that honors tradition while exploring new musical paths.
Lemonboy: Lemonboy in Concert
February 28 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
A vulnerable, autobiographical song cycle reflecting on self-discovery, grief, and compassion, blending personal reflections with the voices of chosen family in an intimate, collaborative performance.
Darby, Fujimoto, Umami Playground Dance Inc.: Urban Steps: DC, NYC
and Tokyo
February 28 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Chandini Darby, Kyoko Fujimoto and Umami Playground- Three choreographers will present a dynamic triple bill exploring how cities and cultures shape identity, inspired by DC, NYC, and Tokyo.
Kate Mullis & Melissa Wilson: Recess
March 1 | 5:00 pm | Lab I
Recess follows 5 elementary school students throughout the school year as they dip their toes into life’s big questions, navigating family, friends, and politics.
Miss Kitty: Life’s Other Plans
March 1 | 5:30 pm | Lab II
A cabaret of story and song (at about an hour long) about one person’s journey into the second act within a newly discovered queer body.
Elements Dance Company: Until the Streetlights Come On
March 1 | 6:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
A vibrant dance journey honoring the freedom of childhood joy—remembering when it was safe, boundless, and shared, and calling for its return in today’s world.
Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet & GoodBeats Ensemble: Open World
March 1 | 6:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Project Fusion Saxophone Quartet performs new chamber music by living composers and music from video game adventures, in collaboration with the Good Beats Ensemble.
Jaemi Theatre: Baal
March 6 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
In a toxic city where birth is banned, a nonbinary doctor fights for life. A dystopian drama of slime, protest, and impossible choices.
A.J. Collabs: Color Me
(Curly)- Detangled Stories
March 6 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
A multidisciplinary performance using movement, voice, and sound to explore Black hair’s cultural, emotional, celebrating identity, challenging bias, and honoring history, resilience, and self-love.
Anushka Raje &
Co-Choreographers: We Are Somebody’s Ancestors
March 6 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Children of immigrants lead “We Are Somebody’s Ancestors,” a dance showcase exploring inheritance and the ways we harness our own stories. Choreography by Lauren DeVera, Ishanathan Guteng, Tim Huynh, Tulani Janae, and Anushka Raje.
RAWRA: JOANIE’S WORLD
March 7 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
A bathroom. A bassline. A beast. Frida’s secret shame festers behind closed doors until Joanie, their inner drag-monster, screams for attention.
Percussion Discussion: Keeping Time
March 7 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
Keeping Time is a captivating tap dance exploration of the intricate relationship between rhythm, music, and the journey of life.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC: Bawdy
March 7 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Our annual cabaret, this year titled “Bawdy,” featuring stories and songs sung by soloists from GMCW.
Antoine Lee: Clocked In
March 8 | 5:00 pm | Lab I
Clocked in is a stylized comedy show with live music that offers a hilarious and quirky satire of office and work culture in modern America.
Bardin, Makhlouf, Hodsoll: Seeing Maya
March 8 | 5:30 pm | Lab II
In this comedy-drama, Danny, 26, American, and his Tel Aviv neighbor, Maya, 52, start an affair during the Gulf War. How serious can it get?
Dana Nearing: High Heels…Higher Notes!
March 8 | 6:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
High Heels…Higher Notes! – Channeling the Queen in Me to Bring You Songs of the Most Iconic Female Vocalists of All Time!
Furia Flamenca Dance Company: Amalgamas (Encuentros)
March 8 | 6:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Experience Flamenco’s vibrant fusion of cultures, celebrated through music, song, and dance in a dynamic, multifaceted performance honoring its rich evolution.
Aerial Ignition: ETHEReality
March 13 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Through breathtaking aerial artistry, ETHEReality presents inspiring stories about the courage it takes to be different enough to transcend a world that demands sameness.
Textures Dance Theatre: TEXTURES
March 14 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Original contemporary works weaving identity, resilience, and community textured movement from intimate solos to ensemble surges, performed by 10–15 dancers.
Tonia Ford Vines: The Church Bizness Meeting
March 15 | 6:00 pm | Lang Theatre
The Church Bizness Meeting is a hilarious gospel comedy about a community church facing closure due to ineffective leadership and a rapidly changing Washington, DC.
WRITTEN & PERFORMED
BY PRUDENCE BLOWHOLE
Music
Prudence Blowhole & Amy K Bormet
Lyrics
Prudence Blowhole
Keys
Amy K Bormet
Guitar
Matt Dievendorf
Special thanks . . .
Misy Singson
Joe Germany
Maddie Divita
Hannah Haley
Joe Pinzon
Matt Reckeweg
KJ Velz
For more rabid femininty, follow us on Instagram @prudenceblowhole
NACHMO DC 2026
Sampler Showcase
A selection of dances created during the NACHMO January Challenge
Sunday, February 15, 2026
The Sprenger Theater at Atlas Performing Arts Center
NACHMO DC is produced by Glade Dance Collective with support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Glade is grateful to our partners for their support of NACHMO DC: Atlas Performing Arts Center, CityDance, Dance Exchange, and Unity Dance & Movement.
Glade would also like to thank stage manager Ben Mendis, photographer Rob Cannon, and the contributions of our feedback panel, including Emily Crews, Grace David, Brendan Drake, SafiHarriott, Ama Law, Sarah Beth Oppenheim, Jane Raleigh, and Da'Shown Rawl. Glade would also like to thank Lauren DeVera.
1. Catch up!
Choreographed by: Julia Krawczyk
Performed by: Carly Haig, Mary Campbell, Makaila Teagle
Music: “For Malena” by Marc Ribot
2. they and them
Choreographed by: Deanna Woodman
Performed by: Eryn Barnes and Deanna Woodman
Music: “Daydream in D for Cello” by Eric Kinny
An exploration of conversations surrounding gender identities in safe spaces and the ways that those identities affect how we give and receive support.
3. bandwidth
Choreographed by: Kristen Bolger
Performed by: Allison Grant, Annika Dodrill, Chloe Conway, Drew Scammell, Katie Rodeghiero
Music: "Dear Gravity" by Empyrean, sound effects include Teams ringtones and Outlook notification sound.
The world is ending and you want me to make a pivot table?
PAUSE FOR FEEDBACK
4. Just Business
Choreographed by: Peyton Murphy
Performed by: Bella Leonard & Jesse Harrington
Music: "Reminiscencias" by Claudio Constantini, "One Night of Love" by The Melachrino Strings and Orchestra
Follow: @peyton.murph
5. Pasturized
Choreographed by: Darryl Pilate, Light Switch Dance Theatre
Performed by: Virginia Cromwell, Nadine Friedrich, Laura Zagorski, Matthew Zagorski
Music: "Siri's Arrival" by Metamora
"You were once wild here. Don’t let them tame you." - Isadora Duncan
6. My Nose Is Not Important
Choreographed and performed by: Ava Delasanta
Music: “Où est ma tête?” by Pink Martini, China Forbes
PAUSE FOR FEEDBACK
7. Current Affairs
Choreographed and performed by: Lily Geiser, Abby Guen, and Francesca Theofilou
Music: “Current Affairs” by Lorde
8. I can see my own tambourine
Choreographed by: Annika Dodrill
Performed by: Gwynevere Deterding, Jane Reynolds, Kiran Stump, Deanna Woodman
Music: "Ten Minutes of Static" with additional iPhone sound effects, “Feelers” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Paraphrasing e.e. cummings: “Being myself in a world doing its best to make me somebody else – means to fight the hardest battle any human can”
9. Static/\\Signal
Choreographed by: JoJo S. Summerville, Move Freely. Dance Boldly.
Performed by: Emma Heiser, Sophie Billinge, Helen Bonnyman, Amanda Attiya, Alexei Koseff, Ella Rommel
Music: “What I Can Do” by Contra & Saturna
Static/\\Signal inhabits a futuristic broadcast space where bodies transmit through interference, decoding connection amid noise, fleeting threads, and digital disruptions.
10. Vamos a bailar?
Choreographed by: Angel Ramirez, Angel Ram Dance
Performed by: Angel Ramirez, Elvis Navarro, Morgan Hunsicker
Music: “Love Tempo” by Subb-An
Follow: angelramdance.com
“Vamos a bailar?” delves into queer nightlife, celebrating movement, intimacy, and collective joy while asserting the power of gathering, dancing, and coming together in turbulent times.
15 MINUTE INTERMISSION
11. The Floor Is Lava
Choreographed and performed by: Stephanie Vadala & Amanda Canny
Follow: Stephanie: @tappety, @thewoodcollectiveorg; Amanda: @theastralinjection
12. Chorus
Choreographed and performed by: Glade Dance Collective
Music: “UMA” by OOIOO
Follow: @gladedance and gladedance.org
This is a short excerpt from a larger work. We've been exploring a variety of feminist or woman-centered texts, especially “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
13. Hinges
Choreographed by: Makayla Allman
Performed by: Makayla Allman, Ray Psalm
Music: “Hinges“ Original Music composed by Hayden Jackson
PAUSE FOR FEEDBACK
14. Saculpa
Choreographed by: Sylvana Christopher, SylviDances
Performed by: Sylvana Christopher, Rachel Lawal, Deanna Woodman
Music: “Voyager, Concerto for Piano, Violin, and Strings: 1” by Oliver Davis
A quest for balance and stability.
15. The Art of Falling
Choreographed by: Nadine Friedrich
Performed by: Aerin Webber, Charlotte Macko, Emma Heiser, Gracen Pace, Nadine Friedrich
Music: “Resistance” by AVAWAVES, Anna Phoebe, Aisling Brouwer, “Infra5” by Max Richter, “Falling Sand” by Maya Tales
Between weight and lightness, falling becomes poetry — shifting in weight, texture, and flow. Fall with us.
16. "Limerence and Lexapro"
Choreographed by: Brighton Sawyer
Performed by: Drew Scammell, Morgan Hunsicker
Music: "Nude" by Radiohead
"Limerence and Lexapro" wields the ethereal intimacy of Radiohead's "Nude" to explore paradoxical yearning and fear of intimacy in the wake of childhood sexual trauma.
PAUSE FOR FEEDBACK
17. Clap, Dammit
Choreographed and performed by: Justin Williams
Music: “Yo Yan” by Skrillex
Follow: @justcre8tin
You came to see a show, right?
18. 10 Rules of Techno
Choreographed by: Eryn Barnes & Emily Green
Performed by: Eryn Barnes, Jenn Cinicola, Alysea Colón, Emily Green, Emma O'Brien, Janae Witcher, Deanna Woodman
Music: “10 Rules of Techno” by Underdog Electronic Music School
February 20 | 8:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
Sowt al Ard blends opera, Arabic instrumentation, Levantine dabke, projections, and sensory immersion into a ritual of remembrance, asking what stories the earth holds.
February 20 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Spirits whisper warnings, a haunted family, and a world between life and death collide in a dance opera of aerial silks, foreboding whispers, and kinesthetic precision.
February 21 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
What lies beneath the glitter. The allure is only the beginning. The faces of Satine pulls back the curtain and takes the audience on a journey into the mind of an illustrious, seemingly irresistible artist.
February 21 | 7:00 pm | Lang Theatre
A symphonic adventure centered around human connection, the power of community to overcome, and, through music, the healing and hope that is possible.
February 22 | 5:00 pm | Lab I
One man. One name. Too many assumptions. A sharply funny solo show about identity, discomfort, and surviving post-9/11 America — with jokes.
February 22 | 6:00 pm | Lang Theatre
A vibrant fusion of blues, gospel, jazz, rock, funk, and my Native Scat—intersecting with fancy dancing, flamenco, and tap to celebrate culture, rhythm, and transformation.
February 27 | 7:00 pm | Lab I
“Sheldon Feldman Sings the Songs They Told Me Not to Sing” is an interactive musical theater cabaret from a tone-deaf septuagenarian urging audiences to take center stage in their lives and never look back.
Capitol Movement’s mission is to build better lives through dance. We provide programs and opportunities for all dancers, regardless of socioeconomic barriers, through studio classes, workshops, outreach, scholarships, and a variety of community engagements. Capitol Movement aims to make dance accessible and affordable in the DC metropolitan area. Utilizing traveling classrooms, we provide quality dance education to schools and community partners in need of arts education. Through our Professional Dance Company and studio classes, CMI offers a creative outlet for those with a passion for the arts, where they are empowered through artistry in motion. Our programs build confidence, teamwork, commitment, and discipline, bringing together dancers from all backgrounds. Together, we build better lives through dance.
Upcoming Events for CMI:
Cherry Blossom Festival - April 11, 2026
Capitol Movement Project at the Lincoln Theatre - April 25, 2026
Moving Up and Down Again (CMI)
Choreography: Hunter Tayman
That’s Right It’s Friday (CMI)
Choreography: Ashley Alexander
My Way (CMI)
Choreography: Victor Adebusola
Jealous (CMI)
Choreography: Danielle Malley
This is an improvisational piece demonstrating a technical
dancer’s interpretation through movement of the song.
Human vs. AI (Guest Work)
Choreography: Cierra Morris and Stephanie Jojokian
This piece was set by CMI’s co-founder & resident company
member for the 2025 GRIDLOCK Dance’s Motion Mixers.
Heroes (CMI)
Choreography: Kyle Hanagami
serving looks, spilling tea (Guest Work)
Choreography: Margaux Lieser
This piece was set by one of CMI’s resident company
members and premiered at the 2025 APT Dance Festival.
Ratata (CMI)
Choreography: Aaron Gilliam
I Will Run (Guest Work)
Choreography: Gracen Pace
This piece is a partnered project with City Dance Studios.
Anxiety (CMI)
Choreography: Sabina Henry
Lust (CMI)
Choreography: Cayla Evans
Jealous (CMI)
Choreography: Shontal Snider
This is an improvisational piece demonstrating a hip hop
dancer’s interpretation through movement of the song.
Street Love (CMI)
Choreography: Devin Niosi
This Bitter Earth (CMI)
Choreography: Jana Kalivoda
The Company
Directors: Lucetta Furr-Snider & Shontal Snider
Amariah Sattler, Ashley Alexander, Brianna Pippens,
Britney Joyner, Christine Roberrts, Cierra Morris, Danielle
Malley, Elisabeth Raczek, Gracen Pace, Gwynevere
Deterding, Ireland Horan, Lauren Wodarski Lokken,
London Myrick, Marcia Smith, Margaux Lieser, Olivia
Hagans, Scarlett Parker, Tatiana Teixeira, Taylor
Hawkins, Victoria Woodward, Zari Davis
The Apprentices
Director: London Myrick
Chloe Evans, Cylie Evans, Gianna Bush, Hayden Myrick,
Jalayah Bannister, Kaylin Ragland, Lucie Cohn,
Makenzie Jones, Skye Price, Vivianna Lerch
The Kidz
Director: Taylor Hawkins
Assistant Director: Vihky Smith
Alison Flores, Alyvia Jennings, Ava Rogers Margary,
Charlee Makings, Lexi Rodgers, Logan Rodgers, Ricki
Makings, Owen Hodge, Sophia Okere
Guest Performers
City Dance Studios
Annika Wiebers, Lauryn Reynolds, Leila Stehlik-Barry,
Madison Whatley, Micaiah Humes
Co-Founders: Amber Yancey, Stephanie Jojokian
Board of Directors: Barbara Beach, Emma Beck,
Jamie Aguilar, Julie Donaldson, Kymberly Gondwe, Lisa
Jacobson, Princess Agra, Ve Talle Fusilier
Executive Director: Stephanie Jojokian
Artistic Director: Lucetta Furr-Snider
Studio & Social Media Manager: Jamilla Keene
Donor Manager: Cierra Morris
Marketing Assistant: Lauren Wodarski Lokken
February 28 | 7:30 pm | Lab II
Blends traditional Chinese melodies with jazz harmonies and improvisation, creating a fresh fusion that honors tradition while exploring new musical paths.
Urban Steps: DC, NYC, and Tokyo
by Chandini Darby, Kyoko Fujimoto, and Umami Playground Dance Inc.
Lang Theater | 8pm February 28, 2026
Producer: Kyoko Fujimoto
Stage Manager: Tobi Lee
75-minute performance (no intermission)
followed by 15-minute talk back
Special Thanks: The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival Team
All images in the program were generated with Nano Banana
Urban Steps: DC, NYC, and Tokyo is a dynamic triple bill that explores how cities and cultures shape our identity. This collaboration brings together three distinct voices, Chandini Darby, Kyoko Fujimoto, and Umami Playground Dance Inc., to present a powerful evening of dance inspired by their homes.
Chandini Darby is a performer, choreographer, educator, and Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The VIVA School in Washington, DC. A visionary leader, she uses movement as both personal archaeology and universal language, crafting immersive encounters rooted in cultural memory and authentic human connection. Her work, commissioned by institutions such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Arena Stage, layers organic groove, rhythmic complexity, and atmospheric interiority. As founder of The Beauty for Ashes Project, she uplifts untold stories, including her 2017 dance film Hair Like Fall, which screened in New York and DC. Through The VIVA School, she advances a culturally conscious dance pedagogy rooted in creative intelligence and leadership development, cultivating the next generation of artists reshaping the future of dance.
IG: @chandinidarby
Website: thevivaschool.org
Kyoko Fujimoto is a versatile choreographer based in Washington DC whose journey began with classical ballet and musical theater in Japan, Boston, and NYC. She holds a B.A. in Physics from Boston University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawai.i at M.noa. Her interdisciplinary background enables her to fuse artistic and technical/scientific ideas. FujimotoÕs choreography often explores unexpected themes like video games and medical imaging. In 2018, CriticalDance noted that her food ballet, Flavorland, "expertly captures the joyful experience of devouring a chocolate truffle." In 2025, Dancing in the District lauded her "daring choreography" and the "juxtaposition of humor and metaphysics" in her works. Fujimoto is a recipient of the FY25 Fellowship and the FY26 Project Grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
IG: @kyokofujimoto_choreo
Website: https://www.kyokofujimoto.com
Umami Playground Dance Inc., founded in 2022, is a collective of movers dedicated to the core values of Explore, Play, and Make Mistakes. Specializing in House, Popping, Tutting, Breaking, Floorwork, and Contemporary dance, they are among the rare companies bridging street and contemporary dance. Their worksÑsuch as Playground (2023), which incorporated Gugak (Korean traditional music), and Elements of Life (2024), which reimagined East Asian elemental symbolsÑblend cultural traditions with theatrical innovation. Infused with humor, humanity, and a deep respect for everyday stories, their performances have appeared at venues including the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Texas Amphibian Stage SparkFest, and the NYC Pride Parade. Committed to the community, they have hosted over 50 workshops, produced free showcases, and performed more than 20 free outdoor shows in Queens.
IG: @umamiplayground
Website: https://umamiplayground.wixsite.com/umami-playground-dan
Linktree: linktr.ee/umamiplayground_nyc
City I: Washington, DC | milk and honey
Inspired by Tyler Mitchell's Idyllic Space and Washington, DC's living culture, the work answers the question, 'what makes you feel vital, joyful, present?' -a critical introspection for youth culture amidst pressures to socialize, homogenize, and perform. The work offers repose, joy, and permission to rest in what feels inherently true.
Choreographer: Chandini Darby
Dancers: Lauren Cammack, Zoey Jae Collins, Casey Hart, Simone Pair, Blake Payne, Chloe Payne, Selah Quinn, Alanna Rivas-Rogers, Kami Rivas-Rogers, Khaleel Smith, Salaam Willaims
Scene 1: Vital
Dancer: Ensemble
Music: "Taiko Stomp" by Christophe Zurfluh
Scene 2: Present
Dancer: Casey Hart, Simone Pair, Chloe Payne, Salaam Williams
Music: How Much A Dollar Cost by Robert Glasper & Terrace Martin (feat. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin & Justin Tyson
Scene 3: Joyful
Dancer: Ensemble
Music: "All Melody" by Nils Frahm, ÒIf This World Were Mine x Who Can I Run To" by Luther Vandross & Xscape (A Oj The DJ Mashup), "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar
Special thanks to The VIVA School of Dance for your support.
City II: Tokyo | Area Code 03
Area Code 03 captures the vibrant, layered sensory experience of Tokyo through contemporary ballet movement, transporting the audience into the heart of the neon city alongside the traveler. From the frantic energy of navigating the busy city to the sensory indulgence of spicy ramen, and from the electric play of the arcades to the mystic presence of cats in the city, the choreography explores TokyoÕs pulse through a lens of urban discovery. The journey culminates in the high-octane atmosphere of an idol concert, celebrating the resilience and rhythm of the metropolis.
Choreographer: Kyoko Fujimoto
Rehearsal Director: Max Maisey
Dancers: Sara Bradna, Annika Champe, Laurice Chow, Cecilia Esterline, Etta Hulcher, Anna Lipkin, and Elizabeth Smith Costume Designer: Anne Liberman
Scene 1: Traveler's
Dream Dancer: Laurice Chow
Music: "Dardanella" (excerpt) by Emmet Cohen
Photography: Daijiro Sonoda
Scene 2: Explore the City
Dancers: All Cast Sound: "City Ambi Train Ticket Gate 1" by Otologic
Music: "Lost in Tokyo Subway" by Marcos Valle
Scene 3: Spicy Ramen
Dancers: All Cast
Sound: "Japanese RAMEN restaurant waiter / waitress unique voice, greeting store clerk, store employee" (excerpt) by kodomosize creation
Music: "Las 4 Estaciones Portenas: Verano Porteno" composed by Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Lenoid Desyatnikov
Photography: Sejism, Yusuke Takeda and Nishihama / Adobe Stock
Scene 4: Arcade / Video Game
Dancers: Laurice Chow, Anna Lipkin, and Elizabeth Smith
Sound: "Game CenterÓ" (excerpt) by Sumire no Otobako
Music: "Sinfonietta op49 -I. Allegro" (excerpt) composed by Nikolai Kapustin and arranged by Trent Robertson
Projection Design: Trent Robertson
Scene 5: Cats in the City / Cat Festival
Dancers: All Cast
Inspired by: The Cat Festival in Kagura Zaka, the stray cats of Joshin-ji Temple, foster cats from Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, and Sam
Music: "Excursions, Op. 20: I. Un poco allegro" composed by Samel Barber
Photography: Biancaart / Adobe Stock
Scene 6: Projection Mapping Exhibition
Dancer: Laurice Chow
Inspired by: teamLab exhibitions in Tokyo and Singapore
Music: "Terra Firma" by Earthbound
Projection: "Motion Background Video -Abstract Particles/Strings" by Free Stock Footage 4K
Scene 7: Idol Concert
Dancers: Sara Bradna, Annika Champe, Cecilia Esterline, Etta Hulcher, Anna Lipkin, and Elizabeth Smith
Projection: "Walking Shibuya Crossing at Night, Binaural City Sounds in Tokyo" (excerpt) by Nomadic Ambience, edited by Kyoko Fujimoto
Sound: "Cheer, Crowd 01-5" by Otologic
Music: "Ginza Line" by Universal Production Music, edited by Kyoko Fujimoto
Scene 8: An Epilogue
Dancers: All Cast
Music: "Dardanella" (excerpt) by Emmet Cohen
Heartfelt thanks to: Keri Joi Taylor and Laurice Chow at Maryland Youth Ballet, Etta Hulcher at Dance Loft on 14, Selena Figgins at Dance Exchange and Enoch Chan at Enoch Chan Productions & Photography, LLC.
City III: NYC
A kinetic portrait of New York CityÑits subways, streets, noise, rhythms, and restless energy. Dancers move through the cityÕs daily realities: crowded commutes, constant sound, living with friends and strangers in the tiny apartment, and the collision of cultures and languages. Shifting between grit and beauty, exhaustion and resilience, the work captures the chaos, pulse, and lived intensity that shape how New Yorkers survive, adapt, and keep moving.
Choreographer: Guangmin Shen, Yurie Ono
Stage Manager: Tobi Lee
Dancers: Guangmin Shen, Yurie Ono, Kevin Chen, Bea Martin, Dahyun Kim, China Braekman, Wan Rong Tseng, Puspa Ghalley, Shannon Healey
Scene 1: MTA
Dancer: Guangmin Shen, Yurie Ono, Bea Martin, Dahyun Kim
Music: "EI Camino Part 1" & "EI Camino Part 2" by Shazz
Scene 2: New York Subway Dancer: Guangmin Shen, Yurie Ono, Bea Martin, Dahyun Kim, China Braekman, Wan Rong Tseng, Shannon Healey Music: "New York Subway" by Lil B
Scene 3: A Better Place Dancer: Puspa Ghalley, Guangmin Shen, Kevin Chen, Bea Martin, Dahyun Kim, China Braekman, Shannon Healey Music: "A Better Place" Seamus Haji ft. Kathy Brown; "Snuggling Up" by kensuke ushio
Scene 4: The Noise of New York Dancer: All Cast Music: ÒMusic Is My Life" by Little Louie Vega
Scene 5: Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You Dancer: All Cast Music: "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", different versions by Lauryn Hill, Craymer Ruthie Craft & Jason Lux Piano, Alto Sax & Piano
The Great Zucchini
March 7 | 10am-12pm | Atlas Lobby
Family Fun Day with the Great Zucchini! The Great Zucchini, Washington’s funniest and most magical preschool and kindergarten entertainer, performs a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh! This event is free and open to the public. Generously supported by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
March 7 | 8:00 pm | Lang Theatre
Our annual cabaret, this year titled “Bawdy,” featuring stories and songs sung by soloists from GMCW.
March 8 | 6:00 pm | Sprenger Theatre
High Heels…Higher Notes! – Channeling the Queen in Me to Bring You Songs of the Most Iconic Female Vocalists of All Time!
