Film & Videos
Apollo Theater series, Live Wire: From the Archive. For almost two years, Mr. Washington researched ephemera, archival film, and objects that he presented in the professionally recorded film. As the host and curator, he explored how the historic theater, the Apollo’s archive, artists’ bodies, and the neighborhood of Harlem are inter-connected archives (Curator, Host, Researcher & Project Manager).
Exhibition and program teaser video of Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York. The exhibition illuminates how the diversity of New York City gave rise to salsa, an up-tempo combination of percussive Latin music and poly-rhythmic, Afro-Caribbean infused dance. The exhibition brings the history of salsa in New York to life through a collection of nearly 100 objects-from Tito Puente's musical instruments to garments worn by Celia Cruz (Interviewed, Curator & Co-Directed).
Documentary short film sharing the importance of the arts and community in New York City. Created with the initial support from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Bronx Music Heritage Center, and National Jazz Museum in Harlem (Directed, Interviewer, Storyboard & Producer).
Title: Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent - United Nations
Film trailer for a film celebrating the United Nations International Day of People of African Descent. The film was featured prominently on United Nations and United Nations agencies’ media platforms (Host, Producer, Researcher, Project Manager, Script Writer & Curator).
Title: A Call for a New Social Contract: Centering Indigenous Cultural Expressions - United Nations
Trailer for a film about the celebration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, collaboration between UN Human Rights and UN Visitor Services. The film was featured prominently on United Nations and United Nations agencies’ media platforms (Co-Host, Researcher, Producer, Project Manager & Co-Script Writer).
Curatorial & Project Long Reel: Projects Created, Exhibitions Curated, or Films Produced by Dr. Derrick León Washington
Dance & Movement Anthropology
'I still Believe in Our City', featuring Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya with commentary from Carmelyn P. Malalis and Derrick L. Washington, PhD. Produced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in partnership with the NYC Commission on Human Rights (Expert Intervention & Co-Script Writer).
Angy Rivera is a human rights activist fighting for immigration reform in the United States. Rivera emigrated from Colombia to the United States with her mother at the age of four. Excluded from state and federal college financial aid due to her immigration status, she became active with the undocumented-youth-led New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC) (Interviewer & Co-Producer).
Nueva York - A Musical History of Latin New York (documentary film trailer)
A history of Latino New York told through its music. When West Side Story hit the screens in 1961 it gave visibility to New York’s ostracised and deprived Puerto Rican community. From Spanish Harlem to the Bronx, where poverty, drugs and gangs were rife, Latino music and dance were creating a new Latin identity in North America with the Big Apple as its capital. Director: Sergio G. Mondelo / Year: 2021 (Inspired by exhibition curated, Expert Speaker & Consultant).
Dancing Classrooms at the Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo "Bienvenidos a Nueva York" at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York City (Directed & Producer).
Film trailer for ‘Dreams & Defiance: Latin Dance Vs. The World’. Instructional film about Latin dances and cultures in created collaboration with the National Jazz Museum (Curator, Director, Project Manager, Script-Writer & Researcher).
Click here to watch the full film on the National Jazz Museum’s Facebook page
Tony Hillery is the founder and director of Harlem Grown, and organization that connects local public schools to the greater community through the use of common garden spaces and mutually engaging activities. Harlem Grown provides 3,000 children in 12 schools with hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition (Interviewer & Co-Producer).
Bizet Has His Day (Inside)
Musicians and dancers find a way to connect virtually and feel a little less isolated in times of social distancing. Performed by The Revisionists and recorded in home studios across the country by band members in quarantine during the Covid-19 pandemic (Dancer).
Morning stretch routine…
New York International Salsa Congress
Video Link: Teaser for a Day of Dreams, Defiance and Dance with the New York International Salsa Congress
Video Link: Panel of “What’s The Right Way to Dance Salsa?”
Facebook Program Link: Day of Dreams, Defiance, and Dance with the New York International Salsa Congress and NYU
Video Link: Keynote Panel moderated by Derrick L. Washington