Derrick’s Resources
Shown Above: Image of Derrick León Washington & Misha Morales rehearsing for demonstration and documentary film sponsored by the National Jazz Museum.
-Created, curated, directed, or significant contributions by Derrick. Located in one place for easy reference and citation-Film
Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York - 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, Co-Directed & Exhibition Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YXwduMMa-Q
Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent - 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, Project Manager, Producer, Script Writer & Curator). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1es8i4huf
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 (Storyboard, Assistant Director, Interviewer, & UN Intervention). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1m/k1m018tei6
Todavía creo en Nueva York - (I Still Believe in Our City with Spanish language subtitles): Link: https://youtu.be/6Uw5KKmNWXA
Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo - 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, Bronx Music Heritage Center, and National Jazz Museum in Harlem (Directed, Interviewer, Storyboard, Producer & Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q1V0D0FOtc
A Call for a New Social Contract: Centering Indigenous Cultural Expressions - 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, Project Manager, Producer & Co-Script Writer). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10nit7qus?fbclid=IwAR2cSoVHUU-O_CJLHaHW_UfiZww4bX6Wm7dWz1lWVREJBmP
#ActivistNY: Tony's Story - Exhibition case study video for Activist New York exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, December 2016 (Co-Director, Script Supervisor & Interviewer). Link: https://youtu.be/DX3FhDHhAkQ
#ActivistNY: Angy's Story - Exhibition case study video for Activist New York exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, December 2016 (Co-Director, Script Supervisor & Interviewer). Link: https://youtu.be/l674vwxI0DA
#ActivistNY: Dante's Story - Exhibition case study video for Activist New York exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, December 2016 (Co-Director, Script Supervisor, & Interviewer). Link: https://youtu.be/IEHWvcUnqkQ
#ActivistNY`: Sasha's Story - Exhibition case study video for Activist New York exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, December 2016 (Co-Director, Script Supervisor & Interviewer). Link: https://youtu.be/0lQ4ouR__WI
Dreams & Defiance: Latin Dance Vs. The World - Instructional film about Latin dances and cultures in collaboration with the National Jazz Museum (Director & Curator). Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=796357554567165
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York - Feature-length documentary broadcast on the ARTE television network. It broadcast in over 22 nations in Europe and European territories. It received a positive review in one of France’s most influential and widely circulated newspapers, Le Monde (Film inspired by exhibition curated, Expert Speaker & Consultant). Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/097587-000-A/nueva-york-a-musical-history-of-latin-new-york
1969 Moon Landing - Screened at Dance on Film Festival at Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts, New York, NY. Directed by Johanna Witherby (Choreographed & Performed).
Apollo Theater Live Wire: From the Archives - Feature-length film highlights historical spaces as archives, never-before-seen objects/ephemera from the Apollo’s archives, various performance styles as an archives, and Harlem as an evolving neighborhood as a living archive (Project Manager, Curator, Script Writer, Lead Researcher). Link: https://apollotheater.brandlive.com/livewire-april2022/en
Publications
o Book: Rhythm & Power: Performing Salsa in Puerto Rican and Latino Communities, co-edited by Derrick L. Washington, Centro Publications, 2017.
o Article: Dance Culture in NYC, Museum of the City of New York, March 7, 2017.
o Interviewed for article related to Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts evening-length Urban Stomp performance,
*New York City: Dancer's Delight, Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts’ The Score, June 28, 2019.
o Museum Blog Post: How to Curate an Interactive History Exhibition in 11 Easy Steps, Museum of the City of New York, August 28, 2017.
o Article: “Embodied Representation: Racial and Gender Identity in Hip-hop Choreography.” Text, Practice and Performance VIII, 79-94, 2009.
o Dissertation: The Whole World is a Rumba Nueva: The Creation of Transnational Communities through Performance and Social Media in New York City and Havana, 2014.
o Forthcoming Article: Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo
o Forthcoming Article: Dreams & Defiance: A Unified Curatorial Practice of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage
Salsa, Mambo & Music/Dances of the Americas
Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo - 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 & Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q1V0D0FOtc
Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York - Exhibition and program teaser video of Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York. The exhibition, which also offered the most extensive array of programming of any museum exhibition, illuminated 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 brought 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, Co-Directed & Exhibition Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YXwduMMa-Q
Salsa: Neuerfindung karibischer Identitäten (Salsa: Reinventing Caribbean Identities) - Austrian national radio station story about salsa as an artistic socio-cultural movement with Mr. Washington taking listeners on a journey of some of the most iconic locations related to is artistic and social history in New York City. On Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). This is on one of the four national radio stations of Austria. Link: Salsa: Neuerfindung karibischer Identitäten | DI | 31 01 2023 | 9:45 - oe1.ORF.at
Dreams & Defiance: Latin Dance Vs. The World - Instructional film about Latin dances and cultures in collaboration with the National Jazz Museum (Director & Curator). Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=796357554567165
¡LoiSALSA! - The first “open mic” series dedicated to dance and history at the Nuyorican Poets Café (established in 1973) (Co-Host, Director & Curator).
¡Urban Stomp! The Artistic and Cultural Connections between Swing, Mambo and Salsa- An an evening-length, research presentation with live music and dance, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; New York, NY ( Curator, Speaker, Dancer). Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/elinor-bunin-munroe-film-center/urban-stomp-swing-mambo-salsa/660740841044829
Rhythm & Power: Dance, Immigration, and Community Action in History - Curriculum illuminates multiple engagement strategies and lessons that engage students through music, dance, cultural studies, and history. Suitable for educators of all grades – and requiring no prior dance experience – this course is inclusive of information gathered by award-winning exhibitions and programs of the Museum of the City of New York (Curriculum Writer).
Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent - 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, Project Manager, Producer, Script Writer & Curator). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1es8i4huf
Dreams & Defiance: A Salsa Unit Plan - A 92nd Street Y Dance Education Laboratory learning resource that included anthropologically based exercises covering Cuban rumba, lindy hop, jazz dances, Cuban casino, contemporary dance, salsa caleña, and New York “On2” salsa. The 92nd Street Y is a historic institution founded in 1874, the 92nd Street Y has hosted artists/scholars such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Yo-Yo Ma, Truman Capote, Maya Angelou, Octavio Paz, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Curriculum Writer).
Dancing Classrooms at the Abyssinian Baptist Church - Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo segment on performance (Director & Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OushCpL_fx4&feature=youtu.be
What Are The Roots of Salsa? - New York Public Library Main Branch; New York, NY (Curator & Presenter).
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York - Feature-length documentary broadcast on the ARTE television network. It broadcast in over 22 nations in Europe and European territories. It received a positive review in one of France’s most influential and widely circulated newspapers, Le Monde (Film inspired by exhibition curated, Expert Speaker & Consultant). Link: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/097587-000-A/nueva-york-a-musical-history-of-latin-new-york
Day of Dreams Defiance and Dance! - The New York University Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) and the New York International Salsa Congress, present a Day of Dreams Defiance and Dance! This full-day event curated by Dr. Derrick Leon Washington, honors the history of New York Salsa featuring a walking tour of the Lower East Side, workshops and panel discussions and dance. The title of this recorded panel discussion is, "What’s the Right Way to Dance Salsa?”Link: https://www.facebook.com/CLACS.NYU/videos/232339090765737
Dreams & Defiance: A World Re-Imagined Through Social Music and Dance Symposium - This first conference in this series explores the circular flows of music and social dance traditions in the Caribbean as a way of broadly exploring notions of nation, citizenship and belonging. Panelists investigated New York City salsa, Dominican merengue, Dominican bachata, and Cuban rumba. While there are a plethora of social dances performed throughout the Caribbean, these social dance and music styles have found global popularity in clubs, festivals, dance classes as well as the more intimate spaces they were created. Along with the social mobility afforded to some practitioners, economic possibilities figure largely in the ways they are performed in the present (Curator & Moderator).
A Day of Dreams, Defiance, and Dance program - At New York University and in collaboration with the New York International Salsa Congress, the day-long program included: A behind-the-scenes walking tour of the history of Salsa in the Lower East Side, visits to some of the venues featured in “Our Latin Thing” (the documentary that helped make the Fania All-Stars a global phenomenon), a workshop on the beauty of the clave with Multi-Grammy Award-nominated musician/bandleader, Bobby Sanabria, an interactive panel discussion on ways to dance salsa with style, and an after-work celebration in the heart of New York University (Curator). Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/353139888543319
Sabor & Ritmo: International Family Day of Dance - At the Museum of the City of New York, A day of interactive learning by spotlighting dance cultures that included: salsa with Balmir Latin Dance Studio, bomba with Milteri Tucker of Bombazo Dance Company, kizomba with Annie Louis of B-More Kizomba and DJ Elmano, children’s creative movement/dance, and multilingual storytime (Curator & Dance Instructor). Link: https://www.mcny.org/event/sabor-ritmo-international-family-day-dance
Sketch & Sip: Salsa in New York- Museum guests explored the dance costumes, musical instruments, maps, record covers, and photographs featured in the exhibition Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York and learned how to add action and motion to drawings. A lesson by The National Arts Club instructor/artist Simon Levenson, followed by independent sketching time in the gallery, allowed guests to see how movement and music can affect visual art (Curator). Link: https://www.mcny.org/event/sketch-sip-salsa-new-york
Exhibitions
New York at Its Core, Museum of the City of New York (2016-Ongoing): New York at Its Core captures the human energy that drove New York to become a city like no other, featuring the city’s “big personalities” – among them, Alexander Hamilton, Walt Whitman, Emma Goldman, JP Morgan, Fiorello La Guardia, Jane Jacobs, and Jay Z. Through almost 450 historic objects and images, many from the Museum’s rich collection, as well as contemporary video, photography, and interactive digital experiences, we welcome you to dive deep into the city’s past and create your own visions for its future. This exhibition received the Excellence in Exhibition Award from the American Alliance of Museums.
Will to Adorn Adorn, Smithsonian Center of Folklife and Cultural Heritage (April 2013-August 2013): Presented at the 47th Annual Folklife Festival Will to Adorn exhibition and program on the National Mall in Washington D.C. This was a multi-year research project that studied the diversity of African-American culture through the lens of music, clothing and fashion.
Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York, Museum of the City of New York (June 13, 2017-November 26, 2017): The story of New York salsa—an up-tempo performance of percussive Latin music and Afro-Caribbean-infused dance—is one of cultural fusion, artistry, and skilled marketing. Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York illuminates salsa as a social movement from the 1960s to the present, exploring how immigrant and migrant communities in New York City—most notably from Cuba and Puerto Rico—nurtured and developed salsa, growing it from a local movement playing out in the city’s streets and clubs into a global phenomenon. The exhibition also looks at the role of record companies and stores in supporting and promoting the movement, and salsa’s often-overlooked ties to activism in the city. The exhibition and program series (the most extensive of any museum exhibition), includes a staff leadership workshop, history of dance courses for high school students, oral history project with leading New York City based practitioners, ongoing professional development day involving Broadway theatre professionals, interactive music and dance workshops, curated concert performances, painting workshops, walking tours, film screenings, three SummerStage concerts, academic conference, book publication, a weeklong professional development conference sponsored by the New York Department of Education, and numerous installations at the Museum of the City of New York. It received unprecedented positive national and international publicity. Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York has received positive reviews in The New York Times, BBC, Huffington Post, NY Post, Red Bull Music Academy, NBC Channel 4, Time Out New York, and several Latin American publications.
Activist New York, Museum of the City of New York (2016-Ongoing): The exhibition explores the drama of social activism in New York City from the 17th century to the present. In a town renowned for its in-your-face persona, New Yorkers have banded together on issues as diverse as civil rights, wages, sexual orientation, and religious freedom. Using artifacts, photographs, audio and visual presentations, as well as interactive components that seek to tell the story of activism in the five boroughs past and present, Activist New York presents the passions and conflicts that underlie the city's history of agitation. Several exhibition shared different films including: #ActivistNY: Tony's Story, #ActivistNY: Angy's Story, #ActivistNY: Dante's Story, and #ActivistNY`: Sasha's Story. The exhibition also included a case study about the 1982 Anti-Nuclear Rally in Central Park. As of 2016, it is the largest political rally in the United States (Co-Director / Script Supervisor / Interviewer)
Human Minority Rights: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Headquarters (December 2019): Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Twelfth Session of the Forum on Minority Issues, at UN Human Rights Headquarters, Geneva (CH).
Various, El Fogon Center of the Arts (March 2011-January 2013): Produced, managed and curated various community exhibits, culturally relevant live-music concerts, artist exhibitions, book signings, spoken word, dance classes, and educational collaborations with New York City educational institutions to address the social and educational needs of youth and adults in New York City. These curated events helped nurture relationships with Garifuna, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, and African American communities. Received media coverage from Channel 12 News the Bronx, Bronx Free Press, Mott Haven Herald, and Bronx 360, a news outlet sponsored by the Bronx Tourism Council with a readership of over 240,000.
Harlem Swing: The Birth of a Movement, Museum of the City of New York (February 2016): A collaboration between the curatorial and education departments at the Museum of the City of New York. The experience included a pop-exhibition featuring rare artifacts and ephemera from the early to mid- 1900s, information packets, symposium with swing and jazz dance legends, storytelling, interactive mural installation, food preparation workshop, dance workshop, and music.
Art & Human Rights
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 (Storyboard, Assistant Director, Interviewer, & UN Intervention). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1m/k1m018tei6
Todavía creo en Nueva York - (I Still Believe in Our City with Spanish language subtitles): Link: https://youtu.be/6Uw5KKmNWXA
Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent - 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, Project Manager, Producer, Script Writer & Curator). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1es8i4huf
A Call for a New Social Contract: Centering Indigenous Cultural Expressions - 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, Project Manager, Producer, & Co-Script Writer). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k10/k10nit7qus?fbclid=IwAR2cSoVHUU-O_CJLHaHW_UfiZww4bX6Wm7dWz1lWVREJBmP
Film Trailer: A Call for a New Social Contract: Centering Indigenous Cultural Expressions - Link: https://youtu.be/a9RXaFwN9h8
Immigrants. Dance. Arts. Conference: Advancing the Rights of Immigrants - Centering discussions about the advancement of immigrant rights through dance - moderated by dance anthropologist and arts activist, Derrick Leon Washington, joined by Pascal Rioult, artistic director and choreographer of RIOULT (rē-you) Dance, and Potri Ranka Manis Queano Nur, Founder, Artistic Director, and Tradition-Bearer of Kinding Sindaw (Moderator). Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=604319386693439
United Nations Chamber Music Society: Virtual Concert in Celebration of Human Rights Day -Expert video intervention for the official UN Human Rights Day concert that featured, Ms. Brands Kehris, Assistant-Secretary General for Human Rights and Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York, Mr. Ndaba Mandela, human rights activist, Global Ambassador of UNAIDS, and grandson of the late South African president, Nelson Mandela, and Mr. Derrick L. Washington, cultural anthropologist and United Nations Human Rights (Expert Intervention). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrIMxpOw1ZM
Human Rights, Art, and Protest - The first in the series, this UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and Freemuse series examines inspiring examples and narratives of resilience related to the COVID-19 pandemic and tangible/intangible cultural heritage role in promoting human rights. The webinar is further meant to increase understanding on artistic expression as a mode of protest and an act to stand-up for human rights. The webinar included internationally exhibiting, multi-disciplinary artists such as Chelsea Hollow (U.S.A.), Jose “Dr. Drum” Ortiz (Puerto Rico/U.S.A.), Leah Tubbs (U.S.A.), and Victoria Rios (U.S.A.) (Co-Moderator, Artist Procurement, Script & Concept). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPupQoilpG4&t=1s
Speaking Truth to Power - This webinar is the second in the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and Freemuse series that brings together artists from religious or belief communities to present artwork on the freedom of artistic expression. This webinar aims at shifting the discussion among and between communities and individuals, including in circumstances where artists may be threatened by anti-blasphemy or anti-apostasy laws, as well as by other forces limiting civic space. It aims to deepen UN Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN system’s engagement with art and artists as a powerful player in discourse and action on human rights. The webinar included internationally exhibiting, multi-disciplinary artists such as Órion Lalli (Brazil) Yuliya Lanina (Russia/U.S.A.), Mazen Khaddaj (Lebanon/Germany), and Rita Dewan (Bangladesh) (Co-Moderator, Artist Procurement, Script & Concept). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyXHNnFfVSo&t=1s
United Nations News Podcast: Durban +20 - Forging a Creative Path in Defense of Human Rights - On the UN flagship podcast series, Dr. Washington speaks informally about arts and curatorial practice in defense of human rights locally, nationally, and internationally (Interviewee). Link: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2021/12/1107032
Special Report: I Still Believe In New York-Using Art To Resolve Hatred Against Asians - Article and podcast about the short film, I Still Believe in Our City. Article written in Chinese (Provided concept & UN intervention). Link: https://news.un.org/zh/story/2021/09/1089462
An Illustration of Resilience and Hope: In the Face of Anti-Asian Hate- Article about the short film, I Still Believe in Our City (Provided concept & UN intervention). Link: https://news.un.org/zh/story/2021/09/1089462
Youth & Human Rights
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) YOUTH FORUM 2021 – Commemorating its 10th Anniversary - Final plenary, “Leaving No Youth Behind: Addressing the Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19 for Vulnerable Youth Groups”, with youth human rights defenders from Syria, Australia, Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Tunisia. Sponsored by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) - Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and United Nations Women (Moderator, Curator & Panelist Coach). Link: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25HLFk701-Y
Jazz Music, Swing & Jazz Dances
Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo - 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 & Curator). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q1V0D0FOtc
¡Urban Stomp! The Artistic and Cultural Connections between Swing, Mambo and Salsa- An an evening-length, research presentation with live music and dance, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; New York, NY ( Curator, Speaker, Dancer).
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). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX6CA8infM8&t=4s
Harlem Swing: The Birth of a Movement - A collaboration between the curatorial and education departments at the Museum of the City of New York. The experience included a pop-exhibition featuring rare artifacts and ephemera from the early to mid- 1900s, symposium with swing and jazz dance legends, storytelling, interactive mural installation, food preparation workshop, dance workshop, and music (Co-Curator & Organizer).
Dreams & Defiance: A Salsa Unit Plan - A 92nd Street Y Dance Education Laboratory learning resource that includes lindy hop and jazz dance histories, movement practices, and choreographic exercices. The 92nd Street Y is a historic institution founded in 1874, the 92nd Street Y has hosted artists/scholars such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Yo-Yo Ma, Truman Capote, Maya Angelou, Octavio Paz, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Curriculum Writer).
Cutting a Rug: Evidence(s) of Social Dance in Brooklyn - Blog post published by the Brooklyn Public Library about social dance, lindy hop, swing, and social movements. Mr. Washington was prominently quoted in the post, problematized how the word integration is used, and helped frame the topic by including what’s included in archives and the peoples and histories that are excluded.
Dance Culture in New York City - At the Museum of the City of New York, a free elective for students in grades 8–12, took place on Saturdays, October 29, November 5, 12, December 3, 10 and 17 from 10:00 am–12:00 pm. Dance instruction included lindy hop, solo jazz, salsa, and bomba (Co-Curator). Link: https://www.mcny.org/education/dance-culture-new-york-city
Dance / Movement Exploration
Rough Cut of Dance Outtakes - Link: https://youtu.be/BuUA9mSCHi0
Wake-Up Wednesday Workout Routine - Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSOqMPHXr2M
Pandemic Dance Animations - Link: https://www.facebook.com/2530798/videos/10111331144307796
Jazz Steps - Link: https://www.facebook.com/2530798/videos/10110870361789656
Swamp Marsh Movement - Link: https://www.facebook.com/2530798/videos/10110927899798026
Film Trailer: Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent -
Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1y/k1ykxvg5i7
Film Trailer: Dreams & Defiance: Latin Dance Vs. the World - Link: https://youtu.be/7YRKsapsXDU
Movements Our Mothers Gaves Us [Spring/Break Art Show Edition (NYC)]
Film Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMZ-d7F3O1I
Documentary Short Film Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STON6VketjM&t=3s
Peoples of African Descent in the Americas
27th Sessions of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent - Oral testimony to the 27th Sessions of the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent mid-term review for the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (Expert Intervention). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyr7Xcd7AJw
Apollo Theater Live Wire: From the Archives - Feature-length film highlights historical spaces as archives, never-before-seen objects/ephemera from the Apollo’s archives, various performance styles as an archives, and Harlem as an evolving neighborhood as a living archive (Project Manager, Curator, Script Writer, Lead Researcher). Link: https://apollotheater.brandlive.com/livewire-april2022/en
Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent - 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, Project Manager, Producer, Script Writer & Curator). Link: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1es8i4huf
Dreams & Defiance: Latin Dance Vs. The World - Instructional film about Latin dances and cultures in collaboration with the National Jazz Museum (Director, Storyboard & Curator). Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=796357554567165
Curriculum
New York at Its Core Seminar Day: Rhythm & Power - This free seminar day for educators will explore the themes from the exhibition, Rhythm & Power, in conjunction with New York at Its Core, the first exhibition to present the compelling story of New York’s rise from a striving Dutch village to today’s “Capital of the World” (Co-Curriculum Writer). Link: https://www.mcny.org/event/new-york-its-core-seminar-day-rhythm-power
Rhythm & Power: Dance, Immigration, and Community Action in History - Curriculum illuminates multiple engagement strategies and lessons that engage students through music, dance, cultural studies, and history. Suitable for educators of all grades – and requiring no prior dance experience – this course is inclusive of information gathered by award-winning exhibitions and programs of the Museum of the City of New York (Curriculum Writer).
Apollo Theater Live Wire: From the Archives - Anthropology, history, performance, and curatorial film that shares an expanded understanding of archives. The feature-length film highlights historical spaces as archives, never-before-seen objects/ephemera from the Apollo’s archives, various performance styles as an archives, and the neighborhood of Harlem as a living archive (Project Manager, Curator, Script Writer, Lead Researcher).
Dreams & Defiance: A Salsa Unit Plan - A 92nd Street Y Dance Education Laboratory learning resource that included anthropologically based exercises covering Cuban rumba, lindy hop, jazz dances, Cuban casino, contemporary dance, salsa caleña, and New York “On2” salsa. The 92nd Street Y is a historic institution founded in 1874, the 92nd Street Y has hosted artists/scholars such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Yo-Yo Ma, Truman Capote, Maya Angelou, Octavio Paz, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Curriculum Writer).
Urban Stomp: From Swing to Mambo - Cultural anthropology-based curriculum that shows connections between art disciplines, ethnic groups, geographic spaces, and histories. (Curriculum Writer).
The Oyster: The Great Equalizer of New York City - Presentation that grew to be curriculum about the importance of oysters in pre-colonial, colonial, and industrial New York City. Presentation began at the Museum of the City and expanded since that time (Curriculum Writer).
Dance Culture in New York City - At the Museum of the City of New York, a free elective for students in grades 8–12, took place on Saturdays, October 29, November 5, 12, December 3, 10 and 17 from 10:00 am–12:00 pm. Dance instruction included lindy hop, solo jazz, salsa, and bomba (Co-Curriculum Writer). Link: https://www.mcny.org/education/dance-culture-new-york-city
Texas School of the Blind and Visually Impaired - Dance, movement, and therapy program for a class of cognitive and visually impaired TSBVI students. Innovated a unique style of “touch technique” that utilized touch, vision, and smell to teach movement (Curriculum Writer).
Select Press Reviews of Curated Work
· British Broadcasting Company (BBC), En busca del lugar de Nueva York donde se "invento" la salsa, September 22, 2017.
· New York Times, Rhythm & Power’: A Little Bling, a Little Politics, a Lot of Salsa, June 17, 2017.
· Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Minority Rights and the Power of Art and Protest Amidst the Pandemic, March 10, 2021.
· New York Times, At ‘Uptown Bounce,’ Salsa Dancing and So Much More, July 27, 2018.
· Le Monde, Nueva York, une Histoire Musicale du New York Latino, January 4, 2022.
· United Nations News, Durban +20: Forging a Creative Path in Defence of Human Rights, December 6, 2021.
· New York Post, How New Yorkers’ obsession with Cuba gave rise to Salsa, June 14, 2017.
· Huffington Post, Hip, Hot, and Hungry Happenings in New York City, August 8, 2017.
· United Nations News Centre Chinese, Special Report: I Still Believe In New York-Using Art To Resolve Hatred Against Asians, September 14, 2021.
· United Nations News Centre, An Illustration of Resilience and Hope in the Face of Anti-Asian Hate, September 12, 2021.
· The National Broadcasting Company (NBC), “Visiones” morning show, aired June 10, 2017.
· Red Bull Music Academy, A Visual History of Salsa in New York, June 13, 2017.
· Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Using the Arts to Stand Up for Human Rights, January 2, 2020.
· DNA Info, Salsa's Roots Traced to City's Streets in New Museum Exhibit, June 16, 2017.
· Jezebel, Explore the History of Salsa in a New Museum Exhibit, June 15, 2017.
· The Dance Enthusiast, New York Meets Havana at the Museum of the City of New York, June 12, 2017.
· Centro Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Rhythm & Power: Performing Salsa in Puerto Rican and Latino Communities, December 21, 2017.
· Art Daily, Bilingual Exhibition Traces History of New York Salsa From Local Dance Movement to Global Phenomenon, June 12, 2017.
. News 12 the Bronx, Arts Space, El Fogon Center of the Bronx, original air date, June 18, 2011.
· Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Channel 4 Culture, Latin Icons Past and Present, August 14, 2017.
· The Bronx Free Press, The ‘Melting Pot’ as a hearth and Home for the Arts, July 27, 2007.
· Mott Haven Herald, Old Bodega Conceals Alternative Art Scene, June 3, 2011.
· WBAI 99.5 FM, “Con Sabor Latino”, August 13, 2017.
· WBAI 99.5 FM, “New World Gallery”, May 27, 2017.
· WHCR 90.3 FM, “Essence & Rhythm”, May 20, 2017.
· WKCR 89.9 FM, Caribe Latino, May 22, 2017.
Select Reviews in National and International Spanish Language Press
· El Especialito, Salsa en New York: Ritmo y Poder, July 19, 2017.
· Impacto Latino, Ritmo y Poder: Salsa en Nueva York, July 18, 2017.
· USA Ahora, NUEVA YORK: Museo cuenta la historia de la salsa en la ciudad, June 14, 2017.
· El Nuevo Dia, El Museo de Nueva York cuenta la historia de la salsa en Nueva York, June 13, 2017.
· Hoy Los Angeles, Museo de Nueva York cuenta la historia de la salsa en Nueva York, June 13, 2017.
· Agencia EFE, Museo de Nueva York cuenta la historia de la salsa en Nueva York, June 14, 2017.
· Vice Versa, Rhythm & Power, la Salsa en Nueva York, June 14, 2017.
· Al Momento, Museo cuenta la historia de la salsa en Nueva York, June 14, 2017.
· Esto es el Agua, Nuestra 'salsa gorda', la exposición 'Rhythm and Power', Museum of the City of New York, November 8, 2017.
Interviews Related to Research
Interviewed for article related to Lincoln Center performance: New York City: Dancer's Delight, Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts’ The Score, June 28, 2019.
Interviewed for the United Nations News Podcast: Durban +20 - Forging a Creative Path in Defense of Human Rights, December 4, 2021.
Upcoming
Kool Kids Curators Club