Dance is my passion but…
ARTIVISM IS MY PURPOSE!
- Vershawn Sanders Ward, Founding Artistic Director & CEO
Watch Vershawn on the PBS Series THE EXPRESSWAY with Dule Hill
Visionary Leader. ARTIVIST. Changemaker.
Vershawn Sanders-Ward is a visionary leader, choreographer, and educator who is redefining the future of contemporary dance. As the Founding Artistic Director and CEO of Red Clay Dance Company, Vershawn uses movement as a form of activism — or as she calls it, ARTIVISM — to inspire transformation within communities both locally and globally.
Her work fuses African diasporic dance traditions with modern and contemporary techniques, creating performances that are as visually stunning as they are socially powerful. Each piece is an invitation to witness, reflect, and reimagine the world through dance.
Artistry Rooted in Community
Vershawn’s creative vision is grounded in her belief that dance can ignite social change. Through Red Clay Dance Company, she has cultivated a platform where artists explore identity, race, and justice — connecting art to action and community empowerment.
Her choreography has been commissioned and presented by leading institutions including:
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago, Northern Illinois University, and Loyola University Chicago — reaching audiences across the U.S. and internationally.
“Red Clay Dance is more than a company — it’s a movement. It’s where art meets activism.”
Educator. Mentor. Lifelong Learner.
Vershawn holds an MFA in Dance from New York University and is the first recipient of a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. Currently pursuing Dunham Technique Certification, she also serves on faculty at Loyola University Chicago.
Her teaching practice spans continents, with residencies and masterclasses at:
Uganda National Cultural Center, L’Ecole Des Sables (Senegal), New York University, Columbia College Chicago, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, University of Chicago, University of Texas–Austin, The Ohio State University, and Knox College, among others.
Honors & Awards
Vershawn’s artistry and leadership have been recognized nationally and internationally. Her honors include:
Inaugural Walder Foundation Platform Award
2025 Chicagoan of the Year in Dance
2025 Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence
Dance/USA Artist Fellowship and Leadership Fellowship
Chicago Dancemakers Forum Award
3Arts Awardee
Her dynamic leadership and commitment to the arts have also earned her features on the cover of the Chicago Reader and DEMO Magazine, and recognition in the Players 50: People Who Really Perform for Chicago four times — culminating in her induction into the Players 50 Hall of Fame in 2023.
Leadership Beyond the Stage
In addition to her artistic work, Vershawn is a national arts leader and advocate for equity and inclusion. She is serving her second term on the Board of Trustees for Dance/USA, helping shape the future of dance in America.
She is also a Community Impact Fellow with the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago and a participant in the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit for Emerging Global Leaders.
“Equity isn’t an initiative — it’s a practice. It’s the way we build spaces where everyone can dance freely.”
Global Impact & Media Features
Vershawn’s influence reaches far beyond Chicago. She is a global ambassador for ARTIVISM, encouraging artists to use creativity as a tool for healing and justice.
Her feature in the PBS series “The Expressway with Dulé Hill” highlights her perspective on art, activism, and the transformative power of movement.
Learn more about Vershawn’s honor as a Walder Foundation Platform Awardee — and how she continues to move the world through dance, one story at a time.