OUR ARTIVISM
An Artivist is more than just an artist. At Red Clay Dance Company, an Artivist is someone who uses their art as a catalyst for community transformation and social justice.
This TEDx performance captures Red Clay Dance Company’s Artivism In Motion — Afro-contemporary dance of the African Diaspora as a catalyst for social change and collective healing.
An Artivist:
Believes art facilitates social change
Actively connects, engages and builds community
Practices self-assessment and re-assessment of their work
Dedicates their practice to intentionally addressing social inequities
Decenters themselves in Artivism work
Has evidence or fruit of their impact
THE HERSTORY
Founded in Brooklyn, NY on July 23, 2008 and now based in Chicago, IL, Red Clay Dance Company is the brainchild of Vershawn Sanders-Ward, the institutions’ Founding Artistic Director & CEO. Red Clay Dance is Chicago’s premier Afro-contemporary dance company, voted Best Dance Organization by the Chicago Reader in 2019. The touring company is a versatile and dynamic ensemble of dance artivist that tours and performs locally, nationally and internationally the choreographic work of its founder. The organization also houses its signature Making the Artivist apprenticeship program and provides dance education programming to schools and community partners.
Envisioned during her first trip to Africa in the summer of 2007, Sanders-Ward had just finished grad school at New York University and was spending her summer traveling, performing, and preparing for the next step in her artistic journey. It was at L’Ecole De Sables, a dance school in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal founded by legendary choreographer Germaine Acogny that Sanders-Ward first witnessed the spiritual interconnectedness of dance and daily life. At that moment, she decided this “embodied knowing” had to be the foundation for her dance company. She recognized the impact of Acogny’s gift to that small fishing village- a dance school that brought economic development and entrepreneurial opportunities to it’s neighbors. Sanders-Ward desired to build an organization that would have this same impact in marginalized communities on the South Side of Chicago. Red Clay Dance Company is rooted in African Diaspora movement practices and serves as a platform for Artivism (art + activism). It creates dance work that aspires to have a “glocal” impact and help to erase the cultural and socio-economic inequities in our city, nation, and world. Upon founding the company, she quickly began to gather like-minded dance artists who might help her actualize her dream. The name Red Clay Dance comes from her childhood memories. Although raised in the Chicago area, she was born in Mobile, Alabama, where she spent every summer, until the age of 12, with her grandparents learning about the land and the history of her birthplace of Plateau, also known as “Africatown”. This small community was formed by a group of 32 West Africans from the Kindgom of Dahomey, who in 1860, were included in the last known illegal shipment of slaves to the United States on a slave ship called Clotilda.
“Thinking back, the red earth was a playground for me as a kid, and I would use it to make all sorts of crazy things,” recalls Sanders-Ward. “Mix it with a little water, and it was like clay, something I could take with my hands and mold into something spectacular! It was unique because I made it, I dreamt it and designed it with my own hands.”
This is how Sanders-Ward views her choreographic work, a shaping and molding of our shared humanity expressed through dance, creating a visceral experience that lays bare our embodied memories. She choreographed her first work, Red Clay Child to honor this family history. Red Clay Dance Company is a thriving 501c3 charitable organization that houses a professional touring company, and a robust Community Engagement & Education (CEE) program that offers culturally rich dance education and artivism training to schools and community spaces.
Our CEO goes to HARVARD!
In September 2019, Vershawn Sanders-Ward traveled to Harvard University as the first Community Impact Scholar of the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago. Over four days, she immersed herself in coursework, community engagement, and leadership development. Reflecting on the experience, she shares insights on the impact of this opportunity and her continued commitment to non-profit leadership.
Choreographer Conversations: Vershawn Sanders-Ward
Founder and Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward brings truth, history, and liberation to the stage in her latest works, FAKE NEWS! and Harvester, premiering in Visions & Voices. Rooted in deep research and lived experiences, her choreography challenges perspectives and sparks dialogue. Don’t miss this powerful world premiere at the Harold Washington Cultural Center!
Our Leadership Grows!
Red Clay Dance is thrilled to welcome Ann Carter to our Board of Directors! With over 30 years of corporate leadership in Procurement and Supply Chain at companies like BP, Ford, and Baxter Healthcare, Ann brings strategic expertise, a passion for diversity and inclusion, and a deep love for dance. A former Los Angeles Lakers dancer, she is excited to support Red Clay Dance’s mission of Artivism and long-term growth.
Arika Johnson: Red Clay Dance Summer Intern Reflection
From youth ensemble member to summer intern, Arika Johnson shares how Red Clay Dance shaped her journey. Exploring arts administration, she worked behind the scenes on digital archives, marketing strategies, and company profiles—gaining a deeper appreciation for what it takes to run a company rooted in community. Read her reflections on coming full circle and finding a forever home at Red Clay Dance.
Choreographer Conversations: Du'Bois A'keen
For Visions & Voices, choreographer Du’Bois A’Keen presents INCARNATION 1, an exploration of the body as archive, altar, and access point. Inspired by flashes of images and words, his creative process transforms the intangible into movement. As he debuts this world premiere with Red Clay Dance, he shares insights on storytelling, legacy, and what’s next.
Choreographer Conversations: Lela Aisha Jones
Lela Aisha Jones brings a powerful fusion of movement, history, and spirit to her work, intertwining personal and collective Black diasporic experiences. As Red Clay Dance prepares to premiere her latest piece, we:all ~ gon’ die into revivals, she shares insights on creation, collaboration, and the transformative power of dance. Don’t miss her world premiere at Visions & Voices on April 3-4!
Words to Live By: Community Engagement
At Red Clay Dance, community engagement is more than outreach—it’s a deep commitment to serving, listening, and building alongside the South Side of Chicago. From our Making the Artivist program to partnerships with CPS and After School Matters, we create spaces where voices are heard, movement sparks dialogue, and collective action fuels change. What does community engagement mean to you?
Words to Live By: "Glocal"
At Red Clay Dance, Glocal is more than a word—it’s a guiding principle. We create work that reflects both local realities and global conversations, bridging communities through dance. From South Side schools to international collaborations, our impact stretches across borders while staying deeply rooted in home. What does glocal mean to you?
Words to Live By: Artivism
At Red Clay Dance, Artivism is more than a philosophy—it’s a call to action. Through dance, we raise awareness, build community, and spark change. Company leaders, artists, and students share their perspectives on how Artivism fuels our work, from performances to education. What does Artivism mean to you?
10 Years in the Making..
Red Clay Dance’s 10th Anniversary Season was a powerful celebration of community, resilience, and artistic evolution. Company member Marceia L. Scruggs reflects on the immersive experience of performing Art of Resilience (AOR) 2.0, witnessing the transformative power of dance, and feeling the deep connections between artists, audiences, and generations. A historic moment at the DuSable Museum’s Roundhouse—one you had to feel to believe.
My Journey
From Kampala to Chicago, company member Robert Ssempijja reflects on his transformative experience with the Transatlantic Project. Navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and new ways of creating, his journey challenged him to embrace collaboration, question identity, and expand his perspective on dance. Read more about his powerful story of growth, adaptation, and artistic discovery.
Humanity is a quality that we owe to each other...
What happens when humanity is the foundation of dance education? At Red Clay Dance, we embrace the philosophy of Ubuntu—"I am because we are." Through mirroring, reflection, and partnership, we cultivate a learning environment where identity, empathy, and community take center stage. Join the conversation as we explore what it means to teach, learn, and grow together.