The appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Neal as first Managing Director marks a major step in Red Clay Dance Company’s leadership evolution and commitment to long term organizational growth.

At TEDxChicago 2025, Red Clay Dance Company carried the energy of our sold‑out world premiere of Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar to a new audience. Performing at the Harris Theater for Music & Dance under the theme “The Future is Human,” we shared an excerpt of the piece—a living altar honoring Black girls and women. Vershawn Sanders‑Ward reflects on the power of bringing our Artivism to this prestigious platform and expanding our reach to global changemakers

Our Chicago Performs debut at the Museum of Contemporary Art was more than a performance—it was a homecoming and an act of visibility. We premiered Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar, a love letter to Black girlhood and womanhood that sold out both nights and transformed the MCA stage into a living altar of memory, power, and community.

This summer, Red Clay Dance Company took our Artivism from Chicago to the East Coast, performing at Jacob’s Pillow and The Yard for the very first time. For Founder & Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward, it was more than a debut—it was a full-circle journey back to the place where Red Clay’s story began. From legendary stages to historic communities, her reflection captures the milestones, emotions, and unforgettable moments that shaped our 2025 Summer Tour.

Part 2 of our Summer Tour series takes us to Martha’s Vineyard, where Red Clay Dance Company returned to The Yard for a two-week residency. For Founder & Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward, it was a full-circle moment nearly 20 years in the making. Through rehearsals, performances, and powerful community exchanges, our time at The Yard deepened our roots and expanded our vision for the future.

Red Clay Dance Company made its historic debut at Jacob’s Pillow this summer, bringing Artivism to one of the most iconic stages in the world. Hear directly from our Touring Company members as they reflect on the power, presence, and purpose behind this unforgettable performance.

In April 2025, Red Clay Dance Company presented 16, a Spring Concert Series at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago featuring a world premiere by Bebe Miller and a reimagined work by Vershawn Sanders-Ward.

In January 2025, Red Clay Dance Company hosted Winter Intensive at the University of Texas at Austin, offering dancers an immersive, three-day experience rooted in African diasporic dance, Artivism, and company repertory.

Red Clay Dance Company proudly celebrates Founding Artistic Director & CEO Vershawn Sanders-Ward as a recipient of the Walder Foundation Platform Award, recognizing her visionary leadership and commitment to Artivism.

On December 20, 2024, Red Clay Dance Company hosted a Kwanzaa Celebration fundraiser marking the culmination of the Making The Artivist® apprenticeship, centering self-determination, collective responsibility, and cooperative economics through artistic practice.