Vershawn Sanders-Ward Receives Walder Foundation Platform Award
Red Clay Dance Company proudly celebrates our Founding Artistic Director & CEO, Vershawn Sanders-Ward, as a recipient of the Walder Foundation Platform Award.
This recognition honors artists who are advancing the cultural fabric of Chicago through bold creative vision and meaningful community impact. Vershawn’s work exemplifies both.
Artivism at the Center
“Artivism is art and activism. All of those things, choreography, directing, educating, and advocacy work has become my umbrella of artivism.”
Through Red Clay Dance Company, Vershawn has built a platform where African diasporic dance forms and contemporary practice intersect with conversations about identity, equity, and social justice. Her leadership has shaped not only performances on stage, but the broader ecosystem of dance in Chicago and beyond.
The Platform Award affirms what our community experiences every day: that dance can be both artistically rigorous and socially transformative.
A Visionary for Chicago and Beyond
Recently named Chicagoan of the Year in Dance by the Chicago Tribune, Vershawn continues to expand the impact of culturally rooted contemporary dance. Her choreography and leadership have been recognized nationally, and her commitment to equity extends into board service and arts advocacy across the field.
This award recognizes her sustained dedication to excellence, inclusion, and the belief that artists are essential voices in shaping our collective future.
Celebrating This Moment
We celebrate this milestone with deep pride and gratitude. Vershawn’s vision continues to guide Red Clay Dance Company as we awaken “glocal” Artivism through creating, performing, and teaching dances of the African Diaspora.
To learn more about the Walder Foundation Platform Award and Vershawn’s full biography, visit vershawnsandersward.com and follow her on Instagram @vershawnsandersward.
Congratulations, Vershawn.
