Winter Intensive 2025 at the University of Texas at Austin
From January 7–9, 2025, Red Clay Dance Company hosted Winter Intensive 2025 at the University of Texas at Austin, welcoming intermediate and advanced dancers ages 18+ for three days of immersive training, creative exploration, and community building.
Held daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the intensive was designed to deepen participants’ technical practice while expanding their understanding of dance as both an artistic and social force. Rooted in African diasporic dance traditions, the program invited dancers to engage lineage, embodiment, and contemporary expressions of Artivism within a structured yet generative learning environment.
Each day began with somatic practice, grounding dancers in awareness, breath, and physical readiness before transitioning into technique classes led by Red Clay Dance Company members. Afternoons focused on creative process development and company repertory, offering participants insight into the company’s choreographic methodologies and collaborative working practices.
Beyond technical training, Winter Intensive 2025 emphasized the relationship between art and activism. Through facilitated Artivism workshops and guided dialogue, dancers explored how movement can function as a tool for storytelling, resistance, and collective healing. These sessions encouraged participants to reflect on their own artistic identities while situating their work within broader cultural and social contexts.
The intensive was led by Vershawn Sanders-Ward, alongside company members Alexandria Kinard, Chaniece Holmes, and Celeste Brace, creating an atmosphere that balanced rigor with care. Participants were challenged to expand their creative capacity while being supported through mentorship, peer exchange, and intentional community building.
By the conclusion of the three-day intensive, dancers departed with refined technical skills, expanded creative pathways, and meaningful connections to fellow artists. Winter Intensive 2025 at UT Austin reflected Red Clay Dance Company’s continued commitment to education, artistic excellence, and cultivating spaces where dancers can grow as both movers and cultural contributors.
