Above: Ensemble improvisation in a performance of Bacchae Before (2021). Performers: Belinda He, Karla Quintero, Wiley Naman Strasser, Silk Worm. Photo by Robbie Sweeny.
The emergence of new, transformative, even revolutionary creativity…occurs at the juncture between the production of art and the exercise of deep critical thought.
—poet Garrett Hongo
Activism is a form of creative practice.
I’m interested in imagining new models of relationship in the arts—models that transform our approach, rather than simply recast who holds power. In 2020, I co-stewarded the transition of Hope Mohr Dance, which I founded in 2008, to a model of distributed leadership and a new name, Bridge Live Arts. I continue to engage in organizational change work in the arts as a licensed California attorney and a Fellow with the Sustainable Economies Law Center through my solo law practice, Movement Law. I have written about this work in Shifting Cultural Power: Case Studies and Questions in Performance, published by the National Center for Choreography.
Press & Resources about Distributed Leadership Work
New York Times on the transition of Hope Mohr Dance to Bridge Live Arts
Dance Magazine on Bridge Live Arts' new name
In Practice: Stepping Back to Move Forward (In Dance)
Inside Power Shift: A Conversation on Distributed Leadership (Grand ReUnion)
Shifting toward Models of Equity (Stance on Dance)
Collective Models in the Arts (S.F. Chronicle)
Another Bridge Toward Equity (S.F. Classical Voice)
Notes on Stepping Back (the body is the brain blog post)
Value-Driven Restructuring (the body is the brain blog post)
Presentation on Re-Structuring Arts Organizations (video)
Organizations I have consulted for and/or shared my learnings with around Distributed Leadership and Governance Transition (some of these presentations have been solo and some have been with colleagues at Bridge Live Arts, Cherie Hill and Karla Quintero):
Sustainable Economies Law Center (2022)
New Yorkers for Culture and the Arts (2021)
North Carolina School of the Arts (2021)
Draper/Echoing Green Leadership Transition Cohort (2021)
Creating New Futures (White Caucus) (2021)
Arts Connect International (2021)
Berkeley Cultural Trust (2020)
Dance Artists National Collective (2021)
Dance/NYC (2022)
Dance/USA Conference (2021)
LeaderSpring (2021)
National Performance Network (National Conference) (2021)
On the Boards (2020)
Paths to Empowerment: A Panel about Cooperative Governance (2020)