MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM



Patrice Worthy is a producer, consultant and owenr of Cathect Management, a consulting and management agency for artists and creatives. Originally trained as a biochemist, her career over the past decade has shifted to the intersection of arts, culture, and community. Patrice has worked with Blackstar Projects in various capacities since 2012, most prominently as operations director.


Katy Bagli is a philadelphia-based independent producer and project manager committed to fostering environments where cultural work can flourish. Katy works with non-profit organizations, artists, fashion companies, and small businesses - empowering artists and organizations by eliminating uncertainty through meticulous planning and an unwavering attention to detail. Namely, she’s partnered with BlackStar Projects to produce their inaugural luminary gala, The Daily Jawn, a variety show which accompanies the festival annually, and VORTEX, by Terence Nance, in concert. She’s also worked with Philadelphia Contemporary on LJAMII - a workshop, turn film centering the creative writing of a group of black and brown philadelphian women across a diverse age group, with Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting on various productions and events, Indie-Life Media planning the PACDC conference and SBN Sustainable & Local Business Tour and producing Road to Roots Picnic in concert and on streaming channels for GoodTime Girl Media, LLC.

You-Shin Chen is a USA-based Taiwanese scenic designer. As a theatre collaborator, she is committed to diversity and humanity. You-Shin centers humans, both the characters and the viewers, and their experiences in her process of creating a three-dimensional space. Her design works have been seen across the continental US and Europe. Recipient of the 2019 Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award at The Lilly Awards; Outstanding Scenic Design at the Lortel Awards: Mrs. Murray’s Menagerie (2020) & Wolf Play (2023); Connecticut Critics Circle Awards: Walden (2022). Collaborator with the feath3r theory: UGLY: Black Queer Zoo & Blue; Wednesday; Kill One Race. Assistant professor at Muhlenberg College. USA829.

www.youshinchen.com

Itohan is a multidisciplinary lighting designer whose work is rooted in community and culture. Her work aims to continue storytelling in non-traditional ways, crafting meaningful experiences through the lens of light and immersion. Her work ranges from installation and public works to lighting designs for experimental theater to theater, dance and events. Itohan has co-curated Lincoln Center’s Social Sculpture Project alongside scenic designer, Mimi Lien and is the lead curator for InLight Collective. Her work as an artist has been presented at JACK Arts, LaMAMA Galleria and Brooklyn Arts Terminal and as curator published by Rosco Spectrum and mentioned in Vogue Philippines. Itohan was the recipient of the 2021 Lilly Award and was the recipient of the 2018 Gilbert V. Hemsley Lighting Internship.

www.itohanedoloyi.com.

Derek Rigby is a multidisciplinary artist whose work supports creative communities and endeavors, relishing in the opportunity to realize artists’ and community members’ ideas to create unique and ambitious experiences. Such experiences include Stellar Masses, The School for Temporary Liveness, Supine Horizons, and most recently a series of (deep) Listening Sessions. Rigby holds an MFA from The University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design and a BFA in two-dimensional art from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Their artistic practice explores the literal and figurative landscapes of the American West and its disparate cultures through sculptural, sonic, and filmic manifestations.



Costume Consultant 

Marcus Branch


DJ

David “lil dave” Adams


Electric Team

Julia Franco, Kat Larson, Amber Mangabat, Carolyn Schwartz


Filmmakers

Raishad Momar, Aidan Un


Graphic Design

M Slater

Photographers

Marcus Branch, Mochi Robinson, Steve Weinik


Podcast Production

Nia Benjamin, Bruce Campbell Jr., V. Shayne Frederick, Yolanda Wisher


Scenic Team

Blake Hastings, Tyler Motlasz, Megan Oravitz, Kelly Palmer, Sophia Pichanick,  Kay Strine


Sound Consultants

V. Shayne Frederick, Rick Reins

Web Design

Nia Benjamin

The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance is an invitation to a house party, where five Philadelphia-based, generation-crossing, genre-defying artists will be your hosts. This party blends storytelling with choreography, performance, and multimedia to tell the story of social dance and its impact on people and culture. Created by Raja Feather Kelly and Yolanda Wisher, this one of a kind experience illuminates the timely power of these communal, propulsive gatherings as channels for cultural expression, freedom, and ultimately, change.


  • The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
  • The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance is being produced by Intercultural Journeys.