Urban jazz Dance Company
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Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival
​IN-Person 

Mission: The Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) is an annual event produced by Urban Jazz Dance company that consists of performances and workshops that highlight the important contributions that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) artists make to our community.
Want to participate as performer or want to help?

Please Contact us

Tickets

Artistic Director:
Mr. Antoine Hunter
Assistant Director:
Ms. Zahna Simon

Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival
​2023
​All in person! 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - 
PLEASE WATCH VIDEO 
​BELOW 
​

Urban Jazz Dance Company team
​
 explain our festival in ASL
(Play the video)  

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Make A Donation- Click Here
​Not to be missed, 
11th Annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival

features local Bay Area talent and will be flying artists into the Bay Area, CaLifornia from Washington, DC, Arkansas, New York, and many parts of California, and more!


​
We are proud to feature diverse sign languages including,
​but not limited to: Spanish speaking/voicing,
 American Sign Language, and
International Sign Language.



Access Information for All Shows:
•ASL/English interpretation at each show
•Deaf International Sign Language interpretation
and 
•Audio Description (If requested)

A
Where:
​At Dance mission theater

3316 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110. 
(NEAR 24 MISSION BART STATION)

​

​Date and Time:

Fri, Aug 4th - 7:30pm
Sat, Aug 5th- 7:30pm
Sun, Aug 6th- 3:00pm



Price:

$40 at Door  
$25 on line
$12 Youth (under 16)
Babies Free


 Youth (under 18) Ask your parent permission!!
For Tickets Click here
Make A Donation- Click Here
PictureAntoine Hunter PurpleFireCrow Director of festival
The Director's notes:
 during the beginning of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) we notice  Deaf people did not have access to same information on what was going on until at least 3 weeks later than hearing communities.
When the pandemic began, government officials began holding daily press briefings to update the public on television and online. Interpreters were not present for Deaf Communities and even when they were provided they were often unqualified and unable to communicate effectively. We understand what it like to be left out so therefore we will do our best to make sure no one feel left out! 

As founder of Bay Area International Deaf dance festival - 
My dance company lost over 30 thousand dollars worth of opportunity, to give to our dances, business, and community.
We had not given up. 
I want to be honest. I did not thik the festival was going tolast because of the price of everything going up. Even access went up higer. many people think that deaf folk get discount for everything like theater cost and interpreter but we here to tell you no we deaf and disabled artists struggle the most because arts plus access need cost extra. We are still here even when it get hard every year but now it is 2023- we made it to 11 year of the bay area international Deaf dance festival !!!!
#DeafWoke !

please join us for an amazing event!
We are bringing our heart and passion and making it virtual for all to join us! 
We love you communities!!! 

-Antoine Hunter/PurpleFireCrow
​


Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival WorkShops




Workshop & Panel Descriptions
Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival workshop

Come join our 11th Annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival Workshops taught by Deaf artists!
 
All workshops and presentations are open to both Deaf and Hearing
More details at www.realurbanjazzdance.com
Cost: Free

Access Information for Workshops: ASL, English voice interpretation

Workshop Descriptions below:

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WORKSHOPS DAY ONE:
BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL

COME JOIN DAY ONE OF
OUR 11TH ANNUAL
BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS
TAUGHT BY DEAF ARTISTS!



ALL WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE OPEN TO BOTH DEAF AND HEARING
MORE DETAILS AT WWW.REALURBANJAZZDANCE.COM
COST: FREE


ACCESS INFORMATION FOR WORKSHOPS: ASL, ENGLISH VOICE INTERPRETATION

​DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL 
​WORKSHOP#1: 
ABC DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY

FRIDAY AUGUST 4TH 10 AM-11:15 AM 

TAUGHT BY: SUNSHINE 2.0 (ROCHESTER, NEW YORK)
WORKSHOP LOCATION:  SAFEHOUSE, 145 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102
​
DESCRIPTION: SUNSHINE 2.0 WILL BE TEACHING THE PARTICIPANTS  HOW TO INCORPORATE SIGN LANGUAGE, DANCE AND MOVEMENT TO TELL A STORY. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO CHOREOGRAPH A DANCE PIECE THAT HAS A MEANING OR MESSAGE. 
Wear clotheS to dance in.

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BIO: 
SUNSHINE 2.0 IS A PROFESSIONAL TRAVELING THEATER TROUPE BASED AT ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. THE TROUPE PROVIDES PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH (STEAM), AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL TOPICS PERTAINING TO THE DEAF EXPERIENCE. THE THEATER TROUPE TRAVELS TO SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS SERVING DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS, COLLEGES, MUSEUMS, CONFERENCES, CIVIC GROUPS, FESTIVALS AND OTHER VENUES. SUNSHINE 2.0 PLAYERS WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED AND CROSSING OVER EACH OTHER. PERFORMANCES ARE PRESENTED IN VOICE AND IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND COVER SUBJECTS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: SUNSHINE 2.0 HAS THREE MEMBERS  ALL WEAR BLACK SHIRTS AND BLACK PANTS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE GUY HAS CHOCOLATE COLORED SKIN WITH DREADLOCK , THE DARK SKINNED  GAL WITH DREADLOCK AS WELL  AND THE PATIKSAN GUY WITH BLACK HAIR AND GOATEE. ​​

DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL ​
​WORKSHOP#2:
RHYTHMIC SIGNS 

Friday August 4th 11:15 AM-12:00 PM 
Taught by: Brandy “Unique the Dancer” Mimms (Arkansas)
Workshop Location:  SAFEHouse, 145 Eddy St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Description: Rhythmic Signs is an innovative and captivating class that masterfully weaves together the expressive worlds of dance and American Sign Language (ASL), offering participants a truly immersive and transformative experience. Designed for individuals of all ages and abilities, this class encourages self-discovery, connection, and creativity through the exploration of dance and ASL fundamentals.
 
Throughout the course, participants will delve into the rich tapestry of dance, learning essential techniques, body awareness, and rhythmic patterns while unlocking the power of non-verbal communication through ASL. The class promotes inclusivity, collaboration, and a sense of community as participants work together to develop their skills and express themselves through movement and signing. Each session offers a dynamic blend of dance styles and ASL vocabulary, ensuring a diverse and enriching experience for every participant.
 
Brandy will provide personalized guidance, empowering individuals to hone their technique, embrace their unique style, and communicate effectively through the harmony of dance and ASL. Rhythmic Signs is more than just a class – it's an exhilarating journey that fosters personal growth, meaningful connections, and a profound appreciation for the expressive power of movement and language. 
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BIO:
BRANDY “UNIQUE THE DEAF DANCER” MIMMS IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH IN THE DANCE WORLD. SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW ORLEANS AND CURRENTLY RESIDES IN BRYANT, ARKANSAS, WHERE SHE FOUNDED LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES DANCE TROUPE. AS A DEAF DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, TEACHER, AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, BRANDY INSPIRES OTHERS TO PURSUE THEIR PASSION FOR THEIR DREAMS DESPITE THEIR OBSTACLES.
BRANDY’S JOURNEY BEGAN AT A YOUNG AGE, AND DESPITE HER HEARING LOSS, SHE WENT ON TO EARN A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN DANCE DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS LITTLE ROCK IN 2013. SINCE THEN, SHE HAS MADE HER MARK ON THE DANCE WORLD WITH INNOVATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY AND ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCES. BRANDY’S EARLY WORK, “CATEGORY 4,” WAS PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE DANCE ASSOCIATION IN 2017, AND SHE HAS SINCE PERFORMED AT THE BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL FROM 2017 TO 2019, SHOWCASING HER TALENT TO A WIDE AUDIENCE.
BRANDY FOUNDED LISTEN WITH YOUR DANCE TROUPE TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING COMMUNITIES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES THROUGH DANCE. HER LEADERSHIP HAS ENABLED THE COMPANY TO OFFER ADULT TRAINED DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN VALUABLE CAREER EXPERIENCES. RECENTLY, THEY PERFORMED AT THE 2022 BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL. BRANDY IS A SOUGHT-AFTER TEACHER, CHOREOGRAPHER, AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, SHARING HER EXPERTISE AND INSPIRING OTHERS THROUGH APPEARANCES IN AND OUT OF STATES AND SOCIAL MEDIA. SHE HAS ALSO WON SECOND PLACE IN DEAFS GOT TALENT. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, BRANDY IS COMMITTED TO BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN THE DEAF AND HEARING COMMUNITY WITH SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH DANCE AND DEAF AWARENESS. WITH HER EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT BRANDY “UNIQUE THE DEAF DANCER” MIMMS IS ON THE PATH TO ACHIEVING GREATNESS.

​
“THIS ACTIVITY WAS SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE WALTER & ELISE HAAS FUND, SAN FRANCISCO GRANTS FOR THE ARTS, THE FLEISHHACKER FOUNDATION, THE ZELLERBACH FAMILY FOUNDATION AND FISCALLY SPONSORED BY INTERSECTION FOR THE ARTS.
”We thank you !!!!!



Deaf Dance Festival
​DAY TWO:

 SATURDAY AUGUST 5TH
11:00 AM-1: PM (PT)

-Panel-
11TH ANNUAL BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL
​PANEL WITH OUR DEAF ARTISTS!
​(!!FREE!!)

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PANEL WILL BE IN PERSON AND LIVESTREAM  ON OUR URBAN JAZZ DANCE COMPANY FB.
 
ACCESS INFORMATION FOR PANEL: ASL, INTERNATIONAL SIGN, ENGLISH VOICE INTERPRETATION, LIVE CAPTION, SPANISH VOICE INTERPRETATION
  Q&A PANEL WITH BAIDDF PERFORMERS! PLUS DEMO DANCE CLASS SATURDAY AUGUST 5TH 11:00 AM-2:00 PM (PT)
 
PANEL WILL BE IN PERSON AT location
Glide: 
330 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94103
 
PANEL WILL LIVESTREAM ON UJDC FB PAGE and UJDC Youtube
 
 
DESCRIPTION:-COME MEET OUR DEAF PERFORMERS! DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEIR STORIES, LEARN ABOUT THEIR CULTURE, VICTORIES AND STRUGGLES, WHAT THEIR IDENTITIES ARE, THERE WILL BE A FEW INTERVIEW QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH THESE AMAZING DEAF ARTISTS.
 
COVID INFORMATION: MASKS Recommended 

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​Panel Descriptions: Don't miss this opportunity to see their stories, learn about their culture, victories and struggles, what their identities are, there will be a few Interview Question and Answer with these amazing Deaf Artists.

We hope to meet you there!




Deaf Dance Festival
​DAY Three:

Youth Workshop Sunday August 6th 11-12 PM (PT)
Deaf teacher.


Deaf, Hearing, CODA, HOH youth are all welcome!!! ASL Interpretation provided. Cost: Free $1 Suggested Donation: $1 No one is turned away for lack of funds! We can't wait to see you all there.
Covid information: Masks required


Where:
DANCE MISSION THEATER

3316 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. 

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Intersection for the Arts
​
 is the fiscal sponsor for
​Urban Jazz Dance Company’s Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival.
Visit: https://www.theintersection.org/

“This activity was supported in part by the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, the Fleishhacker Foundation, the Zellerbach Family Foundation and fiscally sponsored by Intersection for the Arts.”

Make A Donation- Click Here

After Party PLUS Film Screening of “Flower”
A Misty Copeland Film

Sunday August 6th,
6:30-9:00pm


After Party Location: 
CounterPulse, 80 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102


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This is our final hours,
so come join use for some music, dancing, conversations
, and see Film Screening of “Flower”A Misty Copeland Film..
FREE if you have festival show ticket or $5 dollars




!!! EXCITING NEW !!!
We leached new website!

WWW.DeafDAW.com
#DeafWokeArtisticWellness

Mission Statement
and
​Purpose
Deaf Woke Artistic Wellness (#DeafWokeArtisitcWellness) focuses on the community of Deaf, Hard of Hearing (HOH), DeafBlind, and Plus-Disabled BIPOC people who face challenges in their daily lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#DeafWokeArtisticWellness enlightens them to share their daily resources to support, uplift, and raise awareness with each other, including with others who come to this center of self-help and educational resources. This ideal brings the BIPOC community to learn and thrive creatively in their daily lives, improving wellness and becoming better in their mental health. 
ALSO, THIS CENTER OF SELF-ADVOCATE RESOURCES ENCOURAGES THEM TO GAIN NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BECOMING INDEPENDENT. THE ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS AND TRANSCRIPTS IN FRIENDLY VISUALS GIVES FULL ACCESS TO THE BIPOC COMMUNITY OF DEAF, HOH, DEAFBLIND, AND PLUS-DISABLED PEOPLE OF ANY AGE, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, GENDER, AND RELIGION.


#DEAFWOKEARTISITCWELLNESS BRINGS TO THEM THE GREAT BENEFITS OF IMPROVED LIVING SKILLS FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CREATIVELY IN EVERY INSPIRATION IN WELL BEINGS.

To explore more
​PLEASE GO VISIT 

WWW.DeafDAW.com



!!! If you missed !!!
SOMArts 2020-2021
​Curatorial Residents
​w/ Bay Area Deaf Arts
(Click the poster below)

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Click on the poster to view the galley it's still
​there !!!

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Wednesday, June 24, San Francisco, CA–SOMArts Cultural Center is excited to announce the eleventh season of the Curatorial Residency program. Designed to offer emerging to established curators tools to further their curatorial practice and explore timely social issues, SOMArts’ Curatorial Residents have transformed our large scale exhibition space into a site of collaborative creation and innovation for over 10 years.
Awarded through an open submission process, this unique program is a year-long incubator for curatorial research, mentorship, planning, and realization. SOMArts Curatorial Residency recipients receive the following support: a month-long exhibition with accompanying public programming, a project grant, and 9-months of planning and technical support, outreach assistance and professional mentorship provided by SOMArts’ staff.
The Curatorial Residents create multi-faceted exhibitions focused on local, national, and global concerns in one of San Francisco’s most recognizable gallery spaces. Bay Area Deaf Arts launches the Residency season in January 2021 with curator Antoine Hunter honoring the cultural creative practices rooted in the Deaf community. Fátima Ramírez, Josué Rojas, & Mauricio Ramírez’s multidisciplinary exhibition CARAVANA: Mobilizing Central American Art (1984–Present)examine the issues and political actions that directly impact the Central American community. Mother’s Bosom curated by Duygu Gün and Bengu Gün closes out the 2020-2021 Curatorial Residency season, exploring how lullabies embed cultural memory, norms, and identity.
“In these uncertain times, the 2020–2021 Curatorial Residencies exemplify San Francisco’s creative radical legacy, inviting us to take what we learn within the gallery space to implement collective social action. It’s an honor to work alongside this year’s cohort and witness their curatorial proposals become reality to help us to understand the critical moment we are in,” shares Maria Jenson, SOMArts’ Creative & Executive Director.
The following residencies will each culminate in a month-long exhibition and are integral to SOMArts’ exhibition programming in 2020–2021:

Bay Area Deaf Arts
Curated by Antoine Hunter

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 14, 2021, 6-9pm
Exhibition Run: Friday, January 15–Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Bay Area Deaf Arts celebrate and center the art forms and cultural expression historically rooted in the Deaf community, raising Deaf awareness in non-Deaf populations, and inviting collaboration between Hearing and Deaf artists. Curated by renowned Producers  and activist Antoine Hunter, this exhibition asks us: Where are the voices of Deaf and Deaf people of color? What truths are we willing to listen to?

###
ABOUT SOMARTS CULTURAL CENTER

SOMArts Cultural Center, founded in 1979, cultivates access to the arts within the Bay Area by collaborating with community-focused artists and organizations. Together, we engage the power of the arts to provoke just and fair inclusion, cultural respect and civic participation.
SOMArts plays a vital role in the arts ecosystem by helping activate the arts citywide. We do this by providing space and production support for non-profit events, as well as fairs and festivals throughout the Bay Area, and offering a robust program of art exhibitions, classes, events and performances that are affordable and accessible to all. SOMArts’ exhibition programs receive critical support from the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Foundation and are sponsored in part by a grant from Grants for the Arts.
SOMArts is located at 934 Brannan Street—between 8th and 9th—within 2 blocks of 101, I-80, Muni lines, and bike paths.
For public information call 415-863-1414 or visit somarts.org. Stay connected by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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  • Home
  • The Company
    • Mx. Antoine Hunter
    • Company dancers
    • Classes Virtual-Online
    • Deaf's Imprisoned
    • GentriDEAFcation
    • Events >
      • Events Part 2
  • #DeafWoke @ 836m
  • 2024 Home Season show
  • 2025 Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival
    • APPLY BAIDDF
    • 2024 Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival >
      • 2024 BAIDDF Photos
  • BAY AREA DEAF ARTS
  • Community Partners and ​Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Press