THE PROJECT
BLACK FEMALE STREET DANCERS
The brainchild of Michele Byrd-McPhee, this project was created to capture the beauty and power of Black female street dancers captured by Black female photographers. The exposure for Black bodies in dance is a very exclusive lens that overwhelmingly focuses on Black dancers that perform euro-centric dance aesthetics (modern, contemporary and Ballet, etc.). Black women in Hip-Hop dance don't often get covers of dance magazines. While often undervalued and rarely celebrated, Black women have been holding this country down since its formation and continue to lead across industries often with less visibility than their white counterparts, and with little to no accolades. So, when Black women are invited or featured with their white counterparts; it is overwhelming through the white lens.
The Black Dancing Bodies Project is an ongoing photo documentary of Black women in Hip-Hop dance. Through a series of sessions, the project aims to tell their stories through photography and interviews. Our ultimate goal is to create a book spotlighting and preserving the beauty, strength, and lived experiences of Black women in street dance.
With the success of the first session of The Black Dancing Bodies Project, we are eager to highlight the stories of more women. Documentation is a crucial component in the preservation of Hip-Hop and we hope to continue documenting the importance, power, and presence of Black women in Hip-Hop dance.
Check out! Session 1
PHOTOGRAPHER
After, having the opportunity to feature the work of photographer, Maria Hackett at the 2018 Ladies Battle! event, Michele immediately knew Maria was the missing piece to start the project. Her ability to capture the beauty of people spoke to Michele. After reaching out and explaining the vision for The Black Dancing Bodies, Maria joined the project as the first Black female photographer. The rest is HerStory!
To stay informed about this project make sure to signed up for our newsletter!
The brainchild of Michele Byrd-McPhee, this project was created to capture the beauty and power of Black female street dancers captured by Black female photographers. The exposure for Black bodies in dance is a very exclusive lens that overwhelmingly focuses on Black dancers that perform euro-centric dance aesthetics (modern, contemporary and Ballet, etc.). Black women in Hip-Hop dance don't often get covers of dance magazines. While often undervalued and rarely celebrated, Black women have been holding this country down since its formation and continue to lead across industries often with less visibility than their white counterparts, and with little to no accolades. So, when Black women are invited or featured with their white counterparts; it is overwhelming through the white lens.
The Black Dancing Bodies Project is an ongoing photo documentary of Black women in Hip-Hop dance. Through a series of sessions, the project aims to tell their stories through photography and interviews. Our ultimate goal is to create a book spotlighting and preserving the beauty, strength, and lived experiences of Black women in street dance.
With the success of the first session of The Black Dancing Bodies Project, we are eager to highlight the stories of more women. Documentation is a crucial component in the preservation of Hip-Hop and we hope to continue documenting the importance, power, and presence of Black women in Hip-Hop dance.
Check out! Session 1
PHOTOGRAPHER
After, having the opportunity to feature the work of photographer, Maria Hackett at the 2018 Ladies Battle! event, Michele immediately knew Maria was the missing piece to start the project. Her ability to capture the beauty of people spoke to Michele. After reaching out and explaining the vision for The Black Dancing Bodies, Maria joined the project as the first Black female photographer. The rest is HerStory!
To stay informed about this project make sure to signed up for our newsletter!
WORKS & PROCESS Residency
Led by Black Dancing Bodies creator, Michele Byrd-McPhee and LOHH Chairwoman LaTasha Barnes, this intersectional project filmed at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts captures the knowledge, beauty, and power of Black female street dancers.
In January 2021, at a time of isolation, Works & Process at the Guggenheim Bubble Residency housed at Bethany Arts Community provided a safe harbor for the Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective to safely gather facilitating intergenerational transference that culminated in filmed performances at The Jerome Robbins Dance Division at The New York Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Made possible through a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Far too often undervalued & rarely celebrated, Black women have been holding this country down since its formation & continue to lead across industries often with less visibility, with little to no accolades. Black women have been at the center (& behind the scenes) of every movement, artistic & social. With this project we celebrate you!
Danced by: Michele Byrd-McPhee, Ebony Nichols, Tomoe Carr, Nadine Sylvestre, Tatiana Desardouin, Lenaya Straker, Oluwatoyin Sogunro, Reyna Nunez, Miyabi Wright, LaTasha Barnes, Deborah Conton, and filmed by Loreto Jamling.
In January 2021, at a time of isolation, Works & Process at the Guggenheim Bubble Residency housed at Bethany Arts Community provided a safe harbor for the Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective to safely gather facilitating intergenerational transference that culminated in filmed performances at The Jerome Robbins Dance Division at The New York Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Made possible through a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Far too often undervalued & rarely celebrated, Black women have been holding this country down since its formation & continue to lead across industries often with less visibility, with little to no accolades. Black women have been at the center (& behind the scenes) of every movement, artistic & social. With this project we celebrate you!
Danced by: Michele Byrd-McPhee, Ebony Nichols, Tomoe Carr, Nadine Sylvestre, Tatiana Desardouin, Lenaya Straker, Oluwatoyin Sogunro, Reyna Nunez, Miyabi Wright, LaTasha Barnes, Deborah Conton, and filmed by Loreto Jamling.