Highlighting Black Artists and Black-Owned Businesses

As we come to the end of Black History Month, Artist After Hours wants to take a moment to compile some incredible organizations and resources we have found over the past few months! American dance history was built by Black dancers and artists, from Katherine Dunham to Alvin Ailey to Debbie Allen, and we want to honor their contributions and highlight resources for people to use in their own artistic journey. 

Below you will find resources for Black artists and other BIPOC artists to take advantage of, as well as a database of organizations and businesses run by and supporting Black artists that you should check out and follow! We’re always looking to expand our resources for our community, so if there are other orgs you think we should highlight, feel free to message us on IG @artistafterhours or send us an email at artistafterhours20@gmail.com

Grants and Funding:

A center for minority businesses to learn about grants, loans, and other financial resources while getting access to databases and tutorials on finding money to startup and sustain small businesses.

In the Dance Community:

  • Black Dance Change Makers, @blackdancechangemakers

    “A platform that offers a safe, resourceful community for Black dancers around the world to connect with each other and make change.”

  • Black Dance History, @blackdancehistory

    “Documenting Black dance for educational and entertainment purposes.”

  • Black Dance Stories, @blackdancestories

    “We are a community working together to support, uphold, highlight and celebrate Black Creatives.”


Wellness:

  • Dive In Well, @diveinwell

    “Creating space, community, conversations and change for diversity in wellness”

  • Black Women’s Yoga Coalition, @blackwomensyogaco 

    “Dedicated to increasing access to wellness for Black and brown folks.” 

  • Black Girls Can Heal, @blackgirlscanheal_ 

    Black owned Self love, Self care, and Inspiration through readings, journaling prompts, and more.

Apparel:

  • Blendz Dance Apparel, @blendzdanceapparel, blendzapparel.com

    “Inclusivity designed for your Comfort, Convenience, and Confidence”

  • Nude Barre, @nudebarre, nudebarre.com 

    “Black-owned, high performing bodywear”

And of course, the dance companies themselves! There are so many incredible dance companies out there highlighting Black dancers and the Black experience, and we hope you find some new names on this list, in addition to the most iconic companies that have shaped the dance world for more than 60 years.

Dance Companies to Study and Support:

  • Antonio Brown Dance Company 

  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

  • A.I.M by Kyle Abraham

  • Camille A. Brown & Dancers 

  • Cleo Parker Robinson Dance

  • Dallas Black Dance Theater

  • Deeply Rooted Dance Theater

  • EMERGE125

  • Harambee Dance Company

  • KMChoreo

  • McKoy Dance Project

  • Passion Fruit Dance Co

  • The Philadelphia Dance Company

  • Philadanco

  • Py Dance

  • Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance

  • Sidra Bell Dance

  • Step Afrika!

  • Company SBB Stephanie Batten Bland

  • Urban Bush Women

    Thank you for reading, we hope you learned something! Feel free to share your own resources with us, and keep an eye out for our Women’s History Month resource page coming out in March!

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Spaces and Programs for the New York Dance Community