Author: rahdanceworks

Diedre Graham: Freelance Dancer
Mobile, Alabama

What Moves You?
“My passion for dance and desire to inspire people, especially young girls. I created Imagine Me: Image in Me™, which raises awareness about body image and self-esteem in young girls ranging from ages 12 – 18 years old. Imagine Me: Image in Me™ began as a project birthed from the pain I experienced as an aspiring ballerina in high school when I was told that I did not have the right body type to be cast. The program has evolved over the past ten years to include life skills, motivation, empowerment, and integration of the arts with STEM activities. ‘Dancers are not great because of their technique. They are great because of their passion.’- Martha Graham”

After graduating, Diedre accepted a position as a teacher in the Mobile County Public System. And she became a member of Sanspointe Dance Company. She was also commissioned to perform a pas de deux choreographed by Sarah Barry in Danceform’s 70th International Choreographers’ Showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. Diedre was a ‘Ring Shout’ dancer in “ROOTS” miniseries. She worked as a dancer during Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Christmas Town. Additionally, she performed at Broadway Bares: Game night, the Booking Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center, for the city of New York’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ Black History Month Program, “Love is Love” Choreographers Showcase, and STEPS Beyond Foundation presents “Choreography in Uncertain Times” performance lab. Diedre choreographed and danced in Milennial Ethics Productions’ “Flip the Script” and Icelandic artist Cell7even’s “Built to Last” music video.

Diedre’s dance training is diverse and includes training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s summer intensive, American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensives, Sheffield School of the Dance, Mobile Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. She participated in projects with noted choreographers Olivia Cipolla, Nuo An, Angel Kaba, Caitlyn Trainor, Chris Judd, Dave Scott, and Eddie Garcia. Additionally, Diedre served as both a performer and choreographer in the Actor’s Charitable Theater’s production of The Color Purple.

For the past two years, Diedre has traveled to Montrouis, Haiti to teach the fundamentals of ballet to orphans. And she participated in a food and water distribution to a rural community with access to water. Currently, Diedre is working on her Master of Public Administration through Penn State’s World Campus. While in high school, she created Imagine Me: Image in Me, which is an organization designed to raise awareness about body image and self-esteem through dance for girls between the ages of 12-18. Diedre plans on converting that into an international nonprofit organization. Also, after completing her degree, she plans on working in Human Resources and arts advocacy through public policy.

Be sure to checkout http://www.diedregraham.com.

MANATSU TANAKA: Dancer
Hadano City, Japan

What Moves You? 
“The experience and the research I go through when I dance; I get closer and closer to the animal that I am.”

MANATSU TANAKA is a Japanese Artist who is pursuing her education with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Theater Arts. She is continuing to connect with different fields of artists to discover and expand her artistic tools in the Performing Arts.

As an emerging performer, she has been in works by Paul Taylor, Douglas Dunn, Jon Lehrer, Tony Bordonaro (Emursive), Marie Zvosec (Brooklyn Opera Works), Mariana Taragano (Taragano Theater), Bliss Kohlmyer (Project Agora), Paula Peters (Spectrum), Paul Mockovak (Ballet Randolph), and various choreographers including concert dance works, regional theaters, and dance festivals. Recently, she has been featured in Mona Haydar’s music video “Lifted”, and in other national and international artists such as Cell7 (Iceland), The Next Greatest American Novelist, Melody English and Santiago Music. She has also worked with Shellscrape Theater Company (NYC), Nocturnes Experience (NYC), Lazy Susan Art Gallery (NYC),  Performing Arts Company (Fredonia) as a Stage Manager, Performing Artist, Actor, and Assistant Director. She continues to expand her artistry in Theater, Dance, Music Videos, Films and more to discover, finding new ways of expression. Her IG is @manatsu.tanaka and her website is www.manatsutanaka.com.

Photo Credits: @imaginatordeto, @johncamino, @thelene, @alongiphoto