Ally & Delaney

Charles O. Anderson: 

• Born in Richmond VA. We could not find a birthdate, but he did gain his MFA in Dance Choreography in 2002 From Temple University.

• Currently he is a choreographer and teacher at The University of Texas where he teaches African diaspora dance.  At the University people call him "Dance dad" 

• He is the artistic director for the Charles O. Anderson/dance theater X, the company focuses on Afro Contemporary dance.  It was founded in Philadelphia in 2003 

• He is working with students at The University of Texas to educate them on systemic racism, though the dancers lived experiences.  He calls his work movement-driven testimonies of lived experiences.  This type of process is called Kinetic Storytelling.  He is using this teaching to impact the dance world through political dance and presenting systemic racism as a serious problem and presenting that through his personally created Afro Contemporary dances.  This has changed his dancers lives by allowing them to explain their own problems through dance.  To be more specific he has created a safe place for dancers to express themselves.

• Kinetic Storytelling is a way to build a narrative, though the use of the body. It is any physical movement to investigate the human experience. His use of kinetic story telling is allowing his dancers to present their ideas in a new way. He is helping audiences connect to these stories without words and in a form that is very emotional. For many of his dancer's dance is a huge part in their lives and holds a lot of emotion. Using this emotion and passion to tell their story's sets him apart from many choreographers.

• In today's society this message of inequality and systemic problems is very prevalent.  This message is very important to put in the arts because they are one of the main forms of expression.  The arts are meant to challenge society, and present new ideas that otherwise might not be discussed. 

• His most current piece was created in 2020 and was presented this past year called (Re)Current Unrest.

• He was noted as "25 to Watch" in dance magazine, and "12 Rising Stars in the Academy" by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine