the CONCEPT series
A modern day salon, the CONCEPT series shares exciting experiments in
contemporary dance up close and personal, with an intimate vibe. It strives to provide choreographers freedom outside the usual confines and rules of production, allowing for the simple creative process of “taking an idea and running with it”. The series is curated by artist, not by piece, to allow choreographers the flexibility to share whatever they’re working on at any point along the creative process, from revisiting repertory to testing material fresh from the studio. An artist may experiment with something totally new to their process. Or they may dive deeper into work they’ve been developing for years. Since it began, the CONCEPT series has helped shape the trajectory of countless new works by offering a low-risk platform for testing out ideas in front of a live audience.
The series began in San Francisco in December 2007, and has presented works by over 150 artists and counting. RAWdance’s Artistic Directors take turns hosting and serving popcorn, coffee, and snacks during performances, adding to the casual vibe. San Francisco performances take place in the lavish Green Room in the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, creating a rare opportunity to see dance in one of the most beautiful spaces in the city. The series pivoted to three digital rounds from 2020-2021. And in 2023, RAWdance also launched a Hudson Valley Edition of the series at the Senate Garage in Kingston, NY.
The CONCEPT series is curated by RAWdance’s Co-Artistic Directors and Megan Kurashige (San Francisco and Digital Editions only).
For further information, please contact raw@rawdance.org
For information on the next CONCEPT series, please visit our Upcoming Events page
Press & Accolades
Gallery
Past Performers
SF = San Francisco / HV = Hudson Valley / DE = Digital Edition
SF 32: Colin Frederick, dominique lesleyann, Tracey Lindsay Chan, seymour::dancecollective, Amy Lewis
HV 2: The Chase Brock Experience, Lina Azalea, Leighann Kowalsky, Timna Jahoda Kligler, Glass Eye Shadow Pictures and Steep Horizon Dance
SF 31: Conni McKenzie, gizeh muñiz vengel in collaboration with Samuel Melecio-Zambrano, Babatunji and Charmaine, chinchin HSU, Heidi Carlsen in collaboration with Belinda He
SF 30: Mia J. Chong, UNA Productions, Karla Quintero, Bethany Mitchell, Deborah Slater Dance Theater
HV 1: Jillian Sweeney, DOCKDANCE (Charlotte Stickles & Maddie Leonard-Rose), Chris Black, Sondra Loring, Sarah Chien
SF 29: Johnny Huy Nguyen, Audrey Johnson, Jess Bozzo, Jordan Wanderer + Mary Carbonara, Chingchi Yu
SF 28: The Major S, Corey Michael Brady, Emily Hansel, Sawako Gannon, Molly Rose-Williams
DE 3: Leighann Kowalsky, natalya shoaf, Visceral Roots Dance Co., Hannah Westbrook, Andreína Maldonado, Paufve Dance in collaboration with Julia Sweeney
DE 2: Call It Art, Gabriel Christian, Claire Deane / A-Y/dancers, Fullstop Dance, Erin Chih-Fang Yen
DE 1: Detour Dance, FLEE, Lone King Projects, Megan Lowe Dances, Reyes Dance
SF 27: Julie Crothers, Kelly Del Rosario, Molissa Fenley, Molly Matutat, Suzy Myre
SF 26: Kim Ip/Krimm’s Dance Party, Virginia Matthews, randy reyes, Red Brick Dance Company/Nick Korkos, Sarah Woods-LaDue & Bob Woods-LaDue
SF 25: Brannigan Dance Works, Byb Chanel Bibene, Chlo & Co Dance, Jennifer Perfilio|Movement Works, PUSH Dance Company
SF 24: Kaitlyn Ebert, Liss Fain Dance, OOMPH Dance Theater, REACH BC Dance Company, SOULSKIN Dance
SF 23: Jhia Louise Jackson, Lenora Lee Dance, Natasha Adorlee’s Concept o4, Sarah Bush Dance Project, Nichele Van Portfleet
SF 22: Alyssandra Katherine Dance Project, Arletta Anderson & Adam Smith, Diane Frank, Sydney Franz, Sean Dorsey Dance
SF 21: Bianca Cabrera/Blind Tiger Society, Kristin Damrow & Company, Courtney Mazeika, Bhumi B. Patel, Rogelio Lopez & Dancers
SF 20: Alma Esperanza Cunningham, Holly Johnston, Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Nancy Karp + Dancers, Nol SImonse
SF 19: Julie-Ann Gambino, James Graham Dance Theatre, Sharp & Fine, Victor Talledos, 13th Floor
SF 18: Manuelito Biag, dawsondancesf/Gregory Dawson, Facing East Dance & Music, Katharine Hawthorne, The MoveMessenger(s)
SF 17: Deborah Slater Dance Theater, FACT/SF, Amy Foley, Hope Mohr dance, ka·nei·see|collective
SF 16: GERALDCASELDANCE, KT Nelson (of ODC/Dance), Lauren Simpson & Jenny Stulberg, tinypistol, Katerina Wong
SF 15: Christian Burns, Lindsey Renee Derry/L i n s d a n s, Flyaway Production, Risa Jaroslow & Dancers, Erik Wagner/Crawl Space
SF 14: The Anata Project, Fog Beast, Nina Haft & Company, Post:Ballet, Stranger Lover Dreamer
SF 13: Alison Williams Dance, Here Now Dance Collective, Shinichi Iova-Koga (with Larry Ochs, Dohee Lee, Gretchen Jude, Jason Hoopes, and Edward Schocker), Mark Foehringer Dance Project|SF, Randee Paufve
SF 12: Chris Black, detour dance, Yayoi Kambara, Palanza Dance, Smith/Wymore Disappearing Acts
SF 11: Breton Tyner-Bryan and Dancers, Dominic V. Duong, EmSpace Dance, Christy Funsch, David Martinez
SF 10: Gretchen Garnett & Dancers, Lisa Townsend Company, project agora, Amara T. Smith/Headmistress, Todd Eckert Dance Company
SF 9: Gretchen Garnett & Dancers, David Martinez, punkkiCo, Tanya Bello’s project.b., 13th Floor Dance Theater
SF 8: Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, Christine Bonansea with Noah Phillips, Margaret Cromwell, Nhan Ho Project
SF 7: Laura Bernasconi & Carlos Venturo, Catherine Galasso, kelly kemp & company, ledges and bones dance project, Lisa Townsend Company
SF 6: Kathleen Hermesdorf / La ALTERNATIVA, Kegan Marling, Mary Carbonara Dances, Dexandro “D” Montalvo
SF 5: Mary Armentrout, Lily Dwyer & Scott Marlowe, Himma (Christine Cali & Amy Helmstetter), Printz Dance Project, Bob Webb/Bare Bones Butoh
SF 4: David Herrera Performance Co., Folawole Oyinlola, Michael Velez, and more
SF 3: Aura Fischbeck Dance, Deep Waters Dance Theater, Todd Eckert, Maxine Moerman Dancetheatre
SF 2: ahdanco, Deborah Miller & Joseph Copley, Heidi Schweiker, Takami
SF 1: Hope Mohr Dance, project agora, Nol Simonse, Vispo Dance
Photo Credits
Margo Moritz, Hillary Goidell, and Amal Bisharat