THE COMPANY
The Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble (KKDE) was founded in 1996 by Kendra Kimbrough Barnes. The Ensemble’s mission is to bridge diverse cultures and communities through thought-provoking performances that address the common human experiences of its audience. KKDE represents a range of ages and body-types and incorporates a variety of dance styles to inform audiences about a variety of sociocultural issues. The Ensemble creates and presents dance works that build upon a wide array of dance genres, including a fusion of modern dance with movement from African, Brazilian, and North Indian cultures.
Since its founding, KKDE has self-produced numerous home seasons in Oakland, as well as producing concerts and collaborations in San Francisco. Artistic Director Barnes has worked in collaboration with dancers, musicians, and poets in order to realize her vision. KKDE has toured throughout Southern and Northern California and in Salvador, Bahia Brazil, and performed in several Bay Area dance festivals, including the East Bay Dance Series, Oakland Arts Festival, WestWave Dance Festival, Black Choreographers Festival, and ODC’s Pilot and House Special. Barnes is also an alum of the Artist in Residency program at Headlands Center for the Arts and at CounterPULSE/SF. With these critical resources and the mentorship of Rhodessa Jones of Cultural Odyssey, Barnes developed Home Is That Way?! (2010), a dance-drama exploring the effects of the incarceration of a loved one on a family. KKDE creates socially conscious works most recently including In The Meantime, a dance-drama about breast cancer prevention and awareness as well as ANGST: 3 AM which intimately looks at anxiety in and among African American boys, during their self-identity formation, and how it affects the relationships within their families and the community - both in creative collaboration with Delina Patrice Brooks.
The Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble (KKDE) was founded in 1996 by Kendra Kimbrough Barnes. The Ensemble’s mission is to bridge diverse cultures and communities through thought-provoking performances that address the common human experiences of its audience. KKDE represents a range of ages and body-types and incorporates a variety of dance styles to inform audiences about a variety of sociocultural issues. The Ensemble creates and presents dance works that build upon a wide array of dance genres, including a fusion of modern dance with movement from African, Brazilian, and North Indian cultures.
Since its founding, KKDE has self-produced numerous home seasons in Oakland, as well as producing concerts and collaborations in San Francisco. Artistic Director Barnes has worked in collaboration with dancers, musicians, and poets in order to realize her vision. KKDE has toured throughout Southern and Northern California and in Salvador, Bahia Brazil, and performed in several Bay Area dance festivals, including the East Bay Dance Series, Oakland Arts Festival, WestWave Dance Festival, Black Choreographers Festival, and ODC’s Pilot and House Special. Barnes is also an alum of the Artist in Residency program at Headlands Center for the Arts and at CounterPULSE/SF. With these critical resources and the mentorship of Rhodessa Jones of Cultural Odyssey, Barnes developed Home Is That Way?! (2010), a dance-drama exploring the effects of the incarceration of a loved one on a family. KKDE creates socially conscious works most recently including In The Meantime, a dance-drama about breast cancer prevention and awareness as well as ANGST: 3 AM which intimately looks at anxiety in and among African American boys, during their self-identity formation, and how it affects the relationships within their families and the community - both in creative collaboration with Delina Patrice Brooks.
DIRECTOR KENDRA KIMBROUGH BARNES
Having performed with such notables as the late Malonga Casquelord’s Fua Dia Congo, Chitresh Das’ Chhandam School of Kathak Dance, Donald Byrd, Robert Moses, Robert Henry Johnson, Bebe Miller, Bill T. Jones, and Roseangela Silvestre, Kendra Kimbrough Barnes founded her own ensemble in 1996. She has been a guest choreographer for San Francisco State University's Dance Department, Dimensions Extensions Youth Performance Ensemble, Move Dance Theater of Oakland, and Abundant Life Christian Fellowship (staging a 100+ cast for a 4,000+ audience). KKDEhas presented work at the East Bay Dance Festival, Alice Arts Center, the Black Choreographers Festival, Summerfest/WestWave Dance Festival, and Dance Mosaic. Barnes has taught dance to adults and children of all ages through Dimension’s Rites of Passage program in Oakland at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts and jazz, Pilates and yoga at San Mateo, Laney and SF City Colleges. She has been an artist in residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts and is a 2010 AIR at CounterPULSE.
Barnes is also co-founder/director for the Black Choreographers Festival (BCF). Since 2005 BCF has served local, national and international artists with over 150 public events, acknowledging the diverse artistic expression within the context of African and African American dance and culture. Under her direction, K*Star*Productions, the presenting organization for BCF and KKDE, has received funding from the City of Oakland Cultural Arts Program, CA$H, The Irvine Foundation, the Zellerbach Family Fund, Alameda County Arts Commission, East Bay Community Foundation, California Arts Council, and The Walter and Elise Haas Fund Foundation.
Barnes holds a BA in Dance from San Francisco State University and a MA in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University. She graduated with honors and is a recipient of the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" Award and as of 2008 the "Who's Who Among American Women.”
Having performed with such notables as the late Malonga Casquelord’s Fua Dia Congo, Chitresh Das’ Chhandam School of Kathak Dance, Donald Byrd, Robert Moses, Robert Henry Johnson, Bebe Miller, Bill T. Jones, and Roseangela Silvestre, Kendra Kimbrough Barnes founded her own ensemble in 1996. She has been a guest choreographer for San Francisco State University's Dance Department, Dimensions Extensions Youth Performance Ensemble, Move Dance Theater of Oakland, and Abundant Life Christian Fellowship (staging a 100+ cast for a 4,000+ audience). KKDEhas presented work at the East Bay Dance Festival, Alice Arts Center, the Black Choreographers Festival, Summerfest/WestWave Dance Festival, and Dance Mosaic. Barnes has taught dance to adults and children of all ages through Dimension’s Rites of Passage program in Oakland at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts and jazz, Pilates and yoga at San Mateo, Laney and SF City Colleges. She has been an artist in residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts and is a 2010 AIR at CounterPULSE.
Barnes is also co-founder/director for the Black Choreographers Festival (BCF). Since 2005 BCF has served local, national and international artists with over 150 public events, acknowledging the diverse artistic expression within the context of African and African American dance and culture. Under her direction, K*Star*Productions, the presenting organization for BCF and KKDE, has received funding from the City of Oakland Cultural Arts Program, CA$H, The Irvine Foundation, the Zellerbach Family Fund, Alameda County Arts Commission, East Bay Community Foundation, California Arts Council, and The Walter and Elise Haas Fund Foundation.
Barnes holds a BA in Dance from San Francisco State University and a MA in Arts Administration from Golden Gate University. She graduated with honors and is a recipient of the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" Award and as of 2008 the "Who's Who Among American Women.”
Delina Patrice Brooks
joins KKDE as the Writer and Co-Director of In the Meantime. Delina is a writer, producer, performing artist, and Founder & Director of DelinaDreamProductions. Her work has been micro-commissioned by the YBCAway Program, The Black Choreographers Festival, Dance Brigade's D.I.R.T Festival, and University of Wisconsin: Madison's Filipino American Student Organization.
joins KKDE as the Writer and Co-Director of In the Meantime. Delina is a writer, producer, performing artist, and Founder & Director of DelinaDreamProductions. Her work has been micro-commissioned by the YBCAway Program, The Black Choreographers Festival, Dance Brigade's D.I.R.T Festival, and University of Wisconsin: Madison's Filipino American Student Organization.
Dandha da Hora
joins KKDE as a guest choreographer and lead vocalist for In the Meantime. Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, she has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil's most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. In her teaching as a master dance teacher and dancer, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Salvaldor, Bahia, Brazil and of Ilê Aiyê.
joins KKDE as a guest choreographer and lead vocalist for In the Meantime. Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, she has been a member of Ilê Aiyê, one of Brazil's most important musical and cultural institutions, since she was 6 years old. In her teaching as a master dance teacher and dancer, Dandha invokes the incredible spirit of Salvaldor, Bahia, Brazil and of Ilê Aiyê.
Julio Remelexo &Tambores joins
KKDE as a co-collaborating partner offering his musical gifts as a percussionist for
In the Meantime. Originally from Afro-Bloco Ilê Aiyê in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, he is the proud founder, director, and singer of Tambores JULIO Remelexo. His lively energetic group is known for it's rhythms, dancing while playing, and performing unique tricks with their instruments.
KKDE as a co-collaborating partner offering his musical gifts as a percussionist for
In the Meantime. Originally from Afro-Bloco Ilê Aiyê in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, he is the proud founder, director, and singer of Tambores JULIO Remelexo. His lively energetic group is known for it's rhythms, dancing while playing, and performing unique tricks with their instruments.
K★STAR★PRODUCTIONS
The Wait is Almost Over
The Fall Repertory Concert is about a week away!
Meet the Cast
We have such an eclectic group of artists who each help tell the story of In the Meantime. See more about them below!
Anissa Carthen
As Ensemble member
Marianna Hester
As HUMMINGBRID and Ensemble Member
Portsha Jefferson
As Guest Artist in the Ensemble
Patricia Ong
As SISTER I and Ensemble Member
Clairemonica Figueroa
As SCHOLAR and Ensemble member
Lavinia Mitchell
As EYES and EARS and Ensemble Member
Aja Randall
As BLAME and Ensemble member
Yeni Lucero
As MATRIARCH and Ensemble member
Latanya D. Tigner
As OMNIPRESENCE and Ensemble member
Meagan Wells
As SISTER 2 and Ensemble Member
Shelley Davis Roberts
As Ensemble Member
Ebonie Barnett
As Ensemble Member
COMPANY MEMBERS
Clairemonica Figueroa
Marianna Hester - Associate Rehearsal Director
Yeni Lucero
Lavinia Mitchell - Rehearsal Director
Patricia Ong
Aja Randall
Latanya Tigner
Meagan Wells
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cecilia Taylor, Chair
Ken Kimbrough, Vice Chair
Monique Perry, Secretary
Valrie Sanders, Treasurer
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Nate Barnes
Delina Patrice Brooks
Tasha Henneman
Kysha Mitchell
Deborah Vaughan
Fiscal Sponsor
Dimensions Dance Theater
The Wait is Almost Over
The Fall Repertory Concert is about a week away!
Meet the Cast
We have such an eclectic group of artists who each help tell the story of In the Meantime. See more about them below!
Anissa Carthen
As Ensemble member
Marianna Hester
As HUMMINGBRID and Ensemble Member
Portsha Jefferson
As Guest Artist in the Ensemble
Patricia Ong
As SISTER I and Ensemble Member
Clairemonica Figueroa
As SCHOLAR and Ensemble member
Lavinia Mitchell
As EYES and EARS and Ensemble Member
Aja Randall
As BLAME and Ensemble member
Yeni Lucero
As MATRIARCH and Ensemble member
Latanya D. Tigner
As OMNIPRESENCE and Ensemble member
Meagan Wells
As SISTER 2 and Ensemble Member
Shelley Davis Roberts
As Ensemble Member
Ebonie Barnett
As Ensemble Member
COMPANY MEMBERS
Clairemonica Figueroa
Marianna Hester - Associate Rehearsal Director
Yeni Lucero
Lavinia Mitchell - Rehearsal Director
Patricia Ong
Aja Randall
Latanya Tigner
Meagan Wells
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cecilia Taylor, Chair
Ken Kimbrough, Vice Chair
Monique Perry, Secretary
Valrie Sanders, Treasurer
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Nate Barnes
Delina Patrice Brooks
Tasha Henneman
Kysha Mitchell
Deborah Vaughan
Fiscal Sponsor
Dimensions Dance Theater